jau5 mou5有冇
Jyutpingjau5 mou5
Yaleyáuh móuh
Definition
To have or not; used to ask if someone possesses something or has done something.
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Functioning as a contraction of 有冇, this phrase is the standard way to form yes or no questions about possession or experience. It effectively replaces the need for a final particle like 嗎, which is not used in Cantonese. When asking about completed actions, it is often paired with 咗 to inquire if something has already occurred.
Examples
Have you eaten today?
Is there any space to sit here?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly add 嗎 at the end of the sentence, which is redundant and sounds unnatural. Since the question is already formed by the A-not-A structure of 有冇, the sentence is already interrogative.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
