gaai1 bat1皆不
Jyutpinggaai1 bat1
Yalegāai bāt
Definition
Neither; none of them; all do not.
writtenother
How it's used
This expression is strictly formal and literary, appearing almost exclusively in written documents, news reports, or formal speeches. It functions as a negative quantifier meaning all do not or none of them. In everyday spoken Cantonese, you would naturally use 大家都唔 instead of this construction.
Examples
Neither of the two of them approves of this plan.
None of the attendees are willing to disclose their names.
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this in casual conversation, which sounds jarringly out of place. It is a written-only term that carries a high register, so avoid using it in text messages or face-to-face interactions.
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.
