bat1 hang4不行
Jyutpingbat1 hang4
Yalebāt hàhng
Definition
Cannot, not allowed, or not viable.
- cannot; to be unable to
- not allowed; forbidden; to not approve
- to not work; to be unviable or unsuccessful
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
While the written form is 不行, in spoken Cantonese this is almost exclusively pronounced and written as 唔行. It functions as a versatile way to describe something that is physically blocked, logically unfeasible, or socially unacceptable. It carries a slightly more informal and direct tone than using 唔得.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 唔行 with 唔得. While both can mean not allowed, 唔行 specifically carries the nuance of a plan or method failing to produce results, whereas 唔得 is more general and often relates to permission or ability.
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
