Useful Cantonese Phrases
Cantonese is the official language of Hong Kong and Macau and is spoken in much of south western China including the province of Guangdong. Cantonese is also spoken in Singapore and in emigrant Chinese communities in the UK, USA, Canada and south-east Asia.
Cantonese is a variant of classical Chinese but is now mutually unintelligble with its close relative Mandarin. Learning a few simple phrases before any visit to Cantonese speaking Hong Kong and Macau can make your stay so much more enjoyable and hassle-free. Chinese people warm to any visitor who makes an effort to speak some of their language.
Mandarin has a number of tones numbered 1 through 6. Tones are rising, falling or level at different pitches: low, low-mid, mid and high.
If you are interested in further Chinese language study please see our Chinese language book section.
Below are a few basic phrases to help you on your way in Cantonese.
For Mandarin: Listen to some useful Mandarin phrases here, the numbers in Mandarin here, introductions & looking for an apartment here and greetings, weather, days of the week and travel words here.
The Basics
yes hai
no ng hai
Where is/are? hai bin do
How much? ching mun, gay daw cheen?
Ticket piu
Thank you doh jeh
Please mhgoi
Toilet chisaw
Excuse me deui ng jew
Excuse me (to get past) ng goy je je
Meeting People
Hello haa lou
Goodbye joy gin
My name is ngoh giujouh ...
What is your name? neih giu (jouh) matyeh meng a?
Good morning jousahn
How are you? Sik jor fahn mei ah?
Fine gay ho
I'm from.... ngoh haih ... yahn
Great ho gik
General
Where is ......? .....hai bin do
Train station che jaam
Airport gay cheung
Bus baa si
TV din si
I'd like to book a room, please ngaw seung deng fawng
How much is it per? yat ... gay daw chin?
A week gaw sing kay
A night maan
Name meng
Visa chim jing
Passport wu jiu
Today gam yat
Day yat tau
(This) Year gam lin
Tomorrow ting yat
Emergencies
Call the police! faai di giu ging chaat
Call a doctor! faai di giu yi sang
Call an ambulance! faai di giu gau seung che
I want to contact the embassy ngaw yiu lewn hai ngaw ge daai si gun
doctor yi sang
Food & Drink
I am vegetarian sik jaai ge
apple ping gwaw
banana heung jiu
bread min baau
butter ngau yau
cheese ji si
chicken gai
coffee gaa fe
fruit seui gwaw
meat yuk
milk ngau laai
orange chaang
orange juice chaanapg j
potato sew jai
rice (uncooked) mai
rice (cooked) faan
salt yim
soup tawng
soya milk dau jeung
sugar saa tawng
tea chaa
vegetables saw choy
water seui
wok wawk
yogurt sewn laai
Numbers
0 lihng 零
1 yat 一
2 yi 二
3 saam 三
4 say 四
5 ng 五
6 luk 六
7 chat 七
8 baat 八
9 gau 九
10 sap 十
50 ng sap 五十
100 yat baak 一百
200 yih baak 二百
1000 yat chin 一千
Hotels in Hong Kong & Macau
Book Hotels in Hong Kong - Booking.com
Hotels in Hong Kong - Agoda
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Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong
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Venetian Macau Resort Hotel
Budget Hotels in Hong Kong - Booking.com