喺
hai2
The Cantonese word for "in" is 喺 (hai2).
喺 is a preposition used to indicate that something is contained by or located within a place. For example, you can use it to say you are 喺屋企度 (in the house) or to express being 喺嗰度 (in that place).
Meaning: contained by (prep)
How does it change in a sentence?
When indicating a location, 喺 is typically placed before the noun phrase that represents that location. Additionally, 喺 can serve a dual purpose: it is used for location (at/in/on) and also functions as the verb "to be" in the sense of being at, in or on a place.
How do you pronounce it?
hai2
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid confusing 喺 with 係. 喺 indicates a location (at/in/on), whereas 係 is used to indicate identity or equivalence (is/am/are).
Did you know?
- In formal written Cantonese or Standard Chinese, 喺 is usually replaced by 在, making the spoken word a marker of colloquial regional identity.
- When talking about being 'in' a state of mind or a situation, Cantonese often drops 喺 and uses different structures than it would for a physical location.
- Even though it means 'in', you cannot use 喺 to describe being 'inside' a physical container like a box as easily as you use it for a geographic location or a building.
Examples in context
- 我住喺米蘭。I live in Milan.This example shows how to use 喺 to state where you live.Tatoeba #10645898 by clowergen, translation #500293 by FeuDRenais
- 我喺山區長大。I grew up in the mountains.This example demonstrates using 喺 to describe the location where you grew up.Tatoeba #4464878 by kaenif, translation #2330008 by CK
- 佢住喺隔籬村。He lives in the next village.This example shows how to use 喺 to describe where someone lives.Tatoeba #6480683 by nickyeow, translation #6480684 by nickyeow
- 入面嘅人People inside
- 入面嘅餐廳The restaurant inside
- 入廁所Go into the toilet
- 書係喺屋企度。The book is in the house.
- 625 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking for a lost wallet in a room.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit美玲，個錢包喺唔喺個袋入面？mei lei, go cin baau hai m hai go doi jap min?Mei Ling, is the wallet in the bag?
- 美玲 Mei Ling唔喺，我頭先睇咗。m hai, ngo tau sin tai zo.No, I just checked.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit咁應該喺個枱上面。gam jing goi hai go tai soeng min.Then it should be on the table.
- 美玲 Mei Ling係喎，喺度！hai wo, hai dou!Oh right, it's here!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
