Saying where something happens: Learn Cantonese

Grammar

Saying where something happens

English says “I eat **at the restaurant**”, with the place at the end. Cantonese puts the place **before the verb**, using the word for **at**.

At a place, then the verb

(who) + 喺 + place + verb

hai2喺at / in

喺 means at or in. The place where something happens goes before the verb: 喺 + place + verb. So “I eat at the restaurant” is literally “I at-restaurant eat”. Watch the tone: 喺 (at) is not the same word as 係 (is).

ngo5我hai2喺caan1餐teng1廳sik6食

I eat at the restaurant

ngo5我hai2喺uk1屋kei2企fan3瞓

I sleep at home

keoi5佢hai2喺soeng1商coeng4場sik6食

He eats at the mall

Recap

Place before the verb

Use **喺** for at or in, and put the place **before the verb**: 喺 + place + verb. And remember, **喺** (at) is a different word from **係** (is).