m4 hai6 ge3 waa6唔係嘅話唔系嘅话

Jyutpingm4 hai6 ge3 waa6

Yalem̀h haih ge wah

Definition

Otherwise; if not; or else.

colloquialcommunicationdaily actions

How it's used

Connects two clauses where the first describes a necessary action and the second describes the negative consequence of failing to act. It functions as a conversational alternative to more formal connectors like 否則. Native speakers often shorten this to just 唔係, especially when the context of the consequence is already clear.

Examples

nei5你faai3快di1啲ceot1出mun4門hau2口laa1啦，m4唔hai6係ge3嘅waa2話wui2會ci4遲dou3到㗎。

You should leave now, otherwise you will be late.

daai3帶baa2把ze1遮heoi3去laa1啦，m4唔hai6係ge3嘅waa2話zan6陣gaan1間lok6落jyu5雨dim2點syun3算？

Bring an umbrella, otherwise what will you do if it rains later?

Common phrases

faai3快di1啲，m4唔hai6係ge3嘅waa2話

Hurry up, otherwise

Common mistake

Avoid using this to mean 'if it is not the case' in a literal sense, as it is strictly a conjunction for warnings or hypothetical negative outcomes. Learners sometimes confuse it with 唔係, which simply means 'is not'.