HKDictionary

Yes & No in Cantonese

Cantonese has no single word for yes or no — you answer by repeating the verb, and 係 / 唔係 (is / is not) covers a lot of it. Add a few stock replies like 冇問題 and 唔緊要 and you can respond to almost anything.

係
yes; to be
mˎ₄唔haiˍ₆係
used as a conjunctive: otherwise
mouˏ₅冇manˍ₆問taiˎ₄題
sure, no problem [華]: 沒問題, 沒有問題
mˎ₄唔ganˊ²緊jiu˗₃要
unimportant; not critical
mingˎ₄明baakˍ₆白
clear, obvious, evident
houˊ²好
well; all right; okay
mˎ₄唔houˊ²好
no good; not good. Mand.: 不好.
有
to have; yes (there is)
mouˏ₅冇
don't have; haven't; not; do not; have no
dakˉ¹得
be satisfied/complacent
mˎ₄唔dakˉ¹得
cannot; not possible | Synon.: 唔可能, 唔可, 唔可以 | Mand.: 不可能, 不可以, 不得 (lit.)
mˎ₄唔ziˉ¹知
do not know

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say yes in Cantonese?

Usually by repeating the verb or saying 係 (hai6), "it is". For agreeing to a plan, 好 (hou2) or 得 (dak1) means OK.

How do you say no in Cantonese?

唔係 (m4 hai6), it is not, or put 唔 (m4) before the verb from the question: 唔要 (do not want), 唔去 (not going).

How do you say never mind in Cantonese?

唔緊要 (m4 gan2 jiu3) — it does not matter, no worries. Useful after someone apologises.

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