A bit cheaper
Adding 啲 after an adjective, and asking to buy
This grammar lesson explains the pattern behind the bargaining phrases you just met. You will see how tacking 啲 onto an adjective turns “cheap” into “a bit cheaper”, a move you can reuse far beyond shopping, and how to frame a request to buy. Understanding it lets you build your own price phrases instead of memorising fixed lines.
A bit cheaper
To say a bit **cheaper** or a bit **more expensive**, Cantonese adds a small word **after** the adjective. Get the order wrong and it stops making sense.
Adjective, then a bit more
adjective + 啲
Add 啲 after an adjective to mean a bit more of it. 平 is cheap, so 平啲 is cheaper. 貴 is expensive, so 貴啲 is a bit more expensive. The 啲 always comes after the adjective.
cheaper
a bit more expensive
Make it a bit cheaper!
Asking to buy
想 + 買 + thing
You already make requests with 要 and 想要. To say you want to buy something, use 想 with the verb 買. It's the same want plus verb pattern you already know.
I want to buy
I want to buy tea
Adjective first, then a bit more
Put **啲** after an adjective to say a bit more of it: 平啲, 貴啲. And to buy something, reuse the want plus verb pattern: **想買**.
Frequently asked questions
What does 啲 do after an adjective in Cantonese?
Adding 啲 (di1) makes a comparison meaning “a bit more”, so 平 (cheap) becomes 平啲 (peng4 di1), “a bit cheaper”. The same pattern works with many other adjectives.
How do you ask for something to be cheaper in Cantonese?
Combine the adjective with 啲: 平啲 (peng4 di1) asks for a lower price. Add the particle 啦 for a softer, pleading tone.
Why learn this grammar instead of just memorising phrases?
Once the 啲 pattern clicks, you can create your own comparisons on the spot rather than recalling each phrase. That flexibility is what moves you from beginner to conversational.