喺邊度？
hai1 bin1 dou6?
The English phrase "where is it?" is translated into Cantonese as 喺邊度？ (hai1 bin1 dou6?)
喺邊度？ is a question used to ask for the location of a specific object or place.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 喺 (at/in), 邊度 (where) and a question tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Cantonese, the subject (it) is often omitted in this question if the context makes the object clear.
How do you pronounce it?
hai1 bin1 dou6?
Did you know?
- When asking for a location, Cantonese speakers often use a 'pointing' gesture with their chin or a slight nod of the head toward the general direction, rather than using their hands.
- The word 邊度 (where) is actually composed of the characters for 'side' and 'place', meaning 'which side's place' in a literal sense.
- In many Cantonese-speaking regions, you might hear people say 喺邊位? instead of 喺邊度? when looking for a specific person or a seat in a formal setting. This subtle change shifts the focus from a general location to a more precise position.
Examples in context
- 我部電話喺邊度？ngo5 bou6 din6 waa2 hai2 bin1 dou6?Where is my phone?
- 洗手間喺邊度？sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6?Where is the restroom?
- 超市喺邊度？ceoi1 co1 hai2 bin1 dou6?Where is the supermarket?
Example conversation
Jun Kit and Ka Yan are looking for a restaurant in the city.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit嘉欣，間餐廳喺邊度？kaa1 jan1, gaan1 caan1 teng1 hai2 bin1 dou6?Ka Yan, where is the restaurant?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan喺嗰邊。hai2 go2 bin1.It is over there.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好遠啊。hou2 jyun5 aa3.It is so far.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan唔緊要，我哋行去啦。m4 gan2 jiu3, ngo5 dei6 haang4 heoi3 laa1.It's okay, let's walk there.
