Double Character Cantonese emotion sounds/ words - part 1

Hello! Let’s wrap up the double character emotion sounds today. We today will continue to talk about 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4], 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1], 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1], 啦[la1]喂[wai3], 啦[la1]咩[me1] and 呢[ni1]可[ho2].

Let’s start with 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]. 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] is very similar to the 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1](Dummy PY: Ha wah) sound. Do you remember? The 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1](Dummy PY: Ha wah) sound is used to expressed that you are in awe, and not believing in what you have heard, sometimes even completely do not believe it, absolutely incredulous. Now on the other hand, the 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] sound is also used to show that you are half doubting and believing the statement or the circumstance that you are provided, but you are not as shocked, you are just questioning. The 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] sound is used in questions at the end of the question to express a questioning attitude.

For example,

A: 一[yat1]百[baak3]蚊[man1]一[yat1]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]!

B: 唔[m4]係[hai6]呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]? 咁[gam3/gam2]貴[gwai3]!

A: One hundred dollars for an apple!

B: No right? So expensive!

Or

A: 一[yat1]百[baak3]蚊[man1]一[yat1]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]!

B: 唔[m4]係[hai6]喎[wo3]! 一[yat1]蚊[man1]一[yat1]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]?

A: One hundred dollars for an apple!

B: No! One dollar an apple right?

Or

A: 你[nei5]個[go3]仔[jai2]今[gam1]次[chi3]考[haau2]試[si3]0 分[fan1/fan6]。

B: 吓[ha5]! 無[mou4]可[ho2]能[nang4]呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]? 佢[keui5]好[hou2]努[nou5]力[lik6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]!

A: Your son’s test this time got a 0 mark. Huh! Impossible right?

B: He is already very hard working.

So when used as a question attitude, 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] is used sort of like a rhetorical question, like, no right? No, isn’t? Kind of meaning. You don’t really expect someone to give you an answer, more like a question to express your emotions. 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] can also be used when not in a question to show slight annoyance and add in extra tones.

For example for annoyance:

A: 你[nei5]做[jou6]咩[me1]咁[gam3/gam2]嬲[nau1]啫[je1/jek1]?

B: 係[hai6]呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]! 我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]鬧[naau6]咗[jo2]佢[keui5]好[hou2]多[do1]次[chi3]!

A: Why are you so angry?

B: Well yes! I have already yelled at him about it many times!

Or

A: 做[jou6]乜[mat1]我[ngo5]哋[dei6]跟[gan1]住[jyu6]地[dei6]圖[tou4]行[hang4/haang4/hong4]都[dou1]行[hang4/haang4/hong4]錯[cho3]㗎[ga3]？

B: 咁[gam3/gam2]地[dei6]圖[tou4]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]寫[se2]呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4]！

A: Why is it that we followed the map and we ended up in the wrong path?

B: Well, that’s what was written on the map!

So the meaning of 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] in a sentence is a little vague, it is like the “well” in English we use when we get annoyed.

The next double character emotion sound we will talk about is 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1]/ 㗎[ga3]咋[ja3], 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1]/ 㗎[ga3]咋[ja3] is used to mean only in a sentence, and also placed at the end of the sentence. Note that the 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1]/ 㗎[ga3]咋[ja3] sound can be replaced by the single character emotion sound 喳[ja1]/ 咋[ja3]. The 咋 (Dummy PY: Ja) emotion sound. The 咋 (Dummy PY: Ja) emotion sound expresses meanings like “only” “Only this” “Just this”.

For example,

A: 校[haau6]長[jeung2]，多[do1]謝[je6]你[nei5]睇[tai2]住[jyu6]我[ngo5]個[go3]仔[jai2]呀[a3]！

B: 唔[m4]使[sai2]客[haak3]氣[hei3]。我[ngo5]係[hai6]老[lou5]師[si1]嚟[lai4]嘅[ge3]咋[ja3]，唔[m4]係[hai6]校[haau6]長[jeung2]。

A: School principal, thank you for taking care of my son!

B: You are welcome. I am a teacher only, not a school principal.

Or

A: 校[haau6]長[jeung2]，多[do1]謝[je6]你[nei5]睇[tai2]住[jyu6]我[ngo5]個[go3]仔[jai2]呀[a3]！

B: 唔[m4]使[sai2]客[haak3]氣[hei3]。我[ngo5]係[hai6]老[lou5]師[si1]嚟[lai4]咋[ja3]，唔[m4]係[hai6]校[haau6]長[jeung2]。

A: School principal, thank you for taking care of my son!

B: You are welcome. I am a teacher only, not a school principal. 有[yau5]冇[mou5]搞[gaau2]錯[cho3]！

Or

A: 啲[di1]嘢[ye5]食[sik6]咁[gam3/gam2]難[naan4]食[sik6]仲[jung6]要[yiu3]賣[maai6]咁[gam3/gam2]貴[gwai3]？

B: 我[ngo5]係[hai6]打[da2]工[gung1]㗎[ga3]咋[ja3]，你[nei5]有[yau5]咩[me1]唔[m4]滿[mun5]意[yi3]同[tung4]我[ngo5]老[lou5]闆[baan2]講[gong2]啦[la1]！

A: What the freak! The food is so nasty and you are still selling so expensively?

B: I only work here, if you are unsatisfied in anyway, speak to my boss!

or

A: 有[yau5]冇[mou5]搞[gaau2]錯[cho3]！啲[di1]嘢[ye5]食[sik6]咁[gam3/gam2]難[naan4]食[sik6]仲[jung6]要[yiu3]賣[maai6]咁[gam3/gam2]貴[gwai3]？

B: 我[ngo5]打[da2]工[gung1]咋[ja3]，你[nei5]有[yau5]咩[me1]唔[m4]滿[mun5]意[yi3]同[tung4]我[ngo5]老[lou5]闆[baan2]講[gong2]啦[la1]！

A: What the freak! The food is so nasty and you are still selling so expensively?

B: I only work here, if you are unsatisfied in anyway, speak to my boss!

or

A: 求[kau4]吓[ha5]你[nei5]比[bei2]多[do1]兩[leung5]蚊[man1]我[ngo5]啦[la1]！

B: 對[deui3]唔[m4]住[jyu6]。我[ngo5]係[hai6]得[dak1]咁[gam3]多[do1]錢[chin4/chin2]㗎[ga3]咋[ja3]。

A: Please I beg of you to give me two more dollars!

B: Sorry. I only have this much money.

Or

A: 求[kau4]吓[ha5]你[nei5]比[bei2]多[do1]兩[leung5]蚊[man1]我[ngo5]啦[la1]！

B: 對[deui3]唔[m4]住[jyu6]。我[ngo5]係[hai6]得[dak1]咁[gam3]多[do1]錢[chin4/chin2]咋[ja3]。

A: Please I beg of you to give me two more dollars!

B: Sorry. I only have this much money.

So 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1]/ 㗎[ga3]咋[ja3] or 喳[ja1]/ 咋[ja3] is used at the end of the sentences to mean only.

Another very similar emotion sound but not to be confused with 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1]/ 㗎[ga3]咋[ja3] or 喳[ja1]/ 咋[ja3] is 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]/ 㗎[ga3]啫[je1]. 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]/ 㗎[ga3]啫[je1] also means the meaning of only, just, just this. So there are many emotion sounds that we have talked about that means only or just this. Remember the single character emotion sound 啫[je1/jek1]? The 啫[je1/jek1] sound is often used at the end of sentences to mean “Only” “Just” “Only this” “Just this”. When you are using 啫[je1/jek1] (Dummy PY: Je) sound sometimes it contains a little bit of emotion meaning that you look down upon something. This time for 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]/ 㗎[ga3]啫[je1] sound it is a little different. Although you are saying only, or just this, you are not necessarily looking down on something at all, instead the only means it’s just a small matter, don’t worry about it kind of only. Confusing? Let me give you some examples,

好[hou2]小[siu2]事[si6]嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]，唔[m4]使[sai2]報[bou3]警[ging2]！

Just no big deal, don’t have to call the cops!

or

發[faat3]夢[mung6]嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]，冇[mou5]事[si6]嘅[ge3]！

Just a dream, it’s okay!

Got it? So when you say 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]/ 㗎[ga3]啫[je1] you are saying something is no big deal, don’t worry about it. Another usage for this 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]/ 㗎[ga3]啫[je1] sound is when you are trying to be cute or for women or flamboyant people, they use this sound to flirt or to please someone.

For example,

咦[yi4/yi2]！你[nei5]好[hou2]衰[seui1]嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]！

Ummm! You are so bad!

or

喂[wai3]！你[nei5]做[jou6]咩[me1]唔[m4]睬[choi2]我[ngo5]嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]？

Hey! Why are you ignoring me?

or

係[hai6]唔[m4]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1]？話[wa6]俾[bei2]我[ngo5]知[ji1]啦[la1]！

Is that right? Tell me!

The next sound I want to talk about is the 啦[la1]喂[wai3] sound, the 啦[la1]喂[wai3] sound is often used to remind other people of something or to grab people’s attention. A little like “hey” but also placed at the end of sentences. For example,

食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]喂[wai3]！

Hey time to eat!

or

好[hou2]啦[la1]喂[wai3]! 停[ting4]手[sau2]啦[la1]喂[wai3]！

Hey Ok! Hey Time to stop.

or

咁[gam3/gam2]我[ngo5]唔[m4]等[dang2]你[nei5]哋[dei6]啦[la1]，我[ngo5]食[sik6]先[sin1]啦[la1]喂[wai3]！

So I am not going to wait for you guys, hey I am going to start eating!

or

綠[luk6]燈[dang1]啦[la1]！行[hang4/haang4/hong4]啦[la1]喂[wai3]！

It’s the green light! Hey let’s get walking! Is it clear?

The 啦[la1]喂[wai3] sound is a little like “hey” but at the end of the sentence to grab someone’s attention or to remind others. Good that one was easy. Next I will talk about 啦[la1]咩[me1]/ 嘞[laak3]咩[me1] sound. The 啦[la1]咩[me1]/ 嘞[laak3]咩[me1] is used to express that you are seriously in doubt, and disagree with one’s opinion with a questioning attitude. It is used in the form of a question but it’s a rhetorical question, you are not begging for an answer but often to persuade the person to see things from a different perspective or question an opinion or a fact.

你[nei5]一[yat1]走[jau2]就[jau6]走[jau2]左[jo2]10年[nin4]。肯[hang2]返[faan1]嚟[lai4]啦[la1]咩[me1]？你[nei5]知[ji1]唔[m4]知[ji1]我[ngo5]幾[gei2]掛[gwa3]住[jyu6]你[nei5]？

Once you left, you were gone for 10 years. Finally willing to return? Do you know how much I missed you?

Or

我[ngo5]之[ji1]前[chin4]話[wa6/wa2]你[nei5]你[nei5]又[yau6]唔[m4]肯[hang2]聽[teng1/ting1]。依[yi1]家[ga1]搞[gaau2]成[sing4]咁[gam3/gam2]啦[la1]，你[nei5]識[sik1]驚[ging1/geng1]啦[la1]咩[me1]？

Before I have already told you this and you were not willing to listen. Now the situation has come to this, you know to be scared now?

Or

你[nei5]今[gam1]日[yat6]2:00就[jau6]放[fong3]工[gung1]啦[la1]咩[me1]？

You are off at 2:00 today?

Remember all these questions are posed with a questioning attitude, that you really don’t believe the situation or what the other person has said. Final double emotion sound, then from next month on we will move onto triple character emotion sounds.

The last one we will talk about is the 呢[ni1]可[ho2] sound. 呢[ni1]可[ho2] is also used at the end of the sentences to pose a rhetorical question, also to show the person that you are speaking to that someone is aware of their or someone else’s actions or their plans or the eventual consequences of the actions.

For example as a rhetorical question,

今[gam1]晚[maan5]有[yau5]得[dak1]食[sik6]你[nei5]最[jeui3]鍾[jung1]意[yi3]食[sik6]嘅[ge3]魚[yu4/yu2]呀[a3]，好[hou2]開[hoi1]心[sam1]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？

Tonight you get to eat your favourite fish, very happy right?

or

算[syun3]啦[la1]！唔[m4]好[hou2]同[tung4]佢[keui5]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]。佢[keui5]好[hou2]衰[seui1]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？

Never mind! Don’t play with him/her. He/ she is terrible right?

or

一[yat1]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]賣[maai6]$100，痴[chi1]線[sin3]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？

An apple for a hundred dollars, crazy right?

So 呢[ni1]可[ho2] can also be understood as the “right?” “isn’t it” kind of meaning. Difference between the 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] and the 呢[ni1]可[ho2] is that even though 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4] also functions like a rhetorical question, like “no, isn’t it?” “yes, right?” you are expressing your emotions about how unbelievable the situation is, 呢[ni1]可[ho2] on the other hand as a rhetorical question, is when you think the other person would also agree with your opinion.

When you use 呢[ni1]可[ho2] as a reminder to caution someone that someone else is aware of their plans or actions or the eventual consequences of the actions, the example would be,

A: 你[nei5]覺[gok3]得[dak1]咁[gam2]搞[gaau2]法[faat3]，疫[yik6]情[ching4]幾[gei2]時[si4]先[sin1]可[ho2]以[yi5]完[yun4]結[git3]呢[ne1]？

B: 唔[m4]知[ji1]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？

A: You think with the current situation, when will the pandemic be over?

B: Not sure Ne Hoh?

Sorry I couldn’t really find the right English words to express the true emotional meaning. When the person said 唔[m4]知[ji1]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？Not sure Ne Hoh? That is to say he/ she thinks it’s probably not going to end soon.

or

A: 你[nei5]覺[gok3]得[dak1]佢[keui5]係[hai6]唔[m4]係[hai6]壞[waai6]人[yan4]?

B: 係[hai6]唔[m4]係[hai6]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？

You think he/she is a bad person? Is he/she Ne Hoh?

Again here it means the speaker who said 係[hai6]唔[m4]係[hai6]呢[ni1]可[ho2]？Is he/she Ne Hoh? It means the speaker had an idea of how good or bad the person they are speaking about is, but the speaker just isn’t going to spell all his or her opinions out.

or

A: 你[nei5]覺[gok3]得[dak1]我[ngo5]應[ying1]唔[m4]應[ying1]該[goi1]溫[wan1]書[syu1]呢[ne1]？

B: 你[nei5]話[wa6]呢[ne1]可[ho2]？

Do you think I should do revision? What do you think Ne Hoh? Here when the speaker says 你[nei5]話[wa6]呢[ne1]可[ho2]？What do you think Ne Hoh? It implies that the speaker or the person who he or she is speaking to is aware of the consequences of not doing revision, therefore the 你[nei5]話[wa6]呢[ne1]可[ho2]？What do you think Ne Hoh? Is used to throw the ball back and asking the person to think of the right thing to do themselves.