冇喇
mou5 laa3
In Cantonese, "no more" is expressed as 冇喇 (mou5 laa3).
冇喇 is commonly used as a complete sentence to answer a question about whether a resource or an item is still available.
Meaning: not any longer (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 冇, which means "to not have" and the particle 喇, which indicates a change of state.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 喇 is used here to signal that a previous state of having something has now changed to a state of not having it.
How do you pronounce it?
mou5 laa3
Did you know?
- While 冇 means 'to not have', it is also used in Cantonese to say that a person 'does not exist' or has passed away, making 冇喇 a phrase that can imply someone is no longer among the living in specific contexts.
- The word 冇 is an example of a Cantonese-specific character that is not used in formal written Chinese, where 沒有 is required instead.
- If a waiter asks if you want more tea and you answer 冇喇, you aren't just saying there is no more tea, but that you are finished and do not desire any more.
Examples in context
- 我冇喇。ngo5 mou5 laa3.I don't have any more.
- 個袋入面啲錢冇喇。go3 doi6 jap6 min6 di1 cin2 mou5 laa3.The money in the bag is all gone.
- 你仲有冇呀？我冇喇。nei5 zung6 jau5 mou5 aa3? ngo5 mou5 laa3.Do you have any more? I don't have any more.
Example conversation
嘉欣 and 俊傑 are checking the snacks in the pantry.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan俊傑，仲有冇薯片呀？zeon3 kit3, zung6 jau5 mou5 syu4 pin2 aa3?Junkit, are there any more potato chips?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit睇吓個袋，好似冇喇。tai2 haa5 go3 doi6, hou2 ci5 mou5 laa3.Look at the bag, it seems there are no more.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan真係冇喇呀？zan1 hai6 mou5 laa3 aa3?There really are no more?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit係呀，全部食晒喇。hai6 aa3, cyun4 bou6 sik6 saai3 laa3.Yes, they have all been eaten.
