ze5 si6這是这是
Jyutpingze5 si6
Yalejéh sih
Definition
This is
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Cantonese speakers do not use the Mandarin term 這是 in daily speech. Instead, use 呢個係 or 呢樣係 to identify objects or people. 呢個 is the standard way to say 'this' when referring to a specific item or person.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 這是 because it appears in textbooks, but it sounds unnatural and overly formal to native speakers. Always prefer 呢個係 for 'this is'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
