fei1非
Jyutpingfei1
Yalefēi
Definition
To not be; to negate.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
非 is primarily used in formal, written, or literary contexts in Cantonese. It often appears in set idioms or formal expressions to add emphasis to a negation. In everyday spoken Cantonese, 唔係 or 唔係要 is almost always preferred over 非.
Examples
This matter is no small thing, you need to be careful.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 非 as a direct replacement for 唔 in casual speech, which sounds unnatural or overly dramatic. It is not a general purpose negation particle.
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.
