"Don't..."

Discussions on the Cantonese language.
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IronMonkey

"Don't..."

Post by IronMonkey »

Hello,

I'm learning the Mandarin and Cantonese dialects of Chinese. I've read that
Cantonese speakers say "mm hou" before something to say not to do something, like "mm hou sik fan a"(don't eat rice.) Is this the only way to tell someone not to do something, or is there another form that can be used?

IronMonkey ;)
Tongyun

Re: "Don't..."

Post by Tongyun »

A stronger way to say "don't" would be mai (its rising tone, and i think yang). It is a shortened form of mm and hai (the Cantonese copula). It can also be used in a whiny fashion. If you said this I believe it would sound stronger.
IronMonkey

Re: "Don't..."

Post by IronMonkey »

Thanks for your answer.

IronMonkey ;)
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