咯 (lok3)

And That's That

Level 3Sounds Like lok6

The particle 咯 (lok3) is the 'case closed' marker. It signals that a situation is final, unchangeable, or that the speaker has accepted an obvious reality with a sense of resignation.

How It Works

1. Subsyllabic Components
Linguistically, 咯 (lok3) can be analyzed through its subsyllabic components: the initial 'l-' (indicating realization of a state), the vowel 'o' (indicating noteworthiness), and the stopped coda '-k' (adding definitive finality or emotional intensity). The sense of 'obviousness' often associated with this family of particles comes specifically from its Tone 1 counterpart, 囉 (lo1). 咯 (lok3) marks a fact that is now the case, and definitively so.

2. Finality and Resignation
The primary use of 咯 (lok3) is to indicate that a state of affairs has reached its end. It is used when there are no more options left or when the speaker is resigning themselves to a situation. For example, '冇計咯' (mou5 gai3 lok3) means 'There's no way out, and that's just the final reality.'

3. Matter-of-Fact Confirmation and Vindication
Unlike the lighter 囉 (lo1), 咯 (lok3) is heavy and matter-of-fact. When someone says '係咯！' (hai6 lok3!), they are not being enthusiastic; rather, they are saying 'Indeed it is' or 'That is just how it is.' It is often used for vindication, carrying an 'I told you so' tone when confirming a fact previously stated or warned about.

4. Expressing Impatience and Sharp Reminders
Because of its abrupt sound, 咯 (lok3) is frequently used to express impatience, especially when the speaker is forced to repeat something they have already said. A very common structure for this is '都話...咯' (dou1 waa6... lok3), meaning 'I already told you... / I already said...'. It signals that the listener should have already known the fact, making the repetition feel like a final, sharp reminder.

5. Inevitable Consequence
咯 (lok3) is also used to mark the inevitable, final result of a condition. Rather than just stating an obvious fact, it emphasizes resignation to the consequence. For example, '你唔食就會肚餓咯' (nei5 m4 sik6 zau6 wui5 tou5 ngo6 lok3) means 'If you don't eat, then you'll just go hungry, and that's the final consequence.'

6. Phonetic Quality and Comparison
This is a Tone 3 (Mid Level) particle ending in an 'unreleased stop' (-k). This 'stopped' sound provides a sense of definitive closure. It can be seen as a stronger, more abrupt, and heavier version of 囉 (lo3) (irrevocability or definitive current situation), carrying more finality than 喇 (laa3).

7. Orthography and Register
Note that while 咯 is the standard character for lok3, native speakers sometimes loosely type 囉 for it in casual texting. Like most sentence-final particles, 咯 (lok3) is strictly used in spoken Cantonese and informal written Cantonese, and would not appear in formal Standard Written Chinese.

8. Politeness and Social Warning
Because 咯 (lok3) is heavy and abrupt, learners need to be careful when using it. Using it too casually with strangers, elders, or superiors can sound rude, dismissive, defensive, or overly aggressive. It is best reserved for close friends or situations where you genuinely need to express absolute finality or resignation.

Examples (6)

  1. 冇計咯。

    There's nothing that can be done (and that's that).

    Word by Word: No plan [particle].

    This is a very common idiomatic expression. The 咯 (lok3) emphasizes that the speaker has accepted there are no more solutions and is resigning to the final reality.

  2. 係咯！我都係咁話！

    Indeed. That's exactly what I've been saying.

    Word by Word: Is [particle]! I also is so say!

    In this context, 咯 (lok3) functions as a heavy, matter-of-fact confirmation. It carries a vindicated 'I told you so' tone rather than enthusiasm, confirming a fact that is now definitively proven.

  3. 你愛就愛，唔愛就算咯。

    Take it if you want; if not, then forget it (I'm done talking about it).

    Word by Word: You want then want, not want then forget [particle].

    Here, 咯 (lok3) signals that the speaker is closing the offer and won't negotiate further, adding a layer of abrupt finality.

  4. 都話唔要咯！

    I already told you I don't want it!

    Word by Word: Already say not want [particle].

    In this context, 咯 (lok3) expresses impatience, signaling that the speaker is annoyed at having to repeat a previously stated fact.

  5. 唯有係咁咯。

    That's the only way it can be, then.

    Word by Word: Only have is so [particle].

    This expresses resignation to a situation that cannot be changed, acknowledging the 'new reality' of the situation with a sense of definitive closure.

  6. 都話咗係咯！

    I told you it was so!

    Word by Word: Already said [perf.] is [particle]!

    This perfectly captures the 'I told you so' vindication usage of 咯 (lok3), emphasizing that the speaker's previous warning or statement has been definitively proven true.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 囉 (lo1) when you mean 咯 (lok3).

    Different Meaning係噉囉 (hai6 gam2 lo1)
    係噉咯 (hai6 gam2 lok3)

    係噉囉 is natural: 囉 (lo1) points out that something is obvious (sometimes sounding condescending). 咯 (lok3) sounds like you are accepting a final, perhaps unfortunate, reality.

  • Using 咯 (lok3) when you only mean a neutral change of state.

    Different Meaning我食咗飯咯 (ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6 lok3)
    我食咗飯喇 (ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6 laa3)

    我食咗飯咯 is fine; 咯 (lok3) adds a feeling that the matter is settled ('so that is that'). If you just want to say 'I have eaten', use 喇 (laa3).

How It Connects

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咯 (lok3)Level 3And That's That

Learn This First

The particle 咯 (lok3) is a combination of the 'obviousness' of 囉 (lo1) and the 'change of state' or 'finality' of 喇 (laa3). To understand it, learners should already be familiar with basic sentence-final particles and how tone changes affect their meaning.

Words in This Pattern