zung1 ji3鍾意钟意
Jyutpingzung1 ji3
Yalejūng yi
Definition
To like, love, or be fond of someone, something, or a place.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Expressing preference for something or someone relies heavily on this verb, which functions similarly to the English "like." It is extremely versatile and can be used for hobbies, food, people, or even abstract concepts. When asking a question, the A-not-A structure 鍾唔鍾意 is the standard way to inquire about someone's feelings.
Examples
I really like the food at this restaurant.
Do you like this gift?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 鍾意 to mean "want" or "would like to" when ordering food or making requests. Use 想要 or 想食 instead, as 鍾意 strictly describes a state of affection or preference rather than a desire to obtain something.
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.
