唔
m4
The Cantonese word for 'not' is 唔 (m4).
唔 is used to express negation or to deny that something is true. It is placed directly before the verb or adjective it is negating.
Which one should you use?
Use 唔 to negate verbs and adjectives. If you want to negate a noun or an identity to say 'is not', you must combine it with the verb 係 to form 唔係. To express that something is not possessed or does not exist, use 冇 instead of 唔.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the word 冇 is primarily used to mean 'not to have' or 'not to possess'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specifically negate a noun or identity (to say 'is not'), use the combination 唔係.
How do you pronounce it?
m4
Did you know?
- When used as an interjection, 唔 can function as a humming sound or a hesitant 'um' that is distinct from its use as a negation.
- If you want to say 'not' in a very formal or literary setting, you would use 非, which creates a completely different sentence structure than 唔.
- Adding the particle 啦 after a negation like 唔好啦 can turn a firm 'no' into a soft, polite refusal.
Examples in context
- 佢唔係傻仔。He's not an idiot.This sentence shows how to use 唔 to negate an adjective.Tatoeba #4534081 by kaenif, translation #840139 by papabear
- 我決定唔去。I decided not to go.This sentence demonstrates using 唔 to negate a verb.Tatoeba #5761248 by nickyeow, translation #241095 by CK
- 你嚟唔嚟㗎？Are you coming or not?This sentence shows how 唔 is used in a question to ask 'or not'.Tatoeba #6484994 by nickyeow, translation #1448317 by CK
- 我唔使去I don't need to go.
- 唔好去Don't go.
- 444 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 志強 Chi Keung你唔係好肚餓呀？nei5 m4 hai6 hou2 tou2 ngo6 aa3?You aren't very hungry?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我唔係唔肚餓，但係唔想食飯。ngo5 m4 hai6 m4 tou2 ngo6, daan6 si6 m4 soeng2 sik6 faan6.It's not that I'm not hungry, but I don't want to eat rice.
- 志強 Chi Keung咁我哋唔食飯，食麵好唔好？gam2 ngo5 dei6 m4 sik6 faan6, sik6 min6 hou2 m4 hou2?Then let's not eat rice, how about noodles?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好呀，我唔介意。hou2 aa3, ngo5 m4 gai3 ji6.Sure, I don't mind.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
