你係邊個？
nei5 hai6 bin1 go3?
To ask "who are you?" in Cantonese, use 你係邊個？ (nei5 hai6 bin1 go3?)
This phrase is used to ask for a person's identity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (you), 係 (to be) and 邊個 (who). The word for "who" (邊個) is literally "which one", where 邊 means "which" and 個 is a classifier for people or objects.
Which one should you use?
While 你係邊個？ is a direct way to ask for identity, it can sound blunt or even confrontational depending on the tone of voice used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 你係邊個呀？ is used in informal settings. Adding the sentence-final particle 呀 (aa1) at the end makes the question sound softer and more natural in casual conversation. For a more polite and respectful way to ask, such as "May I ask who you are?", use 請問你係邊位？
How does it change in a sentence?
The term 邊個 (who) functions by combining the word for "which" (邊) with the classifier for people or objects (個).
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 hai6 bin1 go3?
Did you know?
- The word 邊 (bin1) in 'which' is actually a noun that can mean 'side' or 'edge'. Therefore, the literal structure of 'who' in Cantonese is built from the concept of asking 'which side/edge person'.
- If you ask 你係邊個？ with a rising, sharp tone in a conflict, it can function as a challenge meaning 'Who do you think you are?' rather than a request for a name.
- In Hong Kong, the choice between 邊個 and 邊位 can instantly signal the speaker's social class or their perception of the listener's professional rank.
Examples in context
- 你係邊個？nei5 hai6 bin1 go3?Who are you?
- 唔好意思，請問你係邊個？m4 hou2 ji3 si6, cing2 man6 nei5 hai6 bin1 go3?Excuse me, may I ask who you are?
Example conversation
A man knocks on a woman's door unexpectedly.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting邊位呀？bin1 wai2 aa3?Who is it?
- 志強 Chi Keung我係志強，我嚟搵你。ngo5 hai6 zi3 koeng4, ngo5 lai4 wan2 nei5.I am Zi Qiang, I've come to see you.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你係邊個？我唔識你。nei5 hai6 bin1 go3? ngo5 m4 sik1 nei5.Who are you? I don't know you.
- 志強 Chi Keung我係你個新同事。ngo5 hai6 nei5 go3 san1 tung4 si6.I am your new colleague.
