How to Say "I Think" in Cantonese

我覺得

ngo5 gok3 dak1

In Cantonese, "I think" is expressed as 我覺得 (ngo5 gok3 dak1).

The phrase 我覺得 is used to express a personal opinion, a subjective belief or a gut feeling about a situation.

Which one should you use?

While 我覺得 emphasizes a feeling or intuition, the alternative 我諗 is more commonly used for a logical thought or a reasoned opinion.

ngo5 gok3 dak1

In Cantonese, using 我覺得 can be a strategic way to soften a critique. By framing a criticism as a personal 'feeling' rather than a logical fact, the speaker avoids sounding confrontational or overly aggressive.
The word 覺 has two completely different pronunciations in Cantonese. In the context of 'feeling' in 我覺得, it is read as gok3, but when referring to 'sleep', it is read as gaau3.
The word 覺 in 我覺得 literally means 'sense' or 'perception', much like the English word 'sense' in 'sense of smell'.

我覺得會發生。
I think it could happen.
This sentence shows how to use 我覺得 to express a possibility.
Tatoeba #4675914 by kaenif, translation #1541540 by CK
我覺得你驚咗。
I think you panicked.
This sentence shows how to use 我覺得 to express an observation about someone's reaction.
Tatoeba #4826843 by kaenif, translation #2409236 by CK
我覺得太貴喇。
I think that's too expensive.
This sentence shows how to use 我覺得 to express an opinion about a price.
Tatoeba #7988315 by nickyeow, translation #3071151 by CK
我諗佢應該係度等我哋。
I think he/she should be waiting for us here.
23 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ka Ming and Jia Xin are discussing a restaurant.

家明 Ka Ming

嘉欣，你覺得呢間餐廳點呀？
ka1 jan1, nei5 gok3 dak1 ni1 gaan1 caan1 teng1 dim2 aa3?
Jia Xin, what do you think of this restaurant?
嘉欣 Ka Yan

我覺得啲嘢食好正！
ngo5 gok3 dak1 di1 je5 sik6 hou2 zing3!
I think the food is great!
家明 Ka Ming

係呀，我覺得個環境都好舒服。
hai6 aa3, ngo5 gok3 dak1 go3 waan4 ging2 dou1 hou2 syu1 fuk6.
Yeah, I think the environment is also very comfortable.
嘉欣 Ka Yan

家明，我哋下次再嚟啦。
ka1 ming4, ngo5 dei6 ze6 ci3 zoi3 lai4 laa1.
Ka Ming, let's come again next time.

Sources

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