tai3替
Jyutpingtai3
Yaletai
Definition
To do something for, on behalf of, or in place of someone.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
替 often implies taking over a role or performing an action on someone else's behalf. While it overlaps with 幫, 替 specifically highlights the substitution aspect of doing something instead of another person. In many casual contexts, native speakers prefer 幫 or 代 depending on whether the emphasis is on assistance or replacement.
Examples
Could you please buy breakfast for him on my behalf?
He is sick today, so I have to go to work for him.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 替 with 戥. While 替 means to do something for someone, 戥 is used specifically when expressing empathy or shared feelings, such as 戥你開心, meaning to be happy for you.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
