naa5 go3那個那个
Jyutpingnaa5 go3
Yalenáh go
Definition
That; that one; a pronoun referring to a specific person, thing, or object.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 嗰個 instead of the Mandarin-style 那個 in daily speech. The character 嗰 is specifically used to represent the demonstrative 'that' in Cantonese, while 呢 is used for 'this'. Using 那個 will sound distinctly like a Mandarin speaker or someone reading from a formal script.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 那個 because it appears in written Chinese, but it is not used in natural spoken Cantonese. Always replace it with 嗰個 to sound authentic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
