Cantonese negation: m4, mou5, mei6, and mai5
Cantonese has four main negation words: m4, mou5, mei6, and mai5. Each one negates a different kind of statement, and choosing the wrong one is a common beginner mistake. This guide breaks down when to use each.
The four negation words at a glance
| Word | Use | Rough English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| m4 唔 | Negates verbs and adjectives in present or future | not, don't |
| mou5 冇 | Negates have, possession, or completed action | have no, didn't |
| mei6 未 | Negates yet, an unfinished or unfulfilled action | not yet, haven't |
| mai5 咪 | Soft negative imperative | don't (please) |
m4 唔: the everyday no
"m4" is the most common negation. It goes directly before a verb or adjective and negates it. Think of it as the all purpose"not".
mou5 冇: not have, didn't
"mou5" is the negative of "jau5 有" (to have, there is). It is also used to negate completed actions, replacing the aspect marker "zo2 咗" in the negative.
In a positive sentence about completed action, you use the aspect marker "zo2 咗": "ngo5 sik6 zo2 (I ate)". The negative is not "m4 sik6 zo2", it is"mou5 sik6 (I didn't eat)". The aspect marker drops entirely. This is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
mei6 未: not yet
"mei6" means "not yet". It implies that the action will or might happen later, but has not happened up to now. It is also the question form for "have you done X yet".
mai5 咪: don't
"mai5" is the soft negative imperative, used for telling someone not to do something. It is gentler than commanding and is common in everyday speech.
m4 hai6 唔係: not (a noun)
To say "is not" you combine "m4" with the verb"hai6 係" (to be). This is how you negate noun statements and identities.
Choosing the right negation
Quick decision guide:
- Negating a verb in the present or future? Use m4 唔.
- Saying you don't have something? Use mou5 冇.
- Negating a past action? Use mou5 冇 (drop the zo2).
- Saying not yet? Use mei6 未.
- Telling someone not to do something? Use mai5 咪.
- Negating a noun (X is not Y)? Use m4 hai6 唔係.
Common mistakes
Using m4 with completed actions
Saying "ngo5 m4 sik6 zo2" to mean "I didn't eat" is wrong. The correct form is "ngo5 mou5 sik6 我冇食"."m4" negates non past actions, not completed ones.
Confusing mou5 and mei6
"mou5 sik6" means "didn't eat" (a flat statement). "mei6 sik6" means "haven't eaten yet" (the eating is still expected). The difference matters in conversation.
Using m4 hai6 for verbs
"m4 hai6" is for negating noun statements. For verbs you use plain "m4". Saying "ngo5 m4 hai6 sik6 jyu4" is wrong. The correct form is "ngo5 m4 sik6 jyu4".
