發生咩事
faat3 sang1 me1 si6
發生咩事 (faat3 sang1 me1 si6) is the Cantonese way to say "what happened".
This phrase is used to ask for an explanation of a situation that has just unfolded or is currently causing a disturbance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 發生咩事 is composed of 發生 (to happen/occur), 咩 (what) and 事 (matter/event/affair).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In more formal or standard contexts, you may use 發生咗乜嘢事 instead of 發生咩事. This is because using 乜嘢 (mat1 je5) instead of 咩 (me1) makes the question sound more formal or standard.
How does it change in a sentence?
To emphasize that an event has already occurred, you can add the aspect marker 咗 (zo2) after the verb 發生 (faat3 sang1), resulting in 發生咗咩事.
How do you pronounce it?
faat3 sang1 me1 si6
Did you know?
- While 咩 means 'what' in this phrase, using it in other contexts can turn a statement into a skeptical or sarcastic question. It acts as a marker of doubt, similar to adding 'really?' to the end of an English sentence.
- The character 事 (si6), meaning 'matter' or 'event', is also the root for the word 'job' or 'work' in many contexts, meaning that 'what happened' is linguistically linked to the concept of 'tasks'.
- In Cantonese, the word 事 used in this phrase can also mean 'trouble' or 'problem'. If someone asks 有咩事 (is something the matter), they are often subtly asking if there is a crisis or a conflict to resolve.
Examples in context
- 發生咩事？faat1 sang1 me1 si6?What happened?
- 佢哋發生咩事呀？keoi5 dei6 faat1 sang1 me1 si6 aa3?What happened to them?
- 唔知發生咩事，我好驚。m4 zi1 faat1 sang1 me1 si6, ngo5 hou2 geng1.I don't know what happened, I'm very scared.
Example conversation
Ka Yan notices Jun Kit looking upset in the office.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan俊傑，你點呀？發生咩事？zeon3 kit3, nei5 dim2 aa3? faat1 sang1 me1 si6?Jun Kit, what's wrong? What happened?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我部電腦壞咗。ngo5 bou6 din6 nou5 waai6 zo2.My computer broke.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan係咩？要唔要搵人整呀？hai6 me1? jiu3 m4 jiu3 wan2 jan4 zing2 aa3?Really? Do you need to find someone to fix it?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好呀，唔該晒。hou2 aa3, m4 goi1 saai3.Yes, thank you.
