mou5 mat1冇乜
Jyutpingmou5 mat1
Yalemóuh māt
Definition
Not much, not many, or very little; having only a small quantity or degree left.
colloquialdescriptionsdaily actions
How it's used
Functions as a versatile quantifier that softens a negative statement, making it sound less blunt or absolute. It is frequently used to express a mild lack of interest, opinion, or quantity. Unlike the more formal or emphatic 冇幾多, 冇乜 feels casual and is the standard way to downplay something in daily conversation.
Examples
I don't have much of an appetite for food today.
Do you think there is anything special about this restaurant?
Related words
Common phrases
doesn't really matter; indifferent
not in the mood; lack of motivation
Common mistake
Avoid using 冇乜 with countable nouns in a way that implies a specific small number, as it focuses on the general lack of degree or quantity. It is not a direct translation for a few, which would be 幾個 or 一啲.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
