唔好

Don't (Prohibition)

Level 2Sounds Like m4 hou2

唔好 (m4 hou2) is the standard Cantonese way to say 'don't' or 'do not'. Place it directly before a verb to prohibit an action, issue warnings, or give advice.

How It Works

1. Basic Structure
To express prohibition in Cantonese, place 唔好 (m4 hou2) directly before the verb phrase:
• 唔好睇 (m4 hou2 tai2) = 'Don't look.'
• 唔好行 (m4 hou2 hang4) = 'Don't walk.'

2. Making Commands Polite
A direct command can sound overly blunt or demanding. Cantonese speakers soften prohibitions by adding sentence-final particles or embedding 唔好 inside polite frames:
• 你唔好走啦。 (nei5 m4 hou2 zau2 laa1) — 'Please don't leave.'
• 可唔可以唔好喺度食煙？ (ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 m4 hou2 hai2 dou6 sik6 jin1?) — 'Could you please not smoke here?'
• 你最好唔好做。 (nei5 zeoi3 hou2 m4 hou2 zou6) — 'You'd better not do it.'

3. Phonological Contraction in Fast Speech
In rapid, natural conversation, 唔好 (m4 hou2) frequently slurs together into a single monosyllabic word pronounced mou2 (Tone 2, high-rising). It is important not to confuse this spoken contraction with 冇 (mou5, Tone 5), which negates past actions or expresses non-possession.

4. Key Distinction: 唔好 vs. 咪
While 咪 (mai5) also means 'don't', it is an informal and casual equivalent of 唔好 widely used in everyday conversation with friends and family. 唔好 remains the standard, versatile option suited for all contexts.

Examples (4)

  1. 你唔好嗌交啦。

    Don't argue.

    Word by Word: You don't-good argue-fight [softening particle].

    Using 啦 (laa1) at the end softens the command into a gentle request or plea.

  2. 唔好意思，你可唔可以唔好喺度食煙？

    Excuse me, could you please not smoke here?

    Word by Word: Not-good-meaning, you can-not-can don't at-here eat-smoke?

    Embedding 唔好 under 可唔可以 (can you / could you) creates a very polite, indirect request.

  3. 你最好唔好走住。

    You'd better not leave just yet.

    Word by Word: You best don't leave for-now.

    Combining 最好 (zeoi3 hou2, 'had better') with 唔好 forms strong advisory prohibition.

  4. 唔好行得咁快！

    Don't walk so fast!

    Word by Word: Don't walk [manner complement] so fast!

    Placed before a full verb phrase '行得咁快' (walk so fast) to forbid the action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 唔 (m4) alone to issue a negative command

    你唔去！
    你唔好去！

    唔 (m4) on its own negates present facts or future refusal ('You are not going / you refuse to go'). You must use 唔好 (m4 hou2) to issue a command telling someone not to go.

  • Using 冇 (mou5) for negative commands

    冇睇！
    唔好睇！

    冇 (mou5) negates past actions ('didn't watch'). To prohibit someone from watching, use 唔好 (m4 hou2).

  • Attaching completed aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) after a verb negated with 唔好

    唔好食咗！
    唔好食！

    Completed action aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) are logically incompatible with prohibiting an action.

How It Connects

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唔好Level 2Don't (Prohibition)

Learn This First

To understand '唔好' (don't), you need to be familiar with basic negation using '唔' and how Cantonese handles imperatives. Since '唔好' often appears with the softening particle '啦' to make commands less harsh, understanding that particle is also beneficial.

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唔好