naai5乃
Jyutpingnaai5
Yalenáaih
Definition
To be; am, is, or are.
writtenother
How it's used
乃 functions as a formal, literary equivalent of 係. It is almost exclusively encountered in written Chinese, idioms, or highly formal speech, and would sound unnatural or pretentious in daily conversation. Using it in casual settings will make you sound like you are reciting a classical text.
Examples
Failure is the mother of success.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 乃 in everyday sentences where 係 is required. Remember that 乃 is not a direct substitute for 係 in spoken Cantonese; it carries a distinct literary weight that does not fit casual social interactions.
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.
