bat1 dak6 zi2不特只
Jyutpingbat1 dak6 zi2
Yalebāt dahk jí
Definition
Not only; not just.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Emphasizes an escalation of negative or surprising circumstances, often implying that the second point is even more extreme than the first. It carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone compared to the common 唔止 or 唔淨止. It is almost always followed by a secondary clause introduced by 仲 or 仲要 to highlight the additional action or attribute.
Examples
Not only was he late, he didn't even bring his homework.
This shop is not only expensive, the service is also terrible.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple conjunction like 唔止, but it is specifically used to add weight to a complaint or a surprising revelation. Using it in a neutral or positive context can sound unnatural or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
