Grammar
Saying yes and no
How to answer questions without a word for yes or no
0words
20XP
3–4min
Grammar
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)
hai6 / m4 hai6係 / 唔係
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.
nei5你hai6係m4唔hai6係hou2好？
Are you well?
hai6係。
Yes, I am.
nei5你ming4明m4唔ming4明？
Do you understand?
m4唔ming4明。
No, I don't.
nei5你jau5有mou5冇man6問tai4題？
Do you have any problems?
mou5冇。
No, I don't.
Recap
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.