句子
geoi³ zi²
The Cantonese word for "sentence" is 句子 (geoi³ zi²).
句子 is a noun used to refer to a grammatically complete series of words consisting of a subject and a predicate.
Meaning: grammatically complete series of words consisting of a subject and predicate (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 句 (geoi3), which acts as a classifier for sentences or phrases and 子 (zi2), which is a noun suffix.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to count sentences, you do not use the noun itself. Instead, you use the classifier 句 (geoi3). Additionally, to say "this sentence," you combine the demonstrative 呢 (nei1) with the classifier to form 呢句 (nei1 geoi3).
How do you pronounce it?
geoi³ zi²
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, the word for a 'death sentence' or 'legal sentence' does not use 句子, but instead uses 判決 (pun3 kyut3) or 刑期 (hing4 kei4).
- In written formal Cantonese, 句子 follows Standard Chinese grammar, but in spoken Cantonese, a 'sentence' often omits the subject entirely if it is understood from context.
- While 句子 means a grammatical sentence, you can use the classifier 句 (geoi3) to count much more than just text, such as 'two sentences of advice' or 'three sentences of warnings' in spoken conversation.
Examples in context
- 呢個係一句句子。This is a sentence.This example shows how to identify a single sentence using 句子.Tatoeba #5375407 by nickyeow, translation #396738 by FeuDRenais
- 呢句句子文法唔啱。This sentence is grammatically incorrect.This sentence is useful for describing a sentence that is grammatically incorrect using 句子.Tatoeba #5953734 by nickyeow, translation #5937706 by mailohilohi
- 呢句句子要多啲感嘆號。This sentence needs more exclamation marks.This sentence illustrates how to suggest adding exclamation marks to a sentence using 句子.Tatoeba #4778572 by kaenif, translation #3372142 by Hybrid
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
志強 and 雅婷 are checking a school essay.
- 志強 Chi Keung呢句句子好長。ni1 geoi3 geoi6 zi6 hou2 coeng4.This sentence is very long.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting係咩？我唔覺得長呀。hai6 me1? ngo5 m4 gok3 dak1 coeng4 aa3.Really? I don't think it's long.
- 志強 Chi Keung你可以將呢句句子拆開佢。nei5 ho2 ji5 zoeng1 ni1 geoi3 geoi6 zi6 caak1 hoi1 keoi5.You can split this sentence apart.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好呀，我試下。hou2 aa3, ngo5 si3 haa5.Okay, I'll try.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sentence” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
