咪

Don't (Blunt)

Level 2Sounds Like mi1

咪 (mai5) is the standard casual way to say 'don't' in spoken Cantonese. It is a fusion of 唔 (m4) and 好 (hou2), resulting in a sharper, more direct command than the full form.

How It Works

The particle 咪 (mai5) is a contraction of 唔好 (m4 hou2). While 唔好 can be used as a polite suggestion ('It's better not to...'), 咪 is almost always a direct command ('Don't!').

Key Usage Points:

  • Register: It is highly colloquial. Use it with friends, family, or subordinates. Avoid using it with superiors or in formal settings as it can sound rude.
  • Tone: It is pronounced with Tone 5 (low rising). Do not confuse it with 咪 (mai6, Tone 6), which means 'isn't it' or 'then'.
  • Particles: It is frequently paired with 啦 (laa1) to slightly soften the command, or 喇 (laa3) to emphasize that the action should stop immediately.
  • Function: It is often used to stop an action that is already happening (e.g., 'Stop talking!') or to prevent an immediate danger (e.g., 'Don't touch that!').

Examples (5)

  1. 咪郁！

    Don't move!

    Word by Word: Don't move!

    A classic command often heard in movies or urgent situations. 郁 (juk1) means to move or budge.

  2. 咪嘈啦！

    Stop being so noisy!

    Word by Word: Don't noisy [particle]!

    嘈 (cou4) means noisy. Adding 啦 (laa1) at the end is very common to complete the command.

  3. 咪理佢。

    Don't mind him.

    Word by Word: Don't care him.

    理 (lei5) means to pay attention to or care about. This is a common way to say 'ignore him/her'.

  4. 咪玩水呀！

    Don't play with the water!

    Word by Word: Don't play water [particle]!

    A typical command a parent might give a child. 呀 (aa3) here adds a slight warning tone.

  5. 咪行住！

    Don't leave yet!

    Word by Word: Don't walk/go [yet]!

    Combined with 住 (zyu6), it means 'don't do [verb] for now' or 'not yet'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong tone (Tone 6 instead of Tone 5).

    咪 (mai6) 嘈啦！
    咪 (mai5) 嘈啦！

    咪 (mai6) is a contraction of 唔係 (m4 hai6) and means 'isn't it' or 'then'. Using Tone 6 here would change the meaning entirely.

  • Using it in formal writing.

    請咪吸煙。
    請勿吸煙。

    咪 is strictly for spoken Cantonese. In formal writing or signs, use 勿 (mat6) or 不要 (bat1 jiu3).

How It Connects

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咪Level 2Don't (Blunt)

Learn This First

The pattern '咪' (mai5) is a colloquial contraction of '唔好' (m4 hou2), used for blunt prohibitions. To understand it, learners should first be familiar with the standard 'don't' (唔好), basic negation (唔), and how sentence-final particles like '啦' are used to frame commands and suggestions.

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Words in This Pattern

咪