Cantonese Phrasebook for Expats in Hong Kong

Greetings and Basic Expressions

  • Good morning: 早晨 (zou2 san4)

  • Good afternoon: 午安 (ng5 on1)

  • Good evening: 晚上好 (maan5 soeng6 hou2)

  • Thank you: 多謝 (do1 ze6)

  • You're welcome: 唔使客氣(m4 sai2 haak3 hei3)

  • How are you?: 你好嗎?(nei5 hou2 maa1?)

  • I'm fine, thank you: 我好好,多謝(ngo5 hou2 hou2,do1 ze6)

Introductions

  • What is your name?: 你叫乜嘢名?(nei5 giu3 mat1 je5 ming4?)

  • My name is [name]: 我叫[name](ngo5 giu3 [name])

  • Nice to meet you: 你好,好開心識到你(nei5 hou2,hou2 hoi1 sam1 sik1 dou3 nei5)

Directions

  • Where is...?: [X]喺邊度?([X] hai2 bin1 dou6?)

  • Right: 右邊(jau6 bin1)

  • Left: 左邊(zo2 bin1)

  • Straight ahead: 直行(zik6 hang4)

  • Excuse me, could you please help me?: 唔該,可唔可以幫我?(m4 goi1, ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5?)

  • How do I get to...?: 點樣行去…?(dim2 joeng2 haang4 heoi3…?)

Public Transportation

  • Is this seat taken?: 呢個位得嗎?(ni1 go3 wai2 dak1 maa1?)

  • How much is a ticket to [destination]?: 去[destination]要幾錢?(heoi3 [destination] jiu3 gei2 cin2?)

  • Can you tell me when to get off?: 可唔可以同我講落車?(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 tung4 ngo5 gong2 lok6 ce1?)

  • Is this the right bus/train to [destination]?: 呢條巴士/火車去[destination]得唔得?(ni1 tiu4 baa1 si1 / fo2 ce1 heoi3 [destination] dak1 m4 dak1?)

Dining

  • I would like to order...: 我想要點…(ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 dim2…)

  • Can I have the menu, please?: 可唔可以畀我個菜單?(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 ngo5 go3 coi3 daan1?)

  • Is this dish spicy?: 呢個菜辣唔辣?(ni1 go3 coi3 laat6 m4 laat6?)

  • Could you make it less spicy?: 可唔可以唔辣?(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 m4 laat6?)

  • The bill, please: 埋單,唔該(maai4 daan1,m4 goi1)

Shopping

  • How much does this cost?: 呢個幾錢?(ni1 go3 gei2 cin2?)

  • Do you have this in a different color/size?: 有冇其他顏色/尺寸?(jau5 mou5 kei4 taai3 jim2 sik1 / cek3 syun4)

  • Can I try it on?: 我可以試吓嗎?(ngo5 ho2 ji5 si3 aa3 maa1?)

  • Do you accept credit cards?: 可唔可以用信用卡?(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 jung6 seon3 jung6 kaat1?)

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Guide to Exploring Hong Kong's Native Flora

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Hong Kong's Cha Chaan Teng Guide