m4 do1 to5唔多妥
Jyutpingm4 do1 to5
Yalem̀h dō tóh
Definition
Not quite right, suspicious, or feeling slightly unwell.
- suspicious; fishy; not quite right
- unwell; under the weather
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How it's used
Expresses a vague sense of suspicion or unease about a situation or a person's condition. It is a classic example of Cantonese understatement, where the speaker avoids being overly direct or accusatory by using the modifier 唔多. It is frequently used to signal that something feels suspicious, potentially dangerous, or simply out of place without needing to provide specific evidence.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to feel that something is not quite right
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of health, but it is much broader and can apply to anything from a broken machine to a shady business deal. Avoid using it to describe severe medical emergencies, as it sounds too casual and understated for serious situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
