咪就係

Exactly

Level 5Sounds Like mi1 zau6 hai6

Use 咪就係 (mai6 zau6 hai6) to emphatically agree with someone or to point out that a fact is exactly as you are describing it. It often translates to 'Exactly!' or 'Isn't it just...!' and is usually paired with the particle 囉 (lo1).

How It Works

1. The Rhetorical Affirmation
In Cantonese, 咪 (mai6) is a fused form of 唔係 (m4 hai6). When combined with 就係 (zau6 hai6), it creates a rhetorical question structure ('Isn't it exactly...?') that functions as a very strong, emphatic 'Yes!' or 'Exactly!'.

2. Pragmatic Nuance: Impatience and Vindication
Beyond simple identification, this pattern often carries a 'told-you-so' attitude. It is used when the speaker feels the answer was already clear or when they have been proven right. For example: 咪就係囉！ (mai6 zau6 hai6 lo1!) — 'Exactly! (That's what I've been trying to tell you!)'

3. Common Usage Patterns

  • Identifying a Subject: [Subject] + 咪就係 + [Noun]. For example: 呢個咪就係我部車囉 (ni1 go3 mai6 zau6 hai6 ngo5 bou6 ce1 lo1) — 'This IS exactly my car (the one we were looking for).'
  • Explaining a Result: 咪就係 + [Clause]. Often used to point out a consequence: 咪就係因為你遲到囉 (mai6 zau6 hai6 jan1 wai6 nei5 ci4 dou3 lo1) — 'It's precisely because you were late (obviously).'
  • Alternative Form: The phrase 咪即係 (mai6 zik1 hai6) is a common variant using 即係 (zik1 hai6), often used when reformulating a point to show that two things are identical.

4. The Role of Particles
This pattern is very frequently accompanied by the sentence-final particle 囉 (lo1). The particle 囉 (lo1) adds the nuance of 'obviously' or 'as you can see,' which complements the emphatic nature of 咪就係.

Examples (4)

  1. 咪就係囉！我都係咁話。

    Exactly! That's what I said too.

    Word by Word: Isn't exactly [it] lo! I also am so say.

    This is the most common way to express emphatic agreement in Cantonese conversation.

  2. 呢個咪就係我搵咗好耐嗰本書囉。

    This is exactly the book I've been looking for for a long time.

    Word by Word: This one isn't exactly is I find-ed long time that book lo.

    Here, the pattern is used to identify a specific object that was previously discussed or sought.

  3. 你唔聽我話，咪就係搞成咁囉。

    You didn't listen to me, and that's exactly why things ended up like this.

    Word by Word: You not listen my word, isn't exactly is make become so lo.

    This demonstrates using the pattern to point out an obvious consequence or result.

  4. 佢咪就係我同你講過嗰個人囉。

    He is exactly the person I told you about.

    Word by Word: He isn't exactly is I with you speak-ed that person lo.

    Used to confirm the identity of a person in a 'told-you-so' or 'here he is' context.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the tone of 咪 (mai6 vs mai5).

    mai5 zau6 hai6 lo1!
    mai6 zau6 hai6 lo1!

    咪 (mai5) with Tone 5 means 'don't' (prohibition). 咪 (mai6) with Tone 6 is the contraction of 'm4 hai6' used in this pattern. Using the wrong tone changes the meaning entirely.

  • Leaving off the particle 囉 (lo1).

    Different Meaning咪就係。
    咪就係囉。

    咪就係。 is natural and common as a short reply. Adding 囉 (lo1) adds the 'of course, obviously' tone.

  • Treating it as a literal negative question.

    咪就係佢？
    係咪佢呀？

    Learners often think 咪就係 is a question because it contains a negative. However, it is an assertion. For a neutral 'Is it...?' question, use 係咪 (hai6 mai6) instead.

How It Connects

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咪就係Level 5Exactly

Learn This First

The pattern '咪就係' is an agreement formula that combines the rhetorical negative '咪' with the emphatic '就' and the copula '係'. To understand it, a learner needs to know how '係' functions as 'to be', how '就' adds precision or emphasis, and how '咪' is used rhetorically to mean 'isn't it' or 'exactly'.

Words in This Pattern

就系咪