mat1 dung1 dung1乜東東乜东东
Jyutpingmat1 dung1 dung1
Yalemāt dūng dūng
Definition
What; a playful way to refer to something the speaker cannot identify.
colloquialothercommunication
How it's used
This term carries a playful, slightly humorous, or dismissive tone compared to the standard 乜嘢. It is often used when the speaker is genuinely puzzled by an object or finds it strange, bizarre, or unworthy of a proper name. Using it can make your speech sound more casual and expressive, but avoid it in formal settings like business meetings or academic contexts.
Examples
What is that thing you are holding in your hand?
I really have no idea what this thing is.
Related words
Common phrases
what on earth are you doing
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with standard interrogatives. It is not a direct replacement for 乜嘢 in every context, as it specifically emphasizes the speaker's confusion or the odd nature of the object being discussed.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
