gam1禁
Jyutpinggam1
Yalegām
Definition
To prohibit, forbid, or ban; to establish rules or laws to disallow an action.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on formal or institutional authority, such as government regulations or building rules. It is rarely used in casual, interpersonal settings where you would instead use 唔准 or 唔俾 to tell someone not to do something. When used as a noun, it often appears in compound words like 禁區 or 禁令.
Examples
Smoking is prohibited here, you are not allowed to smoke here.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to express personal disapproval or to tell a friend not to do something, as it sounds overly authoritative or legalistic. Use 唔准 instead for everyday requests.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
