ze6 ze6謝謝谢谢
Jyutpingze6 ze6
Yalejeh jeh
Definition
To thank; to express gratitude.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
While 謝謝 is understood in Hong Kong, it is considered a Mandarin loanword and sounds quite formal or even distant in daily Cantonese. Locals almost exclusively use 唔該 for small favors or service, and 多謝 when receiving a gift or a significant act of kindness. Using 謝謝 in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook.
Related words
Common phrases
thank you very much
Common mistake
Learners often use 謝謝 as a catch-all, but it fails to distinguish between the Cantonese preference for 唔該 for routine help and 多謝 for genuine gratitude. Using the wrong one can make you sound either overly formal or slightly confused about the social context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
