Basic Survival Cantonese

BASIC SURVIVAL CANTONESE

It’s like people say, communication is key! In Hong Kong, you can speak English as it’s widely spoken, but not for everyone. So, here are some words and phrases in Cantonese to help you. Who knows, you might even impress a few locals!

Greetings

- Hello (你好): nei5 hou2

- Good morning (早晨): zou2 san4

- Good night (早抖): zou2 tau2

- Goodbye (拜拜): baai1 baai3

- When someone helps you or gives you a small favor, you will say: Thank you 唔該 (m4 goi1)

- When someone gives you something like, big help or praises you, you will say: Thank you 多謝 (do1 ze6)

Self Introduction

NAME:

Q: 你叫咩名呀?
Q: What is your name?
Q: Nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3?

A: 你好，我係 (name).
A: Hello, I am (name).
A: Nei5 hou2, ngo5 hai6 (name).

AGE:

A: 你今年幾多歲？
B: 我今年十九歲。

A: nei5 gum1 nin2 gei2 do1 seoi3?
B: ngo5 gum1 nin2 sap6 gau2 seoi3.

A: How old are you?
B: I am nineteen years old.

*Numbers in Cantonese:

0 = ling4

1 = jat1

2 = ji6

3 = saam1

4 = sei3

5 = m5

6 = luk6

7 = cat1

8 = baat3

9 = gau2

10 = sap6,

11 = sap6 jat1

12 = sap6 ji6

20 = ji6 sap6

30 = saam1 sap6

31 = saam1 sap6 jat1

100 = jat1 baak3

1000 = jat1 cin1

OCCUPATION (STUDENT):

我係學生。

ngo5 hai6 hok6 sang1.

I’m a student.

Price

To express price:
(number) + 蚊 mun1 + (number) + 毫 hou4

Ex: $2.7 = loeng5 mun1 cat1 hou4
(when using units or measure words, ji6 (2) becomes loeng5)

Q: 呢個幾錢呀?
Q: How much is this?
Q: Ne1 go3 gei2 cin2 aa1?

A: 三蚊.
A: Three dollars.
A: Saam1 mun1.

Saying Sorry (2 Ways)

1. 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6): Sorry

Note: We only use this phrase when we want to express our apology and remorse (usually used at the start of a sentence).

2. 唔好意思 (m4 ho2 ji3 si3) : Excuse me/Sorry

Note: This phrase, "唔好意思" (m4 ho2 ji3 si3), is pretty versatile compared to "對唔住" (deoi3 m4 zyu6). You can use it in all sorts of situations, whether you're being formal or just keeping it chill. Basically, you've got three main times when you might drop a "唔好意思" (m4 ho2 ji3 si3): when you need to grab someone's attention (like a casual "excuse me" moment), when you're feeling a bit sorry or a bit bummed out about something that went wrong, or when you're apologizing for some small slip-up.