Vocabulary  詞語 Ci4 jyu5

Question words   提問語   Tai4 man6 jyu5

 

 

English
Chinese
Formal Cantonese
Informal Cantonese
What
什麼
sam6 mo1
me1 / mat1 je5
How much/ How many
多少(錢)
do1 siu2 (cin2)
gei2 do1 (cin2)
How far
有多遠
jau5 do1 jyun5
gei2 jyun5
Why
為什麼
wai6 sam6 mo1
dim2 gaai2
How to
怎樣
zam2 joeng6
dim2 joeng2

The use of question words in English is different from Chinese. In English, we begin the questions with
the question words. However, we can put the question words at the beginning, in the middle or at the end
of the questions in Chinese.

What 

什麼

What do you like to eat? 

你喜歡吃什麼?
Nei5 hei2 fun1 hek3 sam6 mo1? (Nei5 zung1 ji3 sik6 me1 aa3
)

How much

多少錢  

How much is the book?

這本書多少錢?
Ze2 bun2 syu1 jiu3 do1 siu2 cin4 ne1? (Lei1 bun2 syu1 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3)

 How far 

有多遠

How far is it from here to there?       

從這兒到那兒有多遠?
Cung4 ze2 ji4 wong5 naa5 ji4 jau5 do1 jyun5? (Jau4 lei1 dou6 go2 dou6 jau5 gei2 jyun5 aa3?)

Why 

為什麼   

Why do you like taking minibus?        

你為什麼喜歡坐小巴?
Nei5 wai6 sam6 mo1 hei2 fun1 zo6 siu2 baa1?(Dim2 gaai2 zung1 ji3 co5 siu2 baa1 aa3?)

Note: For the use of “Why” in Chinese, we will begin the question with the question word “dim2 gaai2”. If there is a subject, it should be put in front of the question word.

How to 

怎樣

How to go to the bus stop from here?        

從這兒怎樣去巴士站?
Cung4 ze2 ji4 zam2 joeng6 heoi3 baa1 si2 zaam6? (Jau4 lei1 dou6 dim2 joeng2 heoi3 baa1 si2 zaam6 aa3? )

Note: For the use of “How to” in Chinese, we will put the question word “dim2 joeng2” in front of the verb.