m4 hai6 aa5唔係呀唔系呀
Jyutpingm4 hai6 aa5
Yalem̀h haih áh
Definition
An expression of disbelief or surprise, meaning "surely not" or "you must be kidding".
colloquialcommunicationemotion
How it's used
Expresses genuine disbelief or shock at a piece of news, often functioning as a rhetorical question to prompt the speaker to confirm or deny their statement. It is frequently extended to 唔係呀嘛 to add a stronger sense of incredulity or to sound more conversational. The tone is highly dependent on the speaker's inflection, ranging from playful teasing to serious concern.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal or professional settings, as it can sound overly casual or even confrontational depending on the context. It is strictly for informal, peer-to-peer communication.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
