mei1 zaa3咩咋
Jyutpingmei1 zaa3
Yalemēi ja
Definition
What else? What else could it be? Used to imply the answer is obvious.
colloquialparticledescriptions
How it's used
This expression carries a strong tone of skepticism or dismissal. It functions as a rhetorical tag that challenges the listener's premise, implying that the situation is far less significant or impressive than they suggest. It is frequently used to deflate someone's ego or to downplay the importance of an object or event.
Examples
It's only a few dollars, why be so calculative about it?
Related words
Common phrases
It's only a tiny bit
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the simple question particle 咩. While 咩 asks for confirmation or expresses surprise, 咩咋 adds a layer of belittling or dismissive attitude that specifically targets the scale or value of what is being discussed.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
