nei4伲
Jyutpingnei4
Yalenèih
Definition
I; me; we; us.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This pronoun is primarily used in specific regional dialects of Cantonese, such as those spoken in parts of the New Territories or by older generations in certain rural areas. It functions as a first-person singular or plural pronoun, but it is rarely heard in standard urban Hong Kong Cantonese. Most native speakers in the city will use 我 for I and 我哋 for we instead.
Examples
Where are we going to hang out today?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners should avoid using this in professional or urban social settings, as it will sound highly unusual or like a non-native attempt to use obscure dialectal forms. Stick to standard pronouns to ensure clear communication.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
