mai5 waa6咪話咪话
Jyutpingmai5 waa6
Yalemáih wah
Definition
Don't say; also used to express never mind or to introduce a contrasting statement.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Functions as a rhetorical marker to emphasize a point by inviting the listener to agree with a double negative. It is frequently used to express surprise or to highlight that something is unexpectedly intense, such as being very tasty or very tiring. The structure often appears as 咪話唔 followed by an adjective to underscore the strength of the quality being described.
Examples
The food at this restaurant is seriously delicious.
You have to admit, it is really hot today.
Related words
Common phrases
have to admit that it is very
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal command to be quiet, but it is actually a discourse particle used to build rapport. It is not used to tell someone to stop talking, but rather to signal that the speaker is about to share a strong opinion or observation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
