gaa3㗎
Particle: that's just how it is (assertion)
keoi5佢go3個jan4人zau6就hai6係gam2咁gaa2㗎laa1喇，nei5你m4唔sai2使nau1嬲。
That's just the way he is, so you don't need to be angry.
Learn
Mood particles
Recognise the attitude sentence-final particles add: assertion, the obvious, noting, a guess, and tag questions
Learn the Cantonese for Particle: that's just how it is (assertion), Particle: it's obvious, what can you do (resigned), Particle: noting or reminding (just so you know), Particle: I'd guess, probably, Particle: right?, surely (tag). This lesson gives you each word with a clear example and romanization, plus audio so you can hear exactly how it sounds.
What you'll learn
- Particle: that's just how it is (assertion): 㗎 (gaa3)
- Particle: it's obvious, what can you do (resigned): 囉 (lo1)
- Particle: noting or reminding (just so you know): 喎 (wo3)
- Particle: I'd guess, probably: 啩 (gwaa3)
- Particle: right?, surely (tag): 吖嘛 (aa1 maa3)
You already know lots of words and can hold a conversation. Now let's make it sound natural. A tiny sound at the end of a sentence carries the speaker's attitude. The same sentence can feel like a flat fact, a shrug, a reminder, or a guess, all from one final particle. This lesson is about hearing which mood it is.
lo1囉
Particle: it's obvious, what can you do (resigned)
fan2份gung1工gam2咁san1辛fu2苦，gui6攰lo1囉，bat1不gwo3過mou5冇baan6辦faat3法。
The job is this tough, so of course I'm tired, but there's nothing I can do.
wo3喎
Particle: noting or reminding (just so you know)
wai3喂，ting1聽jat6日hai6係nei5你saang1生jat6日wo3喎，gei3記dak1得faan1返lai4嚟sik6食faan6飯！
Hey, tomorrow is your birthday, just so you know, remember to come back for dinner!
gwaa3啩
Particle: I'd guess, probably
keoi5佢zung6仲mei6未fuk1覆ngo5我，ho2可nang4能hai2喺dou6度hoi1開wui2會gwaa3啩。
He still hasn't replied to me, he's probably in a meeting, I'd guess.
aa1吖maa3嘛
Particle: right?, surely (tag)
nei5你dou1都zi1知keoi5佢hou2好zung1鍾ji3意jam2飲caa4茶aa1吖maa3嘛，joek3約keoi5佢heoi3去caa4茶lau4樓laa1啦。
You know he really likes yum cha, right? So let's invite him to the dim sum restaurant.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mood particles lesson free?
Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.
Which words does Mood particles teach in Cantonese?
This lesson covers Particle: that's just how it is (assertion), Particle: it's obvious, what can you do (resigned), Particle: noting or reminding (just so you know), Particle: I'd guess, probably, Particle: right?, surely (tag).
What romanization is used?
Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.
Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?
No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.