mat1 dou1 gaa2乜都假

Jyutpingmat1 dou1 gaa2

Yalemāt dōu gá

語句

Definition

Everything is pointless or bound to fail unless a key prerequisite condition is met.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Expresses a cynical or pragmatic outlook where a single missing element renders all other efforts futile. It functions as a strong concluding remark to dismiss alternative plans or excuses. The phrase emphasizes that the preceding condition is the absolute priority.

Examples

mou5冇gin6健hong1康zau6就mat1乜dou1都gaa2假。

Without health, everything else is meaningless.

nei5你m4唔nou5努lik6力，gong2講mat1乜dou1都gaa2假laa1啦。

If you don't work hard, whatever you say is pointless.

Common phrases

mou5冇cin2錢zau6就mat1乜dou1都gaa2假

Without money, everything is pointless

gong2講mat1乜dou1都gaa2假

Whatever you say is meaningless

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal claim that things are fake or dishonest, but it is actually a pragmatic expression about futility and lack of substance.