particle

mou

Mou (particle) means a sentence-final particle used in some Chinese dialects to turn a statement into a yes/no question. Example: “You want tea, mou?”

particle

A sentence-final particle used in some Chinese dialects to turn a statement into a yes/no question.

"You want tea, mou?"

"The waiter asked, "Finished eating, mou?""

How to use mou

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small word tacked onto the end of a sentence in Cantonese-influenced English to turn it into a question.

When to use it

Appears mainly in Cantonese-English code-switching or transliterated dialogue, not standard written English.

Word forms

Mous plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

You want tea, _____?

Etymology

From Cantonese 冇 (mou5), reinforced by influence from the Malay word mau ("to want").

Origin: Cantonese

Rhymes for mou

ou you fou sou IOU Lou kou Zou Vou Hou thou chou

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mou” mean?

The word “mou” means a sentence-final particle used in some Chinese dialects to turn a statement into a yes/no question. In plain terms, a small word tacked onto the end of a sentence in Cantonese-influenced English to turn it into a question.

How do you use “mou” in a sentence?

Here is “mou” used in a sentence: “You want tea, mou?”

What part of speech is “mou”?

“Mou” is a particle.

Where does the word “mou” come from?

The word “mou” comes from Cantonese. From Cantonese 冇 (mou5), reinforced by influence from the Malay word mau ("to want").

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Vocabulary lists that include mou:

Words with Chinese origins Words that end with U