jat1 hai6一係一系

Jyutpingjat1 hai6

Yaleyāt haih

連詞Very common

Definition

Either... or; used before options to indicate that one of them must be chosen.

colloquialdaily actions

How it's used

This structure is used to present a forced choice between two mutually exclusive options. It often carries a slightly impatient or demanding tone, as it implies that no other alternatives are acceptable. You will frequently hear it paired with 就 to emphasize the choice being made.

Examples

nei5你jat1一hai6係zau6就faan1返uk1屋kei2企，jat1一hai6係zau6就tung4同ngo5我ceot1出heoi3去。

Either you go home, or you come out with me.

jat1一hai6係sik6食faan6飯，jat1一hai6係sik6食min6麵，nei5你gaan2揀jat1一joeng6樣laa1啦。

Either eat rice or eat noodles, you pick one.

Related words

Common phrases

jat1一hai6係zau6就

either

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 一係 to mean 'maybe' or 'perhaps', but it strictly functions as a correlative conjunction for 'either or'. It cannot be used to express uncertainty about a single event.