Cantonese Phrase Book (Beta)

Edited by Kaibo Huang at http://chineseBay.com

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Table of Contents
Cantonese Phrase Book (Beta)...................................................................................................................1
Phrase list..............................................................................................................................................2
Problems...........................................................................................................................................3
Numbers............................................................................................................................................3
Time..................................................................................................................................................6
Clock time....................................................................................................................................6
Duration.......................................................................................................................................7
Days.............................................................................................................................................7
Months.........................................................................................................................................8
Colors................................................................................................................................................8
Transportation...................................................................................................................................9
Bus and train................................................................................................................................9
Directions.....................................................................................................................................9
Taxi.............................................................................................................................................11
Lodging...........................................................................................................................................11
Money.............................................................................................................................................12
Eating..............................................................................................................................................13
Bars.................................................................................................................................................15
Shopping.........................................................................................................................................16
Driving............................................................................................................................................18
Authority.........................................................................................................................................18

1/19

Basic Greetings
Hello.
. Nih hu.
How are you?
? Nih dm'yeuhng a? / ? Nih hu ma? / Dm a? (informal)
Fine, thank you.
. Gi hu. (No need to say "thank you" after answering "fine" in Cantonese)
What is your name?
? Nih giu mt'yh mhng a?
My name is ______ .
______. Ngh go mhng giu ______ .
Nice to meet you.
. Hahng'wih.
Please.
. Chng.
Thank you. (after someone does something for you)
. MGh'gi.
Thank you. (when someone gives you a gift)
Djeh.
You're welcome.
. MGhsi. / . MGh'si haak3 hei3. / . MGhsi mGh'gi.
Yes.
. Haih.
No.
. MGh'haih.
Excuse me/Pardon me/Sorry.
. Deui-mGh-jyuh.
Goodbye
Joigin.
I can't speak Cantonese.
. Ngh mGh'sk gng Gwngdngw.
Excuse me, do you speak English?
? Chngmahn nih sk-mGh-sk gng Yngmn a?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
? Chngmahn yuhmh yhn sk gng Yngmn a?
Help!
! Gau mehng !
Look out!
! Susm!
Good morning.
. Jushn.
I don't understand.
2/19

. Ngh mGh'mhng.
Where is the toilet?
? Bndouh yuh chi sh?

Problems
Leave me alone.
. MGh'hu gau ngh.
Don't touch me!
! MGh'hu dihm ngh!
I'll call the police.
. Ngh wih giu gngchaat.
Police!
! Gngchaat!
Stop! Thief!
! ! Mih ju! Chaahkji!
Please help me.
. MGh'gi bng ngh.
It's an emergency.
. Hu gn'gp.
I'm lost.
. Ngh dohngst louh.
I lost my bag.
. Ngh mGh'gin j go doih.
I dropped my wallet.
. Ngh dit j go nghn bau.
I'm sick.
. Ngh mGh syfuhk.
I've been injured.
. Ngh sauh j sung.
Please call a doctor.
. MGh'gi bng ngh giu ysng.
Can I use your phone?
? H-mGh-h'yi je go dihnwh yuhng a?

Numbers
1
yt
2
yih
3
sam
3/19

4
sei
5
gh
6
luhk
7
cht
8
baat
9
gu
10
sahp
11
sahpyt
12
sahpyih
13
sahpsam
14
sahpsei
15
sahpgh
16
sahpluhk
17
sahpcht
18
sahpbaat
19
sahpgu
20
yihsahp
21
yihsahpyt
22
yihsahpyih
23
yihsahpsam
30
samsahp
40
seisahp
4/19

50
ghsahp
60
luhksahp
70
chtsahp
80
baatsahp
90
gusahp
100
ytbaak
200
yihbaak
300
sambaak
1000
ytchn
2000
yihchn
10,000
ytmaahn
100,000
sahpmaahn
1,000,000
ytbaakmaahn
10,000,000
ytchnmaahn
100,000,000
ytyk
1,000,000,000
sahpyk
10,000,000,000
ytbaakyk
100,000,000,000
ytchnyk
1,000,000,000,000
ytsiuh
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
_____ houh
half
bun
less
su
5/19

more
d

Time
now
yg
later
chh
before
ju
morning
juju
afternoon
aanjau
evening
yeh mahn
Clock time
one o'clock
yt dm
two o'clock
luhng dm
two five
/ luhng dm yt/luhng dm daahp yt
two ten
/ luhng dm yih/luhng dm daahp yih
two fifteen
/ luhng dm sam/luhng dm daahp sam
two thirty/Half past two
luhng dm bun (not / )
two forty-five
/ luhng dm gu/luhng dm daahp gu
two fifty
/ luhng dm sahp/luhng dm daahp sahp
two fifty-five
luhng dm daahp sahpyt (not )
two fifty-seven
luhng dm ghsahpcht fn

6/19

Duration
_____ minute(s)
_____ fnjng
_____ hour(s)
_____ go jng
_____ day(s)
_____ yaht
_____ week(s)
_____ go lihbaai
_____ month(s)
_____ go yuht
_____ year(s)
_____ nhn
Days
today
gm'yaht
yesterday
chhm'yaht
tomorrow
tngyaht
the day before last
chhnyaht
the day after tomorrow
hauh'yaht
this week
gm go lihbaai
last week
seuhng go lihbaai
next week
hah go lihbaai
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

lihbaai yaht
lihbaai yt
lihbaai yih
lihbaai sam
lihbaai sei
7/19

Friday
lihbaai gh
Saturday
lihbaai luhk
Months
January
yt'yuht
February
yih'yuht
March
sam'yuht
April
seiyuht
May
gh'yuht
June
luhk'yuht
July
cht'yuht
August
baat'yuht
September
guyuht
October
sahpyuht
November
sahpyt'yuht
December
sahpyih'yuht

Colors
black
hk sk
white
baahk sk
gray
fi sk
red
hhng sk
blue
8/19


yellow

green

orange

purple

brown

lahmG sk
whng sk
luhk sk
chahng sk
j sk
f sk

Transportation
Bus and train
In Cantonese, "train" is translated into (fch) and "bus" is (bs). The language uses
measure words or numeral classifiers before the actual nouns. In context of the following examples, the
respective Cantonese measure words for and are (ban) and (ga).
How much is a ticket to _____?
_____? Heui _____ jung fi yiu gid chn gah?
One ticket to _____, please.
_____, . Yt jung fi heui _____, mGh'gi.
Where does this train/bus go?
[]/[] ? N [ban fch]/[ga bs] heui bn?
Where is the train/bus to _____?
_____ []/[] ? Heui _____ [ban fch]/[ga bs] hi bndouh daap
gah?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
[]/[]_____? N [ban fch]/[ga bs] thng-mGh- thng _____ gah?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
_____[/]? Heui _____ [ban fch]/[ga bs] gidm ju gah?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
[]/[]_____? [Ban fch]/[Ga bs] wih gidm heuidou _____
gah?
Directions
How do I get to _____ ?
_____? Ngh h'yi dm heui _____ a?
the train station
fch jaahm
the bus station?
9/19

 bs jaahm
the airport?
gichuhng
downtown?
sh'kui
the youth hostel?
chngnhn luihsh
the _____ hotel?
_____ _____ judim
the American/Australian/British/Canadian consulate
/// ? Mihgwok/Ouju/Yng'gwok/Gnhdaaih lhngsihgn
Where are there a lot of_____ ?
_____? Bndouh h'yi wndou hud _____ a?
restaurants
chantng
bars
jub
sites to see
gngdm
Can you show me on the map?
? H-mGh-h'yi hi jung deihtuh douh j bi ngh ti a?
street
gai
Turn left.
Jyun j.
Turn right.
Jyun yauh.
left
j
right
yauh
straight ahead
jihk'hahng
towards the _____
_____ heui _____
past the _____
_____ gwoj _____
before the _____
_____ jchhn
Watch for the _____.
_____. Tijyuh _____.
intersection
sahpjihlouh'hu
north
10/19

 bkmihn
south
nahm'mihn
east
dngmihn
west
simihn
uphill
suhngsan
downhill
lohksan
Taxi
Taxi!
! Dksh!
Take me to _____, please.
_____, . Joi ngh heui _____, mGh'gi.
How much does it cost to get to _____?
_____? Heui _____ yiu gid chn gah?
Take me there, please.
, . Joi ngh heui gdouh, mGh'gi

Lodging
Do you have any rooms available?
? Nihdeih yuh-muh hngfng a?
How much is a room for one person/two people?
/ ? Danyhnfng/Sungyhnfng yiu gid chn a?
Does the room come with _____?
_____? Gan fng yuh-muh _____ gah?
bedsheets
chhngkm
a bathroom
yuhkst
a telephone
dihnwah
a TV
dihnsih
May I see the room first?
? H-mGh-h'yi ti-hh gan fng sn a?
Do you have anything _____?
_____? Yuh-muh gan fng hi _____ gah?
11/19

quieter
jihngd
bigger
daaihd
cleaner
gnjehngd
cheaper
phngd
OK, I'll take it.
, . Hu, ngh yiu n gan.
I will stay for _____ night(s).
_____. Ngh hi hidouh jyuh _____ mahn.
Can you suggest another hotel?
? Nih h-mGh-h'yi gaaisiuh daihyih gan judim bi ngh
a?
Do you have a _____?
_____? Nihdeih yuh-muh _____ gah?
safe
gaapmaahn
lockers
chyhmahtgwaih
Is breakfast/supper included?
/ ? Bau-mGh-bau juchan/mahnchan gah?
What time is breakfast/supper?
/ ? Gidm yuh juchan/mahnchan gah?
Please clean my room.
. MGh'gi bng ngh jp-hh gan fng.
Can you wake me at _____?
_____? H-mGh-h'yi _____ giusng ngh a?
I want to check out.
. Ngh sung teuifng.

Money
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
// ? Nihdeih su-mGh-su Mih/Ou/G yhn gah?
Do you accept British pounds?
? Nihdeih su-mGh-su Yngbohng gah?
Do you accept credit cards?
? Nihdeih su-mGh-su sun-yoong-caht gah?
Can you change money for me?
? H-mGh-h'yi bng ngh cheung chn a?
Where can I get money changed?
12/19

? Ngh h'yi heui bndouh cheung chn a?

Can you change a traveler's check for me?
? H-mGh-h'yi bng ngh cheung jung luih'hhng jpiu a?
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
? Ngh h'yi heui bndouh cheung jung luih'hhng jpiu a?
What is the exchange rate?
? Wuihlut haih gid a?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
? Bndouh yuh gwai'hyhn'gi a?

Eating
A table for one person/two people, please.
/, . Yt jung ytyhnti/yihyhnti, mGh'gi.
Can I look at the menu, please?
, . Bi jung chanpai ngh ti, mGh'gi.
Can I look in the kitchen?
? H-mGh-h'yi ti-hh g chyhfng a?
Is there a house specialty?
? Yuh mtyh yhsihk chutmng gah?
Is there a local specialty?
? Yuh-muh bndeih yhsihk gah?
I'm a vegetarian.
. Ngh sihk sou.
I don't eat pork.
. Ngh mGh'sihk jy.
I don't eat beef.
. Ngh mGh'sihk nguh.
I only eat kosher food.
. Ngh jihnghaih sihk chngjn yh.
Can you make it "lite", please? (Literally, Do not add too much oil, please.)
, . MGh'hu lohk gamd yuh, mGh'gi.
fixed-price meal
touchan
a la carte
gn chanpai (means "as on the menu")
breakfast
juchan
lunch
aan / ghchan
tea (meal)
hah-gh-chh
supper
13/19

 mahnchan
I want _____.
_____. Ngh sung yiu _____.
I want a dish containing _____.
_____. Ngh sung yiu yeuhng yuh _____.
chicken
gi
beef
nguh
fish
yh
ham
ftui
sausage
hungchuhng
cheese
js
eggs
dan
salad
slut
(fresh) vegetables
() (snsn) schoi
(fresh) fruit
() (snsn) sang'gw
bread
mihnbau
toast
ds
noodles
mihn
rice
faahn
beans
du
May I have a glass/cup of _____?
_____? H-mGh-h'yi bi bi _____ ngh a?
May I have a bottle of _____?
_____? H-mGh-h'yi bi jun _____ ngh a?
coffee
gaf
tea (drink)
chh
juice
14/19

 gwjp
bubbly water
yuh'hei sui
water
sui
beer
bju
red/white wine
/ hhng/baahk ju
May I have some _____?
_____? H-mGh-h'yi bi d _____ ngh a?
salt
yhm
black pepper
hkju
butter
nguhyuh
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
. Sihying mGh'gi.
I'm finished.
. Sihkyhn gela.
It was delicious.
. Husihk
Please clear the plates.
. MGh' gi bng ngh chng-hh jung ti.
The check, please.
, . Maihdan, mGh'gi.

Bars
Do you serve alcohol?
? Nihdeih yuh-muh ju ym gah?
Is there table service?
? Yuh-muh sihying mai ti gah?
A beer/two beers, please.
/ , . Yt/luhng bi bju, mGh'gi.
A glass of red/white wine, please.
/ , . Yt bi hhng/baahk ju, mGh'gi.
A pint, please.
pint, . Yt pint, mGh'gi. (" bn'tyut" is the corresponding word for "pint" in
Cantonese, but no one will use it in bars.)
A bottle, please.
, . Yt jun, mGh'gi.
15/19

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

__________, . _____ thng _____, mGh'gi.
whiskey
wisigi
vodka
fuhkdahkg
rum
lmju
water
sui
club soda
sd sui
tonic water
tnglihk sui
orange juice
changjp
Coke (soda)
hlohk
Do you have any bar snacks?
? Nihdeih yuh-muh susihk gah?
One more (cup/bottle), please.
/, . Yiu d yt bi/jun, mGh'gi.
When is closing time?
? Gidm sanmhn gaa?
Cheers!
! Ymbi!

Shopping
Do you have this in my size?
? N gihn yuh-muh ngh go m a?
How much?
? Gid chn a?
That's too expensive.
. Taai gwai la.
Would you take _____?
_____? Su-mGh-su _____ gah?
expensive
gwai
cheap
phng
I can't afford it.
. Ngh bi mGh hi.
16/19

I don't want it.

. Ngh mGh sung yiu.
You're cheating me.
. Nih k gn ngh g.
I'm not interested.
. Ngh muh hing cheui.
OK, I'll take it.
, . Hu, ngh yiu n gihn.
Can I have a bag?
? H-mGh-h'yi bi go di ngh a?
Do you ship (overseas)?
()? Nihdeih sung-mGh-sung fo (heui ngoihgwok) gah?
I need...
... Ngh yiu
...toothpaste.
.... ngh gu.
...a toothbrush.
.... ngh chaat.
...tampons.
.... waihsng'gn.
...soap.
.... fan'gan.
...shampoo.
.... si'tuhsui.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
.... j'tung yeuhk.
...cold medicine.
.... gm'mouh yeuhk.
...stomach medicine.
.... waih yeuhk.
...a razor.
.... taisudu.
...an umbrella.
.... j.
...sunblock lotion.
.... taaiyuhngyuh.
...a postcard.
.... mhngseunpn.
...postage stamps.
.... yuhpiu.
...batteries.
.... dihnchh.
...writing paper.
.... seunj.
17/19

...a pen.
.... bt.
...English-language books.
.... Yngmhn sy.
...English-language magazines.
.... Yngmhn jaahpji.
...an English-language newspaper.
.... Yngmhn bouj.
...an English-English dictionary.
.... Yngyng jihdn.

Driving
I want to rent a car.
. Ngh sung ju ch.
Can I get insurance?
? Bndouh h'yi maih bu hm gah?
stop (on a street sign)
thng
one way
danchhnglouh
yield
yeuhng
no parking
btjun paakch
speed limit
chkdouh haahnjai
gas (petrol) station
yuhjaahm
petrol
heiyuh
diesel
chaihyuh

Authority
I haven't done anything wrong.
. Ngh muh jouh cho yh.
It was a misunderstanding.
. Ginh sih haih ngh-wuih.
Where are you taking me?
? Nih daai ngh heui bn.
Am I under arrest?
18/19

? Ngh haih-mGh-haih bi yhn lai j a?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
/// . Ngh haih Mihgwok/Ouju/Yng'gwok/Gnhdaaih
gngmhn.
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
/// /. Ngh yiu wn Mihgwok/Ouju/Yng'gwok/
Gnhdaaih daaihsign/lhngsihgn.
I want to talk to a lawyer.
. Ngh yiu wn leuhts.
Can I just pay a fine now?
? H-mGh-h'yi jauh gm faht chn?

19/19