ni1 tiu4呢條呢条
Jyutpingni1 tiu4
Yalenī tìuh
Definition
This; this one (referring to long, thin objects or matters).
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This combination of the demonstrative 呢 and the classifier 條 is specifically used for long, thin, or flexible objects. It is essential to match the classifier to the shape of the noun, as using a generic classifier like 個 will sound unnatural to native speakers. It is frequently applied to items like roads, rivers, trousers, fish, or even abstract concepts like news or advice.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often default to using 個 for everything, but using 呢個 for a long object like a snake or a road is a clear sign of non-native speech. Always check if the noun is long and thin before selecting 條.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
