點解 / 点解
dim² gaai²
The Cantonese word for 'why' can be expressed in several ways depending on the context, with 點解 / 点解 (dim² gaai²) being the standard form. Wiktionary also lists 為乜 / 为乜 (wai⁶ mat¹) and 做乜 (zou⁶ mat¹).
Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 點解 / 点解 | dim² gaai² |
| 為乜 / 为乜 | wai⁶ mat¹ |
| 做乜 | zou⁶ mat¹ |
| 做乜嘢 | |
| 做咩 | zou⁶ me¹ |
These terms are used to ask for a reason or to question someone's actions.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 做乜嘢 literally means 'doing what', but is frequently used to mean 'why' in a context of questioning someone's current activity.
Which one should you use?
點解 / 点解 is the most common and standard way to say 'why' in everyday Cantonese conversation. 為乜 / 为乜 is a more colloquial and slightly more forceful or blunt way to say 'why' compared to 點解. 做咩 is often used as a shorthand for 'why' when the question implies 'why are you doing [action]'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
點解 / 点解 is suitable for most social situations, including speaking to acquaintances or in semi-formal settings, whereas 做咩 is strictly informal.
How do you pronounce it?
dim² gaai²
Did you know?
- While 點解 is used for 'why', the characters literally mean 'how' and 'untie', suggesting that asking for a reason is like asking how to unravel a knot.
- Depending on the region, a speaker might use 為乜 to sound more like a character from a traditional opera or a rural dialect rather than modern city speech.
- When someone is acting strangely, a Cantonese speaker might use 做乜嘢 not to ask for a reason, but as a rhetorical way to say 'stop doing that'.
Examples in context
- 你做咩喊呀？Why are you crying?This sentence uses 做咩 to ask why someone is performing the action of crying.Tatoeba #422964 by nickyeow, translation #36405 by CK
- 做咩唔剃鬚？Why didn't you shave?This sentence uses 做咩 to ask why someone did not perform the action of shaving.Tatoeba #12059868 by thesilhouette, translation #6616536 by Eccles17
- 你同阿湯做乜？Why were you with Tom?This sentence uses 做乜 to ask why someone was with another person.Tatoeba #12133406 by thesilhouette, translation #2646153 by CK
- 點解你咁遲到？Why are you so late?
- 點解咁煩呢？Why are you so annoying?
- 點解咁嘅態度？Why such an attitude?
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “why” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
