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Cantonese Opposites

Adjectives stick faster in pairs. These everyday opposites are all one syllable, and several are distinctly Cantonese — small is 細, not the Mandarin 小. Put 好 (hou2, very) in front of any of them and you have a full sentence.

大
big
sai˗₃細
fine
doˉ¹多
much better; much more; far more
少
few, little
sanˉ¹新
recent; modern
gauˍ₆舊
worn; old; used; second-hand | [antonym] 新
gouˉ¹高
of a high level or degree; above the average
aiˊ²矮
short person; dwarf
coengˎ₄長
(of distance and time) long | [antonym] 短
短
short (length)
faai˗₃快
quick-witted; ingenious
慢
slow

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say small in Cantonese?

細 (sai3). Mandarin uses 小, which Cantonese mostly keeps for fixed words like 小心 (be careful).

How do you say very in Cantonese?

Put 好 (hou2) before the adjective: 好大 (very big), 好細 (very small).

What is the difference between 舊 and 老?

舊 (gau6) is old for things, like an old phone; 老 (lou5) is old for people, as in 老人 (an elderly person).

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