Adjective + 唔 + Adjective

In Cantonese, the primary method for forming polar (yes/no) questions about qualities is the A-not-A structure.

1. Single-Syllable Adjectives
For single-syllable adjectives, repeat the word with 唔 (m4, 'not') in the middle:

• 貴 (gwai3, 'expensive') → 貴唔貴 (gwai3 m4 gwai3)
• 靚 (leng3, 'pretty') → 靚唔靚 (leng3 m4 leng3)
• 忙 (mong4, 'busy') → 忙唔忙 (mong4 m4 mong4)

2. Two-Syllable Adjectives (Truncation)
For two-syllable adjectives (AB), Cantonese typically truncates the first adjective before 唔 (m4), using the A-唔-AB pattern:

• 乾淨 (gon1 zeng6, 'clean') → 乾唔乾淨 (gon1 m4 gon1 zeng6)
• 舒服 (syu1 fuk6, 'comfortable') → 舒唔舒服 (syu1 m4 syu1 fuk6)

While repeating the full phrase (such as 乾淨唔乾淨) is grammatically acceptable and naturally used by native speakers, the truncated A-唔-AB form is the preferred and most common spoken form.

3. Pronunciation in Connected Speech
In clear or deliberate speech, the Cantonese negator 唔 retains its full syllabic nasal tone (Tone 4: m4). In fast connected speech, however, 唔 is often phonetically reduced, unstressed, or contracted with adjacent words. For example, 貴唔貴 (gwai3 m4 gwai3) often reduces to 'gwai3-m-gwai3', where the 'm' loses its tone and acts as a quick consonant bridge between the syllables.

4. Exception: Adjectives with 有 (jau5)
State adjectives that begin with 有 (jau5, 'to have'), such as 有用 (jau5 jung6, 'useful'), have their own special negative form 冇 (mou5, 'not have'). Because of this, the pattern becomes '有冇 + [Quality]', dropping the second 有 entirely to form 有冇用 (jau5 mou5 jung6).

5. Sentence-Final Particles
Asking a bare A-not-A question is standard and common in direct conversation. Speakers often attach sentence-final particles to tailor the tone—for example, 呀 (aa3) softens the prompt, while 㗎 (gaa3) adds a nuance of checking background assumptions or seeking confirmation.

6. Dropping Degree Adverbs
Because adjectives in statements usually require a degree adverb like 好 (hou2, 'very') (e.g., 佢好高 keoi5 hou2 gou1, 'He is very tall'), you must drop it when forming the question: 佢高唔高？ (keoi5 gou1 m4 gou1?, 'Is he tall?'). Degree adverbs such as 好, 太 (taai3, 'too'), or 幾 (gei2, 'quite') cannot be used inside an A-not-A pattern. For example, to ask if something is expensive, you must say 貴唔貴 (gwai3 m4 gwai3), not *好唔好貴 (hou2 m4 hou2 gwai3). To ask if something is 'very [adjective]', you should use the 係咪 (hai6 mai6) pattern instead (e.g., 係咪好貴？ hai6 mai6 hou2 gwai3?).

7. Answering the Question
When answering yes or no to an Adj-唔-Adj question, simply repeat the adjective. Use the positive adjective for "yes" (e.g., 貴 gwai3) and the negated adjective for "no" (e.g., 唔貴 m4 gwai3). For adjectives starting with 有 (jau5), the negative answer uses 冇 (mou5), such as 冇用 (mou5 jung6), not 唔有用.