Saying what's happening now
Say what is happening right now with the ongoing marker.
Say what is happening right now with the ongoing marker.. Work through clear examples, then lock it in with interactive Cantonese practice in the YumCha app.
Saying what's happening now
Earlier you learned to say something is **finished** by adding a marker after the verb. To say an action is **happening right now**, you add a different marker straight after the verb. Picture someone phoning you mid-task: the answer is not what they did or will do, but what they are **in the middle of** doing. Let's see the pattern.
Right in the middle of it
V + 緊 = doing V right now
Put 緊 straight after a verb to say the action is going on at this moment. 開緊會 means “in a meeting right now”, 做緊嘢 means “working right now”. It is the ongoing partner to the finished marker 咗 you met earlier: 食咗 is “ate”, while 食緊 is “eating right now”.
What are you doing right now?
I'm in a meeting, I'll reply to you later.
Is the boss around?
He's working, please wait a moment.
Doing it right now
To say an action is **happening at this moment**, drop the ongoing marker straight after the verb. It is the live counterpart to the finished marker you already know: one says you already did it, this one says you are **in the middle of** doing it. Now you can tell someone you're busy without missing a beat.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Saying what's happening now lesson free?
Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.
What romanization is used?
Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.
Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?
No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.