mei6 syun3未算
Jyutpingmei6 syun3
Yalemeih syun
Definition
Not yet considered as; not really; not very; not quite.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Use this to soften a negative judgment or to express that something falls short of a certain threshold. It functions as a polite way to disagree or to provide a nuanced opinion without being overly blunt. It often implies that while something might have some issues, it is not yet severe enough to be categorized as bad or extreme.
Examples
The food at this restaurant isn't exactly delicious.
Don't you think he's not that hard to get along with?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple negation like 唔係, but it specifically carries the nuance of not yet reaching a certain degree or standard. It is not used to negate the existence of something, but rather to qualify the extent of an attribute.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
