mou4 ji3無意无意
Jyutpingmou4 ji3
Yalemòuh yi
Definition
To have no intention of doing something; to be unwilling.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or semi-formal contexts to express a lack of desire or plan to perform an action. While it sounds perfectly natural in professional settings or news reports, it can feel slightly stiff or detached if used in casual, intimate conversation. Native speakers often prefer more direct phrasing like 唔想 or 冇諗住 for everyday social interactions.
Examples
He had no intention of offending you, please don't be angry.
Do you have no intention of joining this event?
Common phrases
no intention to cooperate
no intention to offend
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 無意中, which means accidentally or unintentionally. While 無意 describes a lack of intent, 無意中 describes an action that happened without prior planning or by pure coincidence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
