soeng5 di1上啲
Jyutpingsoeng5 di1
Yaleséuhng dī
Definition
Higher up; a bit higher.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Adding 啲 after a directional verb is a standard way to indicate a small, incremental adjustment in position. It implies a request for precision or a slight shift rather than a major change. This structure is extremely common when giving instructions for hanging pictures, adjusting shelves, or positioning text on a page.
Examples
Could you write it a bit higher up?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 上面, which refers to a location rather than a direction of movement. Use 上啲 when you want someone to physically move something upwards, whereas 上面 is used to describe where something is already located.
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.
