Cantonese handout # 1: Question types

1. Simple questions: These questions are formed by adding the particle “maa3”
to a statement turning it into a question whose response will be either yes or no.
It should be noted that the word order will not be altered and that this type of
question appears more commonly in formal written Cantonese. Answers to
questions of this type are formed by repeating the verb of the question in it’s
positive or negative form. The inclusion of elements other than the verb (i.e.
subject, adverb, object) in the answer is optional.

Ex: Nei5 hou2 (You are well) becomes Nei5 hou2 maa3? (Are you well?) The
response could be either “Hou2” for yes, literally “Good” or “ M4-hou2” for no,
literally“Not good”. Other responses could be Ngo5 hou2 hou2 (I’m very good),
Gei2 hou2 (quite well) M4 hai6 gei2 hou2 (Not all that well)
Maa4 maa4*2 dei6*2 (So so) etc.

2. Choice type questions: These questions are formed by coupling the positive
and the negative forms of the verb and are usually followed by the sentence
particle “aa3”. This type of question is very common in spoken Cantonese.. In
answering these questions the respondent is given the “choice” of repeating the
verb in either it’s positive or negative form.

Ex: Nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 Gwong2 dung1 waa6*2 aa3?

Do you know how to speak Cantonese?

Sik1, ngo5 sik1 gong2 Gwong2 dung1 waa6*2. Yes, I speak Cantonese.

Nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 heoi3 aa3? Do you want to go?

M4 soeng2, Ngo5 m4 soeng2 heoi3. No, I don’t want to go.

Note: In choice type questions the object may follow the positive-negative form
of the verb, or a positive statement is made followed by the negative form of the
verb. In the following examples emphasis is placed upon the object.

Ex: Nei5 maai5 je5, m4 maai5 aa3? Do you (want to) buy something?

Nei5 tai2 bou3 zi2, m4 tai2 aa3? Do you read newspapers, or not.
Cantonese handout #1 page 2

3. Interrogative word questions: These are questions that contain interrogative

words such as who (bin1 go3), what (mat1 je5), where (bin1 dou6) when (gei2
si4), why (dim2 gai2) how (dim2 joeng6*2), how much (gei2 do1) etc. This type
of question cannot be answered with a yes or no response. In general, when
responding to this type of question, the verb is normally repeated and the direct
object inserted.

Ex: Nei5 heoi3 bin1 dou6 aa3? Where are you going?

Ngo5 heoi3 go2 dou6. I’m going over there.

Nei5 gei2 si4 heoi3 aa3? When are you going?

Ngo5 ting1 jat6t heoi3. I’m going tomorrow.

Keoi5 hai6 bin1 go3 aa3? Who is he/she?

Keoi5 hai6 lou5 si1. He is the teacher.

4. Aa4 type questions: When a previous statement is repeated in the form of a

question expecting agreement or indicating a bit of surprise, the final particle
“aa4”is used.

Ex: Ngo5 gui6 I am tired

Nei5 gui6 aa4? You’re tired!?

5. Me1 type questions: When a previous statement is repeated in the form of a

question expressing surprise, doubt, disbelief, etc., the final particle “me1” is used.

Ex: Ngo5 m4 zi1. I don’t know

Nei5 m4 zi1 me1? You don’t know?

Cantonese handout #1 page 3

6. Zo2/mei6 type questions: When forming questions or statements regarding

past events you should add “-zo2” for a recently completed action, or “-gwo3”for
an action completed in the past. By adding the “mei6 aa3?” to the “-zo2” type
question you add the effect of “or not yet” to the question.

Ex: Nei5 sik6 zo2 faan6 mei6 aa3? Have you eaten yet? (Or not yet)

You could respond accordingly:

Sik6 zo2 laa3. Yes, I have already eaten.

Mei6 sik6. Not yet.

Ngo5 mei6 sik6. I have not eaten yet.

To make a question from a statement containing “-zo2”, the particle “laa4?” is

used as opposed to “maa3”.

Keoi5 heoi3 zo2 laak3 He has gone

Keoi5 heoi3 zo2 laa4? Has he gone?

The negative “mei6” expresses the opposite of “zo2” and “laa” that the action has
not yet been completed or a new situation reached. To negate a single in the past,
“mou5” is used:

Keoi5 mei6 heoi3 He hasn’t (yet) gone.

Keoi5 mou5 heoi3 He didn’t go.

When forming questions using the “-gwo3” particle indicating past experience, it
is common to use the yow/mo in the question.

Nei5 jau5 mou5 sik6 gwo3 tong4 caan1 aa3? Have you ever eaten Chinese food?

Nei5 jau5 mou5 heoi3 gwo3 Zung1 gwok3 aa3? Have you ever been to China?