唔 m4 — the general "not"
唔 (m4) negates states, descriptions, and general/habitual actions — anything that isn't about possession or a completed event. It sits directly before the verb or adjective:
我唔知
Pronunciation ngo5 m4 zi1
I don't know
佢唔係學生
Pronunciation keoi5 m4 hai6 hok6 saang1
he/she isn't a student
我唔食辣
Pronunciation ngo5 m4 sik6 laat6
I don't eat spicy food
今日唔凍
Pronunciation gam1 jat6 m4 dung3
it's not cold today
唔好
Pronunciation m4 hou2
don't (literally "not good")
唔好 + verb = "don't X": 唔好走 = don't go
冇 mou5 — "don't have / didn't"
冇 (mou5) does two jobs:
- Negates 有 — "don't have / there isn't": 我冇錢 (ngo5 mou5 cin2) = "I have no money".
- Negates completed actions — "didn't": 我冇去 (ngo5 mou5 heoi3) = "I didn't go". It stands opposite the completion marker 咗.
我冇時間
Pronunciation ngo5 mou5 si4 gaan1
I don't have time
佢冇嚟
Pronunciation keoi5 mou5 lai4
he/she didn't come
我冇見過佢
Pronunciation ngo5 mou5 gin3 gwo3 keoi5
I've never met him/her
冇問題
Pronunciation mou5 man6 tai4
no problem
咗 zo2 — completed
咗 (zo2) after the verb marks a finished action — the closest thing to English past/perfect. If the action is done, add 咗:
我食咗飯
Pronunciation ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6
I've eaten (the meal is done)
佢走咗
Pronunciation keoi5 zau2 zo2
he/she has left
我買咗飛
Pronunciation ngo5 maai5 zo2 fei1
I bought the tickets
我沖咗涼喇
Pronunciation ngo5 cung1 zo2 loeng4 laa3
I've showered now
完 is a result complement (finish doing), not a 1:1 swap for 咗 — 沖完涼 = finish showering.
緊 gan2 (in progress) and 過 gwo3 (experienced)
緊 (gan2) = the action is happening right now — like English "-ing". 過 (gwo3) = the action has been experienced at least once — "have (ever) done":
我食緊飯
Pronunciation ngo5 sik6 gan2 faan6
I'm eating right now
佢瞓緊覺
Pronunciation keoi5 fan3 gan2 gaau3
he/she is sleeping
我去過日本
Pronunciation ngo5 heoi3 gwo3 jat6 bun2
I've been to Japan
你食過點心未?
Pronunciation nei5 sik6 gwo3 dim2 sam1 mei6
have you tried dim sum? (未 = not yet)
未 mei6 = "not yet" — answers: 食過 (yes) / 未食 (not yet)
Negation and aspect together
| English | Cantonese | Jyutping | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| I ate | 我食咗 | ngo5 sik6 zo2 | verb + 咗 |
| I didn't eat | 我冇食 | ngo5 mou5 sik6 | 冇 replaces 咗 in the negative |
| I'm eating | 我食緊 | ngo5 sik6 gan2 | verb + 緊 |
| I'm not eating | 我冇食緊 | ngo5 mou5 sik6 gan2 | 冇 + verb + 緊 |
| I've eaten before | 我食過 | ngo5 sik6 gwo3 | verb + 過 |
| I've never eaten it | 我冇食過 | ngo5 mou5 sik6 gwo3 | 冇 + verb + 過 |
Mini practice
"I don't know" — 唔 or 冇?
唔: 我唔知 (ngo5 m4 zi1). 唔 negates states and general verbs; 冇 is for possession or completed events.
How do you say "I didn't go"?
我冇去 (ngo5 mou5 heoi3). 冇 is the negator for completed actions — 冇 + verb, no 咗 needed.
What does 緊 (gan2) after a verb mean?
The action is in progress: 我食緊飯 = "I'm eating right now".
How do you ask "have you (ever) tried dim sum?"
你食過點心未? (nei5 sik6 gwo3 dim2 sam1 mei6) — 過 for experience + 未 "not yet" for the question.
咗, 緊, 過 — which goes where?
All attach after the verb: 食咗 (ate/done), 食緊 (eating now), 食過 (have eaten before).
