taa1他
Jyutpingtaa1
Yaletā
Definition
Noun prefix meaning "other" or "another".
writtendescriptions
How it's used
The character 他 is almost exclusively used in formal, written, or literary contexts in Cantonese. In everyday spoken Cantonese, the prefix 另外 or the phrase 其他嘅 is used instead to express the concept of 'other' or 'another'. Using 他 in casual speech sounds unnatural and overly academic.
Examples
He is always thinking about other things.
Do you have any other opinions?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the written 他 with the spoken pronoun 佢. While 他 is a prefix for 'other', 佢 is the standard spoken pronoun for 'he', 'she', or 'it'. Never use 他 to refer to a person in conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
