Negative particle syntax is parallel to Mandarin about 70% of the time. Here is a fairly complete description (parallel usage to Mandarin is bolded):
- 毋 - (is) not + noun (Mandarin: 不)
- 伊毋是阮老母 She is not my mother.
- 毋 - (does) not + verb/will not + verb (Mandarin: 不)
- 伊毋來 He does not come./He will not come.
- verb + 未 + particle - (is) not able to (Mandarin: 不)
- 我看未著 I am not able to see it.
- 未 + helping verb - can not (opposite of ē/會 is able to/Mandarin: 不)
- 伊未曉講英語 He can't speak English.
- helping verbs that go with 未
- 未使 - is not permitted to (Mandarin: 不可以)
- 未曉 - does not know how to (Mandarin: 不会)
- 未當 - not able to (Mandarin: 不能)
- 莫 - do not (imperative) (Mandarin: 別)
- 莫講! Don't speak!
- 无 - do not + helping verb (Mandarin: 不)
- 伊無侎來 He is not going to come.
- helping verbs that go with 無:
- 侎 - want to + verb; will + verb
- 愛 - must + verb
- 應該 - should + verb
- 合意 - like to + verb
- 無 - does not have (Mandarin: 沒有)
- 伊無錢 He does not have any money.
- 無 - did not (Mandarin: 沒有)
- 伊無來 He did not come.
- 無 - is not + adjective (Mandarin: 不)
- 伊無婎 She is not beautiful.
- An exception can be made for 好 (good), 不好 = 無好 - not good.
- back to main article
- view negative particles in simplified Chinese script
Famous quotes containing the words dialect, negative, particles and/or traditional:
“The eyes of men converse as much as their tongues, with the advantage that the ocular dialect needs no dictionary, but is understood all the world over.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“There is no reason why parents who work hard at a job to support a family, who nurture children during the hours at home, and who have searched for and selected the best [daycare] arrangement possible for their children need to feel anxious and guilty. It almost seems as if our culture wants parents to experience these negative feelings.”
—Gwen Morgan (20th century)
“The atoms of Democritus
And Newton’s particles of light
Are sands upon the Red Sea shore,
Where Israel’s tents do shine so bright.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
“The traditional husband/father has always made choices concerning career, life-styles, values, and directions for the whole family, but he generally had another person on the team—called a wife. And his duties were always clear: Bring home the bacon and take out the garbage.”
—Donna N. Douglass (20th century)