Language/Yue-chinese/Grammar/Negation

From Polyglot Club WIKI
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This lesson can still be improved. EDIT IT NOW! & become VIP
Rate this lesson:
0.00
(0 votes)
3BA6641D-6B53-4D40-A445-E14E1BE72CCF.png
Yue Chinese Grammar - Negation

Hi Yue Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Yue Chinese. This is an important aspect of language learning, as it allows us to express negative opinions, ideas, and thoughts in our conversations.


Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Nouns, Yue Chinese Grammar β†’ Final Review β†’ Comprehensive Review, Describing Actions & 0 to A1 Course.

Basic Negation with 冇[edit | edit source]

In Yue Chinese, one of the most common ways to express negation is by using the word "冇" (mou). This word is equivalent to the English word "no" or "not". We use it in conjunction with verbs or adjectives to create negative sentences. To make a negative statement, follow this pattern:

Verb / adjective + 冇

For example:

Yue Chinese Pronunciation English
ε†‡ι£Ÿ mou5 sik6 Not eating
ε†‡ιŒ’ mou5 cin2 No money
冇講粗口 mou5 gong2 cou1 hau2 Not speaking profanity

Here's a dialogue between two people. Notice how the verb "食" (to eat) is negated using "冇".

  • Person 1: δ½ ι£Ÿε’—ε†‡οΌŸ (nei5 sik6 zo2 mou5?) (Have you eaten?)
  • Person 2: ε†‡οΌŒζˆ‘ε†‡ι£Ÿγ€‚ (mou5, ngo5 mou5 sik6.) (No, I haven't eaten.)

Negating with ε””[edit | edit source]

Another common way to express negation in Yue Chinese is by using the character "ε””" (m4). This particle functions as a basic negator for verbs, indicating the negative tense, similar to the word "do not" in English. The structure of negation with ε”” is:

ε”” + Verb

For example:

Yue Chinese Pronunciation English
ε””ε–Š m4 haam3 Not crying
ε””ι£Ÿ m4 sik6 Not eating
ε””εŽ» m4 heoi3 Not going

Here's another dialogue between two people, this time using "ε””" to negate the verb "食" (to eat).

  • Person 1: δ½ ι£Ÿε’—ε†‡οΌŸ (nei5 sik6 zo2 mou5?) (Have you eaten?)
  • Person 2: ε””οΌŒζˆ‘ε†‡ι£Ÿγ€‚ (m4, ngo5 mou5 sik6.) (No, I haven't eaten.)

Negation with 冇得[edit | edit source]

"冇得" (mou5 dak1) is another common way to negate something in Yue Chinese. This phrase expresses the idea of "cannot" or "not able to". It is often used with verbs to indicate that someone is not able to do something. The structure of negation with 冇得 is:

Verb + 冇得

For example:

Yue Chinese Pronunciation English
ζΎε””εˆ° wan2 m4 dou2 Cannot find
ε†‡εΎ—ι£Ÿ mou5 dak1 sik6 Cannot eat
ηŽ©ε””εˆ° waan2 m4 dou2 Cannot play

Here's a dialogue between two people. Notice how "冇得" is used to express that someone cannot eat.

  • Person 1: δ½ ι£Ÿε””ι£Ÿε•ŠοΌŸ (nei5 sik6 m4 sik6 aa3?) (Are you going to eat?)
  • Person 2: ε†‡εΎ—οΌŒζˆ‘ι£Ÿε””εˆ°γ€‚ (mou5 dak1, ngo5 sik6 m4 dou2.) (I can't eat, I cannot find anything to eat.)

Negation with ε†‡δΉœ[edit | edit source]

"ε†‡δΉœ" (mou5 mat1) is another way Yue Chinese speakers use to negate. It is equivalent to "nothing" or "not at all" in English. The structure of negation with ε†‡δΉœ is:

Verb + ε†‡δΉœ

For example:

Yue Chinese Pronunciation English
ε†‡δΉœι‡Ž mou5 mat1 je5 Nothing
ε†‡δΉœη”¨ mou5 mat1 jung6 Useless
ε†‡δΉœηΆ“ι©— mou5 mat1 ging1 jim6 No experience

Here's another dialogue between two people, this time using "ε†‡δΉœ" to negate the idea of having no money.

  • Person 1: 今ζ—₯εŽ»ε””εŽ»ι£Ÿι£―οΌŸ(gam1 jat6 heoi3 m4 heoi3 sik6 faan6?) (Are you going to have dinner today?)
  • Person 2: ε†‡δΉœιŒ’οΌŒε””εŽ»γ€‚ (mou5 mat1 cin2, m4 heoi3.) (I don't have any money, I won't go.)

Review and practice[edit | edit source]

Now that we have learned the different ways to express negation in Yue Chinese, it's time to practice. Here's a short exercise:

Translate the following sentences into Yue Chinese:

1. I don't want to go. 2. There's nothing to see here. 3. She cannot speak Cantonese. 4. He's not singing. 5. We don't have time.

Cultural Tips[edit | edit source]

In Cantonese culture, using negative language can be considered impolite or even offensive. When communicating with others, try to frame your thoughts in a positive light or use indirect language. Showing politeness is valued in Cantonese culture and can help build better relationships with others.

If you're interested in learning more about Yue Chinese grammar, check out the Grammar section on the Yue Chinese page. To improve your Yue Chinese grammar, you can also use Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]


Contributors

Maintenance script

Create a new Lesson

Retrieved from "https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/index.php?title=Language/Yue-chinese/Grammar/Negation&oldid=204352"