又唔...又唔...

Neither...nor...

Level 3Sounds Like jau6 m4 . . . jau6 m4 . . .

The pattern 又唔...又唔... is the negative version of 又...又... (both... and...). It translates to 'neither... nor...' and is frequently used to complain about a situation where nothing is right or no action is being taken.

How It Works

The pattern 又唔...又唔... is a staple of colloquial Cantonese. While it can neutrally describe a lack of two things, it is most commonly used to express frustration, complaint, or a dilemma.

1. Usage with Adjectives:
When describing a person or object, it highlights multiple negative qualities.
Example: 呢間房又唔大，又唔乾淨 (This room is neither big nor clean).

2. Usage with Verbs (Stalemate):
It often describes a situation where someone refuses to take any of the available options, leading to a deadlock.
Example: 佢又唔行，又唔坐 (He won't walk, but he won't sit down either).

3. Object Topicalization:
For emphasis, Cantonese speakers often move the object to the front of each phrase. This makes the complaint sound more rhythmic and pointed.
Example: 你飯又唔食，水又唔飲 (You don't eat rice, and you don't even drink water).

4. Register:
This is a highly informal pattern. In formal written contexts, you would use 既唔...亦唔... (gei3 m4... jik6 m4...) instead.

Examples (5)

  1. 呢部電腦又唔平，又唔好用。

    This computer is neither cheap nor easy to use.

    Word by Word: This unit computer also not cheap, also not good use.

    Here, the pattern links two negative adjectives to express dissatisfaction with a purchase.

  2. 佢個人又唔醒目，又唔勤力。

    He is neither smart nor hardworking.

    Word by Word: He that person also not smart, also not hardworking.

    醒目 (sing2 muk6) means 'smart/bright'. This is a common way to list someone's flaws.

  3. 你信又唔寫，電話又唔打，人哋點知你想點呀？

    You don't write letters and you don't call; how are people supposed to know what you want?

    Word by Word: You letter also not write, phone also not hit, other people how know you want how [particle]?

    This example uses 'object topicalization' (putting 'letter' and 'phone' before the verb) to emphasize the lack of action.

  4. 我想走，但係佢又唔開門，又唔畀我行。

    I want to leave, but he won't open the door and won't let me go.

    Word by Word: I want leave, but he also not open door, also not give me walk.

    This demonstrates a stalemate where the subject is prevented from acting by two negative conditions.

  5. 件衫又唔係我買嘅，又唔係我整爛嘅。

    The shirt wasn't bought by me, and it wasn't broken by me either.

    Word by Word: Piece shirt also not is I buy [possessive], also not is I make broken [possessive].

    This uses 唔係 to negate entire facts or responsibilities.

Common Mistakes

  • Reversing the word order to '唔又'.

    佢唔又食，唔又飲。
    佢又唔食，又唔飲。

    In Cantonese, the adverb 又 (jau6 - also) must come before the negative particle 唔 (m4). Think of it as 'also not', not 'not also'.

  • Using '唔' when '冇' is required for possession.

    佢又唔錢，又唔時間。
    佢又冇錢，又冇時間。

    If you are saying someone 'does not have' something, you must use 冇 (mou5) instead of 唔 (m4). The pattern becomes 又冇...又冇...

  • Dropping the second '又'.

    佢又唔聽話，唔做功課。
    佢又唔聽話，又唔做功課。

    The pattern normally repeats 又 in both parts. Leaving out the second 又 breaks the balance and can sound like an afterthought.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

又唔...又唔...Level 3Neither...nor...

Learn This First

To understand '又唔...又唔...', you first need to be familiar with the basic '又...又...' (both... and...) structure and how to use the general negation marker '唔' to negate verbs and adjectives.

Words in This Pattern