zoeng6 waa6像話像话
Jyutpingzoeng6 waa6
Yalejeuhng wah
Definition
Reasonable, proper, or meeting expected standards.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use this in the negative form 唔似樣 to express disapproval or to describe behavior that falls below acceptable standards. It functions as a strong way to label something as unprofessional, rude, or nonsensical. While it can technically be used in the positive, doing so sounds unnatural and is rarely heard in daily speech.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 像話 directly because it appears in Mandarin, but in Cantonese, you must use 似樣 instead. Using 像話 will sound like you are speaking Mandarin with Cantonese pronunciation.
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).
