V+唔得

Cannot / Not Allowed

Level 2Sounds Like m4 dak1

To express that an action is forbidden or unsuitable, Cantonese puts 唔 before the verb: 唔 + V + 得 (e.g., 唔去得 'not allowed to go'). Placing 唔得 after an entire clause ([VP] + 唔得) means 'doing [VP] won't work' or 'is unacceptable'.

How It Works

1. Structure for Permission & Suitability: 唔 + V + 得
To express that an action is prohibited by rules, social norms, or health conditions, place 唔 (m4) before the verb and 得 (dak1) after it:

  • Prohibition / Rules: 呢度唔去得 (ni1 dou6 m4 heoi3 dak1) = You are not allowed to go here.
  • Unsuitability / Inedibility: 盒牛奶過咗期，唔食得 (haap6 ngau4 naai5 gwo3 zo2 kei4, m4 sik6 dak1) = The milk has expired; it is not fit to consume.

2. Clause Evaluation: [VP] + 唔得
For 'not allowed', 唔食得 and 唔去得 are the usual forms. Separately, placing 唔得 (m4 dak1) after a clause evaluates the entire action as non-viable:

  • 咁樣做唔得 (gam2 joeng6 zou6 m4 dak1) = Doing it this way won't work / is unacceptable.

3. Distinction: 唔V得 vs. V唔到
Be careful not to confuse rule/suitability prohibitions with physical inability:

  • 唔去得 (m4 heoi3 dak1): Not allowed to go (forbidden/inappropriate).
  • 去唔到 (heoi3 m4 dou2): Cannot go / unable to make it (busy, sick, or no transport).

Examples (4)

  1. 呢度係禁區，你唔去得㗎。

    This is a restricted area; you're not allowed to go in.

    Word by Word: This place is restricted-area, you not go can SFP.

    Uses 唔去得 (m4 heoi3 dak1) to indicate that entry is forbidden by rules.

  2. 盒牛奶過咗期，唔食得喇。

    The carton of milk has expired; it's not fit to drink anymore.

    Word by Word: Box milk pass-PERF date, not eat can SFP.

    Uses 唔食得 (m4 sik6 dak1) to mean unfit or unsafe for consumption.

  3. 咁樣拖落去唔得，一定要盡快解決。

    Dragging it out like this won't work; we must resolve it as soon as possible.

    Word by Word: Like-this drag down go not-okay, must need as-soon-as-possible resolve.

    Here 唔得 (m4 dak1) acts as the predicate evaluating the clause 咁樣拖落去 as unacceptable/unworkable.

  4. 佢生病呀，辣嘢唔食得住。

    He is sick, so he shouldn't eat spicy food for now.

    Word by Word: He sick SFP, spicy stuff not eat can for-now.

    Demonstrates 唔食得 for health or condition-based restrictions.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing up 食唔得 and 唔食得.

    Different Meaning呢度食唔得嘢。
    呢度唔食得嘢。

    For 'eating is not allowed here', the usual form is 唔食得 (m4 sik6 dak1), as on no-eating signs. 食唔得 is also real Cantonese, but it says the thing cannot be eaten or taken (for example food that is unfit or too much to handle), so it does not fit a rule about the place.

  • Using 唔V得 (prohibition) when you mean V唔到 (inability/schedule conflict)

    Different Meaning我今晚要加班，所以唔去得 Party。
    我今晚要加班，所以去唔到 Party。

    Use 去唔到 (heoi3 m4 dou2) when an external circumstance prevents you from attending. Reserve 唔去得 (m4 heoi3 dak1) for when you are forbidden or inappropriate to attend.

How It Connects

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V+唔得Level 2Cannot / Not Allowed

Learn This First

To understand 'V+唔得', you first need to know how to use '唔得' on its own to mean 'not allowed' or 'no good'. This pattern simply attaches that concept to a specific verb to block the action or indicate it is not fit to be performed.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

唔得