你冇事吖嘛？
nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa3?
In Cantonese, "are you ok?" is expressed as 你冇事吖嘛？ (nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa3?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone is unhurt or safe following an accident, a fall or a sudden scare. It is typically used to express relief or concern when you see someone has just tripped or experienced a shock.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "You have no matter, right?", where 事 (si6) means a "matter", "event" or "trouble".
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa3?
When do people say it?
When someone asks if you are okay using this phrase, the standard response is 冇事 (mou5 si6), which means "nothing is wrong". You might also respond with 唔緊要 to indicate that "it's not a big deal." For an extremely informal way to ask "What's up?" or "How are you?", you can use 點呀？
Did you know?
- The character 事 (si6) in this phrase can also mean 'work' or 'job'. In other contexts, saying you have 'no matter' could be misinterpreted as being unemployed.
- Cantonese uses the word 冇 (mou5) for 'no' or 'not have', which is a distinct characteristic that separates it from Standard Mandarin, which uses 沒有 (méiyǒu).
- Adding the particle 嘛 (maa3) at the end changes the tone from a neutral question to one that implies the speaker expects the answer to be 'yes'.
Examples in context
- 你有冇事？Are you okay?
- 啱啱跌咗一跤，你冇事吖嘛？ngaam1 ngaam1 dit3 zo2 jat1 go1, nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa1?You just tripped, are you okay?
- 睇見你咁驚，你冇事吖嘛？tai2 gin3 nei5 gam3 geng1, nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa1?Seeing you so scared, are you okay?
Example conversation
Meiling sees Zhiqiang trip over a curb on the sidewalk.
- 美玲 Mei Ling志強，你冇事吖嘛？zi3 koeng4, nei5 mou5 si6 aa1 maa1?Zhiqiang, are you okay?
- 志強 Chi Keung我冇事，只係撞親膝頭。ngo5 mou5 si6, zi2 hai6 zong6 can1 se1 tau4.I'm okay, I just bumped my knee.
- 美玲 Mei Ling有無瘀咗呀？jau5 mou5 jyu1 zo2 aa1?Is it bruised?
- 志強 Chi Keung暫時未見得好嚴重。zam6 si4 mei6 gin3 dak1 hou2 jim4 zung6.It doesn't look too serious for now.
