mou5 zaa1 naa4冇揸拿

Jyutpingmou5 zaa1 naa4

Yalemóuh jā nàh

Definition

Unsure, or having little confidence in success.

colloquialemotionwork

How it's used

Originating from the Cantonese word 揸 meaning to hold or grasp, this expression literally implies that one cannot get a firm grip on a situation. It is frequently used in professional or decision making contexts to express hesitation or a lack of certainty regarding the outcome of an action. It carries a slightly more informal tone than saying 冇把握.

Examples

le1呢gin2件si6事ngo5我mou5冇zaa1揸naa4拿，nei5你man6問haa6下jan4人sin1先laa1啦。

I'm not sure about this, ask someone else first.

nei5你deoi3對ni1呢go3個gai3計waak6劃jau5有mou5冇zaa1揸naa4拿aa4呀？

Are you confident about this plan?

Common phrases

jyun4完cyun4全mou5冇zaa1揸naa4拿

have absolutely no confidence

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 冇拿拿, which is an adverb meaning suddenly or for no reason. While they sound similar, 冇揸拿 refers to a lack of confidence or certainty, whereas 冇拿拿 describes an unexpected event.