dim2點gaai2解
why?
dim2點gaai2解nei5你m4唔faan1返gung1工？
Why aren’t you going to work?
Learn
Why & How
Asking for reasons and methods
This lesson teaches you to ask for reasons and methods, the questions that get you real explanations. You will learn 點解 (dim2 gaai2) for “why” and 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) for “how,” then extend them into practical phrases such as “why not go?” and “how to do it?” These are the words that turn a flat exchange into an actual back-and-forth.
What you'll learn
- Ask “why?” with 點解 (dim2 gaai2)
- Ask “how?” with 點樣 (dim2 joeng2)
- Ask “why not go?” using 點解唔去 (dim2 gaai2 m4 heoi3)
- Ask “how to go?” with 點樣去 (dim2 joeng2 heoi3)
- Ask “how to do it?” with 點做 (dim2 zou6)
- Build follow-up questions that ask for reasons and steps
Learn to ask “why” and “how”, crucial for deeper conversations!
dim2點joeng2樣
how?
ni1呢go3個dim2點joeng2樣jung6用
How do you use this?
dim2點gaai2解m4唔heoi3去
why not go?
dim2點gaai2解m4唔heoi3去soeng1商coeng4場？
Why not go to the mall?
dim2點joeng2樣heoi3去
how to go?
soeng1商coeng4場dim2點joeng2樣heoi3去aa3呀
How do you get to the shopping mall?
dim2點zou6做
how to do?
ni1呢go3個dim2點zou6做
How do you do this?
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask “why” in Cantonese?
You ask “why?” with 點解 (dim2 gaai2). For example, 點解唔去 (dim2 gaai2 m4 heoi3) means “why not go?”
How do you ask “how” in Cantonese?
Use 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) for “how,” as in 點樣去 (dim2 joeng2 heoi3) for “how to go?” You can also use 點做 (dim2 zou6) to ask “how to do it?”
Why do so many Cantonese question words start with 點?
點 (dim2) acts like a base for several question words, combining into 點解 (dim2 gaai2) for “why,” 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) for “how,” and more. Learning the pattern once helps you recognise the whole family.