m4 tung1唔通
Jyutpingm4 tung1
Yalem̀h tūng
Definition
Could it be that, or is it possible that; used to add emphasis to a rhetorical question.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Often used to express suspicion, disbelief, or a sudden realization about a situation. It functions as a rhetorical marker that guides the listener toward a specific, often negative or surprising, conclusion. It is almost exclusively used in questions, serving to frame the speaker's internal speculation as a query.
Examples
He is always absent from work, could it be that he wants to resign?
There is no one here, is it possible that they have already left?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a literal question about possibility, but it is heavily loaded with the speaker's own bias or worry. It is not used to ask for factual information, but rather to voice a hunch or a rhetorical doubt.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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.
