bat1 si6 dik1不是的
Jyutpingbat1 si6 dik1
Yalebāt sih dīk
Definition
No; that is not the case.
writtencommunication
How it's used
This construction is a formal or written way to negate a situation or a previous statement. In spoken Cantonese, it is far more natural to use 唔係 or 唔係㗎. Using 嘅 at the end of a negative sentence often adds a sense of explanation or insistence that the speaker is clarifying a misunderstanding.
Related words
Common phrases
absolutely not the case
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a direct translation of 'no' in response to a question, but it sounds unnatural and overly literary in casual conversation. It is better to use 唔係 or 唔係呀 to sound like a local.
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.
