taa1 dik1它的
Jyutpingtaa1 dik1
Yaletā dīk
Definition
Its.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Cantonese speakers do not use a direct equivalent to the English word its. Instead, the possessive particle 嘅 is used after the pronoun 佢 to indicate possession for both animate and inanimate objects. Using 佢嘅 is the standard way to express belonging for anything from animals to buildings or abstract concepts.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to translate its directly using written Chinese structures or Mandarin grammar, but 佢嘅 is the only natural way to express this in spoken Cantonese. Avoid using 它的 as it sounds unnatural and overly formal in a spoken context.
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.
