nei5 mun4 zi6 gei2你們自己你们自己
Jyutpingnei5 mun4 zi6 gei2
Yalenéih mùhn jih géi
Definition
Yourselves; yourself (used in written context).
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Cantonese speakers use 你哋自己 instead of the written form 你們自己. The character 哋 acts as the plural marker for pronouns, and it is essential for distinguishing between singular and plural forms in spoken language. Using the written form in casual conversation sounds stiff and unnatural, similar to using formal academic language at a dinner party.
Related words
Common phrases
handle it yourselves
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 你們 when speaking, which is exclusively for written Chinese. Always use 你哋 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
