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
1
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 notesIn 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.
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Word forms
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").
Rhymes for mou
See all rhymes for mou →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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