zaa1 mun4咱們咱们
Jyutpingzaa1 mun4
Yalejā mùhn
Definition
We (inclusive of the listener).
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Using 咱們 in Cantonese is highly unnatural and marks the speaker as a non-native speaker or someone heavily influenced by Mandarin. While it technically means inclusive we, Cantonese speakers exclusively use 我哋 for both inclusive and exclusive situations. Even in formal contexts, 咱們 is rarely heard in Hong Kong speech.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 咱們 to distinguish between inclusive and exclusive we, but this distinction does not exist in Cantonese. Using 咱們 will sound like a direct translation from Mandarin and will likely cause confusion or sound awkward to local ears.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
