ho4 bat1何不
Jyutpingho4 bat1
Yalehòh bāt
Definition
Why not; used to suggest or ask why a certain action is not taken.
writtencommunication
How it's used
何不 carries a formal or literary tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday speech. It is mostly encountered in written texts, formal speeches, or when someone is deliberately trying to sound sophisticated or sarcastic. In normal conversation, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 點解唔 instead.
Examples
Since everyone wants to go, why not set off together?
The weather is so nice, why not go out for a walk?
Common mistake
Using 何不 in a casual setting can make you sound like you are quoting a classical text or being overly dramatic. Avoid it when talking to friends or family, as it will sound unnatural and possibly pretentious.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
