唔係...咩

Isn't It the Case That

Level 4Sounds Like m4 hai6 . . . me1

The pattern 唔係...咩 (m4 hai6... me1) is the Cantonese equivalent of 'Isn't it the case that...?' or 'Didn't you...?' It is used when you are surprised by new information that contradicts what you previously believed to be true.

How It Works

In Cantonese, when you want to express incredulity or double-check a fact you were certain of, you use this 'sandwich' structure.

1. Structure:
The sentence starts with 唔係 (m4 hai6) and ends with the particle 咩 (me1). You can place a noun, adjective, or an entire clause in the middle.

2. The Role of 咩 (me1):
The particle 咩 (me1) is specifically used for questions where the speaker is skeptical or surprised. Unlike neutral question particles like 呀 (aa3), 咩 (me1) implies 'I thought otherwise!'

3. Adding Emphasis:
To make the surprise even stronger, speakers often add the word 乜 (mat1) at the very beginning: 乜唔係...咩？ (Wait, isn't it...?).

4. Register:
This is strictly colloquial. In formal writing, you would use '不是...嗎?'. In spoken Cantonese, using the formal version sounds stiff and unnatural.

Examples (4)

  1. 唔係聽日先至放假咩？

    Isn't it only tomorrow that the holiday starts?

    Word by Word: Not is tomorrow only then have holiday [surprise]?

    The speaker thought the holiday was tomorrow and is surprised to hear otherwise.

  2. 佢唔係去咗日本咩？

    Isn't it the case that he went to Japan?

    Word by Word: He not is go [perfective] Japan [surprise]?

    The speaker sees the person and is confused because they thought he was in Japan. Uses 咗 (zo2) for the completed action.

  3. 乜你唔係識講廣東話嘅咩？

    Wait, don't you know how to speak Cantonese?

    Word by Word: What you not is know speak Cantonese [fact] [surprise]?

    Uses 乜 (mat1) for extra emphasis and 識 (sik1) for 'knowing how to'.

  4. 唔係你話嘅咩？

    Wasn't it you who said so?

    Word by Word: Not is you say [fact] [surprise]?

    A common way to challenge someone who is now denying something they previously said.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 唔係...咩 (me1) for a neutral question.

    Different Meaning聽日唔係落雨咩？
    聽日係唔係落雨呀？

    聽日唔係落雨咩？ is a good sentence, but it means ‘Isn’t it raining tomorrow?’ and shows you expected rain or doubt what you heard. If you just want to know whether it will rain, use 係唔係 (hai6 m4 hai6).

  • Confusing 咩 (me1) with 'what' (乜嘢).

    你想食唔係咩？
    你想食乜嘢呀？

    While 咩 (me1) can be a shorthand for 'what' in some contexts, in this grammar pattern it is strictly a sentence-final particle for surprise. Don't use it as an object.

How It Connects

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

唔係...咩Level 4Isn't It the Case That

Learn This First

The pattern '唔係...咩' is a rhetorical structure used to confirm something the speaker believes to be true despite evidence or statements to the contrary. To understand it, learners must first be familiar with the negative copula '唔係' and the particle '咩', which signals surprise or a challenge to a previous statement.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

唔系