Demonstratives
The proximal demonstrative ("this"), is 呢 ni1 / nei1, or more frequently in fast speech, 依 ji1 (+ measure word). For example:
- 呢本書 ni1/nei1 bun2 syu1 "this book"
- 依本書 ji1 bun2 syu1 "this book"
The distal demonstrative ("that") is 嗰 go2. For example:
- 嗰本書 go2 bun2 syu1 "that book"
Between the demonstrative and its noun, a certain word to link them must be used, whether the particle 嘅 ge3 or a corresponding classifier for the noun for singular count nouns (嘅 ge3 being more formal than using a classifier); or 啲 di1 for plural count nouns and mass nouns:
- 呢嘅車 ni1/nei1 gaa3 ce1 or 呢架車 ni1/nei1 gaa3 ce1 "this car"
- 呢啲車 ni1/nei1 di1 ce1 "these cars"
- 嗰啲水 go2 di1 seoi2 "that water"
Read more about this topic: Cantonese Grammar