hai6係
Yes (to be) / Is
hai6係，ngo5我hai6係hoeng1香gong2港jan4人
Yes, I am from Hong Kong
Learn
Yes & No
Learn to agree and disagree
Answering questions in Cantonese works a little differently, because there is no all purpose word for yes or no. Instead you echo the verb: 係 (hai6) and 唔係 (m4 hai6) for “is” and “is not,” or 有 (jau5) and 冇 (mou5) for “have” and “don't have.” This lesson teaches that pattern so you can respond clearly and correctly.
What you'll learn
- Confirm something with “yes,” 係 (hai6)
- Disagree with “no, it isn't,” 唔係 (m4 hai6)
- Approve of something with “good” or “OK,” 好 (hou2)
- Decline or warn with “not good,” 唔好 (m4 hou2)
- Say you “have” something with 有 (jau5)
- Say you “don't have” it with 冇 (mou5)
In Cantonese, “yes” and “no” depend on the question asked. Let's learn the basics!
m4唔hai6係
No (not to be) / Is not
m4唔hai6係，ngo5我m4唔hai6係hok6學saang1生
No, I am not a student
hou2好
Good / OK / Yes
gam1今jat6日tin1天hei3氣hou2好hou2好
The weather is really good today
m4唔hou2好
Not good / Don't
m4唔hou2好haang4行gam2咁faai3快
Don't walk so fast
jau5有
Have / There is
nei5你jau5有mou5冇din6電waa2話hou6號maa5碼？
Do you have a phone number?
mou5冇
Don't have / There isn't
mou5冇man6問tai4題，ngo5我bong1幫nei5你
No problem, I'll help you
Frequently asked questions
How do you say yes in Cantonese?
There is no single word for yes. You usually repeat the verb in the question, so 係 (hai6) answers a question that uses “to be,” while 有 (jau5) answers one about having something.
How do you say no in Cantonese?
Add 唔 in front of the verb. 唔係 (m4 hai6) means “it isn't,” and 冇 (mou5) means “don't have” or “there isn't.”
What does 好 mean in Cantonese?
好 (hou2) means “good” or “OK,” and on its own it often works as a friendly “yes” or agreement, like saying “sure.”