唔係...就係...

If Not X Then Y

Level 3Sounds Like m4 hai6 . . . zau6 hai6 . . .

Use 唔係...就係... (m4 hai6... zau6 hai6...) to state that there are only two possible options. If the first one isn't true, the second one must be.

How It Works

The pattern 唔係...就係... (m4 hai6... zau6 hai6...) is the standard way in spoken Cantonese to express a logical "either/or" deduction.

1. Sentence Structure:

  • Same Subject: If both options apply to the same person or thing, the subject comes first: [Subject] + 唔係 + [Option A] + 就係 + [Option B].
  • Different Subjects: If the options are two different people/things, the pattern wraps around them: 唔係 + [Subject A] + 就係 + [Subject B].

2. Grammatical Flexibility:
This pattern can link almost any grammatical unit:

  • Nouns: 唔係你，就係佢 (Either you or him).
  • Verb Phrases: 佢唔係去咗飲茶，就係去咗行山 (He either went for dim sum or went hiking).
  • Adjectives: 呢件衫唔係太貴，就係太細 (This shirt is either too expensive or too small).

3. Nuance vs. 或者 (waak6 ze2):
While 或者 is a general "or," 唔係...就係... carries a tone of certainty or exhaustive deduction. It suggests that after looking at the facts, these are the only two possibilities left.

Examples (5)

  1. 唔係你，就係佢。

    It's either you or him.

    Word by Word: Not is you, then is him.

    Here, the pattern links two pronouns to identify a specific person.

  2. 佢唔係喺公司，就係喺屋企。

    He's either at the office or at home.

    Word by Word: He not is at office, then is at home.

    This uses the pattern with locative phrases starting with 喺 (hai2) to work out where he must be.

  3. 呢件事唔係你做，就係我做。

    Either you do this, or I do.

    Word by Word: This item matter not is you do, then is I do.

    This example links two full clauses where the subjects are different.

  4. 佢唔係食緊飯，就係瞓緊覺。

    He's either eating or sleeping.

    Word by Word: He not is eat-ing meal, then is sleep-ing sleep.

    The pattern links two actions in progress, marked by the progressive particle 緊 (gan2).

  5. 呢部電腦唔係壞咗，就係冇電。

    This computer is either broken or out of battery.

    Word by Word: This unit computer not is broken-already, then is not-have electricity.

    This shows the pattern used to deduce the cause of a problem.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 唔係…就係… when you mean 'not X, but Y' (correction).

    Different Meaning我唔係美國人，就係英國人。
    我唔係美國人，而係英國人。

    我唔係美國人，就係英國人 is a good sentence meaning 'I am either American or British'. To correct a guess (I am not A, I am B), use 而係 (ji4 hai6): 我唔係美國人，而係英國人.

  • Omitting the second '係' (hai6) when connecting nouns.

    唔係你，就佢。
    唔係你，就係佢。

    The second 係 is sometimes dropped before verbs in fast speech, but it is usually kept when connecting nouns or pronouns.

How It Connects

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

唔係...就係...Level 3If Not X Then Y

Learn This First

To understand '唔係...就係...', you first need to be familiar with the basic copula '係' (to be) and its negation '唔係'. Additionally, understanding the function of '就' as a marker of consequence or immediate sequence helps in grasping how the logic of 'if not one, then the other' is constructed.

Words in This Pattern

唔系就系