Learn

Basic adjectives

Big, small, good, beautiful

6words
15XP
6–11min
Practice this lesson

This is where describing things in Cantonese begins. You will pick up six high frequency adjectives, 大 (daai6) and 細 (sai3), 好 (hou2) and 靚 (leng3), 新 (san1) and 舊 (gau6), and learn to drop them straight into a sentence to comment on the size, quality, or age of almost anything around you.

What you'll learn

  • Say “big” with 大 (daai6) and “small” with 細 (sai3)
  • Call something “good” using 好 (hou2)
  • Describe someone or something as “pretty” with 靚 (leng3)
  • Tell the difference between “new” 新 (san1) and “old” 舊 (gau6)
  • Pair opposites naturally to describe everyday objects
  • Use these adjectives without needing a verb like “to be”

Learn essential adjectives to describe people, places, and things!

daai6大

big / large

ni1呢go3個soeng1商coeng4場hou2好daai6大

This shopping mall is very big

sai3細

small

keoi5佢ge3嘅uk1屋kei2企hou2好sai3細

His home is very small

hou2好

good

gam1今jat6日tin1天hei3氣hou2好hou2好

Today's weather is very good

leng3靚

beautiful / pretty

nei5你gin2件saam1衫hou2好leng3靚

Your shirt is really nice

san1新

new

ngo5我maai5買zo2咗san1新din6電waa2話

I bought a new phone

gau6舊

old (things)

ni1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳hou2好gau6舊，daan6但hai6係di1啲je5嘢hou2好sik6食

This restaurant is old, but the food is good

Frequently asked questions

How do you say big and small in Cantonese?

Big is 大 (daai6) and small is 細 (sai3). Cantonese uses 細 rather than a separate word for little, so 細 covers small in most everyday situations.

How do you say good in Cantonese?

Good is 好 (hou2), one of the most useful words in the language. The same character also works as very when it sits in front of another adjective.

What is the Cantonese word for new and old?

New is 新 (san1) and old, for objects, is 舊 (gau6). Note that 舊 describes things rather than people, so it fits an old phone or an old building.

Do I need the verb to be with adjectives in Cantonese?

No. Cantonese adjectives stand on their own, so you can simply say something is 大 (daai6) without adding a linking verb. This lesson shows you how that works in practice.