bat1 min5不免
Jyutpingbat1 min5
Yalebāt míhn
Definition
Unavoidably, inevitably, or highly likely to happen.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This word carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in spoken Cantonese to describe predictable outcomes. It functions as an adverb to signal that a specific reaction or result is a natural consequence of a situation. It is often used to soften a criticism or to express empathy by acknowledging that a negative feeling is understandable.
Examples
You are so blunt when you speak, it is inevitable that people will feel upset.
Doing this for the first time, it is hard not to feel a bit nervous.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 避免, but 不免 describes an outcome that is hard to avoid, whereas 避免 is a verb meaning to actively prevent or avoid something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
