taa1 dik1他的
Jyutpingtaa1 dik1
Yaletā dīk
Definition
His; belonging to him.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Cantonese does not use 他的 to express possession. Instead, use 佢 followed by the possessive particle 嘅 to indicate ownership. This structure is universal regardless of gender, as 佢 functions as a gender-neutral pronoun for he, she, and it.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 他的 because it is standard in written Mandarin. Using 他的 in spoken Cantonese sounds unnatural and is immediately identifiable as a non-native speaker's error.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
