si6 maa3是嗎是吗
Jyutpingsi6 maa3
Yalesih ma
Definition
Is that so? Is that true? Really?
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Cantonese speakers rarely use the written form 是嗎 in speech, preferring the more natural 係咪呀 or 係咪㗎 instead. The structure 係咪 functions as a versatile tag question that can be attached to the end of a sentence or used on its own to express skepticism or request confirmation. Using the written form in casual conversation will sound stiff and unnatural to native ears.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 是嗎 because it appears in textbooks, but it is considered a Mandarin-influenced expression that does not fit the flow of spoken Cantonese.
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.
