bat1 daan1 zi2不單只不单只
Jyutpingbat1 daan1 zi2
Yalebāt dāan jí
Definition
Not only.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Although written as 不單只 in formal contexts, it is almost exclusively pronounced as 唔單只 in spoken Cantonese. It functions as a conjunction to introduce an additional point, frequently paired with 仲 or 仲要 to emphasize the second clause. It carries a slightly more emphatic tone than just using 唔止.
Related words
Common phrases
m4唔daan1單zi2只...zung6仲...
not only... but also...
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 唔止, which is a more versatile and common way to express not only. While they are interchangeable in many contexts, 唔單只 feels slightly more deliberate or formal in structure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
