bat1 zeon2不准
Jyutpingbat1 zeon2
Yalebāt jéun
Definition
To not allow; to prohibit; to be forbidden.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 不准 is widely understood, it carries a formal or authoritative tone often found on signs or in official rules. In casual, everyday speech, Cantonese speakers almost always prefer using 唔俾 to express prohibition or refusal. Using 不准 in a friendly conversation can sound overly stern or like you are reciting a regulation.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 不准 as a direct translation for any kind of 'no' or 'don't', but it is specifically for formal prohibitions. For simple requests like 'don't do that', use 唔好 instead.
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.
