bat1 tung4不同
Jyutpingbat1 tung4
Yalebāt tùhng
Definition
Different; distinct; not the same.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
While 不同 is understood in spoken Cantonese, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer 唔同 in natural conversation. Using 不同 can sound slightly more formal or literary, similar to how one might use written Chinese in a speech. It is perfectly acceptable in writing, but in daily life, 唔同 is the standard choice.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 不同 as a direct translation for all instances of different, but it can sound stiff or overly academic. Stick to 唔同 for casual interactions to avoid sounding like you are reading from a textbook.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
