jau5 mut6 jau5有沒有有没有
Jyutpingjau5 mut6 jau5
Yaleyáuh muht yáuh
Definition
An interrogative phrase used to ask "is there?", "do you have?", or "have you?"
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 有冇 instead of the full 有沒有 in spoken Cantonese. It functions as a versatile question marker for existence, possession, or completion of an action. When asking about completed actions, it is often paired with 咗, such as 食咗飯未 or 有冇食過.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 有沒有 in spoken settings, which sounds overly formal or like a direct translation from Mandarin. Always stick to the contracted form 有冇 to sound natural.
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.
