bat1 zi1 gei2不知幾不知几
Jyutpingbat1 zi1 gei2
Yalebāt jī géi
Definition
Extremely; very; to an extent beyond the hearer's imagination.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This expression serves as an emphatic intensifier that carries a slightly argumentative or defensive tone. It is used to correct someone else's misconception by asserting that the degree of something is much higher than they realize. It often appears in sentences where the speaker is challenging a negative assumption about someone's feelings or a situation.
Examples
The food at this restaurant is incredibly delicious.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal question about ignorance, but it is strictly an adverbial intensifier. It cannot be used in a neutral context to describe a high degree; it must be used to counter an opposing view or expectation.
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.
