Cantonese Learning
· 17 min read
50 essential Hong Kong Cantonese words & expressions
| Cantonese word (English pronunciation) | Word used in a sentence (English pronunciation) | English translation (Word) | English translation (Sentence) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 ngo5 | 我係學生。ngo5 hai6 hok6 saang1 | I / me | I am a student. |
| 你 nei5 | 你食咗飯未呀？nei5 sik6 zo2 faan6 mei6 aa3? | you | Have you eaten yet? |
| 佢 keoi5 | 佢今日唔返工。keoi5 gam1 jat6 m4 faan1 gung1 | he / she | He/she isn't going to work today. |
| 我哋 ngo5 dei6 | 我哋一齊去啦。ngo5 dei6 jat1 cai4 heoi3 laa1 | we / us | Let's go together. |
| 你哋 nei5 dei6 | 你哋食咩呀？nei5 dei6 sik6 me1 aa3? | you (plural) | What are you guys eating? |
| 佢哋 keoi5 dei6 | 佢哋住喺香港。keoi5 dei6 zyu6 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 | they | They live in Hong Kong. |
| 係 hai6 | 呢個係我朋友。ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 pang4 jau5 | to be / is | This is my friend. |
| 唔 m4 | 我唔知。ngo5 m4 zi1 not / don't | I don't know. | |
| 冇 mou5 | 我冇錢。ngo5 mou5 cin2 | don't have / there isn't | I don't have any money. |
| 有 jau5 | 你有時間嗎？nei5 jau5 si4 gaan3 maa3? | have | Do you have time? |
| 要 jiu3 | 我要一杯咖啡。ngo5 jiu3 jat1 bui1 gaa3 fe1 | want / need | I want a cup of coffee. |
| 想 soeng2 | 我想食飯。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 faan6 | want to / would like | I want to eat. |
| 知 zi1 | 我知呀。ngo5 zi1 aa3 | know | I know. |
| 唔知 m4 zi1 | 我唔知喎。ngo5 m4 zi1 wo3 | don't know | I don't know. |
| 識 sik1 | 你識唔識佢？nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 keoi5? | know / be acquainted with | Do you know him/her? |
| 明 ming4 | 我明喇。ngo5 ming4 laa3 | understand | I understand now. |
| 覺得 gok3 dak1 | 我覺得幾好。ngo5 gok3 dak1 gei2 hou2 | think / feel | I think it's pretty good. |
| 好 hou2 | 呢間餐廳好好食。ni1 gaan1 caan1 teng1 hou2 hou2 sik6 | good / very | This restaurant is really good. |
| 多 do1 | 呢度有好多人。ni1 dou6 jau5 hou2 do1 jan4 | many / much | There are many people here. |
| 少 siu2 | 少少就夠喇。siu2 siu2 zau6 gau3 laa3 | few / little | A little is enough. |
| 大 daai6 | 呢間房好大。ni1 gaan1 fong2 hou2 daai6 | big | This room is very big. |
| 細 sai3 | 呢杯咖啡太細。ni1 bui1 gaa3 fe1 taai3 sai3 | small | This coffee is too small. |
| 新 san1 | 呢部電話係新嘅。ni1 bou6 din6 waa2 hai6 san1 ge3 | new | This phone is new. |
| 舊 gau6 | 呢部電腦好舊。ni1 bou6 din6 nou5 hou2 gau6 | old | This computer is very old. |
| 今日 gam1 jat6 | 今日好熱。gam1 jat6 hou2 jit6 | today | It's very hot today. |
| 聽日 ting1 jat6 | 聽日見。ting1 jat6 gin3 | tomorrow | See you tomorrow. |
| 尋日 cam4 jat6 | 尋日落雨。cam4 jat6 lok6 jyu5 | yesterday | It rained yesterday. |
| 而家 ji4 gaa1 | 我而家好忙。ngo5 ji4 gaa1 hou2 mong4 | now | I'm very busy right now. |
| 依家 ji1 gaa1 | 你依家去邊？nei5 ji1 gaa1 heoi3 bin1? | now | Where are you going now? |
| 返 faan1 | 我返屋企喇。ngo5 faan1 uk1 kei2 laa3 | return / go back | I'm going home. |
| 去 heoi3 | 你去邊度呀？nei5 heoi3 bin1 dou6 aa3? | go | Where are you going? |
| 嚟 lei4 | 你幾時嚟？nei5 gei2 si4 lei4? | come | When are you coming? |
| 食 sik6 | 你食咗飯未？nei5 sik6 zo2 faan6 mei6? | eat | Have you eaten? |
| 飲 jam2 | 我想飲水。ngo5 soeng2 jam2 seoi2 | drink | I want to drink water. |
| 水 seoi2 | 可唔可以俾杯水我？ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 bui1 seoi2 ngo5? | water | Could you give me |
| 飯 faan6 | 我食咗飯喇。ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6 laa3 | rice / meal | I've eaten already. |
| 錢 cin2 | 幾多錢呀？gei2 do1 cin2 aa3? | money | How much is it? |
| 幾多 gei2 do1 | 呢個幾多錢？ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2? | how many / how much | How much is this? |
| 邊 bin1 | 你住邊度？nei5 zyu6 bin1 dou6? | which / where | Where do you live? |
| 邊度 bin1 dou6 | 廁所喺邊度？ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6? | where | Where is the toilet? |
| 咩 me1 | 你食咩呀？nei5 sik6 me1 aa3? | what | What are you eating? |
| 點 dim2 | 點解呀？dim2 gaai2 aa3? | how / what way | Why? |
| 點解 dim2 gaai2 | 你點解唔去？nei5 dim2 gaai2 m4 heoi3? | why | Why aren't you going? |
| 幾時 gei2 si4 | 你幾時返香港？nei5 gei2 si4 faan1 hoeng1 gong2? | when | When are you returning to Hong Kong? |
| 可以 ho2 ji5 | 可以坐呢度嗎？ho2 ji5 co5 ni1 dou6 maa3? | can / may | Can I sit here? |
| 得 dak1 | 咁樣得唔得呀？gam2 joeng6 dak1 m4 dak1 aa3? | okay / can | Is this okay? |
| 快 faai3 | 快啲啦！faai3 di1 laa1 | fast / quickly | Hurry up! |
| 慢 maan6 | 慢啲講。maan6 di1 gong2 | slow | Speak more slowly. |
| 嚟緊 lei4 gan2 | 我哋嚟緊去旅行。ngo5 dei6 lei4 gan2 heoi3 leoi5 hang4 | upcoming / about to | We're going on a trip soon. |
| 成日 seng4 jat6 | 佢成日遲到。keoi5 seng4 jat6 ci4 dou3 | always / often | He's always late. |
| 仲 zung6 你仲食唔食？nei5 zung6 sik6 m4 sik6? | still / yet | Are you still eating? | |
| 已經 ji5 ging1 | 我已經食咗喇。ngo5 ji5 ging1 sik6 zo2 laa3 | already | I've already eaten. |
| 再 zoi3 | 下次再見。haa6 ci3 zoi3 gin3 | again | See you again next time. |
| 都 dou1 | 我都想去。ngo5 dou1 soeng2 heoi3 | also / too | I want to go too. |
| 咗 zo2 | 我食咗飯。ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6 | completed action | I ate / I've eaten. |
| 喎 wo3 | 原來係咁喎。jyun4 loi4 hai6 gam2 wo3 | sentence particle | Oh, so that's how it is. |
| 啦 laa1 | 食飯啦！sik6 faan6 laa1 | sentence particle | Let's eat! / Time to eat! |
| 嘅 ge3 | 呢個係我嘅。ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3 | possessive / emphasis particle | This one is mine. |
1. Pronouns & people
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | ngo5 | I / me |
| 你 | nei5 | you |
| 佢 | keoi5 | he / she / him / her |
| 我哋 | ngo5 dei6 | we / us |
| 你哋 | nei5 dei6 | you (plural) |
| 佢哋 | keoi5 dei6 | they / them |
| 人 | jan4 | person |
| 男人 | naam4 jan4 | man |
| 女人 | neoi5 jan4 | woman |
| 小朋友 | siu2 pang4 jau5 | child |
| 男朋友 | naam4 pang4 jau5 | boyfriend |
| 女朋友 | neoi5 pang4 jau5 | girlfriend |
| 朋友 | pang4 jau5 | friend |
| 老闆 | lou5 baan2 | boss |
| 老師 | lou5 si1 | teacher |
| 學生 | hok6 saang1 | student |
2. Essential verbs
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 係 | hai6 | be / is |
| 有 | jau5 | have |
| 冇 | mou5 | not have |
| 要 | jiu3 | want / need |
| 想 | soeng2 | want to / would like |
| 知 | zi1 | know |
| 識 | sik1 | know / be familiar with |
| 明 | ming4 | understand |
| 見 | gin3 | see |
| 聽 | teng1 | listen / hear |
| 講 | gong2 | speak / say |
| 話 | waa6 | say / tell |
| 問 | man6 | ask |
| 答 | daap3 | answer |
| 睇 | tai2 | look / watch / read |
| 聽 | teng1 | listen |
| 食 | sik6 | eat |
| 飲 | jam2 | drink |
| 買 | maai5 | buy |
| 賣 | maai6 | sell |
| 俾 | bei2 | give |
| 攞 | lo2 | take |
| 開 | hoi1 | open |
| 關 | gwaan1 | close |
| 做 | zou6 | do / make |
| 用 | jung6 | use |
| 搵 | wan2 | find / look for |
| 等 | dang2 | wait |
| 住 | zyu6 | live / stay |
| 返 | faan1 | return / go back |
| 去 | heoi3 | go |
| 嚟 | lai4 | come |
| 行 | haang4 | walk |
| 坐 | co5 | sit / take transport |
| 跑 | paau2 | run |
| 瞓 | fan3 | sleep |
| 起身 | hei2 san1 | get up |
| 起床 | hei2 cong4 | get out of bed |
| 返工 | faan1 gung1 | go to work |
| 放工 | fong3 gung1 | finish work |
3. Core adjectives
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 好 | hou2 | good |
| 唔好 | m4 hou2 | bad / don't |
| 大 | daai6 | big |
| 細 | sai3 | small |
| 長 | coeng4 | long |
| 短 | dyun2 | short |
| 高 | gou1 | tall / high |
| 矮 | ngai2 | short |
| 快 | faai3 | fast |
| 慢 | maan6 | slow |
| 多 | do1 | many / much |
| 少 | siu2 | few / little |
| 熱 | jit6 | hot |
| 凍 | dung3 | cold |
| 靚 | leng3 | beautiful / pretty |
| 平 | peng4 | cheap |
| 貴 | gwai3 | expensive |
| 新 | san1 | new |
| 舊 | gau6 | old |
| 難 | naan4 | difficult |
| 易 | ji6 | easy |
| 忙 | mong4 | busy |
| 得閒 | dak1 haan4 | free / available |
| 開心 | hoi1 | sam1 happy |
| 唔開心 | m4 hoi1 sam1 | unhappy |
| 攰 | gui6 | tired |
| 肚餓 | tou5 ngo6 | hungry |
| 口渴 | hau2 hot3 | thirsty |
4. Question words
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 咩 | me1 | what |
| 邊 | bin1 | which / where |
| 邊個 | bin1 go3 | who / which person |
| 邊度 | bin1 dou6 | where |
| 點 | dim2 | how |
| 點解 | dim2 gaai2 | why |
| 點樣 | dim2 joeng6 | how |
| 幾多 | gei2 do1 | how many / how much |
| 幾時 | gei2 si4 | when |
| 幾點 | gei2 dim2 | what time |
| 幾耐 | gei2 noi6 | how long |
| 幾歲 | gei2 seoi3 | how old |
| 邊間 | bin1 gaan1 | which one / which shop |
| 邊樣 | bin1 joeng6 | which thing |
Essential questions
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你叫咩名呀？ | nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3? | What's your name? |
| 你係邊度人？ | nei5 hai6 bin1 dou6 jan4? | Where are you from? |
| 你住邊度？ | nei5 zyu6 bin1 dou6? | Where do you live? |
| 廁所喺邊度？ | ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6? | Where's the toilet? |
| 幾多錢呀？ | gei2 do1 cin2 aa3? | How much is it? |
| 點解？ dim2 gaai2? | Why? | |
| 你做咩呀？ | nei5 zou6 me1 aa3? | What are you doing? |
| 你食咗飯未呀？ | nei5 sik6 zo2 faan6 mei6 aa3? | Have you eaten yet? |
5. Time
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今日 | gam1 jat6 | today |
| 聽日 | ting1 jat6 | tomorrow |
| 尋日 | cam4 jat6 | yesterday |
| 而家 | ji4 gaa1 | now |
| 依家 | ji1 gaa1 | now |
| 朝早 | ziu1 zou2 | morning |
| 朝頭早 | ziu1 tau4 zou2 | early morning |
| 下晝 | haa6 zau3 | afternoon |
| 夜晚 | je6 maan5 | evening / night |
| 半夜 | bun3 je6 | midnight |
| 星期 | sing1 kei4 | week |
| 星期一 | sing1 kei4 jat1 | Monday |
| 星期二 | sing1 kei4 ji6 | Tuesday |
| 星期三 | sing1 kei4 saam1 | Wednesday |
| 星期四 | sing1 kei4 sei3 | Thursday |
| 星期五 | sing1 kei4 ng5 | Friday |
| 星期六 | sing1 kei4 luk6 | Saturday |
| 星期日 | sing1 kei4 jat6 | Sunday |
| 下個星期 | haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 | next week |
| 上個星期 | soeng6 go3 sing1 kei4 | last week |
| 今日朝早 | gam1 jat6 ziu1 zou2 | this morning |
| 一陣 | jat1 zan6 | in a little while |
| 而家 | ji4 gaa1 | now |
| 之前 | zi1 cin4 | before |
| 之後 | zi1 hau6 | afterwards |
| 已經 | ji5 ging1 | already |
| 仲 | zung6 | still |
| 再 | zoi3 | again |
6. Numbers
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | jat1 | one |
| 二 | ji6 | two |
| 三 | saam1 | three |
| 四 | sei3 | four |
| 五 | ng5 | five |
| 六 | luk6 | six |
| 七 | cat1 | seven |
| 八 | baat3 | eight |
| 九 | gau2 | nine |
| 十 | sap6 | ten |
| 百 | baak3 | hundred |
| 千 | cin1 | thousand |
| 萬 | maan6 | ten thousand |
| 第一 | dai6 jat1 | first |
| 第二 | dai6 ji6 | second |
7. Food & drink
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 食 | sik6 | eat / food |
| 飲 | jam2 | drink |
| 飯 | faan6 | rice / meal |
| 水 | seoi2 | water |
| 茶 | caa4 | tea |
| 咖啡 | gaa3 fe1 | coffee |
| 奶 | naai5 | milk |
| 啤酒 | be1 zau2 | beer |
| 早餐 | zou2 caan1 | breakfast |
| 午餐 | ng5 caan1 | lunch |
| 晚餐 | maan5 caan1 | dinner |
| 點心 | dim2 sam1 | dim sum |
| 雞 | gai1 | chicken |
| 牛 | ngau4 | beef / cow |
| 豬 | zyu1 | pork / pig |
| 魚 | jyu4 | fish |
| 蝦 | haa1 | shrimp |
| 菜 | coi3 | vegetables / dish |
| 生菜 | saang1 coi3 | lettuce |
| 蛋 | daan6 | egg |
| 麵 | min6 | noodles |
| 米飯 | mai5 faan6 | cooked rice |
| 湯 | tong1 | soup |
| 麵包 | min6 baau1 | bread |
| 生果 | saang1 gwo2 | fruit |
| 蘋果 | ping4 gwo2 | apple |
| 香蕉 | hoeng1 ziu1 | banana |
| 辣 | laat6 | spicy |
| 甜 | tim4 | sweet |
| 鹹 | haam4 | salty |
| 好食 | hou2 sik6 | delicious |
| 飽 | baau2 | full |
| 肚餓 | tou5 ngo6 | hungry |
A useful Hong Kong distinction:
兩 loeng5 = two of something.
兩個人 — loeng5 go3 jan4 — two people
兩杯水 — loeng5 bui1 seoi2 — two glasses of water
7. Food & drink
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 食 | sik6 | eat / food |
| 飲 | jam2 | drink |
| 飯 | faan6 | rice / meal |
| 水 | seoi2 | water |
| 茶 | caa4 | tea |
| 咖啡 | gaa3 fe1 | coffee |
| 奶 | naai5 | milk |
| 啤酒 | be1 zau2 | beer |
| 早餐 | zou2 caan1 | breakfast |
| 午餐 | ng5 caan1 | lunch |
| 晚餐 | maan5 caan1 | dinner |
| 點心 | dim2 sam1 | dim sum |
| 雞 | gai1 | chicken |
| 牛 | ngau4 | beef / cow |
| 豬 | zyu1 | pork / pig |
| 魚 | jyu4 | fish |
| 蝦 | haa1 | shrimp |
| 菜 | coi3 | vegetables / dish |
| 生菜 | saang1 coi3 | lettuce |
| 蛋 | daan6 | egg |
| 麵 | min6 | noodles |
| 米飯 | mai5 faan6 | cooked rice |
| 湯 | tong1 | soup |
| 麵包 | min6 baau1 | bread |
| 生果 | saang1 gwo2 | fruit |
| 蘋果 | ping4 gwo2 | apple |
| 香蕉 | hoeng1 ziu1 | banana |
| 辣 | laat6 | spicy |
| 甜 | tim4 | sweet |
| 鹹 | haam4 | salty |
| 好食 | hou2 sik6 | delicious |
| 飽 | baau2 | full |
| 肚餓 | tou5 ngo6 | hungry |
In a restaurant
唔該 — m4 goi1 — excuse me / please / thank you
要 — jiu3 — want
唔要 — m4 jiu3 — don't want
少少 — siu2 siu2 — a little
多啲 — do1 di1 — a little more
少啲 — siu2 di1 — a little less
埋單 — maai4 daan1 — the bill, please
打包 — daa2 baau1 — takeaway / pack up
Example:
唔該，埋單。 m4 goi1, maai4 daan1. “Excuse me, the bill please.”
8. Hong Kong transportation
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 車 | ce1 | vehicle / car |
| 巴士 | baa1 si2 | bus |
| 的士 | dik1 si2 | taxi |
| 港鐵 | gong2 tit3 | MTR |
| 地鐵 | dei6 tit3 | subway / metro |
| 火車 | fo2 ce1 | train |
| 高鐵 | gou1 tit3 | high-speed rail |
| 飛機 | fei1 gei1 | airplane |
| 機場 | gei1 coeng4 | airport |
| 車站 | ce1 zaam6 | station |
| 巴士站 | baa1 si2 zaam6 | bus stop |
| 地鐵站 | dei6 tit3 zaam6 | MTR station |
| 入 | jap6 | enter |
| 出 | ceot1 | exit / leave |
| 上 | soeng5 | go up / board |
| 落 | lok6 | go down / get off |
| 到 | dou3 | arrive |
| 轉車 | zyun2 ce1 | change trains/buses |
| 行路 | haang4 lou6 | walk |
| 左 | zo2 | left |
| 右 | jau6 | right |
| 前面 | cin4 min6 | in front |
| 後面 | hau6 min6 | behind |
| 附近 | fu6 gan6 | nearby |
香港站喺邊度？ hoeng1 gong2 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6? “Where is Hong Kong Station?”
9. Shopping & money
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 錢 | cin2 | money |
| 價錢 | gaa3 cin2 | price |
| 幾多錢 | gei2 do1 cin2 | how much |
| 平 | peng4 | cheap |
| 貴 | gwai3 | expensive |
| 買 | maai5 | buy |
| 賣 | maai6 | sell |
| 店 | dim3 | shop |
| 舖頭 | pou3 tau4 | shop |
| 商場 | soeng1 coeng4 | shopping mall |
| 超市 | ciu1 si5 | supermarket |
| 現金 | jin6 gam1 | cash |
| 信用卡 | seon3 jung6 kaat1 | credit card |
| 八達通 | baat3 daat6 tung1 | Octopus card |
| 收據 | sau1 geoi3 | receipt |
| 折 | zit3 | discount |
| 特價 | dak6 gaa3 | special price |
| 免費 | min5 fai3 | free |
| 要 | jiu3 | want |
| 唔要 | m4 jiu3 | don't want |
| 試 | si3 | try |
| 大碼 | daai6 maa5 | large size |
| 細碼 | sai3 maa5 | small size |
| 顏色 | ngaan4 sik1 | colour |
有冇平啲？ jau5 mou5 peng4 di1? “Is there a cheaper one?”
10. Home & everyday objects
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 屋企 | uk1 kei2 | home |
| 屋 | uk1 | house |
| 房 | fong2 | room |
| 房間 | fong4 gaan1 | room |
| 門 | mun4 | door |
| 窗 | coeng1 | window |
| 枱 | toi2 | table |
| 椅 | ji2 | chair |
| 床 | cong4 | bed |
| 廁所 | ci3 so2 | toilet |
| 廚房 | cyu4 fong2 | kitchen |
| 電話 | din6 waa2 | phone |
| 手機 | sau2 gei1 | mobile phone |
| 電腦 | din6 nou5 | computer |
| 書 | syu1 | book |
| 衫 | saam1 | clothes / shirt |
| 鞋 | haai4 | shoes |
| 袋 | doi6 | bag |
| 鎖匙 | so2 si4 | key |
| 門匙 | mun4 si4 | door key |
| 燈 | dang1 | light / lamp |
| 電 | din6 | electricity |
| 冷氣 | laang5 hei3 | air conditioning |
| 雪櫃 | syut3 gwai6 | refrigerator |
| 洗衣機 | sai2 ji1 gei1 | washing machine |
11. Essential sentence-building words
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 係 | hai6 | is / am / are |
| 唔係 | m4 hai6 | isn't / am not |
| 有 | jau5 | have |
| 冇 | mou5 | don't have |
| 可以 | ho2 ji5 | can / may |
| 唔可以 | m4 ho2 ji5 | cannot |
| 得 | dak1 | okay / can |
| 唔得 | m4 dak1 | cannot / not okay |
| 應該 | jing1 goi1 | should |
| 一定 | jat1 ding6 | definitely |
| 可能 | ho2 nang4 | maybe / possible |
| 真係 | zan1 hai6 | really |
| 好似 | hou2 ci5 | seems like |
| 都 | dou1 | also / both |
| 先 | sin1 | first / only then |
| 仲 | zung6 | still |
| 已經 | ji5 | ging1 already |
| 再 | zoi3 | again |
| 又 | jau6 | again / also |
| 就 | zau6 | then / immediately |
| 但係 | daan6 hai6 | but |
| 因為 | jan1 wai6 | because |
| 所以 | so2 ji5 | therefore / so |
| 如果 | jyu4 gwo2 | if |
| 同 | tung4 | with / and |
| 或者 | waak6 ze2 | or / perhaps |
| 但 | daan6 | but |
12. The Cantonese “power particles”
| Cantonese | Jyutping | Typical function |
|---|---|---|
| 呀 | aa3 | softens / makes a question or statement conversational |
| 啦 | laa1 | change of state / urging / emphasis |
| 喎 | wo3 | new information / drawing attention |
| 嘅 | ge3 | emphasis / explanation / possession |
| 㗎 | gaa3 | emphasis / assurance |
| 囉 | lo1 | obvious conclusion / “that's how it is” |
| 咩 | me1 | surprise / challenging a statement |
| 吖 | aa1 | casual sentence ending |
| 啫 | ze1 | “only / just” |
| 添 | tim1 | addition / “even” / “also” |
| 㗎喇 | gaa3 laa3 | emphatic change/assurance |
Compare:
你食飯。 “You eat / you eat a meal.”
你食飯呀？ “Are you eating?”
你食飯啦。 “Go eat / Let's eat.”
你食咗飯喇。 “You've eaten already.”
The basic vocabulary barely changes, but the particle dramatically changes the conversational feeling.
13. Everyday Hong Kong expressions
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 唔該 | m4 goi1 | please / excuse me / thanks |
| 多謝 | do1 ze6 | thank you |
| 唔好意思 | m4 hou2 ji3 si1 | sorry / excuse me |
| 對唔住 | deoi3 m4 zyu6 | sorry |
| 冇問題 | mou5 man6 tai4 | no problem |
| 冇事 | mou5 si6 | it's okay / nothing happened |
| 得㗎 | dak1 gaa3 | it's okay / it'll work |
| 真係 | zan1 hai6 | really |
| 係咩 | ？ hai6 me1? | really? |
| 係喎 | hai6 wo3 | oh yes / that's true |
| 梗係 | gang2 hai6 | of course |
| 當然 | dong1 jin4 | of course |
| 唔緊要 | m4 gan2 jiu3 | never mind |
| 算啦 | syun3 laa1 | forget it / never mind |
| 等陣 | dang2 zan6 | wait a moment |
| 等下 | dang2 haa5 | wait a bit |
| 快啲 | faai3 di1 | hurry up |
| 慢啲 | maan6 di1 | slower |
| 小心 | siu2 sam1 | be careful |
| 加油 | gaa1 jau4 | keep it up / good luck |
| 好正 | hou2 zeng3 | awesome / excellent |
| 好勁 | hou2 ging6 | very impressive / powerful |
| 犀利 | sai1 lei6 | amazing / impressive |
| 正 | zeng3 | great / awesome |
| OK | ou1 kei1 | okay |
| 拜拜 | baai1 baai3 | bye-bye |
14. Common Hong Kong colloquial vocabulary
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 嘢 | je5 | thing / stuff |
| 嘅 | ge3 | of / possessive / emphasis |
| 㗎 | gaa3 | emphatic particle |
| 冇乜 | mou5 mat1 | not much / nothing much |
| 乜嘢 | mat1 je5 | what thing |
| 咁 | gam3 | so / this way |
| 咁樣 | gam2 joeng6 | like this |
| 嗰 | go2 | that |
| 呢 | ni1 | this |
| 呢個 | ni1 go3 | this |
| 嗰個 | go2 go3 | that |
| 呢度 | ni1 dou6 | here |
| 嗰度 | go2 dou6 | there |
| 邊個 | bin1 go3 | who |
| 自己 | zi6 gei2 | oneself / own |
| 大家 | daai6 gaa1 | everyone |
| 成日 | seng4 jat6 | always / often |
| 有時 | jau5 si4 | sometimes |
| 一齊 | jat1 cai4 | together |
| 慢慢 | maan6 maan6 | slowly |
| 快快 | faai3 faai3 | quickly |
| 少少 | siu2 siu2 | a little |
| 多啲 | do1 di1 | more |
| 少啲 | siu2 di1 | less |
| 好多 | hou2 do1 | many / a lot |
| 好少 | hou2 siu2 | very few |
| 好耐 | hou2 noi6 | a long time |
| 好快 | hou2 faai3 | very soon / very fast |
15. Beginner sentences to memorize
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你好！ | nei5 hou2 | Hello! |
| 早晨！ | zou2 san4 | Good morning! |
| 早唞！ | zou2 tau2 | Good night! |
| 拜拜！ | baai1 baai3 | Bye! |
| 多謝！ | do1 ze6 | Thank you! |
| 唔該！ | m4 goi1 | Thanks / excuse me! |
| 唔好意思。 | m4 hou2 ji3 si1 | Sorry / excuse me. |
| 對唔住。 | deoi3 m4 zyu6 | I'm sorry. |
| 冇問題 。 | mou5 man6 tai4 | No problem. |
| 我唔知。 | ngo5 m4 zi1 | I don't know. |
| 我唔明。 | ngo5 m4 ming4 | I don't understand. |
| 我明喇。 | ngo5 ming4 laa3 | I understand now. |
| 請問…… | cing2 man6 | Excuse me, may I ask… |
| 可唔可以？ | ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 | Can I? / Is it possible? |
| 得唔得呀？ | dak1 m4 dak1 aa3? | Is that okay? |
| 冇問題呀。 | mou5 man6 tai4 aa3 | No problem. |
| 我想要呢個。 | ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 ni1 go3 | I want this one. |
| 唔要，唔該。 | m4 jiu3, m4 goi1 | No thanks. |
| 幾多錢呀？ | gei2 do1 cin2 aa3? | How much is it? |
| 太貴喇。 | taai3 gwai3 laa3 | It's too expensive. |
| 有冇平啲？ | jau5 mou5 peng4 di1? | Is there a cheaper one? |
| 廁所喺邊度？ | ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6? | Where's the toilet? |
| 我去緊…… | ngo5 heoi3 gan2 | I'm going to… |
| 我返屋企喇。 | ngo5 faan1 uk1 kei2 laa3 | I'm going home. |
| 等我一陣。 | dang2 ngo5 jat1 zan6 | Wait for me a moment. |
| 你等我呀。 | nei5 dang2 ngo5 aa3 | Wait for me. |
| 我而家好忙。 | ngo5 ji4 gaa1 hou2 mong4 | I'm very busy right now. |
| 聽日見。 | ting1 jat6 gin3 | See you tomorrow. |
| 下次再見。 | haa6 ci3 zoi3 gin3 | See you next time. |