hou4 bat1毫不
Jyutpinghou4 bat1
Yalehòuh bāt
Definition
Not at all; completely without.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This term is significantly more formal than the common spoken equivalent 一啲都唔. It is primarily encountered in written texts, news reports, or formal speeches rather than casual conversation. When used in speech, it often carries a dramatic or emphatic tone to stress the complete absence of a quality or action.
Examples
He is not concerned about this matter at all.
Related words
Common phrases
without any hesitation
without any mercy
without any politeness
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this in everyday casual speech where it sounds overly stiff or literary. For daily interactions, it is much more natural to use 一啲都唔 or 一點都唔.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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.
