Triple & Multiple Character emotion sound

Today I want to talk about a couple of triple character emotion sounds, they are, 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3], they are all very similar sounds and share very similar meanings, but there are still very subtle differences that we can talk about today. All these sounds are used at the end of a sentence.

Basically 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3], all have similar functions, they can be used to mean already, or to indicate if something something happens, then something will become true or you can use when you are deciding on something, use as confirmation of decision as a declaration.

The difference between these 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3] emotion sounds are in their degree of emotions.

- 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3] is a happier/ more cheerful tone,

- 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] is a more neutral tone

- 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3] is a slightly more cautionary/ commanding tone

- 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] is a stronger warning/ commanding tone

Let’s start by talking about how you can use all these sounds to mean already.

We will start with the happiest tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]:

嗰[go2]$100我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],, 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]!

The $100 I have already given it to you, you look for it more carefully!

Meaning, I already gave you the $100, can you double check? Even though it wasn’t actually a question but more of a request.

搵[wan2] means to look for, 真[jan1] means really, or true, 啲[di1] means -er the comparative form, so meaning 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]! Literally is you really look deeper or harder. 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3] here acts as already and to grab attention.

㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] has a more neutral tone:

嗰[go2]$100我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3], 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]!

The $100 I have already given it to you, you look for it more carefully!

㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3] here acts as already, you are neither happy or unhappy.

With a more cautionary tone㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]:

嗰[go2]$100我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]!

The $100 I have already given it to you, you look for it more carefully!

When you use 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3] here, you are saying it with a more commanding tone.

Another example with 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3] as a caution is,

我[ngo5]同[tung4]你[nei5]講[gong2]過[gwo3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 你[nei5]唔[m4]記[gei3]得[dak1]?

Literally: I and you have talked about it already, you do not remember?

I have already told you about this, you don’t remember?

講[gong2] means to talk or speak or converse, 過[gwo3] is the past tense or past participle tense indicator, so 講[gong2]過[gwo3] means have spoken, have talked, or have conversed.

However, with 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5] strong warning tone:

嗰[go2]$100我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5], 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]!

I already gave you the $100, you look for you more carefully!

㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] has a more cautionary and warning tone. Almost like, I am telling you (with a warning tone) that I have already given you the $100 dollars.

You can also use 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] at the present for saying like right now I have just already done this and that.

我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]$100 你[nei5]㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5], 你[nei5]唔[m4]好[hou2]唔[m4]見[gin3]。

I gave you $100 dollars ga la ha, you do not lose it.

You see what I mean, 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] is only used, when you and I right now are talking about something that just happened “already”, with a cautionary tone.

Or another example,

Again starting with the happiest tone, 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

食[sik6]飯[faan6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]！一[yat1]陣[jan6]先[sin1]再[joi3]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]!

Hey time to eat already! Play later!

一[yat1]陣[jan6] means a while, or later, 先[sin1] means first or in this context it means and then, 再[joi3] again, 玩[waan2/wun6] means to play. So literally it means a while later and then again play. So it is saying play again later. 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3] is used to grab attention here also acts as “already”.

Compared to 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3] more neutral tone:

食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]！一[yat1]陣[jan6]先[sin1]再[joi3]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]!

Hey time to eat already! Play later!

And with 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3] more cautionary tone:

食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]！一[yat1]陣[jan6]先[sin1]再[joi3]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]!

Hey time to eat already! Play later!

And with 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5] a stronger warning tone,

食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]！一[yat1]陣[jan6]先[sin1]再[joi3]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]!

Hey time to eat already! Play later!

㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5] Has a strongest warning and commanding tone. Between you and me, if my mom is to say Hey time to eat already! Play later! I will have all my ears up when she says 食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5] because when she uses 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5] it’s like her ultimatum. And if I am still being slow to the table, I am highly likely to be lectured. But 食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]！or 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]! I may still take my time. You see what I mean?

Let’s move on. You can also use 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]when deciding something and declaring,

Again starting with the happiest tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

咁[gam3/gam2]我[ngo5]地[dei6]聽[ting1]日[yat6]1點[dim2]見[gin3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]。唔[m4]好[hou2]放[fong3]我[ngo5]飛[fei1]機[gei1]!

So then we will meet tomorrow at 1 o’clock, don’t stand me up!

放[fong3]飛[fei1]機[gei1] is a Hong Kong Cantonese slang term, it means no show, 放[fong3] (release) 飛[fei1]機[gei1] (airplane/ aeroplane) and 放[fong3]人[yan4]飛[fei1]機[gei1] is standing someone up, so obviously then 放[fong3]我[ngo5]飛[fei1]機[gei1] means to stand me up. You can replace the pronoun with another pronoun or a person’s name.

Then with a more neutral tone㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]我[ngo5]地[dei6]聽[ting1]日[yat6]3點[dim2]見[gin3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]。唔[m4]好[hou2]放[fong3]我[ngo5]飛[fei1]機[gei1]!

So then we will meet tomorrow at 3 o’clock, don’t stand me up!

Then with a more cautionary tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]我[ngo5]地[dei6]聽[ting1]日[yat6]6點[dim2]見[gin3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]。唔[m4]好[hou2]放[fong3]我[ngo5]飛[fei1]機[gei1]!

So then we will meet tomorrow at 6 o’clock, don’t stand me up!

With an even stronger cautionary/ commanding tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5],

咁[gam3/gam2]我[ngo5]地[dei6]聽[ting1]日[yat6]9點[dim2]見[gin3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]。唔[m4]好[hou2]放[fong3]我[ngo5]飛[fei1]機[gei1]!

So then we will meet tomorrow at 9 o’clock, don’t stand me up!

**Remember the 囉[lo1]噃[bo3] sound & the 囉[lo1]喎[wo3] sound in the first double character emotion sound episode? The 囉[lo1]噃[bo3] sound & the 囉[lo1]喎[wo3] sound used to show confirmation or to seek confirmation. The 囉[lo1]喎[wo3]sound is similar but slightly different from the 囉[lo1]噃[bo3] sound. The The 囉[lo1]喎[wo3] sound is often used to seek final confirmation and to show annoyance. the 囉[lo1]噃[bo3]sound seeking confirmation,

For example,

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]囉[lo1]噃[bo3]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set lo bor, later at 7 o’clock I will see you Lo Bor!

Or it is the 囉[lo1]喎[wo3]sound seeking final confirmation,

For example,

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]囉[lo1]喎[wo3], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]囉[lo1]喎[wo3]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set lo wor, later at 7 o’clock I will see you Lo Wor!

Here if you use the 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3] sound, it is also perfectly okay, also used to seek confirmation.

Starting with the happiest sound 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]喂[wai3], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]喂[wai3]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set ga lo why, later at 7 o’clock I will see you ga Lo Why!

With a more neutral tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set ga lo bor, later at 7 o’clock I will see you ga Lo Bor!

With a cautionary/ commanding tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]喎[wo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]喎[wo3], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]喎[wo3]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set ga lo wor, later at 7 o’clock I will see you ga Lo wor!

With a stronger cautionary/ commanding tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]吓[ha5],

咁[gam3/gam2]係[hai6]咁[gam3/gam2]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]吓[ha5], 一[yat1]陣[jan6]7點[dim2]見[gin3]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]吓[ha5]!

So that’s set, see you in a little bit at 7 o’clock!

So that’s set ga lo ha, later at 7 o’clock I will see you ga Lo ha!

I think we are good, let’s move on.

When saying if something happens, something will become true, you can also use 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3], for example,

Starting with the happiest tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]去[heui3]返[faan1]工[gung1],你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]無[mou4]哂[chan2]錢[chin4/chin2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]!

If you still don’t go to work, you will have no money!

如[yu4]果[gwo2] means if, 返[faan1]工[gung1] means to go to work, 再[joi3] means again or still here, 錢[chin4/chin2] is money, 無[mou4]錢[chin4/chin2] means no money, 無[mou4]哂[chan2]錢[chin4/chin2] means completely out of money.

With a neutral tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]去[heui3]返[faan1]工[gung1],你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]無[mou4]哂[chan2]錢[chin4/chin2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]!

If you still don’t go to work, you will have no money!

With a cautionary tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]去[heui3]返[faan1]工[gung1],你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]無[mou4]哂[chan2]錢[chin4/chin2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]!

If you still don’t go to work, you will have no money!

With a stronger cautionary tone 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5]

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]去[heui3]返[faan1]工[gung1],你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]無[mou4]哂[chan2]錢[chin4/chin2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]!

If you still don’t go to work, you will have no money!

Or another example,

Starting with the happiest tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]溫[wan1]書[syu1],聽[ting1]日[yat6]考[haau2]試[si3]你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]好[hou2]低[dai1]分[fan1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3]! If you are still not revising or studying, tomorrow for the exam, you will get a very low mark!

考[haau2]試[si3] means an examination, 溫[wan1]書[syu1] means doing revision, or studying. 分[fan1/fan6] can mean split or separate but here in this context it means marks or scores. 低[dai1] means low so 低[dai1]分[fan1] means low marks. And on the other hand, 高[gou1]is tall or high, so 高[gou1]分[fan1]is high marks.

With a neutral tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]溫[wan1]書[syu1],聽[ting1]日[yat6]考[haau2]試[si3]你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]好[hou2]低[dai1]分[fan1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]!

If you are still not revising or studying, tomorrow for the exam, you will get a very low mark!

With a cautionary tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3],

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]溫[wan1]書[syu1],聽[ting1]日[yat6]考[haau2]試[si3]你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]好[hou2]低[dai1]分[fan1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3]!

If you are still not revising or studying, tomorrow for the exam, you will get a very low mark!

With a stronger cautionary tone 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5]

如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]再[joi3]唔[m4]溫[wan1]書[syu1],聽[ting1]日[yat6]考[haau2]試[si3]你[nei5]會[wui6/wui2/wui5]好[hou2]低[dai1]分[fan1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]!

If you are still not revising or studying, tomorrow for the exam, you will get a very low mark!

Finally, when declaring, you can also use 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

Starting with the happiest tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3],

咁[gam3/gam2]今[gam1]晚[maan5]你[nei5]煮[jyu2]飯[faan6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3], 我[ngo5]可[ho2]以[yi5]休[yau1]息[sik1]吓[ha5]。

So then tonight you will cook, I can rest for a bit.

今[gam1]晚[maan5] means tonight, 煮[jyu2]飯[faan6] means to cook. 休[yau1]息[sik1] means rest, 休[yau1]息[sik1]吓[ha5] means rest for a bit.

With a neutral tone 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]今[gam1]晚[maan5]你[nei5]煮[jyu2]飯[faan6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3], 我[ngo5]可[ho2]以[yi5]休[yau1]息[sik1]吓[ha5]。

So then tonight you will cook, I can rest for a bit.

With a commanding tone 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3],

咁[gam3/gam2]今[gam1]晚[maan5]你[nei5]煮[jyu2]飯[faan6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 我[ngo5]可[ho2]以[yi5]休[yau1]息[sik1]吓[ha5]。

So then tonight you will cook, I can rest for a bit.

With a stronger commanding tone 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5]

咁[gam3/gam2]今[gam1]晚[maan5]你[nei5]煮[jyu2]飯[faan6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5], 我[ngo5]可[ho2]以[yi5]休[yau1]息[sik1]吓[ha5]。

So then tonight you will cook, I can rest for a bit.

Very good, finally I just like to add for 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5], you can also use it to question someone, when you are in doubt about the situation, for example, To confirm something. With questioning attitude.

你[nei5]做[jou6]完[yun4]功[gung1]課[fo3]㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5]？

You have finished doing your homework/ assignments already?

功[gung1]課[fo3] is homework or assignment, 做[jou6]功[gung1]課[fo3] is do homework or do assignment, 完[yun4] is the past tense indicator indicating something is completely done.

Perfect! Do you think you have some more brain power to finish up the multiple emotion sound? I am just going to talk about 2 multiple emotion sounds today, they are 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] and 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3].

㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] means already is that right?

You use it when you are in doubt. It is very similar to The 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] sound.

Let me recap quickly.

The 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] 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. The 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] sound I personally believe is the shortened version of saying “啊[a1]係[hai6]咪[mai6]呀[a3]?” meaning “Ah is that right?” which you can also understand the 吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] sound as that, as if they are saying shockingly “is that right?” The 㗎[ga3]啦[la1] in 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] means “already”. Just like 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喎[wo3], 㗎[ga3]喇[la3]吓[ha5] 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]喂[wai3], so basically 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] means already is that right?

For example,

你[nei5]做[jou6]哂[chan2]啲[di1]功[gung1]課[fo3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1]？ You have already finished all your homework right?

你[nei5]搞[gaau2]得[dak1]掂[dim6/dim1/dim3]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1]？

You can already deal with this right? Or you can deal with this right?

Pay attention, 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] can only be used in a question, because you use 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] when you are in doubt, and 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]吓[ha5]嘩[wa1] will be put at the end of the question.

And final finally, the 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3],

you can use the 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] the same way as 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]噃[bo3]/ 㗎[ga3]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] with all the different usages. they are basically the same thing, except 㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] has a stronger sense of something being completely done or finished. Just to give you the same examples,

嗰[go2]$100我[ngo5]比[bei2]咗[jo2]你[nei5]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3], 你[nei5]搵[wan2]真[jan1]啲[di1]!

The $100 I have already given it to you, you look for it more carefully!

㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3] functions as a more concrete “already”, it was definitely done.

食[sik6]飯[faan6]啦[la1]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]囉[lo1]噃[bo3]！一[yat1]陣[jan6]先[sin1]再[joi3]玩[waan2/wun6]啦[la1]!

Hey time to eat already! Play later!

With this example as well, the meal was definitely already prepared, now it's time to eat.

Happy Easter everyone. 復[fuk6]活[wut6]節[jit3]快[faai3]樂[lok6]!