Basics in Cantonese phrasebook
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To be or not to be?
Cantonese, as in Chinese, does not have words for "yes" and "no" as such; instead, questions are typically answered by repeating the verb. Common ones include:
- To be or not to be
- 係 haih, 唔係 mh'haih
- To have or not have / there is or is not
- 有 yáuh, 冇 móuh
- To be right or wrong
- 啱 āam, 唔啱 mh'āam
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Hello.�
你好. Néih hóu.
How are you?�
你好嗎? Néih hóu ma?
How are you recently? (more popular in daily usage)
近排點呀 Gahnpàaih dím a? (informal)
Fine.�
幾好. Géi hóu. (No need to say "thank you" after answering "fine" in Cantonese)
What is your name?�
你叫乜嘢名呀? Néih giu māt'yéh mèhng a?
What is your name (formal, literally means "How do I address you")?�
請問點稱呼? Chíngmahn dím chīngfū?
My name is ______ .�
我個名叫______. Ngóh go mèhng giu ______ .
Nice to meet you.�
幸會. Hahng'wúih.
Please.�
請. Chíng.
Thank you. (when someone helps you)�
唔該. M̀h'gōi.
Thank you. (when someone gives you a gift)�
多謝 Dōjeh.
You're welcome.�
唔使客氣. M̀h'sái haak-hei.
Excuse me. (getting attention)�
唔好意思. M̀h'hóu yisi
Excuse me. (to get past)�
唔該. M̀h'gōi * or * M̀h'gōi jeje.
Sorry.�
對唔住. Deui-m̀h-jyuh. (In Hong Kong, it's more common to use the English word "sorry" instead)
Goodbye�
再見 Joigin. (In Hong Kong, "bye bye" is often used instead)
I can't speak Cantonese.�
我唔識講廣東話. Ngóh m̀h'sīk góng Gwóngdōngwá.
Excuse me, do you speak English?�
請問你識唔識講英文呀? Chíngmahn néih sīk-m̀h-sīk góng Yīngmán a?
Is there someone here who speaks English?�
請問有冇人識講英文呀? Chíngmahn yáuhmóh yàhn sīk góng Yīngmán a?
Help!�
救命呀! Gau mehng ā!
Look out!�
小心! Síusām!
Good morning.�
早晨. Jóusàhn.
I don't understand.�
我唔明. Ngóh m̀h'mìhng.
Where is the toilet?�
邊度有廁所? Bīndouh yáuh chi só?
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cantonese phrasebook
