mou5 lei5 jau4冇理由
Jyutpingmou5 lei5 jau4
Yalemóuh léih yàuh
Definition
No reason; it makes no sense; there is no way that.
- unreasonable; illogical; making no sense
- expressing disbelief or denial; "it is impossible that", "no way"
colloquialemotioncommunication
How it's used
Expresses disbelief or shock when reality contradicts one's expectations or logic. It functions as a rhetorical device to challenge a situation rather than just stating a lack of justification. When used to express denial, it often carries an emotional weight of frustration or confusion.
Examples
He is usually so sharp, there's no way he would make this kind of mistake.
That can't be right, I clearly put it on the table.
Common mistake
Avoid using this as a literal statement of lacking a reason, such as when explaining why you did not do something. For that purpose, use 冇原因 instead.
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.
