Cantonese Phrases
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Cantonese Phrases and Common Expressions
This page contains a table including the following: Cantonese phrases, expressions and words in Cantonese, conversation and idioms, Cantonese greetings, and survival phrases. It also helps if you simply want to know what to say when chatting in Cantonese!
Most of the sentences below are used for everyday life conversations, so they might come handy if you memorize them.
| English Phrases | Cantonese Phrases |
|---|---|
| English Greetings | Cantonese Greetings: |
| Hi! | Wai3! / Nei hou2! 喂! / 你好! |
| Good morning! | Zou2 san4! 早晨! |
| Good evening! | Maan5 on1! 晚安! |
| Welcome! (to greet someone) | Fun1 jing4! 歡迎! |
| How are you? | Nei5 hou2 maa1! / Dim2 aa3! 你好嗎? / 點呀? |
| I'm fine, thanks! | Ngo5 hou2 hou2, do1 ze6! 我好好﹐多謝! |
| And you? | Nei5 ni1? 你呢? |
| Good/ So-So. | Hou2 hou2 好好 Maa4 maa4 dei6 / maa1 maa1 dei6 麻麻地/麼麼地 |
| Thank you (very much)! | Written: Ze6 ze6! 謝謝! Spoken: Do1 ze6 (saai3)! / M4 goi1 (saai3)! 多謝(嗮)! / 唔該(嗮)! |
| You're welcome! (for "thank you") | Written: Bat1 jung6 haak3 hei3! 不用客氣! Spoken: M4 sai2 haak3 hei3! / M4 sai2 m4 goi1! 唔使客氣! / 唔使唔該! |
| Hey! Friend! | Wai3! Pang4 jau5! 喂! 朋友! |
| I missed you so much! | Ngo5 gam3 do1 soeng2 nim6 nei5. 我咁多想念你. |
| What's new? | Written: Sam6 mo1 si6 san1 man4? 甚麼是新聞? Spoken: Mat1 je5 hai6 san1 man4? 乜嘢係新聞? |
| Nothing much | Bat1 zam2 mo1 joeng6! 不怎麼樣! |
| Good night! | Zou2 tau2! 早唞! |
| See you later! | Spoken: Ci4 di1 gin3 遲啲見! |
| Good bye! | Baai3 baai3! 拜拜! |
| Asking for Help and Directions | |
| I'm lost | Written: Ngo5 mai4 lou6! 我迷路! Spoken: Ngo5 m4 gin3 zo2! 我唔見咗! |
| Can I help you? | Written: Ngo5 ho2 bat1 ho2 ji5 bong1 zo6 nei5? 我可不可以幫助你? Spoken: Ngo5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 zo6 nei5? 我可唔可以幫助你? |
| Can you help me? | Written: Nei5 ho2 bat1 ho2 ji5 bong1 zo6 ngo5? 你可不可以幫助我? Spoken: Nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 zo6 ngo5? 你可唔可以幫助我? |
| Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? | Written: (Sai2 sau2 gaan1 / joek6 fong4) zoi6 bin1 dou6? (洗手間/藥房)在哪裏? Spoken: (Sai2 sau2 gaan1 / joek6 fong4) hai6 bin1 dou6? (洗手間/藥房)喺邊度? |
| Go straight! then turn left/ right! | Zik6 heoi3! Jin4 hau6 zyun3 zo2 / jau6! 直去! 然後轉左/右! |
| I'm looking for john. | Ngo5 cam4 Joek3 hon6. 我尋約翰。 |
| One moment please! | Written: Cing2 dang2 haa5! 請等下! Spoken: M4 goi1 dang2 haa5! 唔該等下! |
| Hold on please! (phone) | Written: Cing2 dang2 haa5! 請等下! Spoken: M4 goi1 dang2 haa5! 唔該等下! |
| How much is this? | Written: Ze5 do1 siu3 cin4? 這多少錢? Spoken: Ni1 gei2 do1 cin4? 呢幾多錢? |
| Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) | Ceng2 man6! 請問! |
| Excuse me! ( to pass by) | Written: Bat1 hou2 ji3 si1/3 不好意思! Spoken: M4 hou2 ji3 si1/3 唔好意思! |
| Come with me! | Written: Gan1 ngo5 loi4! 跟我來! Spoken: Gan1 ngo5 lai4! 跟我嚟! |
| How to Introduce Yourself | |
|---|---|
| Do you speak (English/ Cantonese)? | Written: Nei3 sik1 bat1 sik1 gong2 (Jing1 man4 / Gwong2 dung1 waa6)? 你識不識講(英文/廣東話)? Spoken: Nei3 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 (Jing1 man4 / Gwong2 dung1 waa6)? 你識唔識講(英文/廣東話)? |
| Just a little. | Written: Jat1 dim2 ji4. 一點兒。 Spoken: Jat1 di1. 一啲。 |
| What's your name? | Written: Nei5 giu3 sam6 mo1 ming4 zi6? 你叫甚麼名字? Spoken: Nei5 giu3 me1 meng2? 你叫咩名? |
| My name is ... | Ngo5 giu3 ... 我叫… Written: Ngo5 dik1 ming4 zi6 si6 ... 我的名字是... Spoken: Ngo5 go3 meng2 haai6 ... 我個名係... |
| Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss… | ... sin1 saang1 / ... neoi5 si6 / ... siu2 ze2 ... 先生/... 女士/... 小姐 |
| Nice to meet you! | Hou2 gou1 heng3 jing6 sik1 nei5 aa3! 好高興認識你呀! |
| You're very kind! | Nei5 zai1 wo4 hei3! 你真和氣! |
| Where are you from? | Written: Nei5 cung4 naa5/4 leoi5 loi4? 你從哪裏來? Spoken: Nei5 hai6 bin1 dou6 lai4? 你係邊度嚟? |
| I'm from (the U.S/ Hong Kong) | Written: Ngo5 cung4 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2) loi4. 我從(美國/香港)來。 Spoken: Ngo5 hai6 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2) lai4. 我係(美國/香港)嚟。 |
| I'm (American) | Written: Ngo5 si6 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2) jan4. 我是(美國/香港)人。 Spoken: Ngo5 hai6 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2) jan4. 我係(美國/香港)人。 |
| Where do you live? | Written: Nei5 zyu6 zoi6 naa5 leoi5? 你住在哪裏?
Spoken: Nei5 zyu6 hai6 bin1 dou6? 你住喺邊度? |
| I live in (the U.S/ Hong Kong) | Written: Ngo5 zyu6 zoi6 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2). 我住在(美國/香港)。 Spoken: Ngo5 zyu6 hai6 (Mei5 gwok3 / Hoeng1 gong2). 我住喺(美國/香港)。 |
| Did you like it here? | Written: Ze5 leoi5 hei2 fun1 bat1 hei2 fun? 這裡喜歡不喜歡? Spoken: Ni1 dou6 zung1 ji3 m4 zung1 ji3? 呢度鍾意唔鍾意? |
| Hong Kong is a wonderful country | Written: Hoeng1 gong2 si6 go3 kei4 miu6 dik1 sing4 si5. 香港是個奇妙的城市。 Spoken: Hoeng1 gong2 hai6 go3 kei4 miu6 ge3 sing4 si5. 香港係個奇妙嘅城市。 |
| What do you do for a living? | Written: Nei5 sam6 mo1 zou6 zik1 jip6? 你做甚麼職業? Spoken: Nei5 mat1 je5 zou6 zik1 jip6? 你做乜嘢職業? |
| I work as a (translator/ businessman) | Written: Ngo5 si6 jik6 ze2 / soeng1 jan4. 我是(譯者/商人)。 Spoken: Ngo5 hai6 jik6 ze2 / soeng1 jan4. 我係(譯者/商人)。 |
| I like Cantonese | Written: Ngo5 hei2 fun1Gwong2 dung1 waa6. 我喜歡廣東話。 Spoken: Ngo5 zung1 ji3 Gwong2 dung1 waa6. 我鍾意廣東話。 |
| I've been learning Cantonese for 1 month | Ngo5 hok6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 jat1 go3 jyut6 laak3. 我學廣東話一個月嘞。 |
| Oh! That's good! | Aa4! Zan1 hou2! 啊! 真好! |
| How old are you? | Written: Nei5 do1 siu2 seoi3? 你多少歲? Spoken: Nei5 gei2 seoi3 aa3? 你幾歲呀? |
| I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old. | Ngo5 (ji6 sap6 / saam1/3 sap6 ...) seoi3. 我(二十、三十 ...)歲。 |
| I have to go | Ngo5 bit1 seoi1 heoi3. 我必須去。 |
| I will be right back! | Ngo5 zik1 hak1 wui4 loi4! 我即刻回來。 |
| Wish Someone Something | |
| Good luck! | Fuk1 hei3! / Gei1 jyun4! / Hou2 wan6! 福氣!/機緣!/好運! |
| Happy birthday! | Saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6! 生日快樂! |
| Happy new year! | San1 nin4 faai3 lok6! 新年快樂! |
| Merry Christmas! | Sing3 daan3 faai3 lok6! 聖誕快樂! |
| Congratulations! | Gung1 hei2! 恭喜! |
| Enjoy! (for meals...) | Sik6 juk6! 食慾! |
| I'd like to visit Hong Kong one day | Jau5 jat1 tin1 ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jau4 laam5 Hoeng1 gong2. 有一天我想要遊覽香港某。 |
| Say hi to John for me | Tai3 ngo5 ziu1 fu1Joek3 hon6. 替我招呼约翰。 |
| Bless you (when sneezing) | On1 hong1! 安康! |
| Good night and sweet dreams! | Zou2 tau2 wo4 zou6 mei5 mung4! 早唞和做美夢! |
| Solving a Misunderstanding | |
| I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something) | Written: Deoi3 bat1 hei2! 對不起! Spoken: Deoi3 m4 zyu6! 對唔住! |
| Sorry (for a mistake) | Written: Deoi3 bat1 hei2! 對不起! Spoken: Deoi3 m4 zyu6! 對唔住! |
| No Problem! | Mou5 man tai4 冇問題! |
| Can You Say It Again? | Written: Cing2 zoi3 gong2! 請再講! Spoken: M4 goi1 zoi3 gong2! 唔該再講! |
| Can You Speak Slowly? | Written: Cing2 maan6 maan6 gong2! 請慢慢講! Spoken: M4 goi1 maan6 maan6 gong2! 唔該慢慢講! |
| Write It Down Please! | Written: Cing2 bat1 gei3! 請筆記! Spoken: M4 goi1 bat1 gei3! 唔該筆記! |
| I Don't Understand! | Written: Ngo5 bat1 dung2! 我不懂! Spoken: Ngo5 m4 ming4! 我唔明! |
| I Don't Know! | Written: Ngo5 bat1 zi1 dou6! 我不知道! Spoken: Ngo5 m4 zi1 dou6! 我唔知道! |
| I Have No Idea. | Written: Ngo5 bat1 zi1 dou6! 我不知道! Spoken: Ngo5 m4 zi1 dou6! 我唔知道! |
| What's That Called In Cantonese? | Written: "..." zoi6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 zam2 mo1 gong2? 「...」在廣東話怎麼講? Spoken: "..." hai6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 dim2 joeng6 aa3? Spoken: "..." hai6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 dim2 joeng6 aa3? 「...」喺廣東話點樣講呀? |
| What Does "gato" Mean In English? | Written: "..." zoi6 Jing1 man4 zam2 mo1 gong2? 「...」在英文怎麼講? Spoken: "..." hai6 Jing1 man4 dim2 joeng6 aa3? 「...」喺英文點樣講呀? |
| How Do You Say "Please" In Cantonese? | Written: "..." zoi6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 zam2 mo1 gong2? 「...」在廣東話怎麼講? Spoken: "..." hai6 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 dim2 joeng6 aa3? 「...」喺廣東話點樣講呀? |
| What Is This? | Written: Ze5 si6 sam6 mo? 這是甚麼? |
| My Cantonese is bad. | Written: Ze5 si6 sam6 mo? 呢係乜嘢? Spoken: Ni1hai6 mat1 je5? 我廣東話不善。 |
| I need to practice my Cantonese | Ngo5 Gwong2 dung1 waa6 bat1sin6. 我需要演習廣東話。 |
| Don't worry! | M4 hou2 daam1 sam1! / Fong3 sam1! 唔好擔心! / 放心! |
| Cantonese Expressions and Words | |
| Good/ Bad/ So-So. | Hou2 hou2 好好 Waai6 壞 Maa4 maa4 dei6 / maa1 maa1 dei6 麻麻地/麼麼地 |
| Big/ Small | Written: Daai6 / siu2 大/小 Spoken: Daai6 / sai3 大/細 |
| Today/ Now | Written: Gam1 tin1 / jin6 zoi6 今天/現在 Spoken: Gam1 jat6 / ji4 gaa1 今日/而家 |
| Tomorrow/ Yesterday | Written: Ming4 tin1 / zok3 tin1 明天/昨天 Spoken: Ting1 jat6 / cam4 jat6 聽日/尋日 |
| Yes/ No | Written: Si6 / Bat1 si6 是 / 不是 Spoken: Hai6 / M4 hai6 係 / 唔係 |
| Here you go! (when giving something) | Naa1 heoi3! 拿去! |
| Do you like it? | Written: Nei5 hei2 fun1 bat1 hei2 fun1? 你喜歡不喜歡? Spoken: Nei5 zung1 ji3 m4 zung1 ji3? 你鍾意唔鍾意? |
| I really like it! | Written: Nei5 zan1 hei2 bat1! 你真喜歡! Spoken: Nei5 zan1 zung1 ji3! 你真鍾意! |
| I'm hungry/ thirsty. | Written: Ngo5 gei1 ngo6 / Ngo5 hau2 hot3. 我飢餓/我口渴。 Spoken: Ngo5 tou5 ngo6 / Ngo5 geng2 hot3. 我肚餓/我頸渴。 |
| In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night. | Zoi6 zou2 soeng5 / maan5 soeng6 / je6 leoi5 在早上/晚間/夜裡 |
| This/ That. Here/There | Written: Ze5 / naa5. Ze5 leoi5 / naa5 leoi5. 這/那。這裡/那裡。 Spoken: Ni1 / go2. Ni1 dou6 / go2 dou6. 呢/嗰。呢度/嗰度。 |
| Me/ You. Him/ Her. | Written: Ngo5 / nei5. Taa1 / taa1. 我/你。他/她。 Spoken: Ngo5 / nei5. Keoi5 / keoi5. 我/你。佢/佢。 |
| Really! | Written: Zan1 si6 dik1! 真是的! Spoken: Hai6 me1! 係咩! |
| Look! | Written: Hon2! 看! Spoken: Tai2! 睇! |
| Hurry up! | Faai3 ceoi3! 快脆! |
| What? Where? | Written: Sam6 mo1? / naa5 leoi5? 甚麼?/哪裏? Spoken: Me1 aa3 / bin1 dou6 aa3? 咩呀?/邊度呀? |
| What time is it? | Gei2 dim2 zung1? 幾點鐘? |
| It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm. | Sap6 dim2 zung1. Maan5 gaan1 baat3 dim2 bun3. 十點鐘。晚間七點半。 |
| Give me this! | Written: Kap1 ngo5! 給我! Spoken: Bei2 ngo5! 俾我! |
| I love you! | Ngo5 oi3 nei5! 我愛你! |
| I feel sick. | Ngo5 m4 syu1 fuk6. 我唔舒服。 |
| I need a doctor | Written: Ngo5 hon2 ji1sang1. 我要看醫生。 Spoken: Ngo5 tai2 ji1sang1. 我要睇醫生。 |
| One, Two, Three | jat1, ji6, saam1 一、二、三 |
| Four, Five, Six | sei3, ng5, luk6 四、五、六 |
| Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten | cat1, baat3, gau2, sap6 七、八、九、十 |
I hope the content of this page was useful to you, and that you learned some Cantonese phrases, expressions and words. Make sure to memorize them to be able to use them in your daily conversation.