You should
Give advice with 應該, and say something is not as bad as before with 冇 ... 咁
Give advice with 應該, and say something is not as bad as before with 冇 ... 咁. Work through clear examples, then lock it in with interactive Cantonese practice in the YumCha app.
You should
When a friend feels sick, you give advice. In Cantonese you lead with one word that means **should** and follow it with the action. Once they start feeling better, there is a neat way to say something is **not as** bad **as** it was before.
Should, and not as ... as
應該 + verb (advice) · 冇 + B + 咁 + adjective (not as ... as B)
應該 means “should”. Put it before the verb to give advice: 你應該睇醫生 means “you should see a doctor”. To say something is not as much as something else, wrap the comparison in 冇 ... 咁: 我今日冇琴日咁痛 means “today I am not as sore as yesterday”. Drop the second thing when it is understood: 我今日冇咁痛, “I am not as sore today”.
I have a headache, and I am running a slight fever too.
You should see a doctor, and don't go to work.
How are you after taking the medicine?
A bit better, today I am not as sore as yesterday.
Now you can advise
Lead with **should** and add the action to tell a friend what to do when they feel unwell. When they are on the mend, wrap a comparison in **not as ... as** to say things are easier than before.
Frequently asked questions
Is the You should 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.