hou2 maa1*3好嗎好吗
Jyutpinghou2 maa1*3
Yalehóu maa1*
Definition
Is it okay; is it alright; is it good or not.
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
Functions as a tag question to seek agreement or permission, often softening a request or suggestion. While grammatically standard, it can sound slightly formal or polite in spoken Cantonese compared to using particles like 呀 or 啦 at the end of a sentence. It is frequently used when the speaker wants to sound considerate or is asking for confirmation on a plan.
Examples
Let's go see a movie tomorrow, is that okay?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this as a direct translation of 'is it good' in every context, but it is primarily a request for consensus. If you want to ask if someone is feeling well, use 身體好嗎 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
