naa4 dou3 / dou2拿到
Jyutpingnaa4 dou3 / dou2
Yalenàh dou / dóu
Definition
To get; to obtain; to hold; to take into one's possession.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 攞 instead of 拿 when referring to the physical act of taking or fetching something. 攞到 specifically emphasizes the successful attainment or acquisition of an object or a goal after some effort. It is the standard way to express 'managed to get' in everyday speech.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 拿 because it appears in textbooks, but it sounds very unnatural or even like a Mandarin loanword in spoken Cantonese. Always prefer 攞 for the verb 'to take' or 'to fetch'.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
