gwo3過
more than (comparison marker)
gong2港tit3鐵faai3快gwo3過baa1巴si2士
The MTR is faster than the bus
Learn
Comparisons
More than, most
This lesson gives you two small but powerful tools for comparing things in Cantonese. The marker 過 (gwo3) turns an adjective into a comparison, as in 大過 (daai6 gwo3) for bigger than, while 最 (zeoi3) creates the superlative, so 最大 (zeoi3 daai6) is biggest and 最靚 (zeoi3 leng3) is the most beautiful.
What you'll learn
- Use 過 (gwo3) to mean “more than” in a comparison
- Mark the superlative with 最 (zeoi3) for “most”
- Say “bigger than” with 大過 (daai6 gwo3)
- Pick out the “biggest” with 最大 (zeoi3 daai6)
- Say “more expensive than” with 貴過 (gwai3 gwo3)
- Name the “most beautiful” option with 最靚 (zeoi3 leng3)
Learn how to compare things in Cantonese!
zeoi3最
most / -est (superlative)
bin1邊go3個zeoi3最hou2好sik6食
Which one is the most delicious?
daai6大gwo3過
bigger than
soeng1商coeng4場daai6大gwo3過bin6便lei6利dim3店
The shopping mall is bigger than the convenience store
zeoi3最daai6大
biggest
ni1呢gaan1間soeng1商coeng4場zeoi3最daai6大
This shopping mall is the biggest
daan6但hai6係
but
gong2港tit3鐵faai3快，daan6但hai6係hou2好do1多jan4人
The MTR is fast, but it is very crowded
gwai3貴gwo3過
more expensive than
dik1的si2士gwai3貴gwo3過baa1巴si2士
Taxis are more expensive than buses
zeoi3最leng3靚
most beautiful
maa1媽maa1媽zeoi3最leng3靚
Mum is the most beautiful
Frequently asked questions
How do you say bigger than in Cantonese?
Add 過 (gwo3) after the adjective, so big 大 becomes 大過 (daai6 gwo3) for bigger than. The thing you are comparing against follows straight after.
How do you make a superlative in Cantonese?
Put 最 (zeoi3) in front of the adjective. That turns big into 最大 (zeoi3 daai6) for biggest and pretty into 最靚 (zeoi3 leng3) for the most beautiful.
How do you say more expensive in Cantonese?
Combine 貴 (gwai3) with the comparison marker to get 貴過 (gwai3 gwo3), meaning more expensive than. It follows the same pattern as every other adjective.