Saying yes and no
How to answer questions without a word for yes or no
Cantonese has no direct word for “yes” or “no,” so answering a question means repeating the key verb. If someone asks using 係 (hai6), you reply with 係 or 唔係; if they ask with 有 (jau5), you answer 有 or 冇. This lesson reinforces that pattern so your answers always sound natural and correct.
Saying yes and no
Cantonese has no single word for **yes** or **no**. To answer a question, you repeat the **verb** from the question. Let's see how it works.
Echo the verb
V → V (yes) / 唔V (no)
To answer a question, repeat the verb to say yes, or put 唔 in front of it to say no. The verb 有 (have) is the exception: its no is 冇, never 唔有.
Are you a Hongkonger?
Yes, I am.
Do you understand?
No, I don't.
Do you have any problems?
No, I don't.
Echo the verb
There's no single word for **yes** or **no** in Cantonese. You answer by echoing the **verb**: repeat it for yes, or add the negative for no. The one exception is **have**, whose no is its own special word, not the verb with a negative.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say yes and no in Cantonese?
Instead of fixed words, you echo the verb from the question. Answering with the verb means yes, and adding 唔 or using 冇 makes it no.
Why is there no word for yes in Cantonese?
Cantonese answers questions by repeating the main verb rather than using a single yes or no word. It feels unusual at first but quickly becomes second nature.
How do you answer a have or not question in Cantonese?
If the question uses 有 (jau5), reply 有 to mean “yes, I have” or 冇 (mou5) to mean “no, I don't.”