Basic Verbs

1. 去

   hi3

   To go

   Usage

   The basic verb for moving away from the speaker

   Grammar Note

   轉去 (zon2 hi3) means "to go back"

2. 來

   loi5

   To come

   Usage

   Movement toward the speaker

   Grammar Note

   來 is loi5 with tone 5, the counterpart of 去

3. 食

   siid8

   To eat

   Usage

   To eat; also used for taking medicine

   Grammar Note

   Drinks do not use 食: alcohol takes 啉 and tea takes 飲

4. 啉

   lim1

   To drink (alcohol)

   Usage

   Used mainly for drinking alcohol

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary examples are 啉酒 and 啉老人茶. 飲 (im2) is also used for liquids such as tea

5. 買

   mai1

   To buy

   Usage

   The basic verb for shopping

   Grammar Note

   買 has tone 1

6. 看

   kon3

   To look; to see

   Usage

   Used for looking, watching and also seeing a doctor

   Grammar Note

   看病 means to see a doctor; 聽 is for hearing

7. 等

   den2

   To wait

   Usage

   To wait; 等一下仔 means "wait a moment"

   Grammar Note

   The same character after a pronoun makes a plural, as in 𠊎等 "we"

8. 𠊎愛去

   ngai5 oi3 hi3

   I want to go

   Usage

   Say where you want to go by adding a place after 去

   Grammar Note

   愛 (oi3) appears in dictionary examples but is not a headword; 愛 + verb expresses want or need. Composed from dictionary-verified words

9. 𠊎愛食

   ngai5 oi3 siid8

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Use it when you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   愛 goes before the verb to express wanting; 食 is read siid8. Composed from dictionary-verified words

10. 𠊎愛這隻

    ngai5 oi3 ia2 zag4

    I want this one

    Usage

    Use it with a pointing gesture when shopping or ordering

    Grammar Note

    Put the object after 愛; the classifier for things is 隻 (zag4). Composed from dictionary-verified words

11. 毋使

    m5 sii2

    No need; no thanks

    Usage

    Use it to decline an offer; it means "no need"

    Grammar Note

    It corresponds to Mandarin 不用. 毋好 (m5 hau3) means "do not"

12. 𠊎尋無

    ngai5 qim5 mo5

    I cannot find it

    Usage

    Tell people when you cannot find something

    Grammar Note

    尋無 is an example under the headword 尋 (qim5, "to look for") and means "cannot find". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

13. 𠊎有

    ngai5 iu1

    I have it

    Usage

    Answer that you have something

    Grammar Note

    The negative is 𠊎無 (ngai5 mo5). Composed from dictionary-verified words

14. 𠊎無

    ngai5 mo5

    I do not have it

    Usage

    Answer that you do not have something

    Grammar Note

    無 (mo5) is "not have"; "not yet" is 吂 (mang5). Composed from dictionary-verified words

15. 𠊎愛領錢

    ngai5 oi3 liang1 qien5

    I want to withdraw money

    Usage

    Use it when you want to take out cash

    Grammar Note

    領錢 is a headword; the dictionary example is withdrawing money at a post office. Composed from dictionary-verified words

16. 𠊎愛預約

    ngai5 oi3 i3 iog4

    I want to make a reservation

    Usage

    Use it to book a room or a table

    Grammar Note

    預約 is a headword; there is no headword for "book a seat". Composed from dictionary-verified words

17. 請摎𠊎講

    qiang2 lau1 ngai5 gong2

    Please tell me

    Usage

    A way to ask someone to tell you something

    Grammar Note

    摎𠊎講 is a headword; 摎 (lau1) marks "with; to". Composed from dictionary-verified words

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