jiu3 mo1要麼要么
Jyutpingjiu3 mo1
Yaleyiu mō
Definition
Either... or...
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 一係 to express the either or structure. While 要麼 exists in written Chinese and is understood, using it in spoken Cantonese sounds unnatural and overly formal, as if reading from a textbook.
Related words
Common phrases
either... or...
Common mistake
Avoid using 要麼 in casual conversation because it sounds like a direct translation from Mandarin. Stick to 一係 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
