得 and 可以
These forms help Cantonese express ability, permission, or practical possibility in slightly different ways.
Examples
CantoneseTranslation
呢度可以坐，你而家都得。Ni1dou6 ho2ji5 co5, nei5 ji4gaa1 dou1 dak1.
You may sit here, and you can do it now as well.
我聽得明白。Ngo5 teng1 dak1 ming4baak6.
I can understand what I hear.
呢度唔可以影相。Ni1dou6 m4 ho2ji5 jing2 soeng2.
You may not take photos here.
Pattern
可以/得 + verb or complement
How it works
These forms help Cantonese express ability, permission, or practical possibility in slightly different ways. This pattern typically appears as 可以/得 + verb or complement and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- 可以 often leans toward permission or practical possibility.
- 得 appears in several ability-like and result-like patterns in Cantonese.
Why it matters
Handle more natural spoken questions and choices.
Use in context
This contrast matters because English often collapses several meanings into a single “can.”