啩

Fusion of 估 (gu2, “to guess”) and 啊 (aa3, “sentence final particle”) (Chao, 1947). This is supported by attestation of the unfused version in Early Cantonese

I think you will rather prefer some cake, will you not?

1841, Elijah Coleman Bridgman, A Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton Dialect

ngo⁵ tai² dak¹ nei⁵ zung¹ ji³ min⁶ beng² gu² aa³

我睇得你中意麵餅估呀

我睇得你中意面饼估呀

I'm going to go home and eat noodles, I guess.

我返屋企食麵啩。

我返屋企食面啩。

1899, 馬可福音：中西字 [The Gospel according to St. Mark in English and Cantonese], Shanghai: American Presbyterian Mission Press, page 36:

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

mun⁴ sang¹ bei² ci² ji⁵ leon⁶ waa⁶, hai⁶ jan¹ ngo⁵ dei⁶ mou⁵ beng² gwaa³.

門生彼此議論話、係因我哋冇餅啩。

门生彼此议论话、系因我哋冇饼啩。

(Cantonese) Sentence final particle indicating uncertainty in a statement; implies that the speaker is not sure whether what he/she says is true.


嗬

Possibly from the fusion of 係／系 (hai6, “to be, yes”) + 哦 (o2, “interjection/particle expressing doubt or uncertainty”) (Chor et al., 2016).

zh-l

You're attending the party this evening, right?

nei⁵ gam¹ maan⁵ wui⁵ ceot¹ zik⁶ go³ maan⁵ wui⁶⁻² gaa³ ho²?

你今晚會出席個晚會㗎嗬？

你今晚会出席个晚会㗎嗬？

(Cantonese) Sentence-final particle used in an interrogative seeking confirmation.


嚹

(Cantonese) a particle implying completion, certainty or urgency


歟

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 /形声, OC *la, *laʔ, *las): phonetic 與 (OC *la, *laʔ, *las) + semantic 欠.
; question particle

Han compound

1046 October 17, 范仲淹 [Fan Zhongyan], 岳陽樓記 [Memorial to Yueyang Tower]:

Sentence-final particle used to express an exclamatory, doubtful or questioning tone


ed

覆ed [Hong Kong Cantonese] ― fuk¹ dat⁴ [Jyutping] ― replied

fol ed [Hong Kong Cantonese] ― fo¹ dat⁴ [Jyutping] ― followed

J ed [Hong Kong Cantonese] ― zei¹ dat⁴ [Jyutping] ― jerked off; wanked off

(Hong Kong Cantonese, neologism) Used to denote an action which has been completed.


lor

(Cantonese) Alternative form of 囉 /啰 (particle)


wor

(Cantonese) Alternative form of 喎 /㖞 (particle)


分之

/fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ʐ̩²/

/fɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴/

/vən²² t͡sz̩⁴⁴/

/fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ʐ̩²/

/fɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴/

/vən²² t͡sz̩⁴⁴/

三分之一

三分之二

四分之一

百分之八十

A way to express fractions and percentages.


𨶙

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 /形声): semantic 門 (“door”) + phonetic 能. Compare 𨳊, 𨳍, 閪／𲈹.

(Cantonese, vulgar) Alternative form of 撚 (“penis; expletive particle”)


𠻗

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 /形声): semantic 口 + phonetic 离 (OC *rel, *r̥ʰel).


而已

/ˀɤɻ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ jiː¹³/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ i⁵³/

/li²⁴⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴/

/li²⁴⁻²² i⁵³/

/zi²³⁻³³ i⁴¹/

/d͡zi²⁴⁻³³ i⁵³/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² i⁵³/

/ˀɤɻ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ jiː¹³/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ i⁵³/

/li²⁴⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴/

/li²⁴⁻²² i⁵³/

/zi²³⁻³³ i⁴¹/

/d͡zi²⁴⁻³³ i⁵³/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² i⁵³/

混混日子而已

如此而已，豈有他哉！

如此而已，岂有他哉！

僅此而已。

仅此而已。

(at the end of a phrase) that's all; nothing more; is all


㖭

For pronunciation and definitions of 㖭 – see 舔 (“to lick; to suck up to; to brownnose”).
(This character is a variant form of 舔).

zh-see

(Cantonese) Alternative form of 添 (“again, more; modal particle expressing emphasis”)


的話

/d̥ə xu̯ä⁵¹/

/tɪk̚⁵ waː²²/

/tɪk̚⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

/ti³³⁻²³ ue¹¹/

/d̥ə xu̯ä⁵¹/

/tɪk̚⁵ waː²²/

/tɪk̚⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

/ti³³⁻²³ ue¹¹/

If no one offers assistance this kid will become permanently blind.

Rúguǒ méiyǒu rén juānzhù dehuà, zhè ge xiǎohái jiù huì yǒngyuǎn shīmíng.

如果沒有人捐助的話，這個小孩就會永遠失明。

如果没有人捐助的话，这个小孩就会永远失明。

要是考試不及格的話，怎麼辦？

要是考试不及格的话，怎么办？

If you go out today remember to lock the front door.

Nǐ jīntiān chūqù dehuà, jìde suǒshàng qiánmén.

你今天出去的話，記得鎖上前門。

你今天出去的话，记得锁上前门。

optional particle put at the end of a conditional clause


也罷

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵¹/

/jaː¹³ paː²²/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵¹/

/jaː¹³ paː²²/

(expressing concession) all right; might as well


兮兮

/hɐi̯²¹ hɐi̯²¹/

/hɐi̯²¹ hɐi̯²¹/

An emphatic particle placed after negative adjectives, often to denote a sense of contempt.


似的

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ tɪk̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ tɪk̚⁵/

不要哭得像個孩子似的。

不要哭得像个孩子似的。

他真跟變了個人似的。

他真跟变了个人似的。

I am so indescribably livid with him - he isn't even listening to what I am saying. [literally: I am angered by him like whatever - he isn't at all listening to my speaking]

Wǒ bèi tā qì de shénme shìde, tā gēnběn jiù méiyǒu zài tīng wǒ shuōhuà.

我被他氣得什麼似的，他根本就沒有在聽我說話。

我被他气得什么似的，他根本就没有在听我说话。


與否

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ foʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː¹³ fɐu̯³⁵/

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ foʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː¹³ fɐu̯³⁵/


㗎喇

/kaː³³ laː³³/

/kaː³³ laː³³/

(Cantonese) final particle used for giving a reminder


唔起

/m̩²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/m̩²¹ hei̯³⁵/

呢個醫生我睇唔起。

呢个医生我睇唔起。

呢層樓我買唔起。

呢层楼我买唔起。

(used after verbs, Cantonese) cannot afford to


唔住

/m̩²¹ t͡syː²²/

/m³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡su³⁵/

/m̩²¹ t͡syː²²/

/m³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡su³⁵/

我頂唔住喇

我顶唔住喇

我對你唔住

我对你唔住

unable to remember even one's own birthday

lin⁴ zi⁶ gei² ge³ saang¹ jat⁶ dou¹ gei³ m⁴ zyu⁶

連自己嘅生日都記唔住

连自己嘅生日都记唔住

(not productive, Cantonese, Teochew) cannot


使乜

/sɐi̯³⁵ mɐt̚⁵/

/sᵘɔi⁵⁵ ᵐbᵘɔt̚⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ mɐt̚⁵/

/sᵘɔi⁵⁵ ᵐbᵘɔt̚⁵⁵/

使乜咁緊張？

使乜咁紧张？

(Cantonese) for what reason; what need is there (→ there is no need)


何止

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/ho²⁴ t͡sz̩²¹³/

/ho⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²/

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/ho²⁴ t͡sz̩²¹³/

/ho⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²/

(used in rhetorical questions to indicate the actual extent is far greater) be much more than


𠯽

(Cantonese) a final particle indicating affirmation


才怪

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷaːi̯³³/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷaːi̯³³/

You are such a naughty kid. It'd be surprising if your mum were not worried.

你這麼淘氣，媽媽不擔心才怪！

你这么淘气，妈妈不担心才怪！

it'd be a wonder if ... (following a verb phrase that is usually negative)


𠻹

(Cantonese) Alternative form of 添 (“again, more; mirative particle”)


先怪

/siːn⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/siːn⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

(Cantonese) it'd be a wonder if ... (following a verb phrase that is usually negative)


妃呼豨

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

(obsolete) a meaningless particle used in songs


使咩

/sɐi̯³⁵ mɛː⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ mɛː⁵⁵/

使咩答佢啫？


使鬼

/sɐi̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

使鬼同佢講？

使鬼同佢讲？

(Cantonese) why the hell; what damn need is there (→ there is no damn need)


使撚

/sɐi̯³⁵ lɐn³⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ lɐn³⁵/

使撚同佢講？

使撚同佢讲？

(Cantonese, vulgar) why the fuck; what fucking need is there (→ there is no fucking need)


嘅話

/kɛː³³ waː²²⁻³⁵/

/kɛː³³ waː²²/

/kɛː³³ waː²²⁻³⁵/

/kɛː³³ waː²²/

If you go out today, remember to lock the door.

nei⁵ gam¹ jat⁶ ceot¹ heoi³ ge³ waa⁶⁻², gei³ dak¹ so² mun⁴ wo³.

你今日出去嘅話，記得鎖門喎。

你今日出去嘅话，记得锁门㖞。

1990, 蔣志光 [Ram Chiang] (lyrics and music), “相逢何必曾相識”performed by 蔣志光 [Ram Chiang] and 韋綺珊 [Rita Carpio]:

jaa⁵ heoi² jat¹ tin¹ ho² ji⁵ ge³ waa⁶, zeon² heoi² ngo⁵ do¹ oi³ jat¹ ci³

也許一天可以嘅話 准許我多愛一次

也许一天可以嘅话 准许我多爱一次

(Cantonese) Particle put at the end of a conditional clause.


咋嘛

/t͡saː³³ maː³³/

/t͡saː³³ maː³³/

落雨咋嘛！

(Cantonese) Sentence-final particle for dismissiveness.


點止

點只汽水咁簡單

点只汽水咁简单

(Cantonese) (used in rhetorical questions to indicate the actual extent is far greater) be much more than


生嗮

/saːŋ⁵⁵ saːi̯³³/

/saːŋ⁵⁵ saːi̯³³/

你哋咪嘈生嗮啦！

Rumours of the legislator's scandal were spread all over.

go³ ji⁵ jyun⁴ ge³ cau² si⁶ bei² jan⁴ coeng³ saang¹ saai³.

個議員嘅醜事畀人唱生嗮。

个议员嘅丑事畀人唱生嗮。

(Cantonese) Used after a verb to indicate annoying persistence of the action (usually related to speech).


向左走向右走

/hœːŋ³³ t͡sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hœːŋ³³ jɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

From the word censor implemented in Hong Kong Golden Forum.

(Hong Kong Cantonese, originally Internet slang, euphemistic, neologism) Alternative form of 撚 (lan2, “fucking”)


㗎呢

/kɐ³³ nɛː⁵⁵/

/kɐ³³ nɛː⁵⁵/

This plate of sushi is really delicious!

ni¹ dip⁶ sau⁶ si¹ zan¹ hai⁶ hou² hou² sik⁶ ga³ ne¹!

呢碟壽司真係好好食㗎呢！

呢碟寿司真系好好食㗎呢！

(Hong Kong Cantonese, ethnic slur) Sentence-final particle used to mimic Japanese person speaking Cantonese.


都未定

/tou̯⁵⁵ mei̯²² tɪŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/tou̯⁵⁵ mei̯²² tɪŋ²²⁻³⁵/

佢死咗都未定

(Cantonese) Used to express possibility of an event.


𫬃

Grammaticalization of 話 /话 (waa⁶), with the tone change associated with its use as an evidential marker. May be an ancestor of 啝 (wo⁴), 喎 /㖞 (wo⁵) as well as 喎 /㖞 (wo³).

Williams, Samuel Wells (1856) A tonic dictionary of the Chinese language in the Canton dialect

話佢少佢銀𫬃。

话佢少佢银𫬃。

(19th century Cantonese) Sentence-final modal particle used for reported speech; it is said.


吖嗱

/aː⁵⁵ naː²¹/

/aː⁵⁵ naː²¹/

去我屋企坐下吖嗱！

nei⁵ gau³ daam² zau⁶ gwo³ lai⁴ aa¹ naa⁴!

你夠膽就過嚟吖嗱！

你够胆就过嚟吖嗱！

(Cantonese) Used to make suggestions or warnings


罷啦

/paː²²⁻³⁵ laː⁵⁵/

/paː²²⁻³⁵ laː⁵⁵/

算罷啦！

算罢啦！

(Cantonese) Sentence final particle used to indirectly make suggestions.


𠺢嘛

/kaː⁵⁵ maː³³/

/kaː⁵⁵ maː³³/

c. 1963, “釣魚郎”, 唐滌生 [Tang Ti-sheng] (lyrics), performed by 梁醒波 [Leung Sing Poh]:

The whitefish will play tricks on you, right? You've just got to keep to yourself and it'll be fine.

baak⁶ laap⁶ zai² wui⁵ waan⁴⁻² nei⁵ gaa¹ maa³, nei⁵ jiu³ on¹ fan⁶ sau² gei² dak¹ gaa².

白鱲仔會玩你𠺢嘛，你要安分守己得㗎。

白𫚭仔会玩你𠺢嘛，你要安分守己得㗎。

(Cantonese) Final particle used to mark that the listener should agree with or should be made aware of the statement


之嘛

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː³³/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː³³/

Of course he can't drive, he's only fourteen.

keoi⁵ dong¹ jin⁴ m⁴ sik¹ zaa¹ ce¹; keoi⁵ hai⁶ sap⁶ sei³ seoi³ zi¹ maa³.

佢當然唔識揸車；佢係十四歲之嘛。

佢当然唔识揸车；佢系十四岁之嘛。

(Cantonese) Final particle used to indicate unimportance or triviality.