快啲
faai3 di1
To say "hurry up" in Cantonese, use 快啲 (faai3 di1).
快啲 is used as a verb to tell someone to go faster.
Meaning: go faster (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 快 (fast) and 啲 (a bit/more), literally meaning 'fast a bit'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the sentence-final particle 啦 to the phrase makes the command sound more like an urging or a suggestion rather than a blunt order. Adding the particle 呀 can be used to add emphasis or a sense of urgency to the request.
How do you pronounce it?
faai3 di1
Did you know?
- The word 快 is also used in the term 快手, which literally means 'fast hand' and is used to praise someone who is efficient at a manual task.
- If you are in a rush and want to sound extremely urgent, you can repeat the phrase as 快啲快啲, which acts like a verbal accelerator.
- The particle 啲 in 快啲 acts as a 'comparative' marker, meaning it doesn't just mean 'a bit' but actually turns 'fast' into 'faster'.
Examples in context
- 快啲啦，如果唔係我哋就遲到㗎喇。Hurry up, or we'll be late.The sentence is useful for showing how to use 快啲 when warning about being late.Tatoeba #670575 by nickyeow, translation #19743 by CK
- 「阿Tom，快啲啦。」「嚟緊喇！」"Tom, hurry up." "I'm coming!"The sentence shows a dialogue where 快啲 is used to prompt someone.Tatoeba #5795833 by nickyeow, translation #1889727 by CK
- 快啲啦，你仲慢吞吞噉我哋就遲到㗎喇。Come on, we'll be late if you don't hurry up.The sentence uses 快啲 to express that someone's slow pace will cause them to be late.Tatoeba #410711 by nickyeow, translation #54273 by sundown
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chun Kit and Ka Yan are walking to a movie theater.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit嘉欣，快啲行啦，電影快要開始喇。Ka Yan, faai di haang laa, din jing faai jiu hoi ci laa.Ka Yan, hurry up, the movie is about to start.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan知啦，我唔係行得慢呀嘛。Zi laa, ngo m hai haang dak maan aa maa.I know, it's not that I'm walking slowly.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔好講嘢，快啲啦！M hou gong je, faai di laa!Don't talk, just hurry up!
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好啦，我哋行快啲。Hou laa, ngo dei haang faai di.Okay, let's walk faster.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
