唔准
Not Permitted
唔准 (m4 zeon2) is the standard way to say 'not allowed' or 'forbidden' in Cantonese. It is used for rules, laws, and commands from people in authority.
How It Works
唔准 (m4 zeon2) is a strong modal auxiliary verb. It combines the negator 唔 (m4) with the verb 准 (zeon2), which means 'to permit'.
1. Authoritative Tone:
Unlike 唔可以 (m4 ho2 ji5), which can mean 'cannot' for many reasons, 唔准 specifically implies a lack of permission. It is the language of signs, regulations, and strict instructions.
2. Usage Contexts:
- Public Signs: You will see this on signs for 'No Smoking' or 'No Parking'. Note that in formal writing, this often becomes 不准 (bat1 zeon2).
- Parental/Professional Authority: Used by parents to children or bosses to employees to set firm boundaries.
- Social Rules: Used to describe what is forbidden in specific places like libraries or hospitals.
3. Question Form:
To ask if something is allowed using this specific tone, you use the A-not-A question form: 准唔准 (zeon2 m4 zeon2).
Examples (5)
- 呢度唔准泊車。
Parking is not allowed here.
Word by Word: This place not permit park car.
This is a common phrase found on signs or said by security guards.
- 阿媽唔准我咁夜返屋企。
Mom doesn't allow me to come home this late.
Word by Word: Mom not permit me so late return house.
Demonstrates parental authority using 唔准.
- 圖書館入面唔准大聲講嘢。
Talking loudly is not allowed inside the library.
Word by Word: Library inside not permit big sound speak things.
Expresses a rule-based prohibition in a specific location.
- 呢度准唔准食嘢呀？
Is eating allowed here?
Word by Word: This place permit not permit eat things [particle]?
Uses the A-not-A pattern to ask about permission.
- 老細唔准我哋喺公司食煙。
The boss doesn't allow us to smoke in the office.
Word by Word: Boss not permit us at company eat smoke.
Shows workplace rules enforced by an authority figure.
Common Mistakes
Using 唔准 for physical inability.
我眼痛，唔准睇書。我眼痛，睇唔到書。唔准 (m4 zeon2) is for permission/rules. If you physically cannot do something (like seeing because of pain), use 睇唔到 (tai2 m4 dou2) instead.
Confusing the character for 'accurate' with 'permit'.
唔準食嘢唔准食嘢In Traditional Chinese, 准 (zeon2) means permit, while 準 (zeon2) means accurate. They are homophones, but only 准 is used for prohibition.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand '唔准' (not permitted), you first need to be familiar with basic negation using '唔'. It is also helpful to understand how Cantonese expresses permission and general prohibition ('唔得') to distinguish the formal, institutional tone of '唔准' used on signs and in official rules.
- 唔Not (General Negation)
The basic negator '唔' is the first component of this pattern, used to negate the permission.
Level 1 - 可以Can / May (Permission)
Understanding the concept of permission and modal verbs is necessary to grasp the institutional prohibition of '唔准'.
Level 1 - 唔得No Good / Not Allowed
Both patterns deal with prohibition, but '唔准' is a more formal or institutional version of the general '唔得'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- 唔好Don't (Prohibition)
Used for general 'don't' commands or suggestions, whereas 唔准 implies a formal rule.
Level 2 - 唔畀Not Allowed (By Someone)
A more colloquial way to say someone 'doesn't let' you do something.
Level 2 - V唔VVerb-not-verb Question
The structure used to turn 唔准 into the question '准唔准' (Is it allowed?).
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice 唔准 in Bubblegum
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