bat1 sai3不細不细
Jyutpingbat1 sai3
Yalebāt sai
Definition
Not small; of considerable size, amount, or degree.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Cantonese speakers prefer using the negative form 唔細 to describe something that is large or spacious, rather than using the positive adjective 大. This is a classic example of litotes, where a negative is used to express a positive quality, often implying that the speaker is pleasantly surprised by the size. It carries a slightly more conversational and understated tone than simply saying something is big.
Related words
Common phrases
the place is quite large
Common mistake
Avoid using 不細 in spoken Cantonese, as it sounds formal and literary. Always use 唔細 instead to maintain the natural colloquial rhythm of the language.
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.
