zou6 me1做咩
Definition
Why; what for; what are you doing?
How it's used
This is a highly versatile contraction of 做乜嘢, functioning as a direct way to ask why someone is doing something or why a situation is occurring. It carries a slightly more informal and sometimes confrontational tone compared to the full form, depending heavily on the speaker's intonation. When used as a standalone question, it can sound quite blunt or aggressive, similar to asking "What are you doing?" or "What's the meaning of this?" in an accusatory manner.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal settings or with people you do not know well, as it can easily be perceived as rude or challenging. Learners often mistakenly use it as a direct translation for the English "why" in all contexts, but it is specifically tied to actions rather than abstract reasons.
Grammar color guide
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.
