maan6 maan6萬萬万万
Jyutpingmaan6 maan6
Yalemaahn maahn
Definition
Absolutely; by all means, followed by a negative.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Emphasizes a strong prohibition or warning, functioning as an intensifier for negative imperatives. It carries a formal or serious tone, often appearing in written instructions or stern advice given by elders. Unlike standard negation, it implies that the consequences of the action would be severe or irreversible.
Examples
You absolutely must not tell anyone about this matter.
This opportunity absolutely cannot be missed.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it in positive contexts, but it must always be paired with a negative word like 唔 or 冇 to function correctly.
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.
