ho4 bit1何必
Jyutpingho4 bit1
Yalehòh bīt
Definition
Why bother; there is no need to, used in rhetorical questions.
colloquialemotioncommunication
How it's used
Functions primarily as a rhetorical device to suggest that an action is futile, excessive, or unreasonable. It carries a slightly more formal or literary weight compared to the more common spoken phrase 點解要. When used at the end of a sentence, it often acts as a tag to emphasize the speaker's disapproval or sense of resignation.
Examples
We are friends, why bother being so calculating?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday requests where you simply want to ask 'why'. It is specifically for rhetorical questions where the answer is implied to be 'no'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
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Classifier
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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.
