wai6 mat1為乜为乜
Jyutpingwai6 mat1
Yalewaih māt
Definition
Why; for what reason.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Carries a slightly more direct or confrontational tone than the standard 點解. It often implies a sense of frustration or a demand for justification regarding someone's actions. Using it can make a question sound more inquisitive or even challenging depending on the speaker's intonation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it in formal writing or professional settings, as it is strictly colloquial. It is not interchangeable with 點解 in contexts where a neutral or polite tone is required.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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.
