waa6 ze1話啫话啫
Jyutpingwaa6 ze1
Yalewah jē
Definition
Although; but still; used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a contrasting or concessionary thought.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Functions as a conversational concession marker that signals the speaker is about to qualify or contradict a previous statement. It often carries a slightly dismissive or skeptical tone, suggesting that while a certain fact might be true, it is not the whole story. It is frequently used to soften a critique or to express a lingering doubt after acknowledging an opposing viewpoint.
Examples
Well, although I say that, he is actually quite a nice person.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple conjunction like 但係, but it is specifically used to introduce a counterpoint to something just mentioned. It is almost always used at the very beginning of a sentence to frame the entire thought as a concession.
Grammar color guide
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Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
