幾多
gei2 do1
幾多 (gei2 do1) is the Cantonese phrase for "how much".
In English, there is a distinction between "how much" for uncountable nouns and "how many" for countable nouns, but in Cantonese, 幾多 can be used for both.
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
What does it mean word for word?
幾多 (gei2 do1) literally means "how many" or "how much".
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to ask specifically about the price of an item, it is common to add 錢 (cin2) after 幾多 to form 幾多錢 (gei2 do1 cin2), which means "how much money".
How do you pronounce it?
gei2 do1
Did you know?
- When asking 'how much' regarding time or duration, Cantonese uses different characters entirely, such as 幾耐 (gei2 noi6), instead of 幾多.
- The character 錢 (cin2) in 幾多錢 originally referred to a specific weight of metal used as currency, not just an abstract concept of money.
- While 幾多 asks for a quantity, Cantonese speakers often use the word 幾 (gei2) alone as an intensifier meaning 'quite' or 'rather' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- 啲橙幾多錢呀？How much do the oranges cost?This sentence uses 幾多 to ask about the cost of oranges.Tatoeba #5797621 by nickyeow, translation #5266035 by Cithara
- 呢條呔幾多錢呀？How much is this tie?This sentence uses 幾多 to ask about the price of a tie.Tatoeba #393396 by nickyeow, translation #60733 by CK
- 入場費幾多錢呀？How much is the entrance fee?This sentence uses 幾多 to ask about the entrance fee.Tatoeba #457692 by nickyeow, translation #281941 by CK
- 急用幾多錢How much money do you urgently need?
- 我有咩選擇? 幾多錢最抵？What are my options? Which one is the most cost-effective?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a fruit stall in a wet market.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan呢個西瓜幾多錢呀？nei4 go3 sai1 gwaa1 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3?How much is this watermelon?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit三十蚊一個。saam1 sap6 man1 jat1 go3.Thirty dollars each.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan咁平呀？gam3 peng4 aa3?That's so cheap?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit係呀，好甜呀。hai6 aa3, hou2 tim4 aa3.Yes, it is very sweet.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
