gwaai3 zi1 dak1怪之得
Jyutpinggwaai3 zi1 dak1
Yalegwaai jī dāk
Definition
No wonder; expressing that something is now understood in light of new information.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This expression is a classic example of how spoken Cantonese often fuses multiple characters into a single rhythmic unit. It functions as a sentence starter to explain an observation based on newly acquired information. It carries a slightly more casual and emphatic tone than the standard written equivalent 怪不得.
Examples
No wonder he is so happy, it turns out he won the prize.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a verb or adjective, but it is strictly an adverbial phrase used to introduce a realization. It cannot be used to mean 'strange' or 'to blame'.
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.
