jaa5 bat1也不
Jyutpingjaa5 bat1
Yaleyáh bāt
Definition
Also not; neither.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Cantonese speakers do not use the term 也不 in spoken language, as it is a Mandarin construction. Instead, the structure 唔... 都唔... is used to express the concept of neither or also not. The first 唔 negates the verb or adjective, while the second 唔 combined with 都 reinforces the negative state for the second subject or object.
Common mistake
Using 也不 in conversation will sound unnatural and overly formal, as if you are reading from a textbook or a written report. Always use the colloquial structure 唔... 都唔... to sound like a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
