ji4 m4 hai6而唔係而唔系
Jyutpingji4 m4 hai6
Yaleyìh m̀h haih
Definition
And not; instead of; rather than.
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
Use this conjunction to explicitly contrast two options or actions by negating the second one. It functions similarly to the English phrase 'rather than' or 'instead of' but is specifically used to clarify a correction or a preference. It is highly common in spoken Cantonese for clarifying misunderstandings or setting boundaries.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to connect two positive clauses, as it requires a negative element to function correctly. It is not a direct translation for the English 'and' in all contexts, only when you are contrasting two mutually exclusive choices.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
