34.7 The Adverb 未 mei6 II (‘not yet; yet’)
In Grammar and Vocabulary 13.8, we learned that the adverb 未 mei6 means ‘not yet’ in sentences and ‘yet’ in yes-no questions.
We can also put 未 mei6 after an activity to ask if we are doing the activity yet. We often use this type of question to ask whether we should do the activity now or whether someone wants to do the activity now (at the time of speaking).
我哋埋單未呀？
ngo5 dei6 maai4 daan1 mei6 aa3?
Are we paying the bill yet?
[= Should we pay the bill now? / Do you want to pay the bill now?]
我哋走未呀？
ngo5 dei6 zau2 mei6 aa3?
Are we leaving yet?
[= Should we leave now? / Do you want to leave now?]
This type of question usually functions as a suggestion. We can respond to it like we are responding to a suggestion. For negative answers, we usually indicate the reason for rejecting the suggestion directly.
| A: | 我哋走未呀？ ngo5 dei6 zau2 mei6 aa3? Are we leaving yet? [= Should we leave now? / Do you want to leave now?] |
| B: | → 好呀，走啦。 hou2 aa3, zau2 laa1. Good. [= Yes.] Let’s leave. → 我想坐多一陣先呀。 ngo5 soeng2 co5 do1 jat1 zan6 sin1 aa3. I want to sit for a moment more first. |