Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cantonese
Cantonese
YtiUilted Materia1
Teacn
Yourself
COMPLETE
CANTONESE
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ColrytiQ.llted Material
Complete Cantonese
Complete
Cantonese
Hugh Baker and Ho Pui-Kei
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Contents
Meet the authors
ix
Only got a minute?
X
Only got five minutes?
xii
xviii
Only got ten minutes?
Introduction
XXV
xxviii
Pronunciation guide
1 Encounters
1
Greeting and addressing people Asking questions
Descriptive words
2 Personal property
13
Numbers Classifiers (words which introduce different types
of nouns) Possessives Question words
3 Family and friends
25
The irregular verb: to have Words for family members
Final particles
~ Eating in and eating out
37
Lonely verbs' More about classifiers Verb endings
5 Shops and markets
51
More about classifiers and verb endings Two different ways
of saying thank you Days of the week
6 Getting around
Means of transport How to get to places Different kinds
of time Compass directions
7 Revision (1 J
79
8 Blowing hot and cold
83
Talking about hot and cold Making adverbs from
adjectives Time when
9 Fun and games
98
Leisure activities Going on holiday
10 Health care for beginners
110
Saying how you are feeling Consulting a doctor
More about time Approximate numbers
Contents
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
VI
122
134
150
1611
169
184
196
211
224
238
252
259
274
288
301
312
Appendices
Grammar summary The Chinese writing system
Taking it further
Key to the exercises
Cantonese-English vocabulary
English-Cantonese vocabulary
Credits
317
336
366
~Oil
~29
Contents
VI I
a totally new word. What this means is that every sound can be
produced/sung in a number of different ways ('tones'), and each
tone can carry a different meaning from the rest. So if sik is sung
as a high note it means to be acquainted with, but as a low note it
means to eat.
Putonghua has four tones, but Cantonese is not content with so
few and makes use of seven altogether. Not every sound exists in
all seven tones, just as English has the possibility of saying sat, set,
sit, sot and sut, but has not assigned any meaning to the last.
Some would-be beginners are frightened by the prospect of
'singing' instead of speaking, but, as with the pronunciation of
unfamiliar sounds in any language, the problems they pose are
quickly overcome, and even the tone deaf can cope, just as tone
deaf Chinese people do. Apart from tones, there are almost no
other pronunciation difficulties for the English speaker.
Perhaps the biggest difference from English is that Cantonese is not
an inflected language. Nouns and verbs have only one form, so the
plural of house is house and the verb to be conjugates as I be, thou
be, he/she/it be, we be, you be, they be. There are no tenses, no
gender, no case, and no subjunctives. And it follows that there are
no 'agreements', since there are no markers for anything to agree
with. It is pointless to look for 'irregular verbs' or 'strong nouns':
how could they exist? If the 'swings' of tones put you off, you can
see that the 'roundabouts' of declension and conjugation more than
compensate.
Of course, inflection and agreements help to make clear the
relationships between words and ideas so that the listener can
receive accurately the information that the speaker~~
communicate. Not having inflection is not necessapptobi,e~
the past tense form of the verb to go does not~ add anything ~
to the sentence Yesterday I went to the park, b use yesterday
already tells us that the event is over and don
th. Still, there
)
is no doubt that inflection is useful as a cornn&cation device.
,
Cantonese, however, has developed other way=i:put meaning
iG!
[.~"'
"1/'11
_1A~ XIII
OnlygotfiVil, ___ _
t-
~Reassuringly,
sic sentence order consists of Subject-Verbthe ball), and no beginner need be frightened by
iar is the order Object-Subject-Verb. This is used
when the speaker wants to stress the Object as a contrast (The
ball john kicks, i.e. he doesn't kick me or that stone or whatever
else might be in range of his foot). Adjectives must always be
placed before nouns (a large room) and this rule holds good even
when the adjective is a complex one. So, while English stands on
its head and says the room where I sleep, Cantonese sticks to the
Adjective-Noun order and says the equivalent of the where I sleep
room. The possessor always precedes the possessed: the Cantonese
for my old friend comes out in the same order as English, but when
English goes haywire and says that old friend of mine, Cantonese
abides by its rule and says the equivalent of my that old friend.
Of course there are other orders too, but 30 or 40 of these rules
account for almost all the grammar there is and none of them are
very complex.
~ (job
XIV
~41
~
Onlygoti~~
XVIII
COI1liDDD
o~~!Ix
XX
nor the education of the young that occupies a great deal of the
attention of parents.
And then there are the cultural features that are so different
that they are a complete mystery to westerners. How is it that
colours don't mean the same things in Cantonese as they do in
European culture? Europeans see white as the colour of purity
and associate it with brides, but the Cantonese use white as
the colour of mourning and dress in white or undyed cloth for
funerals. A jealous person becomes green-eyed in Europe, but
red-eyed in Hong Kong. People who have had too much sun turn
red in Europe, but the Cantonese say that they have turned black.
Dark tan shoes are called red in Cantonese, and brown cows are
called yellow. No Cantonese man would willingly wear a green
hat, because, for reasons unknown to most people, it symbolizes
that his wife is unfaithful. And it is impossible to give a simple
translation of the Cantonese colour ching, which is applied to
things that are green, or blue, or black, or turquoise, or even clear
like the 'white' of an egg. To master the language of colour is
certainly not just a simple matter of translation, and we have tried
to bear such points in mind and go into the cultural background
where it will help.
Numbers too are far from straightforward. For a start, there is
the oddity that Cantonese counts large numbers in ten-thousands
rather than thousands. What we call one hundred thousand, the
Cantonese call ten ten-thousands, and our 2.5 million becomes
250 ten-thousands. And there is a huge cultural investment in
number symbolism. Odd numbers are yang and even numbers are
yin, and that affects the way in which people think about them.
It is not that one is better than two or two better than one, but in
matters of importance, symbolic significance can be
numbers. It would be unthinkably malevolent ~~~rweZifnPA
gift a sum of money which was not divisible by,., for instance.
=---
o~~!xl
XXII
~.. ~
Only~III
XXIV
Introduction
Welcome to a new experience. If you have never tried to learn a
Chinese language before you are in for a rare treat.
There are some real eye-openers: have you ever met a language
where verbs have only one form and don't change according
to tense or number or mood?; a language where there are no
cases? (you can forget about vocatives, genitives, ablatives
and their confusing brethren); where no gender differences are
acknowledged? (have you noticed how Chinese people speaking
English frequently get he and she mixed up?); where there are no
agreements of anything with anything else? ('singula.r; third person,
feminine' what's that?!); where there are no subjunctives? (Would
'twere so for English!)
And then, have you ever tried a language which has to be sung
in order to be understood? Or where word orders are so crucial
that if you get them wrong you will be totally unintelligible? Or
where you can't count objects without first specifying what kind
of objects they are? Or where almost every single syllable has a
meaning? (Unlike English where the individual syllables of a word
such as 'trousers' mean nothing at all.)
Cantonese is a vital living language spoken by upwards of
6o million people in southeast China (including Hong Kong and
Macau), as well as by several millions more in Malaysia, Europe,
Australia, Fiji, North America and many other parts of the world
where the adventurous Cantonese people have settled. It is one of
a large family of Chinese languages and retains many more traces
of its ancient roots than do most of the other languages. By way of
contrast, it is a language which seems unafraid to adopt or adapt,
notably from English in the past century or so, and it invents,
evolves and discards slang at a frenetic rate. As a result it is a very
rich language.
IntroducUon
XXV
We do not all learn in the same way. You may feel that before
tackling the dialogues you would prefer to read the notes that
come after them. Why not? Go ahead. Each unit is organized
XXVI
IntroducUon XXVI I
Pronunciation guide
A note on romanization
This note is about the sounds of Cantonese and how to represent
them on paper. It should be read with the recording available so
that you can hear a clear demonstration of what the sounds are.
Cantonese, like all the Chinese languages, is written in characters.
As you will discover when you read the appendices of this book,
characters are symbols representing ideas, while the letters of
our alphabet are symbols representing sounds. Written English
reproduces the sounds of speech using an economical 26 symbols,
which are quite sufficient to do the job; but the Chinese writing
system pays little attention to the sounds of the spoken language
and tackles the massive problem of providing instead a separate
symbol for most of the ideas which need to be written.
When you learn to write an English word you learn how to say
it (even if the spelling is sometimes a little erratic). If you were
to try to learn the basic Cantonese of this book through Chinese
characters, not only would you have the daunting task of learning
nearly 1,500 different symbols, but even when you had learned
them you would be none the wiser a bout how to speak the
language, because the symbols are generally dumb about how they
should be pronounced.
Generations of foreign learners have struggled to find ways to
'romanize' Cantonese, that is, to represent Cantonese sounds with
the Roman alphabet. Since there are very few sounds in Cantonese
which are difficult for English speakers, this would be an easy
task but for one thing: Cantonese is a tonal language, that is, each
one of the sounds of Cantonese can be pronounced (or perhaps
'sung' would be a better word) in seven different ways (the tones).
XXVIII
Of course, the Roman alphabet does not have any devices for
representing tones, and musical notations added to letters of the
alphabet would be much too awkward to handle. So, how do we
deal with the problem?
Romanization is only a tool to enable you to learn how to speak
the language; it is seldom useful outside the classroom, a private
communication system just between us the teachers and you the
learner. There is no 'official' romanization of Cantonese, and many
different systems are in existence. In Complete Cantonese we have
chosen to use a version of the Yale system, which we believe to be
helpful for the following reasons:
It distinguishes clearly each one of the sounds and each of the
seven tones.
Only three additional symbols (the macron rJ, the grave ['1
and the acute ['] accent) are required to indicate the tones.
There are reference materials available which use the same
system and the beginner will thus be able to expand beyond
the scope of this book if desired.
If you intend to go really deeply into Cantonese you will certainly
have to learn Chinese characters and then romanization will be
largely redundant. Meanwhile, try to familiarize yourself with
the principles of the Yale system as quickly as possible so that it
becomes a tool and not an obstacle to your learning the language.
PronmclaUon guide
XXIX
High pitch
High level
High falling
Mid pitch
Mid rising
Mid level
Low pitch
Low falling
Low rising
Low level
Low pitch words are shown by the addition ofh after the
vowel.
Rising tones are shown by the acute accent ['], falling tones by
the grave accent tJ, and the macron ri shows the high level
tone.
The accents are marked on the vowel or (where there is a
vowel chain) the first vowel of the syllable.
Thus the seven tones of the sound ma would be written:
rna
Highlevel
High falling
rna
Mid rising
rna
Mid level
ma
Low falling
Low rising
Low level
mah
rruih
mah
Listen to how these tones are spoken on the recording and do your
best to copy them exactly.
Every now and then a word changes its tone in a particular
context: we have pointed it out when it occurs in this book and
suggest that you try to accept these occurrences as the oddities they
are rather than try to figure out why they change.
XXX
ngan
nga
ngok
ngaam
ngai
2 There are very few consonants which can appear at the end of
Cantonese syllables, in fact there are only six (-n. -ng, -m. -p,
-t, -k). Of these, the first three are completely straightforward,
just as you would expect them to be if you were reading the
sounds off in English. For example:
haan
seun
leng
mong
taam
gam
But the other three (-p, -t, -k) are hardly pronounced at all, the
tongue and the lips getting into position to pronounce them
and then not following through. So your lips should snap
together to get ready to make the -p at the end of the syllable
sap, but you should not open them again to release the puff of
air which has built up to make the full p sound. Similarly with
the sound bat, the tip of your tongue should make contact
with the hard ridge behind your upper teeth, but the air should
not puff out to make a full t and with baak the flat top of
your tongue should go up into your palate but not allow the
air to escape to make the full k sound. Listen carefully to the
recording examples:
sap
jaap
kat
faat
sik
jek
PronmclaUon guide
XXXI
-aa is a long vowel sound, rather like the sound of the word
are in English. It combines with -i to make a long vowel as in a
drawled version of eye, and it combines with -u to make a long
version of cow. If there is no final consonant the Yale system
always uses just one a, but it should always be pronounced
long as if it were aa (ba is pronounced bar). For example:
ba baai baau
baak saat
baan
saam
laang
daap
jam
pan
hang
tai
tau
sat
gap
che
leng
jek
bei
XXXII
dak
Ieung
geuk
deu
-eui is rather like her evening (but don't pronounce the r). For
example:
heui
-i is not too different from English see, except when it is
followed by -k when it is more like English sick. For example:
si
tiu
tim
min
ting
yit
yip
sik
on
bong
hok
ngoi
mou
hot
fu
fun
hung
juk
mui
wuht
-yu is like the German tiber or the French tu. In English you
can get close to the sound by saying see you very quickly. For
example:
jyu
syun
hyut
.t. Cantonese syllables all carry virtually equal stress and each
therefore sounds more or less discrete; and Chinese characters
each represent one syllable and are all written discretely. Our
romanization, therefore, could spell each syllable separately,
but we have chosen to use hyphens where two or more
syllables are so closely associated that they may be thought
of as one word or one concept, as with pahng-yauh (friend),
jUn.g-yi (to like) and JUn.g-gwok-wa (Chinese language).
Signs of change
Language never stands still and Cantonese is changing very
rapidly. There are four important sound changes which have been
developing over recent decades:
XXXIV
1
-00
Wuih-mihn
Encounters
In this unit you will learn
how to greet and address people
how to ask questions
how to use descriptive words
Dialogue 1
Mr Wong and his boss Miss Cheung meet in the lift on the way up
to the office .
..!f..@,
J'G~
'I""
fl.r-II)B?
cu
(~)!$!$
fl.r-;tc;tcii)B?
ffi~M-.
Cheung
Wong
l!r.'
l6u-scihn, Wohng Sin
sciang.
l6u-scihn, leung Sfu-je.
Neih h6u ma?
Unit 1
co 1, TR l!
!f.~
good morning
tq?
j6u-sahn
Wohng
sin-saang
leung
siu-je
neih
h6u
ma?
~
II}B?
ng6h
ne?
I, me
ffi
**
taai-taai
keuih
dou
yauh-sam
I
Jt~
~
'J\9.El
~
M-
:ff ,c.,
a surname: Wong
How would you address the person that Miss Cheung enquires
about?
(The answer is, of course, Wohng Taai-taai.)
Insight
Is it Wong or Wohng?
We don't mean to confuse you. The Yale romanization spells
it Wohng, and that tells you exactly how to pronounce it;
but in everyday use almost everyone spells the name Wong,
so we have, as it were, translated Wohng into Wong for you.
We have done the same with other names (Cheung for leung,
Kwok Mei for Gwok Meih, Hong Kong for Heung G6ng, etc).
Notes
1.1IDENTIFYING PEOPLE AND THINGS
ng6h
neih
keuih
I,me
you (singular)
he, she, him, her, it
we, us
you (plural)
they, them
MrWong
Mrs Wong
Miss Wong
Unit 1
Insight
Why does the surname come first?
As well as Mr, Mrs, and Miss, other titles, such as president,
doct01; professor, ambassador, sister, are also given after
the surname. Personal names follow the surname too, so
someone called Mr John Smith becomes Smith John Mr in
the Cantonese order. It all fits in with the great stress which
the Chinese people have traditionally placed on the family.
The surname shows your family line and so it is the surname
which comes first in the Cantonese order, as with Wohng
Gwok Meih Sin-sciang, from which we can tell that Mr.
Wong's personal name is Kwok Mei.
You will meet the most common way of asking questions later in
this unit.
Insight
Relationships
You met nt!ih taai-taai in the dialogue, meaning your wife.
Her husband is keuih sin-saang, and a woman refers to her
own husband as ng6h sin-saang.
Unit 1
I'm well.
She's well too.
Dialogue 2
When she gets to the office, Miss Cheung is surprised to find a
visitor waiting for her.
an .............- .................................................................................................................
a=
~.tJP-f, jlt.fLt~?
....
ft!Ltfiil'
~fjll{J$1J\fi.H.~?
P{j,ft.fLt~ofiiJ~~.~{JP{j~-A~?
Cheung
Ou, deul-mh-jyuh,
gwal-slng a?
Ho
Cheung
~!~h~;!~=:a~~~?
Ho
Cheung
No, I am surnamed
Cheung.Are you an
American, Mr Ho?
No,I'mBritish.Ise/1
American cars: they're
very nice. Would you like
one?
~urhh~u~
Mh yiu, rhh yiu. Meihgwok che h6u gwai:
ng6h yiu Yaht-bun
~.
---~~::lf~~~--I~~J
OCD1,TR6
Pj!
tf~1t
j!ttrfrl.>f?
trf
fiiJ
1fi
*
~
~~~A
~~~
ou
deu i-rh h-jyu h
gwai-sing a?
sing
Hoh
haih
Leih
rhh
Meih-gwok-yahn
Meih-gwok
yahn
oh! (surprise)
I'm sorry; excuse me; pardon me
what is your name? (lit: distinguished
surname?)
surname; to be surnamed
a surname: Ho
to be
a surname: Li
not
American person
America, USA
person
Unit 1
:5
~
a?
Ying-gwok-yahn
Ying-gwok
maaih
che
Ieng
yiu
gwai
Yaht-bun-yahn
Yaht-bun
joi-gin
Notes
1.9 PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES
Yahn means person but it also means people. In fact, all nouns in
Cantonese are the same whether single or plural and you can only
tell which is meant from the sense of the conversation. There is
usually no problem: by looking at the personal pronouns you can
easily tell which is which in the following examples:
Ng6h haih Ying-gwok-yahn.
Keuih-deih haih Yaht-bun-yahn.
Dak-gwok
Ga-nah-daaih
San-sai-laahn
Australia
France
South Africa
Germany
Canada
New Zealand
Insight
More on surnames
You have already met a number of surnames (Wohng,
Jeung, Hoh, Leih) and you will of course meet others. It is
interesting that although there are several thousand different
surnames in existence, the vast majority of the Chinese share
just a few dozen of them. You will certainly meet many
people with the four surnames you've just learned, but the
most common surname of all among Cantonese people is
Chan (Chahn).
1.10 NEGATIVES
The word for not is mh. It always comes in front of the word it
refers to:
Wohng Sin-saang mh leng
Ng6h rhh yiu che
Is she pretty?
Unit 1
She is pretty.
She's not pretty.
There are various words for if in Cantonese, but quite often none
of them is used, the meaning seeming to flow naturally from the
context. In the dialogue the sentence Nelli thh yiu, Leih Siu-je
yiu thh yiu a? (literally, You not want, Miss Li want not want,
eh?) would be understood to mean If you don't want one, does
Miss Li?
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Here's a fine mess! The following words have got all jumbled
up. Sort them out and make meaningful sentences of them. For
example, Taai-taai Wohng leng h6u does not make sense, but
rearranged into Wohng Taai-taai h6u leng it is a correct sentence
meaning Mts Wong is very beautiful.
EXERCISE 2
o ]6u-sahn.
b Neih h6u ma?
c ]oi-gin.
EXERCISE 3
Fill in the blanks with words which will make sense. You will have
to think a bit to work out what the sentence must mean!
Unit 1
EXERCISE4
2
11.AJijfm
Go-yahn choih-maht
Personal property
In this unit you will learn
numbers
classifiers (words which introduce different types of nouns)
possessives
question words
Dialogue 1
Mr Ho is working in his office when a woman comes in.
**
-fff-flil1il:!f?
~mm~~~.ffi~~mA.~~~Ma.
{ff-fl~~lf -l1."H$i:!i?
~~-~~~
~~~~t.W-fff-~~~~--.
tf,
u
0
P~{$.
Ho
Woman
Ho
....
a=
.,..-
1-
Woman
Ho
1.
!.....~~~-~-~----~-~:~.?.~.~:!.~:...............................................................................
CD1,TR8
11
wan
:il{i
bin-go
~-
lung-gwok
ge
ng6h ge
pcihng-y6.uh
y6.uh
mat-yeh
sih
y6.uh-mat-yeh-sih-a?
seung
~
~~
Ma
:ff
11.1'Jlf
:ff11.1'Jlf.~?
~
m6.aih
daai
heui
se-jih-lciuh
mh-goi (neih)
to look for
who? which person? which
one?
China
's (shows possession)
my
friend
to have
what? what kind of?
matter, business, affair
for what purpose? why?
to want to, intend to, would
like to
to buy
to lead, to bring, to go with
to go to, to go
office
thank you
True or false?
14
Notes
2.1 QUESTION WORDS
Question words like bln.-go? who? and mat-yeh? what? come in
the same position in the sentence as the answer to them does.
In English, question and answer have different word orders, but
in Chinese they have the same word order. In the two examples
following, note how the English is twisted but the Chinese
is not:
Keuih sing mat-yeh a?
Keuih sing Hoh.
What is he surnamed?
He is surnamed Ho.
.....................................................................................................
Insight
....:~.!~.~?.:.!~~-~.!!!~.1.~~~-~r~:.~.~~~:.~:~~: ........................................
2.2 POSSESSION
The little word ge shows possession, like the apostrophes ('s) in
English. So ngoh ge is my or mine, nab. ge is your or yours, keuih
ge is his, her, hers or its and Uih Taai-taai ge is Mrs Li's:
Wohng Taai-taai ge che
ng6h-deih ge se-jih-lciuh
Che haih Wohng Siu-je ge.
Jung-gwok che haih keuih ge.
my wife
keuih pcihng-y6.uh
her friend
Insight
Remember:
1 All adjectives are also verbs.
2 Surnames always come before personal names.
3 Verbs do not conjugate; they have only one form.
4 Dou (a/so) always comes just before a verb.
5 Question words always come where the answer will come
in the response.
Dialogue 2
Miss Cheung has found a watch and a pen on her desk. She asks
Mr Ho if they are his.
16
i................................................................................................................................................ 01
~r
11-fj~~?
~1llf.$lfii.I:I:!I!III~H1H~
a:
1-
: ~1llf.$lll{j~~: ~~~~-{j~~.
~1llf.$l~ft,1J~mf-$l.~M1J111~?
~M-fJI}t~~.
~
u
~~M-fJffi~.~~*~ffi. ~11~~?
I}t~rm* il!fllfJffi~~.
il!f~~. ~:illltJ!Jr~ffi.
Cheung
Ho
Cheung
Ho
Cheung
Ho
Cheung
co 1. TR 10
yat
one
111
f.$l
go
sau-bru
wristwatch
ji
bat
nT
fii.l:l:!l!
Ill
~
15
r~
rm*
IJfj
11~~
:illltJ!J
tuhng-maaih
g6
ga?
gu
mahn
yih-gCl
hcli
mh gan-yiu
chih-dr
Notes
2.4 THIS, THAT AND WHICH?
nT go yahn
g6 goyahn
bTn go yahn?
this person
that person
which person?
In English when you specify a word with this, that or which?, you
just put it in front of the word (this man, that ship, which pen?),
but in Cantonese you need to use a classifier word as well (this
classifier man, that classifier ship, which classifier pen?). It is not
necessarily easy to guess which classifier goes with which noun,
although you can expect, for instance, that almost any object
which is thin, straight and stick-like will be classified with ji. You
will be given the correct classifier for each noun you meet from
now on. The classifier for people is go, so:
nT go yahn
brn go Meih-gwok-yahn a?
this person
which American?
that watch
thatpen
18
Insight
Did you notice how bTn go yahn? (which person?) is very
much like bTn-go (who?)? Well, logically enough they are
really the same, but when who? is meant, it is normal to use
the shorter form.
co 1, TR 11
The Cantonese number system is very straightforward. The
numbers one to ten are all single-syllable words; I I is IO + I, I2
is IO + 2, I3 is IO + 3, and so on up to 20 which is 2 x Io; 2I
.
.
.
.
lS 2 X IO + I, 29 lS 2 X IO + 9; 30 lS 3 X IO, 3 I lS 3 X IO + I
Memorize the numbers one to ten and then try counting up to
99 (and back again if you are really confident):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
yat
yih
saam
sei
flgh
luhk
chat
baat
gau
sahp
40 sei-sahp
so
60
flgh-sahp
luhk-sahp
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
sahp-yat
sahp-yih
sahp-saam
sahp-sei
sahp-flgh
sahp-luhk
sahp-chClt
sahp-baat
sahp-gau
yih-sahp
41 sei-sa hp-yat
52 flgh-sahp-yih
63 luhk-sahp-saam
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
yi h-sa hp-yat
yih-sahp-yih
yi h-sahp-saam
yih-sahp-sei
yi h-sahp-flgh
yih-sahp-luhk
yih-sahp-chClt
yi h-sahp-baat
yih-sahp-gau
saam-sahp
47 sei-sah p-chat
58 flgh-sah p-baa t
69 luhk-sahp-gau
19
70 chelt-sahp
80 baat-sahp
90 gau-sahp
74
85
96
chelt-sahp-sei
baat-sahp-flgh
gau-sahp-luhk
75
87
99
chelt-sahp-flgh
baat-sahp-chelt
gau-sahp-gau
When things are counted (one person, three pens, etc.) the classifier
must be used in the same way as with specifying words. So:
yeltgo yahn
seiji belt
sahp-yih go sau-bru
one person
four pens
twelve watches
The whole number system is nice and regular with one exception:
when it is followed by a classifier the number two is not yih but
leuhng, so:
yelt, yih, saam, sei, ...
yat ji bat, leuhng ji bat, saam ji
belt, sei ji belt, ...
Insight
It is only the number two itself which plays the trick of
having two forms; complex numbers which end in a two
are not affected, as you can see from the example of twelve
watches. (And don't feel too hard done by: English is even
crazier about the number two -think of brace of, pair of,
couple of, twin, dual, duo- and bi-!)
Insight
The magic of numbers
Cantonese people are very interested in numbers and many
people believe that numbers can influence fate. Everybody
loves the number eight because baat sounds rather like faat
which means get rich. By way of contrast, four is considered
an unlucky number because sei sounds like sei which means
20
to die. Two and eight are good because yih baat sounds
like yih faat easy to get rich, but five and eight are bad
because flgh baat resembles rilh faat not get rich. A Chinese
purchaser recently insisted on paying 280,000 for a house
in the south of England rather than the asking price of
279,500, believing that the larger sum was much luckier
sounding! For many years the Hong Kong government
auctioned 'lucky' car registration numbers for charity: an
astronomical price was paid for 8888, which adorned one of
the territory's many Rolls-Royces.
2I
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
a Gwai-sing a?
b Wobng Sln-saang baib mb baib ]ung-gwok-yabn a?
In the picture all the women are American, all the men are Chinese
and all the children are Japanese. Try saying in Cantonese how
many of each there are, say how many watches Mr Wong is selling
and describe what the woman is doing with her money at the
stationery stall.
3
*AJaJJlO~
Ga-yahn tuhng pahng-yauh
Family and friends
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Ho meets Mr Wong on the street.
''""'""""'''"""'''"""'''"""'""""'""""'""""'""'""""'''"""'''"""'""""'""""'""""'""""'""
~~.~-~~?
~~. w~~. ~~~.
~~i~-l1.1fH~?
~t.W~JtliJtli~--~.
IR.IJtliJtli-1 ~r?
~. ~IRJ~~.~~. R~.~~. ~~A-jf-f.
~~A
Pflt:.fl, IIJtkra,-~:f:*lliJ.
~
~
~
-jf-f......
Unit 3
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
co 1, TR 13
ll~
~
{E
1~11.J'Jlf
1~
Jr.M~
--~
-~
Fiij
bTn-douh
fclan
ok-kei
jouh mat-yeh
jouh
mah-ma
tai-yi-song
yT-sang
tuhng
yat-chaih
jyuh
ah?
together
to dwell, to live
tuhng-maaih)
-1Jf
1t
~Y?
~~
JL~
!$9.*
114t,ll4ttl
ra,
-~
IIJJ,I(ff
26
bah-ba
hing-daih
ji-muih
gam or gam-yeung
gaan
Ok
yat-dihng
daaih
lak or Ia
isn't it?)
father
brothers
sisters
in that case, so
classifier for houses and rooms
house
certainly
big
a statement particle (that's how
dou-gei or gei
yiu
jau
Insight
The verb jau literally means to run or to go. It has some
similarities with English in that Cantonese can also use jau to
talk of a clock 'running' slow, and of a person 'going', that is
'leaving': Ngoh yih-ga yiu jau Ia. I must go now.
Picture quiz
Notes
3.1 WHERE?
Bin-douh? where? works to the same rules as bin-go? who? and
mat-yeh? what? (See Unit 2, Note 2.1.)
Nei h heu i bin-dou h
a?
Ng6h heui se-jih-lauh.
There is another word (bin-syu?) which also means where? but binsyu? is rather old-fashioned and is not often heard any more. We
will use only bin-douh in this book.
3.2 FAAN TO RETURN
Faan means to return. It combines easily with heui to go as faanheui meaning to go back, that is to return in a direction away from
me the speaker:
Neih fcian-heui mh faan-heui a?
3.3 WHY?
Jouh-mat-yeh? literally means to do what? but it has come to mean
why? It can be positioned quite freely in the sentence without any
Insight
Yes and no
There are no words for yes and no in Cantonese. You should
use the positive or negative form of the appropriate verb, so
in answer to Neih heui rhh heui lung-gwok a? Are you going
to China? you can reply heui yes or rhh heui no. If it is not
the verb itself which is the focus of the question, it is useful
to use haih it is the case or rhh haih it is not the case, as in the
dialogue. Haih and rhh haih come as close to yes and no as
Cantonese gets.
Unit 3
Insight
Remember:
1 You must always put a classifier between a number and a
noun: sciam ji bat three pens.
2 You must always put a classifier between the specifying
words this, that, which? and a noun: bTn go sau-bru? which
watch?
3 In front of a classifier the number two is always leuhng.
Dialogue 2
Mr Ho hasn't seen Mr Cheung for a long while. They meet by chance .
..::r :.................................................................................................................................
~! ~~~. ~fin~.~~~?~W*~~~~~?
l
8!
~~
!
!
ftW*~~lfmfEIIlil=+ Ati.=:.{l.
fEIIlil~ll~~~?
~~.fEIIlil~~$~~~m.w~~.~~~~~~?
ft;E~~IIJ114~f!i1:;+.=:.ti:ltfff. ~~~rau~~~~~-J.
~~-c.,. ~ra,~n!li~~?
ftll~~-~.ft~-M{I~.~M{III~-*n$~
~.
I:
N~.
i
!
~. ~~IL,ftlll~~. N~.
Ho
Ho
Cheung
Cheung
Ho
Cheung
Ho
Cheung
!
I====
!
1==.
I
1=:
!
I====
.....~~..................~.?.~:~~~:........................................................................................i
co 1, TR 1s
jliij
MififJnJt
1f
lfj;t
{Em!~
{Em!
~
...... ~
{I
E:.
~
m
~
~114~
jj
noih
h6u-noih-m6uh-gin
m6uh
Heung-g6ng
Fa-yuhn Douh
fcl-yun
douh
... houh
16.u
do
ba-si
dTk-si
daap
juhng
ga-fe
gaai
a long time
long time no see
have not (negative of y6.uh
to have)
Hong Kong
Garden Road
garden (note the tone change
from yuhn to yun)
street, road
number
a flat; a high building; a storey
many, much
bus
taxi
to travel by/catch/take (public
transport)
still,yet
coffee
street
Unit 3 lit A Iii! JlJl ~ Ga-yahn tUhng pahng-yauh Family and friends
31
tt!!r
~ra,
~
~
~
~J
deih-ha
sih-gaan
chlmg
lciih
ch6h
Ia
Clll
:5
~
- 11
~
Jt[J%
~1*~/:J~
cht!-fohng
chcihng
je or jek
mh-haih-gei/h6u
ge
taam
llf
garage
classifier for a flat; storey, deck
particle: only; and that's all
not very
makes a statement more
emphatic: that's how it is and
Haih mh haih a?
Test your understanding of Dialogue 2 by answering haih it is so or
mh haih it is not so to the following statements.
co 1, TR 16
o
b
c
d
e
Insight
From the general to the particular
When Mr Cheung gives his address in the dialogue, you
will see that he gives it in the order Hong Kong, Garden
Road, No. 28, 3rd floor- i.e. in the opposite way to English.
Chinese always prefers to work from the general to the
particular, from the large to the small. We shall see later that
it is the same with dates and times, so that the Chinese would
translate 3.18p.m. on 17 May 1995 in the order 1995,May, 17,
p.m.,3.18.
Notes
3.7 THE VERB YAUH
3.8 lE OR lEK
Unit 3
'fl. .A. Iii! Jlll:!i. Ga-yahn tUhng piJhng-yOuh Family and friends
33
Insight
Roads and streets
Douh a road is usually the way from one town to another, a
relatively wide highway, but gaai is essentially a street, an urban
roadway lined with buildings. Sometimes, though, douh is used
in the name of an urban street, just as road can be in English.
3.9NOTVERY
The negative of daaih big is thh daaih not big, just as you would
expect. The negative of h6u daaih very big, however, is thh-haihgei-daaih or thh-haih-hou-daaih both of which mean not very big.
So you will need to remember that the verb haih is slipped into this
not very construction:
NT chcihng 16.u mh-haih-gei-gwai.
Wohng Siu-je mh-haih-h6u-leng.
....................................................................................................
.
Insight
[
. . . . .~~;.;;:;~~~~~;.~~:~:.~.~.:=.~-~~-~:~:.~:~.~-~~~-~-~:.~.~=~~~-~. . .
Che-fOhng means garage only in the sense of the covered
34
je/jek Only.
Ia The particle you use when you are trying to urge someone
to do something for you or to persuade someone to agree with
you.
35
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Fill in the blanks with words which will make sense of the
sentences.
You have just bumped into your old friend Mr Wong in the street
in Hong Kong. You haven't seen him for several months. How
do you greet him? Ask after his wife and where he lives now.
Apologize to him and say that you have to catch a bus to Garden
Road now to visit your father whom you have to take to see the
doctor.
*111
Sihk-yeh
Eating in and eating out
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Ho invites Mr Wong to his horne for a meal.
:................................................................................................................................................ ....
=
M~~.~~~* ~~~~~~~
~~~.~~~.~~~~~?
~
~
~~~.~~.M~~~?ffi~-~~?
ffi~m~~-~. ~~~ill*
M~~~~~~~.~~M-~--.M~~~~n-ffi
-~?
n~r
~~M~~-~ffl~~~~~m~~~~.
ffiffl
~$11i.l~~
.R1J$1ii.I~~Y? ~~ffi.
fJ.~.~~~fJffi~~m~MM~.
Pftl
37
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
Wong
Ho
!
1::
!===.
:......~~~~........9.~!...................................................................................................1
co 1, TR 1s
*
(*)
~~
;f:
ll1t
~
~
it~
it
~
if~
~if
*......!MJ%
~~
~
1(:(-f*)
Mit
38
too , exceedingly
polite
to cook
so
food; a course or dish other than rice
or soup
to invite
to eat, to eat a meal
to eat
rice; food
pot luck, a meal of whatever comes
to hand
as you please, feel free
tea
kitchen
a verb ending for continuing action, -ing
no need to, not necessary to
to wait, to wait for
truly, really; true, real
delicious
......llti:
fJHff
~
jliiJj
,R(1fi)
ffi
~
h6u-chth . . .
yat-yeuhng
jau-lauh
bong ... sau
yuhng
-j6
yuh-beih
chaan
bun
jung-tauh
jt(-haih)
seun
dT
dou
fuh-gahn
6h
~fili
11ft
just like
Chinese restaurant
to help
, to give
a hand
to use, to spend
a verb ending for completed action, -ed
to prepare, to get ready
classifier for food, a meal
half
an hour (classifier= go)
only
to believe, to trust
plural classifier, classifier for
uncountable things
a//, both
nearby
oh, really! oh, now I understand!
True or false?
sibk.
taub jyu-faabn.
Notes
l!.1 CHENG TO INVITE
In Unit 3 we saw that cheng means please. It has another meaning
of to invite:
Keuih cheng ng6h heui kl!uih
ok-kl!i.
He invites me to go to his
home.
Unit t.
39
Insight
Remember:
-jo is tagged onto a verb in the same way to show that the action
has been completed. Usually the particle lak is added at the end of
the sentence to back it up:
Keuih tai-j6 yr-sang lak.
Ng6h maaih-j6 Meih-gwok
che lak.
4I
Insight
Another way of thinking about the two different negative
forms of yiu is:
1 When what follows is a noun, the negative is rhh yiu, so I
don't want a Japanese car is ng6h rhh yiu Yaht-bun che.
2 When what follows is a verb, the negative is rhh sai, so
I don't need to buy a Japanese car is ng6h rhh sai maaih
Yaht-bun che.
Note how easily Cantonese just uses ge to make the link in each
case. English has to think what kind of a noun it is and then use
the appropriate link word: the car which, the professor who, the
day when, the street where, and so on. It makes you glad you
aren't having to learn English, doesn't it?
~.7
~.8
MORE ON CLASSIFIERS
Di is also used as the classifier for all nouns when they are 'plural
but uncounted'. Compare the classifiers in the following:
nT go ycihn
g6ji bat
g6 ngh ji bat
sciam go Ying-gwok-yahn
g6 dT ycihn
bTn dT bat a?
this person
that pen
those five pens
three British people
those people (plural but not counted)
which pens? (plural but not counted)
When a sentence starts with a definite noun (the pen, the food, the
Americans) Cantonese uses the appropriate classifier where English
uses the:
Ji bat h6u leng.
DT sung mh gwai.
DT Meih-gwok-yahn laih mh
laiha?
Unit t.
43
Insight
Rice
Rice is the staple food of the south of China and is much
appreciated as the superior grain in the north too. Not
surprisingly, rice figures large in Chinese culture: it is offered
in religious sacrifices to the ancestors; it is thrown over
newly-weds to bring fertility to them; bags of it are laid on
babies' stomachs to comfort them and stop them crying; the
language is full of sayings about it. English has only the one
word rice but Cantonese has many words for it. Faahn means
rice only when it is cooked rice. There are different words for
rice when growing, rice when harvested but not husked, rice
husked but not cooked, and rice cooked into a gruel, as well
as yet other terms for different kinds of rice such as red rice,
glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice.
44
Dialogue 2
Mr Ho tries to order a meal from a waiter.
. . MM . .OMMOO . .OMMOO . .OMMOO . .OMMO. . MM"O"MM"O"MM"O"MM . .OMMOO . .OMMOO . .OMMOO . .OMMO. . MM . .O. . MM"O"MM"O"MM
"'
~~.~~~-~~.~~~~~~~D~?
M.~~~~~~~.~~~~~Mft~~?
~~.~~~~~~~.M~D~.
-~~~.MM~~~*~~~~~. ~~~*~~~~.
~-~~*~~~?
~~~~~*ms~*~~B~~~&.m~~~~~
~~-B-~~*~~~8~~~-~--~-~?
~~.~~MM.~~~~~~-~~~~~. M~?~~M
M~~.
~~re? -B~~*~~; ~~~~~P"'lr I ~'*'~~:J:ft:t&fi~YI
Ho
Waiter
Ho
Waiter
Ho
Waiter
Ho
Waiter
Ho
..................................................................................................................................
Unitt. 1tl!f Slhk-yeh Eating In and eating out
45
OCD1, TR20
~
iiff
4~
4
~
.wt
.3::~
1t-#ll
~~
!tfl!ili:
:tul*
*1-'
~*
t.P~
~-?
~~
~B
11
4-B
&
mw.
~
filt~~!tf
11}
~!f.
!f.
i!itfp~
i5
'tl..t&
*'
tl..t&~
tong
san-sin
ngauh-yuhk
ngauh
yuhk
jauh
jyu-choi
gaai-siuh
luhng-ha
h6u-meih
yuh-gw6
sung x bei y
saang-gw6
sa-leut
dim-gaai?
yan-waih
kahm-yaht
jing
gam-yaht
siu
s6-yih
srk
jou h-saang-yi
rhh-h6u
nau
joi
jiu-j6u
j6u
tihm-ban
w6
dong
laahp-saap-tung
laahp-saap
soup
fresh
beef
cow, ox, cattle
meat, flesh
then
main dish
to recommend; to introduce
lobster
delicious
if
to give x as a present toy
fruit
salad
why?
because
yesterday
to make; to prepare
today
few; little
therefore, so
to know how to, to be able to
to do business, to run a business
don't
angry
in addition; again
morning; in the morning
early
dessert
words, language, speech, saying
to regard as
rubbish bin
rubbish
Insight
You have just learnedjyu-choi for main dish. Choi really means
vegetables:
Keuih seung sihk yuhk, rhh
seung sihk choi.
Notes
l!.10 MH-GQIAND POLITENESS
You know that mh-gO:i means thank you, but you should
note that mh-gO:i or mh-gO:i ne.ih can also be used to mean
please. Quite often mh-gO:i is used to attract someone's
attention, rather as we might say Excuse me, ... , and you
will see that Mr Ho calls the waiter over at the beginning of
the dialogue with a masterful Mh-goi! So mh-gO:i is a kind of
all-purpose expression of politeness.
Insight
Politeness to waiters
A word of caution. You will certainly hear waiters addressed
and referred to as f6-gei. It is a term that was commonly
used for non-management people in the work-force, such as
factory hands and police constables, but there is a growing
tendency to avoid it nowadays on the grounds that it sounds
patronizing. We suggest that you should always use the
neutral term Mh-goi to call a waiter over.
47
l!.11 TO GIVE
Sung means to present, to make a gift. It usually appears with bei
which itself means to give, to give to. The word order for giving a
present to someone is a comfortable one for an English speaker:
Keuih sung yatji bat bei ng6h.
l!.12 DON'T!
To tell someone not to do something, Cantonese uses mh-h6u it's
not good to ... or nab. mh-h6u it's not good that you should ... :
Mh-h6u heuil
Neih mh-h6u m6.aih ch~l
Don't go!
Don't buy a car!
l!.13 SHORTCUTS
Cantonese is a lively quick-fire language and speakers often find
ways of shortening phrases which seem to them to be too tediously
long. Here is a list of shortened forms of phrases which you have
met so far:
gcim-yaht jiu-j6u
Wohng Sin-sciang
Wohng Taai-t6.ai
mh-h6u
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 3
5
-llf
Maaih-yeh
Shops and markets
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Miss Wong and Miss Cheung are shopping in a fashion store
.................................................................................................................................. ....
N
~s~mn-. ~~mns. ~-~~M~~~A~?
~~M~*~-~~.~~A~-~. ~~~~?
ICIIIi:
1-
....
c
v
~~?~~~~~~~#~1f&&11!1Jti:.~~~~~~1fn
-~
~~*##~1!&&11!~. ~~ffi~~~~~.m~~
.sp:.
Unit 5
5I
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Gam-yaht haih Laih-baai-yat, mh haih Laih-baaiyaht. dfm-gaai nT gaan pou-tau gam do yahn ne?
NT gaan pou-tau daaih-gaam-ga a-rna. Ng6h-deih
yahp-heui tai-hah, h6u mh h6u a?
H6u a. Wat Neih tai, g6 gihn saam-kwahn jan-haih
h6u pehng bot
Haih bo. Jat-dei yauh h6u; fun-sik yauh san;
ngaahn-sTk yauh leng: jan-haih h6u lak.
Gam, ng6h jauh maaih nT gihn Ia.
Ng6h dou seung maaih g6 gihn huhng-sTk ge.
Yf, nT-douh yauh sfu-sfu laahn-j6 bot
Haih me? Out Haih bot Ng6h nTgihn dou yauh
sfu-sfu laahn-j6. Dang ng6h tai-hah keih-ta ge yauh
m6uh laahn ne.
Mh-sai tai Ia, gihn-gihn dou yauh sfu-sfu laahn ge,
yan-waih keuih-deih dou haih chi-fo, s6-yfh gam
!
1:
!=:
:
1:.
l
1.
!=:.
1:.
?..~~.~~:.........................................................................................!
!............................
co 1, TR22
flff,M
ft].fftJ.fB
~ilJj
j;:~-fl
'(~
A
IIStl
..... Jif
yahp
tai
-hah
week
Monday
Sunday
shop
a sale
final particle, you should
Ill!
14=
wa!
gihn
*~i8
saam-kwahn
pehng
bo!
dress
cheap
final particle, let me remind
jat-dei
yauh ... yauh ...
-Sf
lljl!
Jttf!
x ...... x ......
52
laih-baai or sing-keih
Laih-baai-yat
Laih-baai-yaht
pou-tau
daaih-gaam-ga
a-m a
~A
if
~~
i.IT ~Oilt
~
OJMt
d>d>
:Ill
0~?
Jtfm
{j(~
fun-sik
san
ngaahn-sik
huhng-sik ge
yi
ni-douh
siu-siu
laahn
me?
dang
keih-ta
chi-fo
style
new; up to date
colour
red
exclamation of surprise, hello,
here
a little bit, somewhat
broken, damaged
final particle, do you mean to say that
let, allow
other
seconds
IIIII:
...
u
::::)
.?
Picture quiz
Unit 5
53
Notes
5.1 THE WEEK
Liih-baai means week: it is classified with go, so one week is yat go
laih-baai, two weeks is leubng go laih-baai and so on.
The days of the week are simply numbered r-6 from Monday to
Saturday:
Lai h-baa i-yat
Laih-baai-yih
Laih-baai-saam
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Laih-baai-sei
Laih-baai-flgh
Laih-baai-lu hk
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday is not numbered; instead the word for sun yaht is used, so
Liih-baai-yaht is Sunday.
Some people say sing-ke.ih instead of laih-baai and you may do so
too if you wish. Simply substitute sing-ke.ih for laih-baai in any of
the words in the previous list.
i~~~~:~=~~~~:~:::::~=~~~:~:~:~:::::::~:~~::;
l......................................................................................................
(Laih-baai-yaht) and Monday (Laih-baai-yat)!
54
Lalli to come and heui to go are often used with other verbs of
movement to show which direction the movement is in. For instance:
fclan
fclan-heui
fclan-laih
to return
to go back
to come back
yahp
yahp-heui
yahp-laih
to enter
to go in
to come in
Insight
Remember:
1 Dou can mean also or all/both but in all cases it is necessary
to place it after what it refers to and directly in front of the
verb. It is one of a number of 'fixed adverbs' which can
only ever appear before a verb. English can say Me toot, but
that would be impossible to translate using dou, because
there is no verb for it to come before.
2 Every noun has its classifier. When nouns are singular (one
American) or 'plural and counted' (four pens, six people), the
appropriate classifier must be used. When they are 'plural
but uncounted' (those pens, which people?) they all take dT
as the classifier.
Unit 5
55
5.5 YAUH
. AND
here
there
Again, you may occasionally hear ru-syu and gO-syu for here and
there, but like bin-syu they are rather old-fashioned and we shall
only use ru-douh and gO-douh. (See note 3.1)
Dang means to wait, as you saw in Unit 4 Dang ngoh means wait
for me or wait for me to, and so dang ngoh sihk-faahn means wait
for me to eat. From wait for me to eat to let me eat is not a big jump
and you will find that Cantonese often uses dang ngoh where English
would say let me . Generally, if dang ngoh comes at the beginning
of a sentence it is likely to be used in the sense of let me . ; and if it
comes embedded in a sentence then it is likely to mean wait for:
Let me help you.
Don't wait for me to eat.
Insight
Let me pay!
In restaurants you will often hear Chinese customers vying
with each other to pay the bill, the winner gaining in 'face'
what he/she loses in pocket. The standard wording used is
Dang ng6h beil Let me pay! (lit: let me give!) You too can play
that game, but be sure you have the money about you in case
you should be (un)lucky enough to win!
Unit 5
57
Dialogue 2
Miss Cheung gets a bargain (perhaps) from the fish seller in the
market.
M :.........
N
II)Bilfi!J~~$jl-JT~?
ICIIIi::
!
..... ! A +:n!l&-!T.
~~ II)BPfi!J~P1tMJ, A+:n!I&-!T:;h;:JtlliJ.1:;+!1&-!T~II~~?
8 ! 11~1 1J\~.. ~- . ._._~~:Hiiifit~7J<.. A+n!I&-JTII
!
1.
-~llji.
IIJ.Jjt:/ID.Rfl~1:;+=!1&-!T'* ~fi~D:!1k~A+n!I&-JT
:.1::
!
1.
I
1:.
I
I
liPflJ(-JT~, ~*-JT~~J.
ftfi~~-!TI!t!J.IJ$,
~fiP1t$?E~~?
J(-JT~7J<.~. *-JT?E~YIQ.
Cheung
Seller
Cheung
Seller
Cheung
Seller
Cheung
Seller
Cheung
Seller
Cheung
!
!
1:::
.co
. . ~.:~~=~~;~:.~:~.~.~:.~~~:.~:~~:.~.::.:~:~.~::.~~.~.:~:.:.:. . . . .
...1
1, TR 2.t.
$W(~)
hd
gei-do?
chin
gcin
man
sai
ddk
jek
wuih
yciuh-seui
seui
ge-la
dong-hclu
dfm-yeung?
jTk-haih
mfhn-fai
ncih
do-jeh (neih)
sei
~$?
il
JT
9&
Ml
~
lJ7j(
~~
tiD
~;jf?
RP1*
!tit
II$
prawn
how much? how many?
money
a catty(= 20 ounces)
dollar
small
OK, can do, acceptable
classifier for animals
to be able to, to know how to
to swim
water
final particle giving strong emphasis
street stall
how? in what way?
that is, that is to say
free of charge
'there', 'here you are', 'here it is, look'
thank you
dead; to die
Unit 5
59
[ "j";;~~~t=~=~-~-~~::~:~~:~~:~:~=~:~-~~:~:~~~=~~:~~:~
with srk, which you met in Unit 4. So srk yauh-seui and wuih
yciuh-seui both mean know how to swim
.....................................................................................................
Answer the questions
CD1, TR25
Notes
5.11 SO MUCH EACH
Note the simple formula for giving prices:
Gei-do chin yat gcin a?
Leuhng man yat gcin.
6o
Insight
Pidgin English
Unit 5
6I
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
(bubng-stk ge)
(bab-ba)
(pou-tau)
(seung)
(Taai-)
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3
mdaih yat gan sung bun gan. Wohng Tdai yiu saam gankeuih yiu bei gei-do chin a?
Unit 5
6
3til
Gaau-tung
Getting around
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Wong is a stranger in town and asks a local person the way.
.... ................................................................................................................................
~~m~~~-.~~~~-~~m-~~~~?
ICIIIi:
I~It1f~~~-~P11. fff-~.stEh~Itm,J.. ~-~ :ir!-=:111
N
c
v
IJ4t,
1f
~~-~-J
1f1f1J'\flt~~-~~?
,j....~-~Pjl.
~~~m~r~1f1f~r~~-~~?
~1fnJII U.R~m~'*
~~j;:~~l1f1f~-~~?~MIIi~!t~?
1f.~.M~Aolli~It.m~fff-~~m~~~m.lli::k
IJ4t,
~1f~~-
Wong
Local
Wong
Local
Wong
Local
Wong
Local
!
:
...................................................................................................................................!:
CD2, TR2
~.tl
~.tl~
~r~
-11.
tei-gei
(fei-)ge i-cheu h ng
cheng-mahn
sin
yauh
stu-bel
yat-jihk
gwo
jjtJ
gaai-hau
dou
mah-louh
ba-st-jaahm
Jt
E8
lj' E:!.
JU
~~
E:!.M
aircraft
airport
please, may I ask
?
first
from
mini-bus
straight, directly
go past, go across, go by
road junction
to arrive, arrive at, reach
road
bus stop
65
...1i
lj\.$tf8
:5
~
ii!!riiil~
-m~
5a tl!!iiilM
*"*"~
u
AD
ffi.1*
i5
lohk
jyun
sfu-h!uhn
deih-hah-tit-louh
sfh-keui
daaih-wuih-tohng
deih-tit-jaahm
yahp-h6.u
daahn-haih
wah
to alight from
to turn, to change to
ferry
underground railway
urban area
city hall
underground station
entrance
but
to say
True or false?
cheuhng.
c y auh siu-leuhn heui {ei-gei-cheuhng.
d Dou yauh deih-hah-tit-louh heui {ei-gei-cheuhng.
e Daahn-haih m6uh deih-tit heui Daaih-wuih-tohng.
Insight
In Unit 4 you met w6. meaning speech or language. Now you
find wah with a low level tone meaning to say. As you might
expect, they are closely connected, but you should not draw
the conclusion that the same kind of tone change from one
part of speech to another is common in other words.
Notes
6.1 CHENG-MAHN: PLEASE MAY I ASK
66
6.2 TO TRAVEL BY
In Unit 3 you were introduced to daap to travel by and in the same
unit you met choh to sit. Choh can actually be used like daap
to mean to travel by as well, probably because when you take
transport you sit on it (if you're lucky!). So daap ba-sf and choh
ba-sf both mean to travel by bus. Beware, however: you cannot do
the opposite and get away with making daap mean to sit!
Insight
To get into an underground station you find the yahp-h6.u
the entrance. Yahp-h6.u literally means enter mouth, and you
will not be surprised to learn that the exit lli D cheut-h6.u
literally means exit mouth. Both terms are the standard ones
on signs in public buildings.
67
Dialogue 2
Mr Wong visits Britain and is met by his friend Mr Chan.
M
:.....................................................................................................................:
~!
~~.~m-~~~~.~~~~*~~~M~?
! Ml!f.
I:
!
!
~~m:*1l1!:!:JF.l!~~:*:t. -.
j:ft~:t.~. ~~*~*~~*$~~~-r.
M~~.~M~~*r~~~.
!
i
1
:
~~~l!-~MM~. ~~ey~~ffi~~~-~.m=s~i
ffi~*~~*~~m$~~~-~.
!
! ~~~lf~~. ~*~M$~~.
i ~~Eb~~:jij*'J'*~
i
i
~~~*~~.~B:t.~*~$~~. X*~~-.~~Ml
-AAU~-AA*~~.
~
I Wong
i
L6uh Chan, ng6h daih-yat chi h'iih Leuhn-deun,
!
1:.
Chan
!::
.
Wong
Chan
!:
1::
Wong
Chan
:
1.
i
.
1:.
1
68
Wong
Chan
1:.
i
.!::
!:
1::
i
:
1.
1:.
co2, TRl!
.:15
~
fttc
m
loJ
**
~~
tr
j:ft
ftu.t'~
lli:Jf.
**
~
:ff~
......z~
;n:;
z~
'iffl
*
-r
~~tfr7f
mw.
l!t
m
B
i.i
16uh
daih-
Leuhn-d@un
teng
waan
f6-che
heung
bak
hahng
chaam-gwun
Gim-kiuh
daaih-hohk
sai-gaai
jeui
yauh-mlmg
... ji-yclt
-yuhn
ji-hauh
bouh
dung
heung-ha
jyu-yi
jung-yi
deih-fOng
h6-yih
maahn
yaht
ja-ch@
sung
naahm
London
to listen
to play, to enjoy, to amuse oneself
railway train
towards
north
to journey, to go towards
to visit
Cambridge
university
the world
most
famous
one of the
finished
after
area, part, portion
east
countryside
idea
to like, to be fond of
place
can, may
evening, night
day
to drive (a vehicle)
to deliver, escort, send
south
69
-rl.lt-t
yuh-g6ng
-gwo
{X
chi
h!ih-d6u
ji-noih
h6u-chth ... mh-chth
......~
CA
~ ~~
~
Z.I*J
5a !tfit;L... JI!t-fl;l
;Eft
j6.u-naahn
fishing port
verb ending, to have
experienced
a time, an occasion
outlying island
within
to be more like
than
like
to flee from disaster, to be a
refugee
Notes
6.5 L6UH
LOuh means elderly, aged and is used only for people and animals
(that is, you would not describe a building or a book as lOuh). It is
often used with the surname as a familiar or affectionate term of
address to a man (rarely to a woman):
L6uh W6ng, . . .
Note that when this is done the tone of the surname is changed to
a mid rising tone from the original low falling tone. So the surname
Wohng becomes LOuh Wong and Chahn becomes LOuh Chan.
one person
the first person
You will remember from Unit 2 that the number two obeys
different rules, so that yih becomes Ieuhng in front of classifiers.
Note that with ordinal numbers there is no such exception:
leuhng go yahn
daih-yih go yahn
two people
the second person
But you need to stretch your mind a little further to take in the
notion that daih-yih can mean the others:
Daih-yih dT bat dou haih keuih ge.
7I
Insight
Remember:
1 The names of the days of the week start with Laih-baaiyaht Sunday and then are numbered 1-6, Laih-baai-ydt
Monday to Laih-baai-luhk Saturday.
6.7 TO TELL
Tell has various meanings in English and they are not all translated
by the same word in Cantonese. When tell means tell someone
about something you can use wah ... teng ... :
Keuih wah ng6h teng keuih rhh
sTkja-che.
6.8 DIRECTIONS
dung
east
naahm south
sai
west
bdk north
Cantonese lists the four directions in the order given here, though
English speakers normally start with north. The intermediate
directions are straightforward provided you remember that they
are always the opposite way round from English, i.e. Cantonese
says eastnorth where English says northeast:
dung-bak
sai-naahm
northeast
southwest
dung-naahm
sai-bak
southeast
northwest
bak
sai
dung
naahm
6.9 ANOTHER VERB ENDING: -YUHN FINISHED
finished eating
finished visiting
In English the after you'd gone could come at the end of the sentence
(She told me you don't like prawns after you'd gone), but with
expressions which pinpoint the time when something happens
Cantonese likes to have the information before the verb of the main
73
statement is given, so you do not have the option of putting neih jaujo ji-hauh at the end. Other time when expressions you have met so
far, such as garn-yaht today and Uih-baai-D.gh Friday. as well as the
many you haven't yet met (at 6 o'clock; in May last year; when I got
there; before he had breakfast; in AD 1492), all obey the same rule:
Laih-baai-luhk neih heui rhh
heuia?
Ng6h gam-yaht seung heui
yauh-seui.
Insight
Cantonese word orders can be very strict. The rule for 'time
when' is a case in point. You have the option of putting it either
before or after the Subject, though there may be some difference
in emphasis depending on which option you select. The 'time
when' expression nmst come somewhere before the verb.
Another way to say can, be able is by using the verb ending -dak.
This is actually the same word that you met in Unit 5, but in
74
He can drive.
Time expressions which show how long something goes on for (as
opposed to the time when something happens) come after the main
verb in Cantonese:
daap gam noih che
Ng6h-deih hai Heung-g6ngjyuh
leuhng go laih-baai.
Keuih ch6h-j6 ligh go jOng-tauh
tei-gei.
THE EXPERIENCE
Gwo literally means to go past, as you saw earlier in this unit. As
a verb ending -gwo shows that the verb has been experienced at
some time:
Ng6h sihk-gwo ha.
75
a?
Insight
The Mass Transit Railway
The underground railway in Hong Kong, the deih-hahtit-louh or deih-tit for short, is known in English as the
MTR, short for Mass Transit Railway. The first section of
it was opened in 1979, 43 kilometres were in service by
1989 and new extensions are constantly being added. It is
air-conditioned throughout (including the tunnels), clean,
fast and efficient and fares are low. Hong Kong people
are noticeably proud of the system. The trains have no
barriers between the coaches, so that you can stand at
one end and look down the full length of the inside of
the train as it snakes its way through the tunnels. For
speed of travel through crowded Hong Kong it cannot be
bettered. Since 1998 it has been possible to interchange onto
the very fast Airport Express Line which shuttles at up to
135 kilometres an hour between Chek Lap Kok International
Airport and the very heart of Hong Kong in Central district
(lung-wciahn) near the famous Star Ferry Pier (TTn-sTng
Mah-tciuh).
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
Fei-gei-cheuhng
Daaih-wuih-tohng
II
II
+++++
+++++++++++++
++++++++++++
JL
Jeung Sln-saang Jeung Taai-taai cheng ng6h sihk-faahn. Mh-goi
neih wah ng6h teng yauh fei-gei-cheuhng dim-yeung heui
jau-lauh a?
7
-~~ ( - )
Wan-jaahp (yat)
Revision ( 1)
This unit gives you no new vocabulary or grammar rules. Instead
it goes back over a lot of the material from the first six units,
presenting it in a new way so that you can become more fluent
through the extra practice. If you are stuck for any of the words,
remember that there is a word list at the end of the book to help
you. Units 14, 21 and 26 are also revision units, and just to make
sure that you can check on your progress properly you will find
translations and answers in the key at the end of the book.
Passage 1
Read this passage out loud.
Kahmyaht mah-ma mahn ng6hdeih seung rhh seung sihk saleut?
Ng6hdeih go-go dou wah h6u seung sihk. Mah-ma wah, 'H6u h6u,
ng6hjauhjing luhng-ha sa-leut bei neihdeih sihk Ia. Nah, yih-ga
ng6h heui maaih luhng-ha, neihdeih heui maaih dr san-sin saang
gw6 fclan-laih Ia.' Ng6h-deih maaihj6 h6u do san-sin saang-gw6
fclan ok-kei, yauh* yat-chaih hai chyuh-f6ng yuh-beih g6 dr saang
gw6. Bun go jong-tauh jihauh mah-ma fclan-laih lak. Keuih wah,
'Gam-yaht dr luhng-ha yauh sai yauh rhh san-sin, s6-yih ng6h
Unit 7 1ill!!l
79
Exercise 1
True or false?
Exercise 2
Answer in Cantonese.
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
8o
....................................................................................................................................
~Y
1:.
.!. . ~?..~:.~?.~.:.~~-~~-~:.~.~:~~-~:.~~~-~~~.:~~~-~-~~-~~-~!...............................1
Easy, isn't it? Try this one.
X
Y H6u h6u. Neih ne?
X
Y Keuih dou gei h6u. Yauh-sam. Neih taai-tciai ne?
X
Y Deui-mh-jyuh, ng6h gam-yaht mh fclan se-jih-lauh, mh h6yih tuhng neih faan. Sing-keih-sei, h6u mh h6u a?
X
1_::~:~~~~~~-----------J
Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks.
8I
Exercise 6
Passage 2
Finally, here is another passage for you to read and understand.
When you have understood it, read it out loud several times until it
feels natural and easy on the tongue.
Gam-yaht ng6h felon se-jih-lauh. Hoh Sin-saang wah ng6h teng
Laih-baai-luhk keuih yiu daap fei-gei felan-heui Ying-gwok, s6-yih
hcli Laih-baai-saam ji-hauh jauh mh felon se-jih-lauh lak. Hoh Sinsaang haih ng6hjeui h6u ge pahng-yauhji-yat, keuih nT chi felanheui Ying-gwokji-hauh, ng6h gujauh mh felan-laih ge lak. Gam,
ng6h yiu sung mat-yeh bei keuih h6u ne? Ng6h seung-j6 h6u noih
dou m6uhjyu-yi,jauh heui mahn Wohng Siu-je tuhng Jeung Taaitaai. Wohng Siu-je wah, 'Ng6h-deih saam go yahn yat-chaih cheng
Hoh Sin-saang sihk-faahn ICll H6u mh h6u a?' Jeung Taai-taai wah,
'Yuh-gw6 Hoh Taai-taai h6-yih tuhng Hoh Sin-saang yat-chaih laih,
gamjauhjeui h6u lak.'
Ng6h wah siu-je tuhng taai-taai gejyu-yi yat-dihng haihjeui h6u
ge. Neih wah haih mh haih a?
8
~
Tin-hei
Blowing hot and cold
In this unit you will learn
vocabulary for talking about heat and cold
timewhen
making adverbs from adjectives
Dialogue 1
A husband and wife agree about the temperature, but not about
much else.
m*~***~.~~~*~~-~~~~.~~re
~B-~rn. ~~MA~-~~~.
~ B~fJHflW.CiJB(J*~*~IIfi.
~~s~~~-~~.~re~~~~?
~~.
ll(t, ~~~~-~?
an
~
N~
~~-~~llfir~~~~~~~m~.
~~IRJ. ~-~~m~~.
~~~liM ~-ffl~~liPfJ!lfiEif.
~re~ ~w.c-tL~~m~?
Unit 8
83
~~-~~~~~~.~-~-~.~z~~~m~.
~~1Jil!f1Jil!fm Y r
MrWong
Mrs Wong
MrWong
Mrs Wong
MrWong
Mrs Wong
MrWong
Mrs Wong
MrWong
~~-=~-~~~~~~~~~~~J
tin-hei
jihm-jfm
16.ahng
saai-taai-yeuhng
pa
tin-mahn-toih
lohk-yuh
juhng
wuih
lohk-syut
tim
weather
gradually
cold
to sunbathe
to fear; to dislike
observatory
to rain (lit: to fall down rain)
in addition, furthermore
it is likely that (future possibility)
to snow
(final particle) as well, also,
what's more
B~
it~
*~
liB
~~~~
m~?
yth-ging
laahng-tTn
saam
ting-yaht
dihn-nyuhn-louh
gei-st? or gei-sih?
lfjf
yeh
~~ (~)
sih-sih (dOu)
saht-yuhng
tuhng-yi
ji-dou or ji
sciai
jai
jau-16ng
cheuhng-gok
sau-tclih
mi ht-f6-tu ng
gauh-ntn
nihn
a?
Jll'ffl
IRJ~
~jl,~
llf.IE
*
Jlfjij
~;kiWi
-~
~
'(?
already
cold weather, winter
clothing
tomorrow
electric heater
when?
thing, object
always, frequently
practical
to agree
Unit 8
85
Insight
I'm afraid
When is afraid not afraid? No, it's not a riddle, but Cantonese,
like English, uses pa or ngoh pa to mean either I am in a state
of fear or I'm sorry to say. In addition, in Cantonese it can
mean I really dislike, and in the dialogue you will read that Mr
Wong pa laahng hates the cold.
Notes
8.1 WHAT'S MORE
Juhng means furthermore, in addition (you met the same word in
Unit 3 when it meant still, yet). It is an adverb and therefore, as you
now know, comes before the verb in the sentence. The final particle
tim is usually added on at the end to give additional force to juhng:
Ng6hjuhng yauh leuhng go tim.
Keuihjuhng seung heui Meihgwok yat chi tim.
Insight
Cold and not so cold
Laahng means cold, and laahng-tTn cold weather comes to
mean winter. But the proper word for winter is dung-tTn
which forms a set with cheun-trn spring, hah-trn summer,
and chau-trn autumn.
8.2 WHEN?
Gei-si? when? is the question word which asks for a time when
answer. Not surprisingly then, you will find gei-si? in the same
86
place in the sentence where the time when answer comes. If you
have forgotten the rule, refresh your memory by rereading Unit 6.
Neih gei-sf heui a?
Ng6h Laih-baai-yaht heui.
You by now are well aware that dou is an adverb which means all,
both, also and that it is placed like other adverbs immediately in front
of the verb. Sometimes it is used where there seems no need for it in
English: for instance, in the dialogue Mrs Wong says Nelli truiaih ge
yeh slli-slli dou thh saht-yuhng ge (The things you buy are always
impractical). What dou is doing is backing up the word slli-slli always,
and it does so because sih-slli feels like a plural idea in Cantonese -it
literally means time-time. You first met this in Unit 5 where dou was
used to back up doubled classifiers. So whenever there are plural ideas
(the cows all ... ; Mr and Mrs Wong . .. ; electric heaters ... ) or
ideas of wholeness (the entire population ... ; the whole busload ... )
you can expect dou to be thrown in for good measure.
biggest
most delicious
best
The Rolls-Royce is Britain's most
expensive car
Unit 8
87
last year
this year
next year
In all other cases year is pronounced in the low falling tone nihn.
today
yesterday
tomorrow
gam-nin
gauh-nin
cheut-nin
this year
last year
next year
Dialogue 2
Mr Chan and Mr Cheung demonstrate how buying an air
conditioner can lead to a conflict of stinginess.
88
Chan
Cheung
Chan
Cheung
Chan
Cheung
Chan
Cheung
Chan
89
*~
AA
~{~
1J~
~$
$
~~
1JJiit
Jill
~
loll.
\.,1'
~
~-
..... rt;?
Ef~*~
5
a *~
7ht7](1J*
Jt
JJ
lm,C.,
...... ~
~-
old, used
necktie
to alter, to change
pJG
-sehng
tou
lt~JB
bei-gin-neih
bikini
t&
90
juhng
dim-yeung ... -faat?
baak-fo-gang-sT
gang-sf
yauh-seui-fu
gin
--d6u
hoi-sam
wah .. . ji =
wah ... teng
tiuh
gauh
lehng-taai
g6i
~II)\
yiht
sih-hauh
da-syun
h6i-tcian
yam
be-jau
jau
syut-gou
da-fung
fung
syun
yauh-yuhng
hclan
fl"ffl
m
3
laahng-hei-gei
become,. into
Insight
Typhoons
It is likely that the word typhoon comes from the Cantonese
word daaih-fung great wind. The summer monsoon season is
the usual time for these swirling torrents of rain and ferocious
winds which can exceed speeds of 160 krnlh, and woe betide
those who are caught unprepared. In recent years few really bad
typhoons have hit Hong Kong and early warning systems mean
that there is usually plenty of time to get to safety and put up
shutters. During a typhoon Hong Kong comes to a standstill,
creating an unaccustomed silence which even the noise of the
wind cannot disguise.
Picture quiz
9I
Notes
8.7 IN WHAT WAY?
92
Ng6hjyu-sung ge sih-hauh
mh seung mah-mcl bong
ng6h sau.
Keuih hai Ying-gwok ge sihhauh sih-sih dou laih taam
ng6h.
Now look back to Unit 4 and see how ... ge slli-hauh is really just
like other ge phrases:
h6u gwai ge ga-te
maaih-gan bat ge yahn
keuih hcli Ying-gwok ge
sih-hauh
If you bracket an adjective with hou ... gam you turn it into an
adverb:
hoi-sam
happy
haak-hei
polite
Keuih h6u nau.
Keuih h6u nau gam wah
ng6hji.
happily
politely
Unit 8
93
Insight
Old
You have now met two words for old. Gauh means old in the
sense of used, not new and it is applied to inanimate things like
cars, shoes, books etc. Gauh-nfn last year literally means the old
year. When it comes to people and animals the word for old is
16uh -it would sound very odd to describe an old man or an old
dog as gauh. There are some idiomatic exceptions to this split:
you might, for instance, hear either 16uh pcihng-yduh or gauh
pcihng-yauh used to mean an old friend.
A creative test
95
TEST YOURSELF
EXEROSE 1
A Tin-heijihm-jim yiht
EXEROSE2
Meih-gwok bat.
EXEROSE 3
From the list of words and phrases 1-9 you need to sdect the right
ones to complete sentences a-d. Obviously, that means you will
have to reject five of them as unsuitable or less suitable.
1 san-sin
4 sau-taih
7 gaai-siuh
2 Meih-gwok ge
5 mihn-fai
8 hithng-sik
3 Y'm.g-gwok ge
6 yat tou leng ge
9 yith-g6ng
c - - - - bei-gtn-neih mh pehng.
d Yuh-gw6 dt ngauh-yuhk mh _ _ _____, ng6h jauh mh seung
sihk.
9
~-JaJillb
Yuh-/ohk tuhng wahn-duhng
Fun and games
In this unit you will learn
about leisure activities
about going on holiday
Dialogue 1
Mr Chan finds out how his colleague Miss Cheung spends her time off.
.... :..................................................................................................................................:
a:! !t1J\(!H. ~BISJnuBfiUt.fN.
'":! 3":til!f"Prr~~.
~ff1f~1r~i:!f?
~i fl'1f~~~~nm~?
v!
9
!
1:
I
i===.
3":t~il!f"PM~m~.3":t.R~"P~~~.
!
3":t~~~B~*-~fl'-~Mfl'~MM~~~.~fl'1f~-~
fl'i:!i~?1f.:~MM.i:!i. lfflil~MJWJit~.
~itl3":tll~~~.~Eil!fE~~~~~~~~i:!f?
ti~~.~-~~~2~ ~~~~~MA--~-~.
Mr Chan
!
!
Miss Cheung
Mr Chan
1:
I
.i===.
Miss Cheung
Mr Chan
Miss Cheung
Mr Chan
Miss Cheung
IWB
$:1111
rr~
~~
i{ij
MOO
ffifli
~lj$(
ft~
~~
IJiil~
-P(t:j
~
chihn-yaht
fong-ga
dci-bo
dihn-yfng
cheut
leih-hoi
yih-che
chi-gik
gok-dak
gei-dak
noih-yuhng
yat-di
naahm
I
:IIIII
99
Notes
9.1 PLURALITY WITH DOU AGAIN
In Unit 8 you learned about the use of dou to back up plurals. Did
you spot the new example in the first speech of the dialogue?
saang-yi.
100
Insight
Overkill
You may or may not have realized that in Miss Cheung's
third speech in the dialogue, she uses three different ways
of saying moreover (yih-che/juhng/tim). This may feel like
overkill in English, but it is perfectly alright, indeed common,
in Cantonese.
I 0 I
Insight
It's electric!
Dihn-ying movie/film literally means electric shadows and
was an ingenious way of coping with the new concept when
it first burst onto the Chinese scene. The word dihn electric
was itself originally borrowed from the word meaning
lightning and it has been put to very good use ever since. You
met electric heater dihn-nyuhn-louh in Unit 8. Nowadays
everyone is familiar with dihn-che ('electric vehicle') for
tram, dihn-wa ('electric speech') for telephone, dihn-sih
('electric vision') for television, dihn-n6uh ('electric brain') for
computer and many more.
Dialogue 2
Mr Wong and Mr Cheung discuss keeping fit, but Mr Wong is not
sure that the theories apply to his wife!
00
a::
1-
102
................................................................................................................................
~JIG~. 1$~1JVIJVimiiJilJI.~&~ftW:ii$~~Hti.W.
M-M-.
fjllfj~?
tf-Qt_.
fj~lftHVHV~rr~.~w. ~rr~.i$-ftB~n+-
RJJ, :m:fjM--Qt.-. M--MilY+IlttL.r.
mfjft~~ttft~~-~m~~.
~**~B D$~M~fl"~$~1JJ~.~-ffi~fl"-~
~rJ;!rtMi~!tr~~?
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
--~~~E~~:J
~lh
~&
~{ll{f
$~
!rtMi
~
q-y~
OOLlJ
LlJ
~
1Jf.
wahn-duhng
gaam-siu
san-tai
leuih-bihn
do-yuh
ji-fOng
deui
gihn-hong
haahng-louh
pah-saan
soan
gei
seui
I0
111t...tr
~
R~
:5 .6J(;B
~
Mt
- D$
~
u
j
))Jl.~
J rE:.
gam-seu hng-ha
jt-yiu
sehng-yaht
gong
hclu-bouh
gei-yuhk
seung
hah-pah
approximately, thereabouts
so long as, provided that
the whole day
to speak, talk, say
the mouth
muscle
double
chin
Insight
Deui
Deui means to face, and from this a number of other
meanings and expressions derive. You have already met
deui-mh-jyuh ('I face you but can't stand my ground') I'm
sorry. And if you face something you are looking towards
it, so deui also means towards and regarding, and from that
it means with regard to, concerning. Things which face each
other and match make a pai~; and deui means a pair too, so
it is the classifier for chopsticks. And from there an answer
which matches a question is also deui correct (or at least it is
in Guangzhou, but Hong Kong people tend to use another
word for correct- ngaam).
Notes
9.7 GEl SEVERAL
You met gei in the expression gei?-do? how many? in Unit 5 and
gei-sf? when? in Unit 8. On its own gei can also mean how many?,
but it has the meaning several as well, and that could be quite
confusing. Supposing someone were to say to you gei go yahn, you
couldn't be sure whether they were saying how many people? or
several people. Obviously the context in which they said it would
104
yih-sahp-gei go yahn
sahp-gei seui ge lung-gwok-yahn
gei-sahp go yahn
gei-sahp nihn
9.9 APPROXIMATELY
I0
Sehng- combines with classifiers to make the whole. So sehnggo Iaih-baai is the whole week, sehng-yaht is the whole day or all
day long and sehng-nihn is the whole year long. (Remember that
yaht and nihn are nouns which act like classifiers- see Unit 8.)
In Mr Wong's last speech, he says Ngoh taai-taai sehng-yaht g6ngyeh. Yeh means things, as you learned in Unit 8, but here it is
merely doing duty as the supplied object for the verb g6ng which is
one of those which gets lonely on its own. Yeh is quite handy for
this purpose: here are a few more examples of it with lonely verbs:
Neih seung mh seung sihk-yeh?
Ng6h taai-t6.ai heui-j6 m6.aih-yeh.
Keuih sehng-yaht dou y6.m-yeh.
Insight
A problem of age
When someone gives his age he will give it in seui not in
nihn. Wel~ that's easy enough. What is sometimes a problem
is sorting out what seui means, because traditionally Chinese
people were born one seui old and then added another seui
to their age at each lunar new year. So a Chinese born on
the last day of the lunar year would already be leuhng seui
old the next day, while a western baby born on the same day
would not even have got to 'one' yet!
106
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
c ng6hlda-boljung-yiljelpah-saanljf-haihltuhng yauh-seui
EXERCISE 2
B yauh-seui
san-sln
laahp-saa p-t6ng
dihn-nyuhn-louh
baak-fo-gimg-si
EXERCISE 3
~~;n~-:~~~~;~M;w;.g~--------------l
W~!oung
FS
You
1===.
l
I0
Wong
FS
You
Wong
FS
You
Wong
FS
e
NT go yahn jeui mh haak-hei lakl Ng6h jau lakl
Oh, he's gone/
You
Oh dear, it doesn't look as though that went too well, and you
wasted your breath translating the last remark, didn't you? Still it
wasn't your fault, was it? Or was it?
EXERCISE4
Pair off the most likely objects in B with their verbs in A. Some of
B of course won't do at all, but sometimes there may be more than
one possible pairing.
A tai
jyu
gong
chaam-gwun
sihk
B yeh
dihn-yfng
tlhm-ban
chyuh-f6ng
y1-sang
chi-fa
cheuhng-gok
Gim-kluh Daaih-hohk
EXERCISE 5
09
10
--
Gihn-hong
Health care for beginners
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Wong phones his family doctor to make an appointment. The
nurse answers:
110
~~~. ~~~~~**rr~re~re~~~mm~~~~~
~~. ~~~~~~~~. ~W*~~~-~~~
MrWong
Nurse
MrWong
Nurse
MrWong
Nurse
MrWong
Nurse
MrWong
Nurse
MrWong
PI!
~ffi
lli~
ifjj~
~tin~
~~,~-~
iijj?j
iijj
1j
ra,~
I
I
I I I
iijj~
ttom
~
Clll
:5
~
Wg
-~
tt
Jt~
~ ~~~~~
:J'T~ii!i
*m
-~
tciuh-wcihn
jok-au
au
behng
yihm-juhng
mohng
sin-ji
g6-jahn-sih
da-dihn-wa
cheui-siu
yi-yun
dizzy
to retch, be about to vomit
to vomit
illness
serious, desperate
busy
only then
at that time
make a phone call
to cancel
hospital
Insight
Chinese and western medicine
Chinese medicine (lung-yi) and western medicine (scii-yi)
have very different traditions and practices. Each has begun
to acknowledge and learn from the other in recent years and
some practitioners now combine elements of both schools in
their treatments. The contrast between Chinese (lung) and
western (scii) is echoed in a number of expressions, perhaps
most basically in lung-gwok-ycihn a Chinese and scii-ycihn a
westerner. Another pair of terms which are more earthy and
less formal are Tohng-ycihn a Chinese and gwai-16u a ghost
fellow. This last term for a westerner is in very common use
and is not really to be considered offensive, although the
strictly politically correct would probably avoid it.
Notes
10.1 BQNG ON BEHALF OF
You met the verb bOng to help in Unit 4 It can be used with other
verbs to mean on behalf of, for the benefit of, for, but note that it
always comes in front of the other verbs:
112
some people
a bit off colour
a bit reluctant to go
But beware! There is one combination you cannot use in this way:
if you think about it gau-sahp cannot mean nine or ten because it
already means 90. So some other way of saying it had to be found
and Cantonese has come up with a real humdinger- sahp-go-baatgo (ten or eight classifiers). So nine or ten days is sahp-yaht-baatyaht and nine or ten pens is sahp-ji-baat-ji bat.
I I
Insight
Not until
Be careful when you use sin-ji to translate not until: there is
no negative word involved in the Cantonese. Remember that
the basic meaning of sin-ji is only then and you will not go
wrong. We suggest you commit the example sentence in 10.5
to memory so as to burn the pattern in thoroughly.
10.6 DA TO HIT
Although da does literally mean to hit (keuih da ngoh he hits me),
you will meet it used in many idiomatic ways as a general purpose
verb. Here are a few:
da-bo
d6.-lehng-taai
d6.-dihn-w6.
d6.-syun
to play ball
to tie a necktie
to make a phone call
to reckon on, to intend to
114
Dialogue 2
Mr Wong talks with his sick son, William.
................................................................................................................................
....
~
~~~~~.m~f!t~~~L-flmn~~-~~*
~.
W*~l!>f?-fll.llt~~ll~l!>f?
8
9
f!t~~~~*+~ttillf, ~*~
~. i~-11.1W~~.ti:~:tl-~?
~~~-*ZM~~~~f!t~~~-*~~~~~.ffiil~
~~-*~~~~~.f!tllE~~~.WT~W*.ti:~:tlll.~
~ey~~~~v~.
Mr Wong
William
Mr Wong
William
Mr Wong
William
I I
~-
Wai-lihm
ti:~;t!ilft
m~mli
~~
tiu-gou-mau-dai
hei-scin
t6uh
chi-s6
seuhng-go-lai h-baai
jeun
JJ
JJiiJJYr
_t{i:f!ff
*#
CID
~
~
5a
*
~~
= Jti;ft[Jj?
~~
-~zwr
~~
~~
ii:Mt
~~
:ijft~~
yeuhk
yeuhk-seui
dim a? = dfm-yeung a?
ngaam-ngaam
yatfanjong
meih
ji-chihn
yiuh-wahn
yihn-hauh
tcluh-sTn
hei-mohng
b6u-faan-sou
a Cantonese version
of William
shaking from side
to side
jumping up and down
to get up in the morning
stomach, abdomen
toilet, lavatory
last week
(classifier) a bottle
of (jt!un is a bottle,
classified by go)
medicine
(liquid) medicine
how is it? how's things?
a moment ago, a
moment before
a minute
not yet
before
to shake up
afterwards, after that
just now
hope
to make up for
True or false?
Answer haih or rl:th haih to the following questions. Now spell out
a longer answer in Cantonese. So for the first question, you could
reply Mh haih. D1 yeuhk-sew haih mah-ma seuhng-go-laih-baai
maaih-faan-Iaih ge.
116
Notes
10.7 FOUR-CHARACTER PHRASES
......................................................................................................
Insight
Hei-scin
Hei-scin literally means to raise the body, and in Cantonese
is the regular way to say to get up in the morning. It is also
sometimes used, reasonably enough, to mean to stand up.
10.8 LAST WEEK, THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK
last week
this week
next week
I I
As a matter of fact you have met seubng and hah as a pair meaning
up and down, above and below before (see Unit 9: the word hah in
that case had changed its tone) and you will meet them again later.
10.9 'TIME HOW LONG' AGAIN
In Unit 6 you met the idea of time how long and you will
remember that such time expressions are placed after the verb. An
hour was yat go jiing-tauh and now you can deal in minutes too: a
minute is yat fan jiing. In the dialogue, William says Ngoh ngaamngaam yam-jo yeuhk-sew sahp fan jiing je- I've only had the
medicine down me for ten minutes.
10.10 BEFORE AND AFTER
Like seuhng and hah (see 10.8), chlhn and hauh are a regular pair.
You learned chlhn-yaht the day before yesterday in Unit 9, so you
can now make a good guess at what the day after tomorrow must
be ... Of course, it is hauh-yaht!
chihn-yaht
hauh-yaht
118
chihn-nin
hauh-nin
I I
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Make up some lines for a very severe Dr Li, who tells them that
they are both ruining their health and then tells each of them
separately not to indulge their favourite vice any more.
EXERCISE 3
120
11
Rt=Sih-jong
Dialogue 1
Miss Wong shops for a new hat and finally thinks she has found
the very thing, but . . .
122
~~1~?
,j,j@, ~--fi~l!liE-ffi~~ I
Miss Wong
Assistant
Miss Wong
Assistant
Miss Wong
Customer
Miss Wong
Customer
Miss Wong
Customer
rn
rlt1
~m~$i
ilJt/ir
tt
~,~f*
~JU, ~f*JU
-lil
...... ~~~~
dlmg
m6u
chit-gai
rhh-cho
h6-srk
si
wahn or wahn-syu
wahn-dou or wahn-syu-dou
ngaahng
daai
I
I
(accessories)
-hei-laih
I 2
~~
j(Jj
Clll
:5
~~
~ 8
u -flU
~ -flit
1
J IE~
san-fun
daaih-fong
mh-ji
baak
ga-chihn-paai
ga-chihn
-jyuh
jing-haih
new style
tasteful, sophisticated
I wonder
hundred
price tag
price
verb ending, ongoing state of
just happens to be
Notes
11.1-HEI-LAIH WHENITCOMESWIT
-he.i-Iaih is a verb ending which will mean once you start ... or
when it comes to ... depending on context. Here are two examples
which should give you the feel of its use:
G6ng-hei-lciih, ng6h dou srk
Hoh Sin-sciang.
Yuhng-hei-lciih, neihjauh gokdak h6u syu-fuhk.
124
10
100
I,ooo
10,000
100,000
I,ooo,ooo
ydt
(yat-)sahp
(yat-)baak
(yat-)chin
(yat-)maahn
(yat-)sahp-maahn
(ydt-)baak-maahn
Insight
Round numbers
Chinese loves round numbers. May you have a hundred sons
and a thousand grandsons was a very common good wish to
someone at New Year or on other happy occasions. The Old
Hundred Surnames is a regular way of talking of The Chinese
People. Thousand Mile Eyes was the name of a protective god
who acted as lookout for trouble. The Ten Thousand Mile
Long Wall is what is known in English as the Great Wall of
China. None of these numbers is meant to be taken literally:
they all mean something like lots of.
11.3 THE VERB ENDINGS -JYUH AND -GAN COMPARED
I 2
Dialogue 2
Mrs Wong explains to her husband why she talked so much at a
party.
N
: .................................................................................................................................
e I!
.3:A\f!IHE!lltk{IJHI. -vt-:m:7;::Jf-.3:A,:f!IHL1=-l~~:fft, x~
:;h;::;h;:{L1=5'~~~~:t.t:f1JT
I !t~~~~ll~~j;:Jr~~~. ~!til~~.
! ~~?
I ~~!t~~~~~M~~~-. ~~~~~~$~--.Jt
I ~~~~~~. :W*IIiflljf, 1iA~)fiJ.~:fi-~~~.
!
I
i
!
!
126
~~filii~.
MrWong
MrsWong
MrWong
Mrs Wong
MrWong
Mrs Wong
4-l!t
~.1:10
~~
JiOI
Wlt
.#I&
t'iHt~
~
{.
{!Ji-fl
j;:J!
~
'"~
-WilE!
Jll'tE
;f
.1-E~
;ffl-*'1-
-~
"ffA
~j{!
gam-m6.ahn
chaam-ga
sih-jOng
jin-16.ahm
j6.u-wui
seung-f6.an
so-f6.-yi
yi
tihng
king-g6.i
daaih-seng
jaan
ngoih-tou
beih-bTk
saht-joih
jeuk
fa-yeung
bou-liu
yat-yeuhng
y6.uh-yahn
ging-gwo
127
yih-waih
jeung
hung
-lohk-laih
Questions
1 Have you understood? What does the cartoon caption mean?
128
Notes
11.4 LATE IN THE DAY
You met m-douh here, gO-douh there and bin-douh where? in Units
3 and 5. Hai-douh (lit: at the place) is used rather loosely to mean
either here or there and really seems to mean at the place we both
know about. So you might say Nab. hai-douh jouh miit-yeh a? to
someone on the phone and it would mean What are you doing
there? or you might say it to someone who is in the same room as
you and it would mean What are you doing here?
Unlt11 ~- Sih-jongTheworldo(fashton
129
.....................................................................................................
Insight
Hai-douh
found it.
11.7 THREE VERBS FOR TO WEAR
You have now met three verbs which can all be translated as to
wear in English:
jeuk is to wear clothing, that is shirts, jackets, trousers,
underclothes, shoes and socks
daai is to wear accessories, that is hats, spectacles, watches,
rings, jewellery, gloves, etc.
da is the least common and means to wear something which
has to be tied on like a necktie or headscarf
You met lohk in lohk siu-bii to alight from the mini-bus and in
lohk-syut to snow. The basic meaning of lohk is to come down, to
fall down, to go down. As a verb ending -lohk-laih shows that the
action of the verb is happening in a downward direction:
ch6h-lohk-lciih
yciuh fei-gei g6-douh tai-lohk-lciih
3I
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
a
c
e
g
16 young ladies
$5,600
12,750
11 hours
EXERCISE 2
Warning: only do this if you are not driving! When you are in a car
or a bus, watch the vehicles that come towards you and try to read
off their number plates in Cantonese before they have gone by.
Until you get better at it, you can do it by saying saam-baat-chat
rather than the full version saam-baak-baat-sahp-chat. It's quite
an addictive little game, you'll find, but very good for making you
slick with numbers.
EXERCISE 3
Give the opposites of the words on the left by filling in the blanks
on the right.
a san-fun
b taaigwai
c maaih uk
d jt-hauh
e laahng
f dung-bak
_ _ _ fun
taai _ __
- - - uk
jt _ __
EXERCISE4
12
fl1f
Gaau-yuhk
Education for life
In this unit you will learn
colours
how to make comparisons
how to describe the position of one thing relative to another
Dialogue 1
Parents chat about the hardships of education.
,., :
~!
a=:
~-~~~~-~-~*~~.
1-i
~~~~~~-.ffi~-8~~-~~,~~,~,~~,
c!
m:fl~ I ffi~~tll*Xm:X$,
N-!
Ui
9!
I
I
I
134
~~~~.w~~~-~~~fl~=~~
-B~~~~~tll*~~~-~~-&~+~m:.
~~~~. ~~W*~~~~~~~~--A~
~1$.1.
M~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~-~~.~~~~~
M-;JDi~!t{tJHI*
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mrs Lee
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
-~
*~
~)(
hohk-saang
duhk
syu
duhk-syu
san-fu
muih
Jung-mahn
student, pupil
to read
a book
to study
hard, distressing
each, every
Chinese language
I
I
I
35
~)(
!!:*=
:li!!f.l
llf~
t+*=
f+
.sp::l$)
ij{~~
tl-*
:m:
*~
~~j{!
~
:5
if
Z.i$
lj\*
~
11.: mi~
5a
~~$
Jj]tl
~s
Jt~
~*
~~
~~
'if
jtjt
~~1-f
~~
ill
M~
jm*~-f*( U]E.)
Ying-mcihn
sou-hohk
deih-leih
lihk-st
fO-hohk
pihng-gwcin
fO
chaak-yihm
fo-bun
chuhng
hohk-haauh
lihn-jaahp-b6u
gwo
bohng
jr-ma
stu-hohk
wcin-jaahp
chci-rilh-do
gung-fo
mihng-baahk
sin-sciang
jung-hohk
gaau-syu
mciah-fciahn
gwun
yciuh-keih
hauh-sdang-j6.i
hauh-saang
beih
h6u-ch6i
yuh-gw6-rilh-hai h(-n~)
English language
mathematics
geography
history
science
average, on average
a subject, a discipline
to test; evaluation
textbook
heavy
school
exercise book
than
pound (weight)
particle (only)
primary school
to revise lessons
almost
homework
to understand, be clear
about
teacher
secondary school
to teach
trouble, troublesome
to control, be in charge
of
especially
youngsters
young
by; to endure, suffer
lucky, fortunately
otherwise
Notes
12.1 MUIH EACH, EVERY
There are two things to remember a bout using mUih. First, it
requires the use of a classifier:
muihgoyahn
muihji bat
muihyaht
37
(I am
In the dialogue Mr Wong talks about the heavy load of books and
exercise books carried by students and he says mh wUih siu-gwo
sahp bohng chUhng they cannot be kss than ten pounds in weight.
Insight
Learning
my pen or my pens
my pen (singular only)
my pens (plural only)
In the dialogue Mrs Lee talks about ngoh go jai and that tells you
that she only has one son or at least that she is only talking about
one son in this instance.
Beih literally means to suffer, to endure, but you will seldom need
to worry about that. You will usually only meet it used like the
English word by in the passive construction. The following two
examples should suffice to show how it works:
Hoh Sin-saang chlmg Wohng Sin-saang heui sihk-faahn.
Wohng Sin-saang beih Hoh Sin-saang chlmg heui sihk-faahn.
The first sentence is active (Mr Ho invites Mr Wong out for a meal)
and the second is passive (Mr Wong is invited out for a meal by Mr
Ho). Cantonese does not use this passive construction very often,
but you need to be aware that it exists so that you will not be taken
by surprise when you meet it.
12.5 RECAP ON CLASSIFIERS
You have now met all the major uses of classifiers, so perhaps this
little checklist will be helpful to you:
1 When you specify a noun with ni, g6, bin, mUih, gei, sehng- (this,
that, which?, each, how many?lseveral, the whole) you should use
the correct classifier between the specifier and the noun:
nrgo ycihn
brn jek luhng-ha?
gei ji bat
g6 tiuh lehng-tciai
muih gihn saam-kwcihn
sehng-go laih-baai
2 When you count nouns you should use the correct classifier
between the specifier and the noun:
yat go Yaht-bun-ycihn
sciam gcian uk
39
nT dT sung
bTn dT lung-mcihn syu?
5 Doubling the classifier and adding dou before the verb gives
the meaning every one of, each one of:
Gihn-gihn saam-kwcihn dou h6u leng.
Gcian-gcian uk leuih-bihn dou m6uh ycihn.
leuhng yaht
sahp seui
8 Finally, here are three new classifiers which you will find
useful:
bouh
bun
ga
Insight
Large, medium and small
Have you noticed how neatly Cantonese copes with the
different levels of the school education system? Primary or
junior school is siu-hohk small/earning; middle or secondary
school is jung-hohk middle learning; and university is daaihhohk large learning. You will find the same set (daaih,jung,
siu) on Chinese restaurant menus, showing that you can have
different size dishes of the same order and, of course, the
menu will also show different prices for the three sizes. Quite
often off-the-peg clothes are marked in the same way, with
the addition of dahk-daaih especially large for XL.
Dialogue 2
An encounter with a traffic policeman shows that education does
not always succeed in getting the main point across.
=----------------------------------
i ~m~~~-~mm~-~~~
I
1
~B~:ilnoo~~-~?
..::r
M~niii~. ~~--~*~~)jifi.
~IM:il~~--~~*~~~-~-~~~~~-~~.
~~.~-~-~~~m~?
.fJJY I
~-~fJHiHrrm~?
.fJJY I
l&"fi~:m~turrm~?
~M~. ~~~-~fJJ~ I
~*~~ ~~~~~mAti-*~~ff~~-~
4I
Mrs Wong
Mrs Cheung
Mrs Wong
Mrs Cheung
Policeman
Driver
Policeman
Driver
Policeman
Driver
Mrs Wong
Mrs Cheung
!
1=:.
:
1===.
i
1:.
:
1==.
:
1===.
i
1:.
~--_;;~;~::::::~:~J
i5(Jf.f
~Jf
rll~
i:
M
I'
;k~
:1300
-Ai
0~
~ff
frf:il
~~
-*~
'\:-*
jing-fu
gaau-yuhk
sih-mahn
sat-baaih
fong-mihn
yat-bun
gung-guhng
diht-jeuih
chihn-bihn
ging-chaat
gim-hung
hei-che
government
to educate; education
citizen
a loss, a failure
aspect
general, common, the general run of
public
order
in front; the front side
policeman
accuse
vehicle, car
~.tl
11
:5t:il~
:5t:il
~
lj
:flt
!.t
~T-
sr-gei
jaan
gaau-tu ng-dang
gaau-tung
dang
chung
seh-wui
waaih
fahn-ji
driver
classifier for lamps and lights
traffic light
traffic, communications
a light
to rush, dash against, jump
society
bad
element, member
Notes
12.6 COLOURS
HUhng-dang is a red light. The other important traffic light colour
is luhk green, and luhk-dang is a green light. In the dialogue, traffic
lights are called gaau-timg-dang: they are often known as hUhngluhk-dang too.
It would be useful now to introduce all the major colours. You
should note that they work with -sik ge in the same way as does
hUhng (see Unit 5 ).
baahk-srk
chclang-srk
flii-sTk
(ga-)fe-sTk
gam-sTk
haak-sTk or hak-sTk
white
orange
grey
brown
gold
black
hohng-srk
ji-STk
laahm-srk
luhk-sTk
ngahn-srk
wohng-sTk
red
purple
blue
green
silver
yellow
43
Insight
Policemen
In the dialogue you met the formal term ging-chaat for
policeman. You will probably also hear the colloquial chaaiyahn, or even more colloquially chaai-16u, both of which
144
She is inside.
The house is on the south side of
the airport.
In the last two examples the verb yauh to have is used to mean
there is or there are. If you have learned French, you will find a
similarity with the expression il y a (there is, there are) which also
uses the verb to have.
Insight
One whereabouts word that needs special care is jung-gcian
in the middle of, in between. When it means in the middle of it
45
Insight
Colour symbolism in Chinese culture
The dominant colour in Chinese culture is red. It stands for
happiness and good luck. Brides traditionally have dressed in
red and wept into red handkerchiefs, their grooms wear red
sashes, and the house where they set up home is decorated
with auspicious sayings written on red paper. White is the
colour for funerals (although people also wear a flash of
something red about them in order to offset the ill luck
which surrounds death and burial). Yellow was the Imperial
colour, and the roofs of the Forbidden City in Beijing are still
covered with yellow tiles: yellow also stands for China. You
will have noticed that the word for brown is coffee colour,
clearly a comparatively recent import. In the traditional
colour scheme, red ran into yellow uninterrupted by brown
and browns were classified either as huhng or wahng. What
English calls a brown cow, Cantonese calls a wohng-ngauh
and dark tan shoes are deemed to be huhng-slk.
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Go back and read the first dialogue of this unit once more. Then
without looking at it again try to choose from the brackets the
words which will complete the following sentences correctly.
EXERCISE 3
EXERCISE 4
13
!2:-
Tauh-gei
Speculation
In this unit you will learn
how to speculate in Cantonese!
shortcuts
alternative questions
Dialogue 1
Mr Cheung lets slip that he is not entirely immune from Hong
Kong's passion for gambling.
IJ'G~. ~W*J!Jii~~~1J11-1ll~.f!la~tlk~-- o
;Jik~--~y I ~p~flll!tffM~?
rot~-ffi=~-ffi-~l!'t I Piltft ll!t ft -ffimfti!YE ?
till!f-ft,
ra,,IM'
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
5I
~~
~M
~
19Ji
-~(m;~)
~
it
7G
~~
A~
~it
~
~~
-~
-~
~
}It
Cllll
}ltD$!\$
P$!\$
5
a Jlt$:~
Hi~
~~
-=~
Jltil
111*
~
~;t
J:\!;/J[l
~~~
-~
fill~
~~~~
f!~
ilJj~
152
dihn-toih
scin-mcihn
gw6ng-bo
tciuh-jyu
choi-mah or
paau-mah
mah
yTk
yuhn
mah-cheuhng
ycihn-sou
yauh-chin
chyuhn
ging-jai
d6u-mah
d6u
d6u-gau
gau
d6u-pe-paai
pe-paai
d6u-gu-piu
gu-piu
yeuhng-yeuhng
gwciai
fciahn-wihng
d6u-chin
gwcian-haih
ngaam
jeuih-on
jcing-gci
gau-jong
chih-sihn
chciuh-fun
chciu-jeung
wui
jeung-ban
fung-fu
tau h-jeu ng
radio station
news
broadcast
to stake, to bet
to race horses, horse racing
a horse
a hundred million
dollar
racetrack
number of people
rich
the whole
economy, economic
to bet on horses
to gamble on, to bet on
to bet on dogs
a dog
to gamble at cards
playing cards
to gamble on shares
stocks and shares
all kinds of, all sorts of
well behaved, obedient, a 'good boy'
prosperous
to gamble with money
relationship, connection, relevance
correct
criminal case
increase, to increase
time's up, it's time to
charity
to raise money, fund raising
lucky draw
meeting; club, association
prize
rich, abundant
first prize
Insight
The Cantonese as gamblers
The Cantonese have been renowned for their love of
gambling for a long while and they pursue their love
with dedication and not infrequently with recklessness. A
nineteenth-century missionary reported that in the city of
Canton (Gw6ng-jau) the orange sellers would take bets with
their customers on the number of pips which the oranges
they bought might contain, offering different odds on various
numbers. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that
next to eating, the favourite pastimes of Hong Kong have
for many years been mahjong and horse racing and since
the 196os the stock exchange has become a fourth passion.
At weekends high-speed ferries, jet-driven hydrofoils and
helicopters carry thousands of Hong Kong people the
40 miles to Macau where other forms of gambling are legally
available; and many Cantonese high rollers are to be found
in casinos all over the world.
Notes
13.1 DIFFERENT DOLLARS
In Unit 5 you learned the word man for dollar. Now you have a
different word yUbn which has the same meaning. There are in
fact two different systems for talking about money, a colloquial
system (man) and a more formal written system (yU.bn). When
people write they always use the formal system and when they
speak they usually (but not always) use the colloquial system. It is
perhaps closest to the American dollars and bucks system, where
no banknote carries the word bucks but where, in speech, either
bucks or dollars is acceptable. In the dialogue Mr Cheung uses
yUbn because a figure as large and important as 13 billion seems to
command more formality and the radio newscaster he is quoting
53
would certainly not descend into the colloquial man for such an
important item. The money system will be explained further in
Unit 20.
13.2 DROPPING CLASSIFIERS
In Mr Cheung's first speech you will notice that he talks of saambaak-yih-sahp-maahn yahn (3,200,000 people), but he does not
use the classifier go which you would expect between the number
and the noun. The larger numbers get, the less likely it is that a
classifier will be used: as a rule of thumb you can assume that
the classifier will be used up to Ioo and will seldom be used for
numbers greater than Ioo, but if you are in doubt put it in; it is
never wrong to do so.
13.3 STRIKING IT RICH
Mr Ho is very rich.
The rich ride in the back.
154
Dialogue 2
Why Mr Chan is welcomed at the mahjong table.
:.......................................................................................................................
\D
.....
!:
.1:
!
1.
~~--~!IV~$~?
#~~--~IIV~$~.ffi~-~~~-&&~.
~~----~~~-~~?
~~~~~-; 3':t~--~
~~-:Ji~~lliitJmtl~?
3':t~IIV~Jm:Ji.~I!VIIiit,ffi~3':t-~~~* ~~
~~~=-rt:~.
! ll(t, -~IR];~~~?
I 3':t1i!i~re ~
i
I!
!
1.
Mr Chan
i.
Mr Lee
A~~~~w~~~~~~.~~-~n~~
!.
!!
~~-~~~Mrt*m~~~~~~~3':t.
~mA~rr~~~"iJ; 114t~~?
Mr Chan
L6uh Chan, neih gam jCmg-yi heui Ou-mun d6uchin. 16uh-saht wah bei ng6h teng, neih yehng chin
ge sih-hauh do dihng-haih syu chin ge sih-hauh
~~~~!yin
haih yehng chin ge sih-hauh do Ia.
Daahn-haih mOih chi dou haih yehng siu-siu je.
55
Mr Lee
Mr Chan
chfn
Ng6ha?yauh-sih heui d6u-cheuhng, yauh-sih hai
ak-kei, daahn-haih ng6h yat-dihng rhh heui daaihdong d6u-chfn, yan-waih haih fei-faat ge.
Gam, d6u-bo tuhng d6u-ngoih-wuih ne?
Ng6h gu neih wah 'd6u-bo' jauh haih d6u Yinggwok juk-kauh lak. NT yeuhng yeh ng6h m6uh hingcheui. D6u-ngoih-wuih jauh yat-dihng yiu yauh
h6u do bUn-chihn. 56-yfh leuhng yeuhng dou rhh
Mr Lee
Mr Chan
Mr Lee
Mr Chan
sTk-hahp ng6h.
Heung-g6ng-yahn jeui jung-yi da-Mah-jeuk ge lak:
gam neih ne?
Ng6h gok-dak da-Mah-jeukjeui h6u-waan, jeui
ng6h, daahn-haih ng6h t.lu siu yOhng
:~~hn
Mr Lee
!
1:::::
!
1::.
I
1:::
!
1.
~-----;;;;~~;;;~~~~~~-:n~:~
~r~
;;15Jll'
...
~1*
'&~
.-m
it-~
;jf
=~=
-~
~~
j;:fi
~I=-!
Ou-mun
16uh-saht
yehng
dihng-haih
syu
dong-yin
Leuhn-pun
Yah-yat-dfm
yeuhng
Fdan-tdan
d6u-cheuhng
yauh-sih
daaih-dong
fei-faat
Macau
honest, honestly
to win
or, or rather
to lose
of course
roulette
blackjack, pontoon
kind, sort, type
fan tan
casino
sometimes
gambling den
illegal
-~
Jmjf.ll(
jf.ll(
)E~
!JU@
*il
ii*l~
fT~'iri
M-m
~i31
~1m
~
d6u-bo
d6u-ngoih-wuih
ngoih-wuih
jOk-kauh
hing-cheui
bun-chihn
srk-hahp or hahp-srk
da Mah-jeuk
h6u-waan
kap-yahn
dak-haahn
cheuhng
to bet on football
to gamble on foreign exchange
foreign exchange
soccer
interest
capital
suitable to, fitting
to play mahjong
good fun, amusing, enjoyable
to attract
to be free, at leisure
classifier for performances,
bouts, games
Notes
13.5 TELLING OPTIONS
57
40, .. . 90, which are always said in their full yih-sahp, saam-sahp,
sei-sahp ... gau-sahp form.
'good to eat'
'good to drink'
'good to look at'
'good to listen to'
delicious
delicious
good looking, attractive
harmonious, melodic
13.9 AT LEISURE
Dak-haah.n literally means attaining leisure and so not busy. In
Unit 10 you learned the word mohng busy. Cantonese usually
seem to like to take shortcuts with their language, but many people
prefer to say mh dak-haahn and hou mh dak-haahn rather than
mohng and h6u mohng despite the extra syllables involved.
have a meal
buy a car
59
Insight
Mahjong and fantan
Fantan is a Chinese gambling game which consists of
guessing how many stones will be left when a random pile
is diminished by taking away four stones at a time -that is,
the gamblers bet on whether there will be one, two, three or
four stones left at the end. There is no skill involved at all,
it is just a pure gamble. Mahjong is played by four players
with heavy plastic or bone tiles which are crashed down
onto a deliberately resonant table to enhance the noise and
excitement. It can be equally well played with paper cards,
but that would be quiet and far less fun! Luck plays its part,
but skilled players have an advantage over unskilled. While
to play fantan is called d6u-Faan-taan, the far more active
process of playing mahjong is called da-Mah-jeuk.
160
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
c NI.h-goi neih wah bei ng6h teng neih go jai ttng-yaht dak mh
dak-haahn a?
d Keuih Laih-baai-yih h6u mh dak-haahn.
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3
EXERCISE 4
1~
t.I.B <=)
Wan-jaahp (yih)
Revision (2)
Another six units under your belt. It all gets more interesting now;
you can say so many more things and begin to have some flexibility
in your language. Remember that what you are learning is a living
colourful language spoken by a very dynamic people, not a bookish
sober exercise in style and complex grammar. Try to speak what
you learn so that you can hear the cadences and become familiar
with the zest of it. Cantonese people enjoy life, they talk loudly
and laugh a lot -a Cantonese whisper is almost a contradiction in
terms. Start by reading this first passage through, then read it out
loud several times until it begins to feel part of you. Even better,
learn it off by heart so that you can recite it.
Passage 1
Wohng Sin-saang chat seui ge jai kahm-yaht fclan hohk-haauh
g6-jahn-sih h6u hoi-sam gam wah ng6h ji, keuih bah-ba seuhng-golaih-baai maaih-j6 yat gaan san ak. G6 gaan ak yauh daaih yauh
leng, yauh saam gaan seuih-f6ng,* gaan ak chihn-bihnjuhng yauh
go fcl-yun tuhng-maaih yat gaan che-fOhng tim. Keuih wah: 'Yih-ga
ng6h yat-go-yahn yuhng yat gaan seuih-f6ng,jan-haih syu-fuhk lak.
Daahn-haih mah-ma jauh yiu tuhng bah-ba yat-chaih yuhng yat
gcian. Ng6h gu mcih-ma yat-dihng rhh hoi-sam lak. Ng6h rhh ji dimgaai bcih-ba rhh bei mcih-ma yuhng daih-sciam gcian seuih-f6ng ne?
G6 gcian seuih-f6ng yih-ga m6uh ycihn yuhng,ji-haih bcih-ba jcii-j6
h6u do syu hai g6-douh je.'
("seulh-fong = bedroom)
Exercise 1
a
d
g
j
hei-mohng
da-syun
gei-yuhk
noih-yuhng
tin-hei
dihn-ying
h do-yuh
k siu-leuhn
c
f
laahng-tin
wahn-duhng
gihn-hong
pihng-gwan
Exercise 3
Hunt the yaht. All the words here use yaht sun or day. What are
they?
a
d
g
tomorrow
b
the whole day e
today
h
Sunday
yesterday
every day
c
f
65
Exercise 4
The following sentence pairs differ by only one word, but the sense
changes a great deal. Try to put them into English which will bring
out the meanings clearly.
a
b
Exercise 5
Choose the right element from the brackets to complete the sense
of the sentences.
a Yat go yahn yuhng yat gaan seuih-f6ng h6u (san-fu, yauhmeng, yauh-yuhng, sjlu-fuhk).
b Che-fohng yuhng laih (jai sjlu ge, j'Ju-faahn ge, wahn-duhng
ge, tthng-che ge).
c Hai g6 gaan gung-st jouh-yeh h6u h6u yan-waih wuih yauh
(h6u do chin, mh stk jyu-sung, h6u siu chin, h6u mah-faahn).
Exercise 6
Make one sentence out of each of the following pairs using the
words in brackets to make the link and making whatever other
slight adjustments are necessary. For instance, the first pair would
give the sentence: Keuih faan iik-kei ji-chlhn, slli-slli dou heui taarn
a Keuih faan uk-kei. Keuih sth-sth dou heui taam keuih naahmpahng-yauh. (jt-chihn)
b Wohng Taai seung maaih g6 ga che. Ga che h6u !eng. (yanwaih)
c Ng6h mh mthng-baahk. G6 go yahn laahng-ttn seung maaih
laahng-hei-gei. {jouh-mat-yeh?)
166
Passage 2
This little anecdote finishes with a pun, but you may as well get
used to it - Cantonese people love punning. The particular pun
involved is one that all gamblers know about and it is safe to say
that no one other than the naive Mr Ho would have taken the bad
advice which his wife gives him here!
67
Teng-yuhn dihn-waji-hauh keuih wah bei Hoh Taai teng. Hoh Taai
wah: 'Neih m6uh heui-gwo tai choi-mah, m chi haih neih daih-yat
chije. Mhji-dou neih wuih rhh wuihjung-yi tai ne?' Hoh Saang
wah: Ou! Haih bo! Haih ng6h daih-yat chi heui tai choi-mah bo!
Yuh-gw6 rhh h6u tai, gam ng6h yiu ch6h hai-douh, m6uh yehjouh
bol Dim-syun-h6u-ne?'* Hoh Taai wah: 'Neihjeui h6u maaih bun
syu sin-ji heui mah-cheuhng lak. Neih yuh-gw6 gok-dak tai choimah h6u-waan,jauh h6-yih rhh-sai tai-syu. Yuh-gw6-rhhhaih-ne, gam neihjauh h6-yih ch6h hai-douh tai-syu Ia. Neih wah
h6u rhh h6u ne?' Hoh Saang h6u gwaai: taai-taai wah mat-yeh,
keuihjauhjouh mat-yeh. Dong-yin keuih g6 maahn heui mahcheuhngji-chihn maaih-j6 bun syu sin.
H6u-ch6i Hoh Sin-sclang gok-dak choi-mah dou gei h6u-wclan, rhh-sai
tai-syu. Daahn-haih keuih yat-d1 chin dou m6uh yehng, seung-fclan
juhng syu-j6 h6 do chin tim! Keuih felon ok-kei, h6u nau gam wah bei
taai-taai teng: 'Ng6h daih-yih chi heui d6u-mah rhh wuih teng neih
g6ng lakl Maaih-mah yiu maaih yehng, rhh-h6u maaih syu a-mal'
(*Dim-syun-h6u-ne7 = What's to be done about it? What can I do?)
Exercise 8
That second passage was just to get you used to the idea of puns
and wordplay. When you are sure that you understand how the pun
worked, try this one. This time the only clue you have is 'a hyphen'!
Jeung Sln-saang yauh gau-cheuhng d6u-yU.hn gau faan uk-kei.
Keuih go jai rnahn keuih:
'Bah-ba, neih gam-yaht d6u-gau dim a? Yehng ri1h yehng chin a?'
'Sahp cheuhng gau cheuhng yehng!'
'Wah! Bah-ba, neih jan-haih h6u sik d6u-gau bo! D6u sahp
cheuhng ji-haih stu yat cheuhng.'
'L6uh-saht gong, ng6h yat-di chin dou m6uh yehng. Ng6h d6u
sahp cheuhng dou haih gau-cheuhng yehng bo!'
168
15
bill
Leuih-yauh
Travelling
In this unit you will learn
useful vocabulary for the traveller
how to describe the way in which actions are performed
clocktime
Dialogue 1
Mrs Lee talks of an inclusive hotel deal.
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69
MrChan
Mrs Lee
MrChan
Mrs Lee
MrChan
Mrs Lee
MrChan
l
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hclahng(-louh)
-dak
faai
g6n-jyuh
leuih-yauh
fei
geui-baahn
yauh
jit-muhk
fai-yuhng
170
to walk
verb ending, in such a way that
quick, quickly, fast
hurrying to
to travel; tourism
a ticket, a fare
to run, hold, conduct
a tour, to tour
programme
cost, fee
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dai
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rilh-siu-dak
dihn-sih-gei
syut-gwaih
seu ng-yahn-chohng
chohng
sai-san-f6ng
sai-san
sai
nyuhn
wihng-chih
dang-dang
gon-jehng
chit-beih
suhk-srk
gung-gwaan
ging-leih
noih-h6ng-yahn or
hohng-noih-yahn
lo
7I
Notes
15.1 TO WALK
'walk hills'
'walk street'
Insight
A bargain may not be cheap
You now know two similar words, pehng cheap and dai a
bargain, but be careful not to confuse them. A Rolls Royce
bought at a bargain price might still be several years' salary
for most of us, so it would not really be appropriate to say
that it was cheap and Cantonese would be unlikely to use
pehng to describe it either. If you are treated to a meal in
a restaurant by a friend and you see the bill and think it
small, it would give offence to say it was h6u pehng -that
would sound as though your friend should have spent more
money on you. You could happily comment h6u dai, though,
because that sounds as if it was a very good meal and your
friend was clever to choose it and not to get cheated into
paying over the top. Interestingly, your friend could say h6u
pehngje, because it is quite good manners to belittle one's
own efforts as a host.
73
more than one item. You can do this whenever you ask a question
if you are expecting a plural answer and, of course, you can
show that you expect a singular answer by using the appropriate
classifier for whatever you are talking about:
Neih seung m6.aih mat-yeh syu a?
Neih seung m6.aih bun
mat-yeh syu a?
Neih seung m6.aih dT
mat-yeh syu a?
Insight
Gon-jehng literally means dry and pure, but it is the standard
term for clean. Dirty is either wu-jou or laaht-taat, and quite
often both are used together for extra stress - wu-jou laahttaat filthy.
174
Dialogue 2
A tourist checks in at the airport.
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Fuhk-mouh-yuhn
Yiluh-haak
75
Fu hk-mou h-yuhn
Yc'iuh-haak
Fu hk-mou h-yuhn
Yc'iuh-haak
Fu hk-mou h-yuhn
Yc'iuh-haak
Fu hk-mou h-yuhn
Yc'iuh-haak
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yc'iuh-haak
baan-gei
bou-dou
fuhk-mouh-yuhn
hah-jau
sei-dim-bun-jOng
hei-tei
gc'iau
wuh-jiu
chim-jing
(tei-)gei-pi u
tourist
scheduled flight
check in, register, report for duty
waiter, attendant, clerk, steward,
one who serves
afternoon, p.m.
half past four o'clock
to take off (of aircraft)
to hand over
passport
visa
air ticket
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16
b6u-hfm
gwaih-t6i
mfhn-seui
yeuhng-jau
jaahp-hclu
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luggage
to weigh
overweight
light (in weight)
stretch a point, get round the rules,
make an accommodation
a little bit, one time
Gill
problem, question
a little more
w
pay attention to
~
weight
a
to collect, to take
insurance
counter
tax free, duty-free
liquor, (non-Chinese) alcoholic drinks
gate, gateway
verb ending, completely
Notes
15.5 SEUHNG AND HAH AGAIN
In Unit 10 you met seuhng-go-hiih-baai last week and hah-go-hiihbaai next week. In the dialogue there are two more cases where
hah appears. Hah-jau means afternoon, p.m., and you will not be
surprised to learn that a.m. is seuhng-jau. Hah chi or hah yat chi
means next time, on the next occasion and as expected seuhng chi
or seuhng yat chi means last time, on the previous occasion.
77
Half past uses the word bun half, which you met in Unit 4 So half
past one is yat-dim-bun(-jiing), half past two is leuhng-dlm-bun
(-jiing) and half past 12 is sahp-yih-dlm-bun(-jiing). The brackets
around jfulg are to show that people do not usually bother to say it
unless for some reason they want to speak particularly clearly.
You met the word for minutes (fan) in Unit ro and you can give
precise times to the minute as follows:
1.01
1.09
1.10
1.59
1.10 is yat-dim-h!uhng-go-jih
1.50 is yat-dim-sahp-go-jih
Some people like to use the word gwat (from the English word
quarter) in the following way:
178
yat-dim-yat-go-gwat
yat-dim-saam-go-gwat
Finally, remember that Cantonese likes to put the large before the
small and that applies to time as wel~ so: 4.35 p.m. on Tuesday is
Sing-keih-yih hah-jau sei-dim-chat-go-jih.
.....................................................................................................
Insight
12 or 24?
The traditional Chinese day was divided into 12 two-hour
periods, starting at 11 p.m., each period being given a name
in exactly the same way as the 12 years of the solar cycle
(which also has 12 animal names associated with it). So there
was little difficulty in adjusting to the Western clock, and
both 12-hour and 24-hour clock times are now used, just as
elsewhere in the world (and starting from midnight).
79
180
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
a yeh-maan
b mh-s{u-dak
c n'Yuhn-seui
d chUhng
EXERCISE 3
Make adverbial sentences from the following using -dak and your
translations of the phrases in brackets. The answer to the first one
is Keuih g6ng-dak faai. Careful now!
What are the correct classifiers for the following? Some of them
you have not been specifically told, but by now you should be able
to make a guess with a very good chance of being right.
a daan-yahn-chOhng
d wahn-duhng-f6ng
g jau-dim
b gau-jai
c dihn-sih-gei
e mah-louh
f {ei-gei
i bahng-leih
h {ei-gei-piu
EXERCISE 5
These questions are quite difficult. Answer them in Cantonese.
EXERCISE 6
Here are some clock times. How do you say them in Cantonese?
See if you can come up with three different ways of saying the last
one!
EXERCISE 7
A question of time. Can you give the answer (in Cantonese) to this
puzzle?
Gim-yaht haih Sing-keih-yih.
Ng6h saam yaht ji-chihn heui-j6 mah-cheuhng.
Ng6h hai mah-cheuhng waan-j6 saam go bun jiing-tauh.
Ng6h luhk-dfm-jiing leih-hoi-j6 mah-cheuhng.
Gam, ng6h seung mahn neih: Ng6h Laih-baai-gei gei-do-dfm-jiing
dou-j6 mah-cheuhng ne?
83
16
--
Ga-sai
Driving
In this unit you will learn
how to make negative comparisons
how to say no firmly
the different meanings of or
Dialogue 1
Mr Lee has just come back from his driving test.
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Mrs Lee
MrLee
Mrs Lee
MrLee
Mrs Lee
MrLee
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ga-sai
hclau-si
pj(;.
sihng-jrk
gwun
haau
pei-yuh
paak-w6.i
che-16u
che
hoi-che
maahn
sai
jaak
diuh-tauh
sau-jai
geuk-jai
geuk
louh-min
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to drive, driving
examination, test; to sit an
examination
result, score, report
an official, an officer
to examine, to test
for example, for instance
to parka car
steep road
steep
to start a car; to drive a car
slow, slowly
to drive
narrow
to tum to face the other way
hand brake
foot brake
foot, leg
road surface
Unit 16 -~ Ga-d Driving
185
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chihng-fong
fclan-ying
gau
git-gw6
guhk
h6-nahng
fan or fan-gaau
juhng-meih
slmg
tuhng-sih
toih
situation, circumstances
reaction, response; to respond, react
enough
the end result
a bureau, department, office
it is possible that, possibly; possibility
to sleep; to lie down; to go to bed
still not yet
to wake up, recover consciousness
colleague
to carry, to lift
Haau-si
Ng6h-deih seung mahn neih: neih gu g6 go haau-si-gwim jan-haih
fan-j6 gaau dihng-haih yan-waih Leih Saang ja-che ja-dak .rhh h6u
s6-yfh keuih pa-dou tauh-wahn fan-j6 hai che leuih-bihn ne?
Notes
16.1 REACTIONS TO ..
You first met deui (with regard to, towards) in Unit 9 and further
examples of its use are to be found in Units ro, 12 and 15. In the
dialogue here it teams up with faan-ying to mean reactions to
road conditions: when you have understood that, you will find it
easier to make sense of the long section deui louh-mln. ge chlhngfong faan-ying gau rl:th gau faai Ia - whether reactions to road
conditions are fast enough.
186
Insight
Carrying things
Dialogue 2
A lucky escape?
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87
Mr Chan
Victim
Mr Chan
Victim
Mr Chan
Victim
Mr Chan
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188
yat-sih
siu-sam
daan-ch~
johng
yauh sih
seung
lauh
hyut
hei-yciu h-chi-lei h
chi-sin
yihng-jdn
g6ng-siu
siu
chin-keih
ngh-wuih
momentarily, briefly
careful
bicycle
run into, knock into
to have something wrong with you
a wound; to wound
to flow
blood
that's ridiculous; how could that be?
crazy; mixed up; off the rails
serious, sincere
to joke
to smile, to laugh, to laugh at
whatever you do don't, don't ever
misunderstand, get it wrong
iiUJI!!
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di hn-daan-che
choi -c he-sau
choi-che
h!uhn-dou
waaih
ning
sau-leih
waahk-je
motorbike
racing driver
motor racing
the tum of, it has come to the turn of
to go wrong, break down
to bring, to take
to repair, mend
or, perhaps
Notes
16.3 JEK ONE OF A PAIR
Things that come in pairs are classified with seung or with deui:
yat deu i sau
yat seu ng faai-ji
a hand, an arm
a chopstick
89
petrol, gasoline
to refuel, put petrol in
16.7 MORE ON OR
Remember dihng-haih? Now you have also met waahk-je and they
both mean or. The difference is that dihng-haih means or is it the
case that? and always appears in questions, while waahk-je means
or maybe it is, or perhaps and appears in statements:
Keuih gei-si laih a? Haih
gam-yaht dihng-haih
ting-yaht laih ne?
Keuih (waahk-je) gam-yaht
waahk-je ting-yaht laih.
iiiSigiit....................................................................................
You are quite right, there is yet a third kind of or that you
have met. Remember luhk-chat go for seven or eight? This
neat little formula only works with numbers, you cannot use
it with other words.
hou-chO:i Ia (you wouldn't be as lucky then) and this gives you the
clue to how to make negative comparisons. The pattern is:
Xm6uhYgam ...
Keuih m6uh ng6h gam gou.
Hei-che m6uh fei-gei gam faai.
Ng6h haahng-dok m6uh
neih gam maahn.
X isn't as
as Y
He's not as tall as I am.
Cars aren't as fast as planes.
I don't walk as slowly as you do.
I am tall.
He's taller.
He's a lot taller.
You are even taller.
He's not so tall.
He is taller than I am.
He is a bit taller than I am.
9I
insi9 ht
Laughing and smiling
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Here are five English sentences. Which of the two possibilities given
you is the correct translation?
EXERCISE 2
Now write out the translation of the above sentences which you
think are incorrect.
EXERCISE 3
N
A
HI
A really tough one. Can you say who is sitting in each of the six seats?
Gam-maahn LU.hng Saang, LU.hng Taai cheng Leih Saang, Leih Taai
tuhng-maaih Chahn Saang, Chahn Taai sihk-faahn. Leih Saang ch6h
hai bak-bihn; Chahn Saang hai Luhng Taai yauh-bihn; Chahn Taai
hai Luhng Saang deui-mihn; Leih Taai hai Lllhng Saang j6-sau-bihn.
EXERCISE 4
Can you match each of the six verbs a-f with a suitable noun from
the list i-xii?
ada
d teng
bd6u
e chong
c chao
ftai
i jeung-ban
ii tin-hei
v dihn-ying
viii noih-yuhng
xi yauh-haak
iii gw6ng-bo
vimah-jeuk
ix huhng-dang
xii jit-muhk
ivpe-paai
vii h6i-taan
x sou-hohk
194
EXERCISE 5
Here are definitions of four words which you have learned in this
unit. Can you work out what they are?
17
tc-fll~
Gei-leuht bouh-deui
The uniformed services
In this unit you will learn
how to manage complicated descriptive phrases
about active or passive verbs
about proximity and distance
Dialogue 1
Problems with a photograph on an immigration application.
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Official
Applicant
Official
Applicant
Official
Applicant
Sfu-je, neih nT jeung yuhng h'iih san-chfng yihmahn ge seung-pfn mh hahp-kwai-gaak bot
Dfm-yeung mh hahp-kwai-gaak a? Neih tai nT
jeung seung-pfn yfng-dak gei h6u. Ng6h yuhng
sou-mah seung-gei yfng ga.
Yih-mahn-guhk kwai-dihng san-chfng yahn ge
seung-pfn mh jeun jeuk gwan-fuhk.
H6u-ch6i ng6h mh haih gwan-yahn, ng6h yfhging leih-hoi-j6 gwan-deui leuhng nihn lak.
Gam, neih yih-ga jouh-gan mat-yeh a?
Ng6h yih-ga haih neuih-gfng, bat-gwo hah-goyuht-meih ng6h wuih ga-yahp Siu-fohng-guhk
jouh neuih-siu-fohng-yuhn ... Baiht Gfng-chaat
tuhng siu-fohng-yuhn dou yiu jeuk jai-fuhk ge bot
Applicant
Ng6h dfm-syun-h6u-ne?
Sfu-je, Yih-mahn-guhk kwai-dihng san-chfng yihmahn ge yahn mh jeun jeuk yahm-hoh jai-fuhk
yfng-seung. Neih h6-yfh mh jeuk ga.
Mat-yeh wa?t Neih giu ng6h mh jeuk saam 16-tai
Official
Official
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97
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scin-ching
yih-mcihn
seung-pin
hahp-kwcii-gaak
ying(-seung)
sou-mah
seung-gei
kwcii-dihng
jeun
gwcin-fuhk
gwcin-ycihn
gwcin-deui
neuih
neuih-ging
bat-gwo
yuht
meih
gci-yahp
siu-fohng-guhk
siu-fohng-yuhn
baihl
jai-fuhk
yahm-hoh
16-tai
yi-si
giu
bihn-fuhk
to apply
to migrate; immigration, emigration
a photograph
to qualify, meet requirements
to take a photograph, have a
photograph taken
digital
camera
to regulate, lay down a rule
to allow, permit
military uniform
soldier, military personnel
army
female
policewoman
but, however
moon, month
tail, end
to join, recruit into
fire brigade
fireman
oh dear! oh, heck! alas!
uniform
any
naked, nude
meaning, intention
tell someone to, order someone to
plain clothes
Notes
17.1 ADJECTIVES
In Unit 4 you first met ge used to link descriptive phrases or clauses
to a noun (h6u gwai ge ga-fe -very expensive coffee; truiaih-gan.
bat ge yabn- the person who is buying a pen). The first line of the
dialogue in this unit has a more complicated version of that ge pattern
99
As you become more familiar with Cantonese you will find other
two-way verbs like jetm; and already in this unit you will find yingseung, which can mean to photograph or to be photographed.
boyfriend/girlfriend
gentlemen' s!ladies' toilet
boy/girl pupils
While on the subject, you might note that neuih changes its tone
when it is used as new daughter, the pair to jai son.
Insight
Neuih-pcihng-yauh and nciahm-pcihng-yauh
200
Yuht means the moon and by extension has also come to mean
a month. The classifier for it is go, so one month is yat go yuht,
two months is leubng go yuht and so on. As with laih-baai and
sln.g-keih, last, this and next are seuhng, ni and hah, so last month
is seuhng-go-yuht, this month is ni go yuht and next month is hahgo-yuht.
The months of the year do not have fancy names as in English,
they are just numbered without classifiers. The two sets that follow
should make the system clear to you:
Yat-yuht
Yih-yuht
Sciam-yuht
ChCit-yuht
Sah p-yi h-yu ht
January
February
March
July
December
yat go yuht
leuhng go yuht
sciam go yuht
chat goyuht
sahp-yih go yuht
one month
two months
three months
seven months
twelve months
Insight
China traditionally used both a solar and a lunar calendar,
and the latter is still important for determining the dates of
some festivals as well as being the one by which most people
reckon their birthdays. The word for month (yuht) is the
same in both, and the months are numbered in the same way,
so February and the Second Lunar Month are both Yih-yuht.
However, there are two exceptions:
1 The first solar month (January) is Yclt-yuht, but the first
lunar month is known as ling yuht.
2 Seven lunar years in 19 have an extra month, called a
yeuhn-yuht intercalary month. It may be added in almost
anywhere during the year, so in 2009 there was a Yeuhn
Fifth Month (Yeuhn-flgh-yuht) that followed the Fifth
Month, making a 13-month year of 384 days.
20 I
17.6 TO TELL
To tell has different meanings in English and different words are
used for them in Cantonese. When to tell means to inform, to tell a
fact, you have learned that it is translated by wah!gOn.g ... ji/teng
(see Unit 13). When to tell means to tell someone to do somethin~
to order someone to do something, then giu is used:
Sin-saang giu hohk-saang
t6.i Ying-mahn syu.
Ng6h giu keuih mh-h6u laih.
Dialogue 2
Plain-clothes police have a tough time with some suspects.
N
202
................................................................................................................................
~~~~-~. ~~-~~~~m~.-~~~~~awo
~~~~~A~?~~~~a~~~~a~1
a~I~~. ~~~aL~~-Moa~~~~~~-.~~
itt!!ii:il. -ratt~ o
~~f!J~~muJJil. x~~~~o ~~ii!i~ ~~
A.
~tt~. :il~m~~?
fff-llft!lilf-tt~1l.
Jt a ~eyn~1J1N ~. Ji3':tllft!lffifff-llft!l-fJ
ltJtlltt. JJI, f-)E I 3':tllit!lftbJ<.Piil
~~~~fff-~~ff.~3':t~Mfff-llit!IL~~~
Sergeant
Youth
Sergeant
Youth
Sergeant
Youth
Sergeant
Wai, neih-deih gei go, rhh-h6u yak al Faai-dT maudai, ning neih-deih ge san-fan-jing cheut-laih.
Neih-deih haih mat-yeh yahn a? Neih-deih m6uh
kYuhn tai ng6h-deih ge san-fan-jing bol
Ng6h haih Wohng Sa-jfn, nrwai haih ng6h seuhngsr Chahn Bong-baan. Ng6h-deih waaih-yih neihdeih fclahn-duhk. Neih-deih keih-maaih louh-brn. bei
ng6h sau-san.
Neih-deih dou m6uh jeuk jai-fuhk, yauh rhh haih
ch6h gfng-chaat cheuhn-loh-che. Neih-deih wah
haih gfng-chaat, yiu laai-yahn, yiu sau-san, bTn-go
seun neih a?
Ng6h-deih m6uh jeuk gfng-chaat jai-fuhk, haih
yan-waih fong-bihn ng6h-deih jouh-yeh. Ng6h-deih
leuhng go dou haih bihn-yi gfng-chaat. Neih-deih
dang-daaih-deui-ngaahn tai-hah ng6h-deih ge
gfng-yuhn-jing lal
Neih-deih "hn sau-cheung dou m6uh, gfng-yuhnjing dou h6-nahng haih ga ge, yiu ng6h-deih seun
neih-deih haih gfng-chaat jauh naahn Ia. Wai, saujOkl Ng6h-deih saan-seui lot
Maih jau at Neih baan sei-jai, dang ng6h laai-saai
neih-deih seuhng gfng-chaat-guhk sinl
20 3
I@ I
1m
~-fj}N
N
lli
*I
t.PM
-ffi:
J:~
Jlbt.
~~
::i1
......:ij!
~:il
~~
~:Ia-
1'.lZ
jjif
if*
lll::kt!Di
m
Di
-~N
-3...... ~ ......
~
1N
Jl
.-lE
fa;Tj(
lj}f
~.f-f
204
wail
yak
san-f6.n-jing
jing
cheut
kyuhn
sa-jtn
wai
seuhng-sr
bong-baan
waaih-yih
f6.ahn-duhk
keih
-maaih
louh-bTn
sau-san
cheuhn-loh-che
laai
fOng-bihn
bihn-yi
dang-daaih-deui
ngaahn
dang
ngaahn
gtng-yuhn-jing
lihn ... dou ...
sau-cheung
ga
naahn
sau-jak
saan-seui
baan
sei-jai
hoy! hey!
to move, make a movement
identity card
a certificate, a pass
out
right, authority, powers
sergeant
polite classifier for people
Notes
17.7 HURRY UP!
Faai-di means quicker, faster, as you will remember from your
work on comparatives in Unit 16, but it has become the most
common way of saying get a move on!, hurry up! Harassed
mothers say it to their children constantly.
17.8 WAI: THE POLITE CLASSIFIER
The normal classifier for people is of course go, but if you wish
to be polite to someone or about someone, you should use wai
instead. So you might say n1 go yahn (this person), but you would
almost certainly say n1 wai sln-saang this gentleman and go wai
siu-je that young lady. In the dialogue the sergeant uses wai
when he refers to his superior officer, Inspector Chan. If you are
introducing someone, you say Nt: wai haih Wohng Taai-taai, go
wai haih Uih Siu-je ... etc.
17.9 -MAAIH CLOSE UP TO
The verb ending -maaih can be used to indicate movement towards
something or location close up to something. Its opposite, showing
movement away from something, or location away from something
is -hOi. You can use these two words quite freely where you feel
them to be appropriate.
20
Keuih haahng-hoi-j6
Ch6h-maaih-dT
Ch6h-hoi-dT
.....i.ri5f9ht
Push and pull
Doors are often marked ;ft teui push or :flZ laai pull, and it is
probably worth learning these two characters now. On the
other hand, we have noticed that, with a refreshing frailty
shared by the rest of the world, Chinese people nearly always
pull on the one marked push and vice versa, so maybe you
needn't bother. Just do it by trial and error like everyone else.
206
17.12 SEUHNG TO GO UP
.....................................................................................................
Insight
Secret society slang
One of the biggest influences on contemporary Cantonese
language has been the great popularity of gangster films and
programmes on television and in the cinema. The racy slang
which gives authenticity to the shows passes rapidly into
ordinary people's speech, but equally quickly is discarded
again. At the end of the dialogue we have included just a
couple of terms which seem to be likely to stay around, but
there is little point in your learning any more - by the time
that you are able to use it it may well not be current any
longer!
207
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
d Jeung Saang hai jau-!auh nlng yeh bei yahn sihk: keuih haih _.
e Ng6h bah-ba hai chan-so jouh-yeh: keuih haih _.
EXERCISE 3
Into each of the following sentences put one of the randomly listed
inserts i-v, then translate the sentence into English.
ii llhn
v jl-hauh
EXERCISE4
209
EXERCISE 5
18
t{t~
Jih-on
Law and order
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Three friends discuss the crime rate.
r-::.~~~~~={ ~e
:
-tt;s~
In~~~~~~~. ~~~~~~.~~~s~~~*~~.
0
mLEL~fl~SnlJt~. -ffifl~llJt;4s::ltf!*i~~*i~. ~
:
*itiiJII
flll.*it&~W*~~. ~~tt:~A~~-~
:'. fl~A.~:etl!llfif!i
JliiJf
o
2 I I
Mrs Lee
Mrs Wong
Mrs Jeung
Mrs Wong
Mrs Jeung
$6!~
1t
~~
~~
n&
=rrx
fr*b
:Jr.(ilf-El.
~R
ttf:ii
5'1-11
~-m
frf~~
*II~~
212
bou-ji
lihng
mauh-saat
keuhng-gaan
kCip-duhk
d6.-gaau
d6.-gip
d6.-hoh-baau
mh-jt
p6u-pin
ngoih-gwok
sihng-sih
chihn-gei-nihn
N6.u-yeuk
newspaper
to cause, to make
murder, to murder
rape, to rape
to take drugs
brawling, to fight
robbery, to rob
purse snatching, to pick pockets
not only
common (widespread)
foreign, foreign country
city, town
a few years ago
New York
~-'
~~
SD~
*ii!!
*~
~-fj
~111t......
IIi!
#!;~
-~......
1Hffi
+~
~&
JUrm*~It.
ttfil
~
-{lA
l:l:if!j
gei-fuh
faat-sang
chan-ngaahn
bun-deih
bou-douh
seung-jeuhng
gei-gam- ...
laak!
jih-on
seui-yihn ...
daahn-haih
sahp-fcin
jeui-sfu
dou-yih-gawaih-jf
p6u-tung
gam
yat-go-yahn
cheut-gClai
=-:
5a
Insight
lbings foreign
Ngoih means outside, as you will remember from ngoih-bihn.
Ngoih-gwok outside country is the standard word for foreign
country and as you might expect, ngoih-gwok-ycihn means
a foreigner and ngoih-gwok-w6. means a foreign language.
Ngoih-gwok is contrasted with jung-gwok central country, the
2 I
Notes
18.1 P6U-TUNG AND P6U-PIN: 'COMMON'
Both pou-pin and p6u-tlln.g mean common, but there is a difference
between them. Pou-pin means common in the sense of widespread,
universal, two-a-penny: and p6u-tlln.g means common in the sense
of ordinary, normal. A pou-tUn.g-yahn is an ordinary chap, the man
on the Clapham!Shanghai omnibus.
18.2 P6U-TUNG-WA AND OTHER LANGUAGES
Wah means to sa~ as you learned in Unit 6, but when its tone is
changed to wa it means speech, language and often appears as
the object of the lonely verb gong to speak. To speak Mandarin is
g6ng Pou-tUn.g-wa and to speak a foreign language is g6ng ngoihgwok-wa. You can add wa to the name of any country to give the
language spoken in that country:
Ying-gwok-wa
Yaht-bun-w6.
lung-gwok-wa
Taai-gwok-w6.
English language
Japanese language
Chinese language
Thai language
214
Insight
P6u-tung-wa
P6u-tung-wa is common language, that is, the language
which is to be used throughout China, what in English is
usually called Mandarin and in China is known officially as
Putonghua. One use of p6u-tung is as a way of responding to
a compliment: How beautiful your handwriting is, Mr Wong! P6u-tung je. (It's just run of the mill.) But sometimes this very
modest response is said with a cock of the head which belies
its apparent humility and Mr Wong can be understood in a
boastful way to be saying something like I'm just an ordinary
genius, you know!
18.3 UP TO NOW
Dou-ylli-ga-waih-jf seems an awful mouthful to represent up to
now: it may help you to remember it if you analyse it. Dou means
to arrive at, ylli-gii means now, waih-jf means as a stop, so arriving
at now as a stop - up to now. You can adapt the expression to
some extent, for instance, dou gam-nfn waih-jf up until this year
and dou kahm-yaht waih-jf up until yesterday.
Dialogue 2
A thoughtful prisoner makes a special pleading.
:..................................................................................................................................: ..;r
!
!
!
!
!
!:
.iii
!....t~ o ~RIIR~iiU!~?
!N
!~
~g*A.a~s. ~~tm.*a~~~~taz~w.-~miN
111JJIIJf-fl,
~~a~~ta.
:n A-t-~ailllfo
m~.aMIIiJJI
114t.~~~~?~~~~~~ta.~~-~?
I:
2 I
~~~*A~-~~--~~.~~~&. ~~~~W*
~*'J~~=+n1Fta!!l.
~-~a~~=+n1Fta~~~?
~~~~=+n1Ftaz~. ~~~~-~-~A+~~~A.
iiJI.~!I~A~~~. ~~Ni~lti!!l.
Judge
Prisoner
Judge
Prisoner
Judge
Prisoner
~I!
fftrlti
~
~~
216
faahn
tau-yeh
jeuih
jeuih-mihng
!b. :fl.
~J
~Ia
J:Wf
m~
#;;'"
":F..
mn:
~7!
11}~
filii
Erei
;;tA
~ti
sihng-laahp
pun
ch6h-gaam
seuhng-sou
ching-ch6
faat-gwun
Daaih-ycihn
baahn-faat
scing-wuht
joi-chi
faht-chtn
jih-yuhn
16uh-ycihn
gau-jai-gam
established, to establish
to sentence
to be in prison
to appeal to a higher court
clear, clearly
a judge
Your Honour, Your Excellency, Your Worship
method, way, means
to live, livelihood
another time, a second time
to fine, to be fined
voluntarily, willing
the elderly, the aged
relief money
Notes
18.4 MORE ON 'LONELY VERBS'
You have met plenty of verbs which normally require objects and
you will recognize more as your Cantonese improves. Tau to steal
is another one and you will notice that yeh things is the supplied
object. But you should not feel that because a verb has a fallback object assigned to it you cannot embellish it- you could, for
instance, say keu.ih tau-jo hou do yeh (he stole a lot of things). The
same applies to other verlH:>bject pairings: choh-gaam (to sit in
prison) means to be imprisoned, but you can see from the dialogue
that the verb and its object can be split (keuih choh leuhng n1hn
gaam- he"S doing two years).
18.5 MEIH AND M6UH
Both meih not yet and mOuh have not are used to form questions
with the verb ending -gwo:
Neih yciuh m6uh sihk-gwo luhng-ha a?
2 I
These two examples can both be translated by Have you ever had
lobster?, but note that the second one implies that at some time
you probably will try it, so that you might prefer to translate the
first one as Have you ever had lobster? and the second as Have you
had lobster yet?
Meih (but not mouh) can happily be used also with the verb ending
-jo when you want to know whether something has taken place
yet. It is very common to greet someone with:
Neih sihk-j6 faahn meih a?
.....i.ri5f9ht
Greetings
Have you eaten yet? may seem an odd way of saying hello to
someone, but in a culture where food has such a high place
it makes sense. And it is only one of the many greetings
that can be used. You are doing some shopping! Oh,you are
having a chat! You are walking the dog! could all be greetings
in appropriate circumstances. The important thing is to say
something, almost anything polite will do, no matter how
obvious. And since there is no word for Good afternoon, you
just have to make something up on the spur of the moment .
and now you can see why Have you eaten yet? is a common
greeting.
218
unable to see
unable to catch the bus
can't guess who she is
The positive form of this pattern uses dak instead of thh, so taidak-dou means able to see, daap-dak-dou means able to catch and
gU.-dak-dou means able to guess. To ask a question you can, of
course, as always, put positive and negative together:
Nei h daap-dak-d6u
daap-mh-d6u ba-si a?
2 I
You will need to be careful with old. L6uh means really old,
elderly, aged and is therefore the appropriate word in the term
for old age relief. But when you are comparing ages (Jack is older
than jill) it would be absurd to use louh if both of them are young.
Cantonese prefers to use daaih big for old in such a case:
Wohng Siu-je daaih-gwo leung
Siu-je.
Ng6h m6uh neih gam daaih.
220
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
A quick and simple test. What are the opposites of the following?
a naahm-bihn
d cheut-bihn
gjan
b naahm-yan
c nt-douh
e cheut-n{n
h jai
f chihn-yaht
i jtu-j6u
EXERCISE 3
Tone practice time again. Put in the tone marks on the following
where necessary.
EXERCISE 5
Positive word power: dig into your vocabulary memory and find
a word you know which is similar in meaning for each of the
following.
a bihn-yi
c mh haih jim ge
e mh h6-yih
b ging-chaat-che
d bat-gwo
EXERCISE 6
a __-wihng (prosperous)
b fong-__ (aspect)
c __-leih (to repair)
d yahm-__ (any)
e __-seui (duty-free)
f __-bihn (convenient)
19
lf!M
Ging-jai
Banking and finance
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
A customer has problems with his bank account.
~
!::
lj--:(!H. ~!t!Jl~j(~P~fff--3':t::ftl!!i:ffi, f!~jijiJIIfliiJOif !
~I
N:
8
9
tt~7G~~j(~.
~~.~~.~~~~-~?
~. ~!t~3':tL~~~-ff~~-.~~~~~~~.!tL!
~~~3':t~*tt~DL~~~~~.WA~~-ff~.J(I!!i;;
=ftt~.3':t~n~ff~.J(~~w.3':t~m3':t~~~
o-~P~~~.P~fff-3':t~-~. -~~~~MI!!i:.
~. ~fff-3t!t~~-t3':t"*'J 3':t3t-t~~~~trer,. ~~:Mtt.
~. -ff~~ffi-f$fff-~n1J.
P~~.3':t#~fff-~re3':tM~~-~~~.
~~.
224
3':tliln1!.
ll!t~~. ~:m:~fff-M~M-11?H~fiUf'fi D.
Mll!tMI!f?
M. nr~u.
l!f, l[fl.~B~~~~-~~m~~A~~~~~~-$!
l!f?
!
~ll!t~. ~ll!t~~~~fff-~m=~~~~~~~~~
Customer
Teller
Customer
Teller
Customer
Teller
Customer
Teller
Customer
Teller
i
l
j=:
:
1===.
i
i:.
!
j=:.
1===:
l
i::
:
j===.
l
i::
:
i:::
...................................................................................................................................!
Unit 19 ~tJ!f Glng-:jal Banking and finance
22
!Jl~
~~
Jt
~lG
(~~)
aur
JHii!i
t&j)J
l'i
Clll
i
~
Meih-yuhn or
Meih-gam
ngahn-hohng
yuht-git-daan
sau-d6u
se
-~
*fi:
se-mihng
loih-w6hng
;=;o
wuh-hclu
chek-jih
tau-ji
seung-seun
chah
cho
y6.uh-gwaan
bouh-muhn
seun
jeu hn(-leu hng)
~
~~
lE!ffi
~
~
a $
~~~
=mr~
fii(:i:)
M
'ffif'S
~lG
<~H)
9U~
1-tlt
(j;t~)
_j
yihn-gam
ji-piu
deui
A~Wf
Jt~$.
226
hoi
chyuh-chok
Au-yuhn (or
Au-loh)
Ying-b6ng
G6ng-yuhn (or
G6ng-ji)
yahn-mahn-baih
deui-wuhn-leut
jTk-yuhn
Insight
Money is tricky stuff, and Chinese words for money are
legion. A favourite slang word for it is seui water, and ng6h
m6uh seui means I'm broke. But even at a more formal level
there are different terms in regular usage. As you can see
from the vocabulary list, the American dollar, the Hong
Kong dollar and the Euro all can use the word yuhn, but
note that each of them has at least one common alternative
form, and none of the alternatives is the same.
Notes
19.1 POSITIVE COMMANDS WITH -16
Eat it up!
19.2 LQIH-W6HNG
22 7
Insight
When red is not auspicious
It is hard to find red-coloured things which are not
considered lucky by the Chinese, but to be in the red at the
bank is no more desirable in a Chinese context than in a
western one. It is perhaps significant that the usual word for
red (huhng) is not used, but instead the word chek (which
also means red) appears in the expression chek-jih. Chek has
another meaning (naked) and appears in the term chek-geukyT-sdng barefoot doctors, the practitioners who were trained
to an elementary level in an effort to bring medical benefits
down to the most deprived areas of China as it strove to
develop after the Communist Revolution of 1949. There is a
link of poverty between these two uses of chek, it seems.
19.3 LOOK ONE LOOK!
I misheard.
You've written this chamcter wrongly.
In Unit I I you met the same word cho in thh-cho not bad, pretty
good; and it appears yet again in another useful expression mouhcho there's no mistake, quite right.
228
Dialogue 2
Two worried friends discuss the financial situation.
r-iii:ira;iiii~&A.ii.ii?
..ii"F:ii$=ii..
~~~~~.~-~-~?
~: ~~.~~~~~m~~~~~~~.~~~~~-~~
~~~.A,~.~~$~-$~~~~A~a~-~~~
~.
I ~~~~~-~~~~?~~~R~~-~~~~~~.
I! =~~~==~~=~~~~~?
.
N
I!
.
Bi-fi~~-~.~~.~-~~~-~~~~~~~~~
-~.~-X~~~~*~-~~~.~~~~~~-~
~jJJ~IlffiJ~?
~.~~~0~~m~~llffiJ~*~?
~ ~~~~~0~-~R-~~~~. ~llffiJ~**~~~~
I
1:.
.
1.
0~-~~-~=+~-I~.~~$~~~0~-I~
-~. Jt.ftkI~~~~-a~z..=. .
~~~~~Jtflkm*~~~-~~~~~~~~*~?
Mr Wong
1:.
!
i
!
!
Mr Chan
229
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;.~;~~?~~;~~-~!~~~;~~-~;.~~;.:~:. :~.~:.:.~.~:. . . . .
...1
-~
*~
:Q-Jli:
lt~
A'/6
~~
~
~~
Hf-fi;J
;ltJlr
~~/~?
flJm-ft
$:
-loJ
j(Jt[l!J{
JriMT
1*#
~j)J
~I!
ltml
~~
ti!!
~I
-pj(;
~If
a~z+
II*
~~
Kie:JR
5'HfA
i!!......
i!!......
:i['jm
~~
~D
bong-chan
t6i
jeui-gahn
bei-gaau
ycihn-haak
ging-jai
chci
mh-dihm
gwa-ngau
keih-saht
lciih-ge/ga?
sing
gcin-jyuh
dit
yat-heung
f6-che-tciuh
mauh-yihk
f6-buhn
sauh-d6u
ying-heung
Au-jciu
choih-gaam
chiu-gwo
yuhn-gong
yat-sihng
gaam-scin
baak-fahnji-sciam
gwok-gci
seui-teui
git-chok
ngoih-h6ngycihn
yuht ...
yuht ...
bat-yuh
lohk-heui
waih-hclu
to rise, go up
following, accordingly
to fall, fall down
all along, up to now
(railway) engine
trade
partner
to suffer, receive
influence, to affect
Europe
to cut, reduce
to exceed
staff, employees
one tenth
salary cut, reduce wages
3 percent
country, state
to go into decline, recession
come to an end, resolve
layman, outsider
the more
the more
it would be better if
verb ending: carry on, continue
appetite
Unit 19 i!flJ!f Ging-:Jal Banking and finance
231
Notes
19.5 CHA TO DIFFER
You met chain cha-mh-do (Unit 12), which literally means differs
not much, and hence almost. On its own, cha is not a neutral
word- it implies not just that something differs but that it is less
than desirable that it is so. Short of the mark, not up to scratch,
not as good as it ought to be, could have done better, lacking in
oomph, unremarkable, underperforming all could be translated by
cha, and you can quantify the idea too:
cha-dT
h6uchcl
From the dialogue you can see that cha and mh-dihm both indicate
unsatisfactory performance. Mh-dihm is most commonly met with
in the slang phrase gaau-mh-dihm can't be done, I can't manage
that, he can't cope with it. The positive form is gaau-dihm I can
do that no problem, or gaau-dihm lak that's fixed. Woe betide
anyone whom an underworld boss decides to gaau-dihm- they
get terminally 'fixed' - but don't be put off using the word with
less extreme meaning as it is very common in both positive and
negative forms.
What is it?
It's a camera.
Insight
Continents and oceans
You have now met Au-jau Europe. The other continents are:
A-jau
Fei-jau
Meih-jau
Ou-jau
Asia
Africa
America
Australia
And while we are thinking big, here are the major seas:
Bak-bing-yeuhng
Daaih-sai-yeuhng
Deih-jung-h6i
Taai-pihng-yeuhng
Yan-douh-yeuhng
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean Sea
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
33
one third
three quarters
fourteen fifteenths
The second pattern does not use laih but instead uses two different
adjectives or verbs to give the sense the more it is this then the
more it is that:
Tai-bo, ycihn yuht do
yuht h6u-waan.
Wohng Taai yuht g6ng
yuht hoi-sam.
234
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3
Write out the English translations of the five sentences which you
decided were incorrect.
EXERCISE 4
c Naahm-ge ne?
d Haih Chahn SOang gau ne dihng-haih Cbahn Taai gou ne?
20
j(Sjfc
Yauh-Jing
Using the postal system
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
A post office clerk patiently explains something to an anxious
customer.
~Mffi~*~lli~~-$-~?
lli~ffi~~--~=~
1::
~Jilt, ~Mffi~-~~i.!J$-~?
~~~~+~~A.
~~~+n~.
~~~~-M~-~*fl~~*-~M
f.t~~~T-i.!Jf$, $-aM.
fff-!Ut!!:jf fj t;:~1S:i1Jllfn~?
Customer
Clerk
Customer
Clerk
Customer
Clerk
Customer
Clerk
Customer
Clerk
I==
~~~-~ouh-seun
Customer
Clerk
cluesrtkomer
C
J~-do~_h
haih shahph-nigbh....ma....n.h d' h
uau-.aan sei ou -j d nd , o-je .
Customer
Clerk
;:~:;;ih nr giian
Ia~
:
:
1::
:
1=:.
:
1:::
I===
1:::
I
1.
1:=:.
1:
.................................................................................................................................:
Unit 20 ~ii& Yauh:jlng
2 39
~*
~~
{I}\
t.c*
...... ~
B
m~
~
3:!~
Clll
:5
~
-&
llol:
~-
-Sf~
~
~ilff?
-~
llilil$~
f,t(~)-
~tR~~
~tR
~flU
~~
J ~i&~fiU
yciuh-gaan
yciuh-piu
go-baat
gei-nihm
-houh
sau-yaht
seun-fong
fung
hung-yciuh
yciuh-fai
pihng-yciuh
gei
gei-noih? or gei-n6i?
ngcihn-chtn
sau-juhk-fai
yat-guhng
hahm-baah(ng)-laahng
jaau(-fcian)-chtn
dahk-faai yciuh-daih
dahk-faai
yciuh-guk
jaahm-sih
yciuh-jing-jung-guk
an airletter form
postage stamp
one dollar 80 cents
memorial, to
commemorate
day of the month (in dates)
first day
envelope
classifier for letters
airmail
postage
surface mail
to post
how long?
dollar
procedure fee, handling
charge
altogether
all told, altogether, all
to give change
express mail
express
a post office
temporary, temporarily
general post office
Notes
20.1 SUBTLETIES OF CLASSIFIERS
You are now happily at home with the idea of classifiers and the
way in which they help to describe or categorize the nouns which
follow them. Sometimes their ability to categorize makes them of
use in conveying shades of meaning. In the first line of the dialogue
the customer asks for yah-ngh go go-baat ge yauh-piu (2 5 one dollar
8o cent stamps). Now if you think about it, the 'correct' classifier for
But:
h!uhng-go-sei (ngahn-chin) = $2.40c
sahp-sei-go-gau (ngahn-chin) = $14.90c
20.3 DATES
The months are simply expressed with numbers (see Unit 17). Days
of the month use the same number word (-houh) that you met for
24 I
And don't forget to add nihn on the end when giving the year!
Insight
1997
The date 30 June 1997 was an important one for Hong
Kong. At midnight, Britain's rule of more than 150 years
came to end, and under the yiit-gwok leuhng-jai (one
country, two systems) policy Hong Kong became a Special
Administrative Region (Dahk-biht hahng-jing kew or
Dahk-kew for short) of the People's Republic of China. The
government of the SAR is headed by the Chief Executive
(Hahng-jing jeung-gwU.n) or Dahk-sau (Special Head as he is
more informally known). An impressive midnight handover
ceremony was televised all over the world, and WUih-gwai
(Reversion, Handover) has become a date marker for Hong
Kong people, who now talk of WUih-gwai-chlhn (before the
Handover) and WUih-gwai-hauh (after the Handover).
Its other meaning is the whole lot or all and in this it is usually
accompanied by dou (the adverb meaning all with which you are
now very familiar):
Keuih-deih sehng-gci ycihn
hahm-baahng-laahng dou
jciu-saai lak.
24 3
everything will be alright, but it would be best not to put too much
faith in that hope; sometimes it seems to be merely a kindly way of
saymg no.
Dialogue 2
A tourist plagues his hotel clerk with questions about mail.
ao :.................................................................................................................................
Ni
N-
i
~
8!
ft~~~~~m~~.~~~~~~?~~~~~~~~~~
.-u~ 1 ft~Mn!tJ!.-~t~~?
~if+=11J$*, Jt~
Pfj~Ji5~t)ff~~j!Sftij~?
~~~~ll~~I!Sftij. Pfi~.!t9l#Pfi~Ji57;::r,o~-B!~~
liS~.
ftll~~~~~. ft~~-111e~~-.~-~~~?
~. ~*~~~e.~ ~~~~.~.stms~e~111
e.
?&~ti...ti1!!tn:
..... .
~)J!~Ji5~j!Sftijllfj:il/.t~?
Pfi~mr,
o ialtc-B!-tr7;::~+~~JJJ~.
JJJIJti:I!Sftijz~. ~J!
~ti-!t~--~~e*~e~z.~. ~J!.
~-.?&~MIIS~.M...t~~S~. ~~~~~
ft~ell~~7;::.m~~~~-~~~
~~~~~. ~~I!Sftijll~me-B!~~~~~~
~~Y? ~ftii-~.;t. ll~~.
Tourist
Clerk
Tourist
Clerk
244
Tourist
Clerk
Tourist
Clerk
Tourist
Clerk
1:.
1:.
l
1:.
!
1::
:
1=:.
:
1=:.
......!.?.~!.~~~.........~;;:~~!..?.~.~~ ~~~.~.~~.~.X-?.~:.~~.~.~~~:.~.~:~.?.~:~~~.~.........1
m~
~m.Jt
:Xr~o
r~o
r~
~M
-.~
~*
w~
JIG
s~
~
-.
tf!!.tl:
ll[
*~
seun-ji
mihng-seun-pin
daaih-muhn-hau
muhn-hau
muhn
yauh-tung
baau-gw6
yuhn-loih
yuhng-yih
sau-sin
baahk-ji
ji
baau
deih-ji
kahn
daaih-yeuk
letter paper
postcard
main doorway
doorway
door, gate
pillar box
parcel
originally, actually, in fact
easy
first of all
blank paper
paper
to wrap up
address
near, close
approximately
24 5
Clll
~~
~~
~J:
3a
-f*:m
tihn-se
gaan-daan
bfu-gaak
tip-seuhng
b6u-jing
nam
to fill in a form
simple
a form
to stick on
to guarantee
to think, to think about, to think over
Notes
20.7 YUHN-LC>IH
Insight
Remember:
When giving a year date you must always add nihn to the
figures. Probably you would do best to commit your own
year of birth to memory and practise saying it frequently
- yat-gau-gau-lihng-nihn, yat-gau-gau-lihng-nihn, yat-gaugau-lihng-nihn, yat-gau-gau- ...
24 7
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Some of the words in this exercise you have not met for quite a
while. Try writing out your translations of the sentences and if you
have to look up some of the words make a list of them for special
study later.
EXERCISE 2
a 4 June
b 1 July 1997
c 15 May 2004
d 6.15 p.m. Sunday 11 December
EXERCISE 3
c th-gi2 sai-gaai seuhng jeui gwai ge yllt go yauh-piu haih (chtugwo yat-maahn tng-b6ng/yat-maahn tng-b6nghnh gau yatmaahn tng-b6ng).
d y auh-dt deih-fong, yauh-piu dong haih (yihn-gam/san-fan-jing/
fo-bun).
EXERCISE4
a Leih-hoi uk-kei.
b Yat go gwok-ga tuhng daih-yih go
gwok-ga da-gaau.
Sllam.
24 9
EXERCISE 5
21
~If(~)
Wan-jaahp (saam)
Revision (3)
Two short anecdotes about horses. The first is an old story about
faith and unflappability. The second is a typical Chinese joke about
someone who gets things wrong through being literal-minded.
Passage 1
Gei baak nihnji-chihn, hai lung-gwok bak-bouh deih-fOng, yauh
yat go sing Wohng ge yauh-chin-yahn. Keuih yauh h6u do yauh
gou yauh daaih yauh leng ge mah, keuih dou h6u jung-yi nr dr mah
tim. Yauh yat yaht, yclt jek h6u leng daahn-haih gei 16uh ge mah
mh-gin-j6.* Wohng Sin-saang dT pahng-ylluh go-go dou gok-dclk
h6u h6-sTk, keuih-deih dou gu Wohng Saang wuih h6u nau, h6u
mh hoi-sclm, daahn-haih ngclam-ngclam seung-f6.an, keuih mh-ji
mh nau, yih-chejuhng seung-seunjek mah h6u faaijauh wuih
fclan-laih tim. Gei yahtji-hauh,jek 16uh mahjan-haih fclan-j6-laih
lak. Dr pahng-yauh dou wah Wohng Saang h6u-ch6i, keuihji-haih
siu-hah-gam wah: 'G6 jek 16uh mah srk louh, keuih wuih wan louh
fclan-laihje.'
Passage 2
H6u noihji-chihn hdi Gw6ng-jau yauh yat go yr-sang. Yauh yat
yaht keuih se-j6 yat fung h6u gan-yiu* ge seun bei jyuh hai daihyih go sihng-sih ge yr-sang. G6-jahn-sih lung-gwokjuhng-meih
yauh yauh-guk, yih-che keuih h6u mohng mh dak-haahn ning seun
heui g6-douh, s6-yih keuih giu keuih go jai bong keuih ning-heui.
Keuih deui go jai wah 'Nr rung seun h6u gan-yiu, yiu jeuhn faai
sung-dou bol Noh, geukyuht do yuht faai: neihji-yauh leuhngjek
geuk mh gau sei jek geuk faai ge. Neih bCit-yllh ch6h ng6h jek mah
heui Ia! Faai-dT a!'
Go hauh-saang-jaijau-j61aak, bah-ba dang keuih fclan-laih. Keuih
ji-dou yatjek mah loih-w6hng g6 go deih-fOng dOu yiu baat go
jung-tauh gam-seuhng-ha. Gu-mh-d6u keuih go jai gwo-j61l!uhng
yaht sin-:ji fclan-laih, deui bah-ba h6u hoi-sam gam wah: 'Bah-ba,
ng6h fclan-laih lak. Neih wah faai mh faai nt!? Ng6h seung-laihseung-heui git-gw6 seung-d6u ydt go h6u faai ge baahn-faat.
Neih wah geuk yuht do yuht faai, leuhngjek geuk mh gau seijek
geuk faai a ... gam, ng6h laai-:jyuh jek mah tuhng keuih yat-chaih
haahng ... leuhngjek geuk mh gau seijek geuk faai, luhkjek geuk
yat-dihng faai-gwo seijek geuk, haih mh haih a?'
Exercise 1
a haahng-/aih-baahng-heui
b jau-laih-jau-heui
c Ng6h-deih g6ng-ga g6ng-/aih-g6ng-heui dou g6ng-mh-maaih
lak.
53
Exercise 2
Perhaps you know something about horses? Can you say which of
the alternatives offered are correct?
MAY
~3
Thursday
MI'Y "'~
Friday
'"diM
/()'30 aM
:3 3CfHM
6~~PM
7 3d"" - - - - - -
254
information on it, but it's hard to understand. Can you fill in the
diary entries for me in English, please?
Hai Daaih-wuih-tohng tuhng leung Sfu-je sihk an-jau.
Tuhng Hoh Sfu-je hai Heung-g6ng lau-dim yam-j6 baat go jih jau,
yihn-hauh jauh yat-chaih haahng ngh fan jOng louh heui
tcli-hei.
Dou ll!uih-yauh gong-sT 16 gei-piu.
Heui Wohng ging-ll!ih se-jih-lauh bun go jOng-tcluhji-chihnjauh
yiu da-dihn-wa giu dTk-sf laih lak.
Exercise 4
You have learned a lot of vocabulary now, so much that you know
more than one way of saying some things. Try finding another
word with the same or almost the same meaning as the following.
a daaih-yeuk
d tauh-sin
b yat-guhng
e gaan-jfmg
c bat-gwo
f dim-gaai
Exercise 5
55
Exercise 6
yahn.
Usually one person picks up the bill when Cantonese people dine
out, and 'going Dutch' is rare. Stil~ sometimes it is felt that for
one person to pay for everyone would be too much, so different
shares are agreed. Someone draws a ghost's leg waahk-gwai-geuk
(gwai is a ghost), a ladder diagram with one vertical line for each
person and a share written at the bottom of each. With the shares
covered up, each person can add a horizontal line anywhere in the
diagram or indeed can choose not to add a line at all. Then one
by one they trace out their fate, going down their vertical until
the first horizontal, which they must follow to the next vertical,
down that to the next horizontal, follow that ... and so on down
to the bottom. Six friends have recently had two meals each
costing $2,ooo. On each occasion they agreed to make one share
of $8oo, one of $5oo, one of $4oo, one of $300 and two zerosum shares. Diagram A shows the ghost's leg as drawn at the first
meal and Diagram B shows four additional lines, which four of the
participants decided to put in at the second meal. You should have
no difficulty in working out who had to pay how much each time
and how the situation was changed by the extra lines.
Diagram A
Wohng
Leih
$800
$0
Jeung
Hoh
Chahn
Heui
$500
$0
$400
$300
Jeung
Hoh
Chahn
Heui
$500
$0
$400
$300
Diagram B
Wohng
Leih
$800
$0
Unit 21
57
c ]eung S'in-saang A-geuk yiu bei, B-geuk dou yiu bei. B-geuk
keuih yiu bei do gei-do chin a?
d Keuih-deih yat-chaih waan A-geuk tuhng B-geuk, gam, btn
wai yiu bei jeui siu chin ne? bJn wai yiu bei jeui do chin ne?
Exercise 9
Each of the sentences in this exercise uses one of the new grammar
patterns from the last six units. If you can put them all into good
Cantonese you can congratulate yourself on having really mastered
some difficult material.
22
-~
Se-jih-lauh
The office
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Two friends discuss office working conditions.
59
~~fl=+B~fl~*~~M.~~fl~~flfi-~fl
~~~--~~~fl+~mn~~~M.~~~~
~~DJJ;J.~{j)J~~~~. I;t~~:iiD-fff-1JilJ\~Illt!!*if1JJIIJ!.
-fff-lllt!!*if1~m~M~M.m~~~~~. ~m*.-fff-re~~:iffi
~JlllJ\, -fff-al~~! ?
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
Mr Chan
Mr Wong
260
A-Chan, yih-ga cha-rhh-do gau-dfm lo bo, dfmgaai neih juhng hoi nT-douh sihk j6u-chaan ne?
IVIh-sai faan-gung me?
IVIh haih, ng6h yiu faan-gung, bat-gwo ng6h faan
gau-dfm-bun a.
Neih-deih gong-sT yauh daahn-sing seuhng-baan
jai-douh me?
Haih a. Yauh gau-dfm tuhng gau-dfm-bun leuhng
baan.
Gam, gei-dfm fong-gung a?
Luhk-dfm fong-gung. Hoi hah-jau yauh gau go jih
sihk aan-jau.
Gung-jok sih-gaan dou-gei cheuhng bol Sihk
aan-jau ge sih-gaan jauh taai dyun lak. Gwo-sih
gung-jok yauh m6uh chfn b6u ga?
Yauh. Muih go jOng-tauh b6u-faan saam-baakr'igh-sahp man.
Ou, fei-seuhng ji h6u. Juhng yauh dT mat-yeh fokleiha?
Muih nihn yauh yih-sahp yaht haih yauh sanseui ge ga-keih. Nihn-meih yauh seung-san, yauh
yi-Ruh jeun-tip, yauh jai-neui gaau-yuhk jeun-tip,
neuih-jTk-yuhn juhng y6uh sahp go laih-baai ronmfhn ga-keih. Teui-yau ge sih-hauh juhng h6-yfh
dak-d6u teui-yau-gam tim. Wohng Sin-saang funyihng neih ga-yahp ng6h-deih gOng-sT fuhk-mouh.
Neih-deih gong-sT ge fok-leih h6u-haih-h6u,
daahn-haih ng6h taai 16uh lak, m6uh yuhng Ia.
Neih wah juhng fun-yihng ng6h ga-yahp, neih
g6ng-siu mel?
r!Z ...
A-
!f.~
j6u-chcian
fcian-gung
daahn-sing
seuhng-baan
jai-douh
fong-gung
aan-jau
~I
~t.i
J:lj)f
mu~
JD(I
~I-ft
~
~~
*16
~IO'ilt (ZJ
;ffii~J
fr;Tj(
1NM
~It
fi:Jj
$M
1r3z:
~
~fr,t
~1*
~1*~
ftjg!
gung-jok
cheuhng
dyun
gwo-sih
b6u
tei-seuhng 00
fok-leih
scin-seui
ga-keih
seung-scin
yi-liuh
jeun-tip
jai-neui
jTk-yuhn
fcin-mihn
teui-yciu
teu i-yci u-gam
fun-yihng
Notes
22.1 FAMILIAR TERMS OF ADDRESS
In Unit 6 you learned that LOuh old is used with surnames as a
familiar way of addressing someone. You can refer to a younger
person or a child by putting Siu- (little) in front of their name. In both
cases a surname which has a mid leve~ low level or low falling tone
changes to a mid rising tone. Another way is to put A- in front of
the surname (again with the same tone changes). In fact the sound
A- seems to be intimately connected with referring to or addressing
people. It can be used with personal names as well (someone with the
name Chahn Ji Bak, for instance, might be addressed as A-Bak by his
family and friends) and it can be used with kinship terms (you could
address your father as A-ha instead of bab.-ba). It is almost as though
when you say A- you are warning your listener that you are about to
talk to them or to talk about a person.
Insight
Fun with characters
263
Ng6h jung-yi-haih-jung-yi
keuih, daahn-haih ng6h dou
mh seung tuhng keuih heui
tcli-hei.
Wohng Siu-je leng-haih-leng,
daahn-haih m6uh leung Siujegam leng.
Insight
Double salary
As you know, the Chinese have traditionally used both a
lunar and a solar calendar. To keep them roughly in step it
has been necessary to add an extra month into 7 lunar years
in every 19. So lunar years consist of either 12 or 13 months.
Chinese monthly salaries are nowadays usually paid
according to the western solar calendar in which, of course,
the years always have only 12 months, but it has become a
custom among some employers to pay an additional month's
salary every solar year as if it were a 13-month lunar year:
it is the equivalent perhaps of a western 'Christmas bonus'.
That is what is referred to in the dialogue as seung-san
double salary.
Dialogue 2
Interviewing a secretary for a job.
Q
,..,
~
N~
...------------------------------...
.~HJl~~:/tf. 1$.P.fi'Ji[JI1~?
~$_}t~,
t}P-fi, !til
P~?~A,~A,s~~Pmi[JBP~~~~.mi[JB
Pli&gi[~.
l&gitJt,
m=rn:n~tPI=rn:nJt14=. ~POOiltt
}t)l~!W.
-ffi,
~-}Efi3Pill$.1o
llfj_tjbJ~~{1=1f~$-ff~-~?
Rl!3":t-~-ffi~-. 3":t~~~-l!.-~*~~x#.WA~
:~ic:J~l!.~.
M1$.113":t~~~I$.1.=-F:il!m-~~-ffi~mM.3":t~~~~
I~~~}to~~~~~m~~I~~#.~:il!~~m
M~~~Jo ~D!BDJW-PIMin1!o
$W~l!.o D!BJto
0
Manager
Miss Lee
Manager
Miss Lee
Manager
Miss Lee
Manager
Miss Lee
26 5
!i
Manager
1.
i
1.
!......~~-~--~~~.........~?.:}.:~.~!.~~-~-~~~:.:!!.~~:!.~~~-~!.~:...........................................
#&~
=rr~
~!Jt
~.111
4-~4-B
:flt
t&~
~~
:J'TGP.tl
:J'TGP
)(14=
1$1(.-tl
)tjl
.1k.
.tilt
C.'.tl
_tjlij:
$i.fl:
Jlf.l
-t)J
1[~
~ttfflM
~MI
~14=
M.II
266
bei-syu
da-jih
biu-yihn
dihn-n6uh
gcim-sih-gcim-yaht
seh-wui
sciu-faat
dihn-yciuh
chyuhn-jcin
da-yan-gei
da-yan
mcihn-gin
chyuhn-jcin-gei
sin-jeun
hang
gei-wuih
scim-gei
Seuhng-h6i
duhk-laahp
chyu-leih
yat-chai
jihk-jip
fuh-jaak
si-yuhng-keih
cheuhng-sai
tiuh-gin
hoi-gung
secretary
to type (lit: to hit characters)
performance, to perform
computer (lit: electric brain)
nowadays
society
receive and send
e-mail
fax, to fax
printer
to print
document
fax machine
advanced
to be willing to
chance, opportunity
mind, thoughts
Shanghai
independent, independently
to handle, manage, deal with
every single one of, the whole
run of, all
direct, directly
to be responsible
probationary period, trial period
detailed, minute, fine
a condition, terms
to start work, to start a job
Notes
22.7 SIMPLY MUST
You probably found no difficulty with the phrase rl:th s1k yuhng
dihn-nouh rl:th dak bo! (you simply must know how to use a
computer!). Note how the pattern works: it is rl:th + verb + rl:th
dak, that is, if you don't verb it won't dol or you simply must verb!
Here are some other examples:
G6 dT ha neih mh sihk
mhdak.
Wohng Taai wah neih
mh heui taam keuih mh dak.
22.9 sAM-GEl
Sam-gei is quite a difficult word to grasp. Its closest equivalent in
English is mind, but perhaps the following examples of its most
common usage will be the easiest way to come to terms with it:
Unit 22
*"*
267
Insight
Poor Miss Lee, the secretary in the dialogue, somehow
missed out on recent progress. If she doesn't know how to
use a computer, she certainly will not know how to seu.bngmohng get on the internet, or what wuh-lfuhn-mohng the
internet is.
Note the way in which this word fuh-jaak is used with heung. Miss
Lee says in the dialogue that she jihk-jip heung gln.g-lah. fuh-jaak
was directly answerable to the manager. You met heung first in
Unit 6 where it meant towards, but here it may be better to think
of it as meaning something like vis-a-vis or as regards. There was
a similar example in the first dialogue of Unit 19: heung ngahnhohng tau-ji to be overdrawn at (vis-a-vis) the bank.
268
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
The following questions all use me? The short answer (either Haih
or Mh haih) has been supplied. In each case supply the long full
answer after the short one. For instance, the first answer would be
Mh haih, ng6h ri1h haih Meih-gwok-yahn. Easy? Well, you may
need to watch your step ...
EXERCISE 2
o Gau go yahn yat-go-yat-go-gam haahng-louh, daih-yat go h6yfh wah haih 'tauh-yll.t go': daih-gau gone? H6-yfh wah haih
'daih-__ go'.
b Wohng Sfu-je sehng-yaht da-dihn-wa __ ng6h, saai ng6h
h6u do sth-gaan!
e Wail Neih wan btn wai a? Hob Sfu-je ne? Ou, Hob Sfu-je
-j6 lak. Keuih faan-laih ng6h
ngaam-ngaam haahngwuih wah keuih jl neih da-gwo dihn-wa laih lak.
EXERCISE4
a Wohng Sfu-je ge san-seui mh gau, bat-gwo haih ngh-chln-seibaak man yat go yuht. H6u-ch6i keuih nlhn-meih yauh seungsan. Gam, keuih y7lt nlhn yM-guhng l6 gei-do chfn a?
b Cbahn Saang Sei-yuht ge san-seui haih yih-maahn-ngh-chln
man. Hob Saang Sei-yuht faan-j6 baat yaht gi4ng. muih yaht
16 ge chfn yauh saam-chln man gam do. G6 go yuht Chahn
Saang dihng-haih Hob Saang l6 ge chfn do ne?
The idea of this silly game is to climb the Peak. But it is a game full
of social significance: to live on the Peak (saan-deng) is the height
(so to speak) of ambition for many people in Hong Kong! You will
need a die and at least one opponent (if he/she/they cannot read
the instructions, so much the better for you!). Start at the airport
where you arrive penniless. Just as in real life, it's very hard to win!
By the way, hei-dtm lift-off point and jung-dtm end point mean start
and finish in board games like this.
23
wmm-Heung-gang jau-lauh-yihp
Eating out in Hong Kong
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
A food-loving visitor talks with a Hong Kong gourmet.
274
~~~~~~~-~~~~M~~~~~m~~~
~~.~~-~.~~~m~m~~~lli~LQ$.~
-q:.~.
~~~m~-~m~~~*~~~z~. m~~~~m~
=ara~~.
il}j~~$JJt~ B B~IIJ~U~JYB?
fff-lli~m-filfflfJ, fff-~~~tw~~.
Visitor
Local
Visitor
Local
Visitor
Local
Visitor
Local
Visitor
Local
Unit 23
~!Hlma~
2 75
W*
~M-~
ffi;k
*IJJi
~~
~ij!
l!.'l!fl!ili:
*-Mt
11:11
.M
~~~
.4tll
&~~
~*
~,c,,
-tJI!
Ji:ljf
-5~
~~
~{~
~Ill
~~
-~
*~
.li~
jau-ga
chaan-t@ng
h6u-gam
syun-sat
jung-leuih
chaih-chyuhn
hahp-leih
sTk-heung-meih
heung
yat-lauh
gwai-gwok
hoi
mh-gwaai-dclk
sihk-maht
yihng-sTk
Gw6ng-dung
dim-sam
h6i-sTn
Maaih-daan
waahn-ging
wu-yihm
chj'uhn-kauh
hei-hauh
bin-nyuhn
yuhn-yan
dim
jaahp-jung
gong-leih
gu-haak
Chinese restaurant
restaurant serving non-Chinese food
favourable impression, good opinion
a loss
type, kind, species, variety
complete, all embracing
reasonable
appearance, aroma and flavour
fragrant, nice smelling
first rate
your country
to run a business, start a business
no wonder
food
to recognize, be knowledgeable about,
understand
Guangdong (province)
'dim sum', hot delicacies for breakfast
or lunch
seafood
May I have the bill? (in restaurants)
environment
pollution, to pollute
the whole world, global
climate
become warm, warm up
reason
a point, a spot, a dot
concentrated, centralized
a kilometre
customer, client
Notes
23.1 SUNG AND CHOI
Chinese food
Cantonese food
Peking food (Bak-ging = Beijing/Peking)
Sichuan food (Sei-chyun =Sichuan/Szechwan)
Both meat and vegetables are included in the word sung (see
Unit 4), but maaih-choi and maaih-sung mean the same thing shopping for food. Confusing isn't it?
Insight
Where does Cantonese come from?
The word Canton probably comes from a Portuguese
romanization of the Cantonese word Gw6ng-dung. Gw6ngdung is the name of the province of which the capital city is
Gw6ng-jau.lt is somewhat confusing that Canton became
the name by which the city rather than the province was
known to the west. It is even more confusing that in the
province there are a number of Chinese languages spoken,
of which what we call Cantonese is only one. Casting the
history aside, the situation now is clear: the province is
called Gw6ng-dung, the capital city is called Gw6ng-jau and
the language which you are learning, which is the language
of Gw6ng-jau, is known as Gw6ng-jau-wa. By the way, the
official name of the city is actually Guangzhou, which is the
Putonghua (Mandarin) version of Gw6ng-jau.
2 77
23.3 SiK-HEUNG-MEIH
You met meih in Unit 4 in the term hou-meih delicious. Its
basic meaning is flavour. St:k means colour or appearance,
and heung means nice smelling, fragrant (as in Heung-gong
Fragrant Harbour= Hong Kong). The three together make up
the three qualities which ideally all Chinese food is supposed
to have- good appearance, good aroma, good flavour. As
with other set phrases, do not be tempted to use the individual
words outside this phrase. Of the three, only heung is a 'free'
word which you can use in normal speech like any other
adjective/verb:
Chahn Taai, nT dT sung h6u
heung. Neihjan-haih
h6u sTkjyu-sung bol
278
Insight
The extremes of politeness
Arthur Smith in his famous book Chinese Characteristics,
published in 1900, tells a Chinese story of a visitor who,
while waiting in his best robes for his host to come in,
is drenched in oil when a rat knocks a jar off the beam
above his head. When his host enters, the guest explains
what has happened: 'As I entered your honourable
apartment and seated myself under your honourable
beam, I inadvertently terrified your honourable rat, which
fled and upset your honourable oil-jar upon my mean
and insignificant clothing, which is the reason of my
contemptible appearance in your honourable presence.'
Now, that is politeness!
2 79
Dialogue 2
William has his own way of beating inflation.
N !......
M! ~ ~M~~$~~~~oo~~?~~~~~8~
~!
N'!
8!
!
I
!
i
~
I
!
8~?$~1$~~~8~*1
~~~~8~8. :n~g~~~~ . .R~~RJJJ-11-M.r~:~~ra,
~~~~~.~xM~~~~oo~.m~~~
-~~IRJ~--~-~~.
~~~~~~~~~oo~~.
~~. ~~M~~tt-~. ~~
...... ~M~8.M!POO~:ftir!
-8~~$~? ~-8~~.st~~~Jl:if!~~~
ti~~~ . .st~.~~-~~M~~.~~OO-~~ffi~8
*I
Mr Ho
William
Mr Ho
Wi IIi am
280
- .JT. 8 W'U~~
Waitress
William
Waitress
William
MrHo
~B
$-!=I
tR*
*1,ijlj
~~
ffl,~
.wttR
~
11!~
tjfl
!!~!\$
.M.!za
;/Jrl'fl
~$
...... ~tl
!!
*I
saang-yaht
gung-heil
faai-lohk
dahk-biht
yi-yih
siu-sik
jauh-faai
chaak
yiu-cheng
waaih-gauh
chaan-paai
hoi-chi
ga-ga
chyuhn-bouh
-jihng
yu
hal
birthday
congratulations!
happy
special, especially
meaning, significance
news, item of news, information
soon
to demolish, tear down
to invite
nostalgia, to be nostalgic
menu
to begin, to start
to increase price
all, the whole lot
verb ending: left over, surplus
fish
'the sound of laughter', hal hal
8I
Insight
Different restaurants
You have now met three different words for restaurant: jaulciuh, jau-ga and chCian-teng. The first two are used in the
titles of restaurants serving Chinese food and both include
jau in the name, probably reflecting the fact that Chinese
people generally only drink alcohol when they are eating on
special occasions. Restaurants which call themselves chaanteng serve styles of cuisine other than Chinese.
There is a similar distinction in words for eating. Sihk-faahn
would normally imply eating a proper meal of Chinese food,
whereas sihk-chaan means to have a meal of western food or
some other non-Chinese variety. English-style breakfast is quite
popular with many Chinese and the word for breakfast used
nowadays is usually j6u-chCian, but the evening meal is maahnfaahn or maahn-chaan depending on the style of food eaten.
Oddly, there is no distinction in the normal pair of words which
contrast western and Chinese cuisines. Western food is scii-chaan,
as you might expect, but Chinese food is Tohng-chaan.
Notes
23.5 BIRTHDAYS
Saang means either to be born or to give birth to. Saang-yaht is
the day of birth, birthday. Saang-yaht is unusual in that although
it doesn't appear to be a verb it doesn't seem to need any other
verb either. Note the first speech of Mr Ho in the dialogue: Haih
mh haih neih gam-yaht saang-yaht a? -Is it your birthday today?
What he actually seems to be saying is Is it the case that you are
birthdaying today? Don't worry about it, just accept that this is
how saang-yaht is usually used.
......................................................................................................
Insight
Swimming seafood
Cantonese cuisine excels in its treatment of seafood, but
the food is only considered properly fresh if it is alive
until the last possible moment before cooking. The best
seafood restaurants (h6i-sTnjau-gCl) have large saltwater
tanks in which the fish, prawns and shellfish are kept alive
and customers can select what they wish to eat from this
swimming seafood (yciuh-seui h6i-sTn).
83
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
Select the words which will make sense of the following sentences.
jai) yuht-laih-yuht-h6u.
EXERCISE 2
When you have read the following passage carefully, answer the
two questions in Cantonese.
Hai Hoh Sin-saang ok-kei bak-bihn leuhng gong-leih g6-douh yauh
yat gaan hohk-haauh. Hai hohk-haauh dung-bihn flgh gong-leih
haih yat gaan yi-yun. Hcii yi-yun naahm-bihn leuhng gung-leih
jauh haih ging-chaat-guhk lak. Meih-gwok ngahn-hohng hcii gingchaat-guhk sai-bihn saam gong-leih g6-douh. Cheng-mahn:
EXERCISE 3
Here are some Chinese brainteaser 'old chestnuts' for you to solve:
c Sfu-Wong wah: 'Ng6h yth-ga gei-do seui ng6h mh wah neih jt,
daahn-haih saam nthn jt-chthn g6-jahn-sth ngllam-ngllam jauh
haih ng6h saam nthn jt-hauh ge baak-fahn-jt-saam-sahp-saam.
Gam, neih jt mh jt ng6h yih-ga gei-do seui a?'
d Wohng Stn-saang daai-j6 yllt-baak mlln cheut-gllai. Hai poutau maaih-j6 saam bun s-Yu, muih bun dou haih yih-sahp-ngh
man. Daahn-haih pou-tau ge fuhk-mouh-yuhn jf-haih jaaufaan ngh man keuih. Dfm-gaai ne?
EXERCISE4
EXERCISE 5
Can you interpret for your friend who is about to foot the bill for
a meal in a restaurant? Unlike you he has not taken the trouble to
learn Cantonese.
Friend
You
Waiter
You
Friend
You
Waiter
You
Friend
You
Waiter
You
Friend
You
Waiter
You
a
Ng6h-deih nr-douh dT yu dou haih yauh-seui ge,
dong-yfn san-sin Ia!
b
May I have the bill, please?
c
Do-jeh. Yih-chin-baat-baak-gau-sahp man.
d
What?! So much? That's really not cheap!
e
Sin-saang neih yiu ji-dou, yih-ga yauh-seui yu dahkbiht naahn-maaih. Juhng yauh ne, ng6h-deih jau-ga
sung faai-jf, muih go gu-haak sung yat deui.
f
I have never bought such expensive chopsticks
before. OK. It wasn't cheap but it was worth it.
Here's $3,000.
g
Do-jeh.
EXERCISE 6
Pf1lf
Sih-hou
Leisure activities
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Cheung has changed his habits and Mr Wong wonders why.
:,., I::
~!t. 3':tlil~lfillfH1~UIS~fiiJ:t.@tlt. fl"I!VfiUt~~*Hfii.l.!
1-
ffij\1J-l2Jt~Ji!Jli~:i!l#'la~lfi~l
N: -m~~~~~-~~3':t~~$m.m-m~~~.~-~~
1Jia. 3':t~1ti~~lfi"'
~M~~~~~~-~~z~~-~AftM~~~~'Ia~
~?
llit~~~ilJt~l.ljf~.
~ I 3':tllft~j\fl" ~
gj (!(Jifi
~gj(!(Jj\llj\~*~?eylley~,.W3':t.R~?
ll-m~*.3':t.R-m~noo~-~~.
-~~n111~-~~~-W~~. ~&l:l:i~lfi~l
288
~mt~lll$.1. ~m~11:tt:~1.Jil!Jti::m~~wn~u1E;
ti*x
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
Mr Wong
Mr Cheung
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .;~~;~;!.;~.~~t;.~~;~~~~~;:~~t~~:~~:;.~_::. . . . . ...l
sih-hou
ch6uh-yauh-piu
juk-kei
waahk-w6.
tiu-m6uh
saan-bouh
hobby
to collect stamps
to play chess
to paint, to draw
to dance
to stroll, to go for a walk
Unit 2t. JI!M- Slh-hou Leisure activities
89
Ill
fOk
1ti
jcing
rhh-gin-j6
ail
muhk-dTk
bei-maht
yat-jahn(-gaan)
to hate, detest
lost, to lose, to mislay
alas! (a sigh)
purpose, aim, goal
secret
a moment, in a moment, for
a moment
strange, weird, odd
to stay, to remain; to leave behind
elementary, first grade
piano
training class
training, to train
opera
to practise
~Jtllii:
~I
!W
~-It;
-~era,)
~~
ii
f)Jijt
-~
~ll!ltlj)f
~II !It
lftjlj
!It~
keih-gwaai
lciuh
cho-kap
gong-kcihm
fan-lihn-baan
fan-lihn
go-kehk
lihn-jaahp
Notes
24.1 M6UH MAT NOT MUCH
And gei is not essential to these patterns: you can be more specific
if you wish, although normally only small numbers are involved:
jeui-gahn leuhng-saam yaht
nr leuhng-saam yaht
jeui-gahn sei-ligh nihn nT seiligh nihn
29 I
and its position can therefore be either in front of or after the verb
in a sentence:
Ng6h yat-jahn lohk-laih leU
H6u ldl daahn-haih ng6h ji h6yih lohk-laih yat-jahn jel
Insight
It's the same the whole world over!
The hobbies mentioned in the dialogue are much as you
might find anywhere in the world: Cantonese people like
sport and games and collecting things. Mind you, the chess
may well be Chinese Chess, which is played on a different
board with different pieces and operates with different rules
from western chess, or it might be Waih-kei Surrounding
Chess, which is played with black and white stones on the
intersections of the lines on a multi-squared board: it tends
to be known in the west under its Japanese name Go. One
hobby which is much more common with the Chinese than
with westerners is calligraphy (syu-faat). Writing Chinese
characters with a brush is a very high art form in China and
Japan and many people spend hours painstakingly cultivating
their skill.
Dialogue 2
Two mothers discuss the changing leisure pursuits of the young.
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~w~~~~~. ~-~JIJ:tt~~n4~~ff~~N~~
:ilt_.~o ~W*~~ofi.
1:.
!
1::
.:
Mrs Wong
Mrs Lee
Mrs Wong
!
1:.
I!
!
Mrs Lee
NJto
29 3
Mrs Wong
!:
I
1:.
Mrs Lee
1:.
i
1.
l
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294
tuhng
jung-fcl
yeuhng
jeuk
maau
dTk-sih-gou
OK kCi-ICiai-ou-kei
seu hng-m6hng
yauh-hei
guih
muhn
hyun
jyun-ga
jaahp-gwaan
jih-gei
kyut-faht
biht-ycihn
kau-tung
4P.IG
1Jll~
tt.m
.m;~
jl~
'ft( ...
:M"ii
~m1i~
~
t&~
Jlt*
m~
~M
...... ~......
yeuhng-sihng
gu-duhk
sing-gaak
ngaih-him
jeun-bouh
yi-laaih
fO-geih
sang-wuht fong-srk
sauh
g6i-bin
jeung-loih
yuh-ji
tclih-slmg
ydt ... jauh ...
as soon as
then
Notes
24.6 GEl MACHINE
The full word for a machine or machinery is gei-hei, but there
are plenty of instances where gei on its own also means machine,
usually when it is tacked onto other words:
yauh-hei
dihn-sih
fei
da-jih
da-f6
chyuhn-jan
games
television
to fly
to type
to strike fire
a fax
yauh-hei-gei
dihn-sih-gei
tei-gei
da-jih-gei
da-f6-gei
chyu hn-jan-gei
games machine
television set
aircraft
typewriter
cigarette lighter
a fax machine
29 5
tired. You may find it easier to see how dou achieves its effect if
you twist the English slightly - my son even though he plays the
whole evening does not feel tired.
24.8 SELF
Jih-ge.i means self and is a very useful word for giving stress to
individuality, usually coming after a person's name or a personal
pronoun:
Wohng Sin-sciangjih-gei mh sTk
g6ng Ying-mcihn.
Neihjih-gei seung mh seung
heuia?
jih-gei yat-go-ycihn
Keuih jih-gei yat-go-ycihn ch6h
hai-douh.
Insight
Helping yourself
When you are eating a Chinese meal with chopsticks from
communal bowls in the middle of the table, you will find
that the host or other people will often select tasty morsels
and put them in your personal bowl. Don't find this odd;
it is meant as a great politeness. Of course, it could be that
they give you something which you do not want to eat, in
which case you are at liberty to leave it lying there. Howeve~;
whether you want it or not, it can be embarrassing to be
constantly waited on in this way and it is polite to try to stop
people doing it. Try saying mh-sai gam haak-hei no need to
be so polite and following it with ng6hjih-gei lciih I'll come
at it myself. If you have a really persistent host nothing you
say will deter him, but at least you will have made the right
disclaiming noises.
24.9 AS SOON AS
One of the beauties of Cantonese grammar is that patterns of some
complexity are often made up from very simple words. Yat means
one and jauh means then: you met them both long ago, but put
them together in a grammar pattern and they produce as soon
as ... then ... :
Keuih yat ch6h ch~ jauh tauhwcihn.
Ng6h yat gin-d6u keuih, keuih
jauhjau-j61ak.
Wohng Taai-taai yat ch~ut-j6
gaai, jauh mh gei-dak-j6 yiu
maaih mat-yeh sung.
Note that in this pattern both yat and jauh act as adverbs and each
comes before a different verb.
29 7
TEST YOURSELF
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3
Unit 24
29 9
EXERCISE 5
You are on Hong Kong Island and you want to get to the airport.
You have managed to get through on the phone to the airport
enquiry office, but the person answering can only speak Cantonese.
You have a plane to catch, so you had better produce your best
accent and keenest understanding to ask the following.
25
JJ.i
Fahng-uk
Household affairs
In this unit you will learn
Dialogue 1
Mr Wong's friend Mr Cheung lives alone in a large flat.
................................................................................................................................
&.n
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~=~fi~. ~~~m~~~~.-~~--~~ ~~
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~~~Jtf~~-~tlf-~Pjl~~.-. ~(lB-. ~ fiB
~~-~-~.
30
~~~~~**~rr~~~-~.m~~*~~~*~
~.w~. ~*~~--~~~~*~.m~~
ll:lfu~~~~~~. m~:t!fm
El c.m.
~sm~~-~~~M~~~~-~~~~-~?
~~~M~~~sm~.~~~~~~--.~~~~
~m.m~~**~~~m~~~~~:t!fm.ffi~~ffi~
~~sm~~~*~~. ~M. ~~-~~ffix~
r:p~.
~~~~~.~~nM*~~~.~~~~$~~-~A~
~~~~.~~.~~~8~~--mm~~*~*~
1$.1.
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
Cheung
Wong
302
Cheung
Wong
-~
~~i1G*.tl
IIi./%
iJ'G~.tl
~
~-
~~~*
~#i':~
iUl;ffl
tt!!if.
~
~1t
if~
f.IEI:J
M~
i*
:M
louh-toih
seuih-f6ng
haak-teng
faahn-teng
sai-yi-gei
sai-wun-gei
wun
jyu-sihk-lou h
wun-gwaih
mei h-bo-lou h
hauh-loih
wahn-fai
kyut-dihng
cheung-lfm-bou
deih-jTn
taih
gin-chih
lauh-fcian
leih-yauh
ngaahn-sTk
sam
jam
balcony
bedroom
living room, lounge
dining room
washing machine
dishwasher
a bowl
cooking stove
cupboard, dresser
microwave oven
later, afterwards
transportation costs
to decide
curtains
carpet
to mention, bring up
to insist, insist on
to leave behind
reason
colour
deep
to pour into a cup, glass or bowl
30 3
!!!
tX~
puih
yam-chah
jg*~
jg
kwaang gung-si
kwaang
Notes
25.1 VERB+ OBJECT VERBS
You may have found Mr Cheung's remark yih-ging yih-jo maim
heui Y'mg-gwok Ia grammatically strange because -jo has split
yih and maim. The reason is quite simple: the verb yih-malm to
migrate is composed of yih to move and maim people, so that it is
actually a verb + object verb and, of course, -jo is an ending which
must be attached to a verb, not to an object.
Insight
Bedrooms
Seuih-f6ng means bedroom, literally sleep-room. It has
become a convention in Hong Kong that people talk of a flat
as having so many f6ng, when they actually mean bedrooms.
So a flat with leuhng gaan f6ng is usually a two bedroom flat,
not one with only two rooms.
Wnn bowl is a very handy word, because bowls are so much used
at the Chinese table. There are faahn-wU.n rice bowls, tong-wU.n
soup bowls and ch.ah-wU.n tea bowls, not to mention daaih-wU.n
big bowls and sai-wU.n little bowls. But wU.n is even more useful
because it is also a classifie~; as in yat wU.n tOn.g a bowl of soup and
leuhng wU.n baahk-faahn two bowls of boiled rice (baahk-faahn
literally means white rice, hence steamed or boiled rice as opposed
to chaau-faahn fried rice). You can see how the two functions of
wU.n operate in the following comparison:
sciam wun faahn
sciam jek faahn-wun
In Unit 3 you were given an example of the use of lak with thh. In
the previous dialogue Mr Cheung says ngoh-deih kyut-dihng thh
wahn lak we decided not to transport them after all, that is, they
had at first decided otherwise but not any more. Mh + lak is a very
convenient way of conveying the notion not any more.
25.5 DEEP AND SHALLOW: DARK AND LIGHT
Sam literally means deep (Nab. yiu sfu-sam bo! GO-douh di sew
h6u sam! You should be careful, the water is very deep there!) and
the opposite word shallow is chin. Both words are capable of being
extended in use, so that you can describe sorneone's thought as sam,
for example. With colours, sam means dark or deep and chin means
30 5
Insight
More than a cup of tea
Cantonese people never say let's go and have some dim-sam,
they always say let's go and drink tea (yam-chah). Yam-chah
goes on in specialist teahouses and restaurants from early
morning to about 2.30 p.m. You order your preferred tea
from the waiter- Dragon Well Tea, Jasmine Tea, Iron GuanYin Tea, Chrysanthemum Pu-er, or whatever- and you then
sit back and wait till someone comes by with a tray or trolley
of steaming hot dim-sam from the kitchen. If you fancy
what is there you ask for it, but otherwise you wait until
another trolley comes round with something on it that you do
want. There is great variety and you will find it hard to stop
ordering. Until about 30 years ago the bill was calculated
according to the number of little dishes left on your table
when you had finished, but smart customers would slip dishes
onto other people's tables and get up to other tricks to cut
down the bill, so that nowadays a running tally is kept on a
menu slip in a holder on your table. And of course the tea will
be charged for as well. Yam-chah is a Cantonese must: one of
the great gastronomic treats in a land where food is king.
Dialogue 2
Mr Wong looks at a house purchase.
\0
,..,
~
N~
................................................................................................................................
4iJ
B~:ti:A~~~.:fi~miAfl~~~~--.41}~
_ij :ftl31i A~~IYB-=~*-li ftf:ti:~~ I
fj, :ftlJIIM. 1i1f.m:~?
:ff-~.m:~m~~-~.J'G~. ~*~m*-l!~.1$~YB
~7;::r,1irt:lli[T-~. !.iA!tfJI~m~.
Jttfni
J%ra,"*'J
~. JMW1J~J%JJliJWTfiiJ#1Jli;J%~?
~~.~AJ%~~~.11$.~~1ff~~~.
Of. ~ ffiJJJtJU~~7J<JMP1:tfi~~.
~~. ~*fff-ll~~.~ey~~-111~T~*-~fff-.fff-~.
Mr Wong
Salesman
Mr Wong
Salesman
Mr Wong
Salesman
Mr Wong
30 7
Salesman
Mr Wong
Salesman
Mr Wong
1:
!.................................~~~~.~:.~~~~~..~~~-~.~:.~.~-~~-~.~~-~-~:!.?.~:..........................:
~
joh
'iff.~
~f-
gwun-leih
siu-sih
b6u-on
yahn-yuhn
ching-git
gung-yahn
da-sou
lauh-tai
gtm-chah
ITp
on-chyuhn
cht!-wai
baau-kwut
ok-ga
douh
dihn-ji
s6
J't~
gwong-maahng
h6i
lauh-dai
ngai
lj\!1~
-~*~
A~
jfiiJ
IA
=rr~
-~
~~
~
~~
*1il
-:I%
.!M-Il
~
{IJ(E
1li
308
tf!OO
'R
~J%
#:lJl!:J%
~
~Am
1#~
~7K1Ji
ii~
~
~
P!
~~
IIWJI II ;t ( jf )
-~
h!ih
deih-min
chek
tou-f6ng
ch ung-h!u h ng-f6ng
ge
jyu-yahn-f6ng
muih-hei
yiht-seui-louh
lohk-hauh
wuhn
jihng
chouh
faat-muhng
fan-m h-jeu h k( -gaa u)
ydt-haih ... ydt-haih
ok-muhng
distant from
the floor
foot (length)
en suite
bathroom
(final particle: puzzlement)
master bedroom
town gas
boiler, water heater
backward, old fashioned
to change, exchange
quiet
noisy
to dream
unable to get to sleep
either or
nightmare
Notes
25.6 YAH-SEI SiU-SiH
Siu-sih is an alternative word for jiing-tauh hour which you have
met and yah-sei siu-slli is the regular way to say 24 hour (as in
24-hour service).
25.7 WORKERS
GUn.g-yahn means quite simply work person, but just like worker
in English it implies that the person works for someone else, that
he or she is not in charge. In Hong Kong it is the common word
for a house servant and there is a general assumption that house
servants are female, so that if you have a male house servant you
would refer to him as a naahm-glln.g-yahn (compare this with the
police situation described in Unit 17).
30 9
Insight
The english invasion
Lip is the Cantonese attempt at the English word lift, the proper
Cantonese word being tediously long (sing-gong-gei rising and
falling machine). You have met bO ball, ba-si bus, dlk-si taxi,
sa-h!utsalad and f~i fare. F~i-lam is film, sih-do is a store,
bO-si is the boss, baht-laan-dei is brandy and there are many
many more, but it is possible that the trend is away from using
such words and towards a more pure Cantonese vocabulary.
Incidentally, to ride in a lift is ch6h-1Tp, though few lifts have
seats in them.
leih Heung-g6ng
(yciuh) ydt-maahn-ydtchin gong-leih.
Yauh to have is the verb which appears with numbers most often. Its
use in this pattern is optional, although you are more likely to put it
in if you are trying to stress the notion is all of 11,000 kilometres.
The word most often associated with leih is yUhn far, distant:
310
20
25.10 BATHROOMS
In Unit 15 you learned that the word for bathroom is sai-san-f6ng
and now you have met another and newer word chUn.g-leuhngfong. It seems that this newer term is slowly driving out the older
one, but you are bound to come across both of them. There is a
difference in their origins: sai-san to wash the body is to have an all
over wash or to have a bath, while chUn.g-leuhng is really to have a
shower, but the distinction is becoming blurred.
3I
26
t.I.B <1m)
Wan-jaahp (sei)
Revision ( ~)
This is the shortest unit in the book- just a few exercises and a
couple of passages of Cantonese for you to understand and to help
you realize how far you have come in the space of 25 units. As
usual you will find translations of these passages in the key at the
back, but probably you will not need them.
Of course you are not yet at native-speaker standard, but you
should find that you have reached the stage where you know
enough to be able to hold a conversation and, more importantly,
to find out more for yourself by asking and by working out what
some of the things you hear must mean on the basis of what you
already know.
Persevere -having come this far you have shown that you are
capable of learning Cantonese: it would be a great pity to stop
just when you have reached 'critical velocity' for take off into the
cheerful exciting world of Cantonese conversation.
Exercise 1
312
a ging-chaat
c yeuhk-seui
e bei-s)JU
g leuhn-pun
b sai-yi-gei
d gong-kahm
f ji-piu
h yauh-gaan
Exercise 2
a Maih yuki
b Neih g6ng-cho.
c Neih mh mihng-baahk.
d Ng6h mh tuhng-yi.
e Gim-kiuh Daaih-hohk mh haih sai-gaai seuhng jeui yauh-meng ge.
Exercise 3
Here are the estate agent's details and plan of a flat which you
want to buy. Using Cantonese explain to your partner what it is
like, giving the size of the rooms, the address and other details.
ONLY
HK$5,500,000!
Lift
Master bedroom
--
Bathroom
Lift
Dining room
Bathroom
Living room
r--
Bedroom
Kitchen
3I 3
Exercise 4
Make meaningful sentences with these pairs of words. (We have given
simple models in the key to the exercises at the back of the book.)
a gu;Un-leih
b hOi-chi
c h6i-stn
d yat-lauh
ging-leih
hOi-che
san-sin
jau-lauh
Exercise 5
(dihn-wa/dihn-n6uh/dihn-dang/dihn-ying/dihn-nyuhn-louh)
Hai bin-douh.
a sihk-dak-d6u h6i-stn a?
b maaih-mah a?
c daap-d6u ba-si a?
d sihk-dak-d6u ng6h taai-taai joyu ge sung a?
e gin-dak-d6u Wohng Bei-s)!u a?
Exercise 8
o yltt __ deih-jln
c yat __ yiht-seui-louh
e yat __ jai-fuhk
b yllt __ wa
d yat __ chaan-t6i tuhng yf
f yat __ daaih-muhn
Exercise 9
o Leih Saang h6u yauh-chfn, keuih !'ibn yat man dou m6uh.
b Ng6h daaih-gwo ng6h mah-ma.
c Go cheut dihn-yfng ng6h mh tai-gwo.
d Keuih haahng sahp-fan faai.
e Keuih seui-y'ihn haih g'ing-leih, y'ih-cbe slk da-jih.
Passage 1
CD2, TR37
LUHNG DRAGONS
H6u noih h6u noih ji-chihn hai Jung-gwok yauh yat go h6u jung-yi
waahk-wa ge yahn. Keuih ge wa waahk-dak h6u h6u, yauh-keih
waahk Luhng,jan-haih h6u-chih wuih yok ge yat-yeuhng. Yauh
yat chi, yat go daaih-gwunji-dou keuih sTk waahk Luhngjauh h6u
hoi-sam gam deui keuih wah: 'Ng6hjih-gei dou h6u jung-yi Luhng.
Yuh-gw6 m!ih hang bong ng6h waahk yat tiuh Luhng, ng6h wuih
bei h6u do chin neih.'
Gei yahtji-hauh, git-gw6 tiuh Luhngjauh waahk-h6u lak, yih-che
waahk-dak h6u h6u,juhng kClp-yahn-j6 h6u do yahn laih chaamgwun tim. Daahn-haihjeui h6-sikjauh haih tiuh Luhng m6uh
ngaahn ge. Daaih-gwun mh mihng-baahkjauh mahn keuih dimgaai mh waahk ngaahn ne? Keuih wah, yuh-gw6 waahk-j6 ngaahn
ji-hauh, tiuh Luhngjauh wuih fei-jau ge Ia!
Unit 26 7 l!1l
3I 5
Passage 2
co2, TR38
Chat-baat-sahp nihnji-chihn, g6-jahn-sih Seuhng-h6i syun haih yat
go h6u sin-jeun ge daaih sihng-sih, daahn-haih Jung-gwok keih-ta
h6u do sihng-sih tuhng-maaih heung-hci deih-fOng dou juhng haih
h6u lohk-hauh ge. vat yaht, yauh yat go heung-hci-yahn, Leih Sinsaang, yciuh sih yiu heui Seuhng-h6i taam keuih ge pahng-yauh
Wohng Daaih Gwok. Wohng Sin-saangjyuh hai yat gaan yauh
daaih yauh leng, chit-beih yauh chaih-chj'uhn ge jau-dim leuihbihn.
Leih Saang laih-dou jau-dim, hai daaih-tohng* dang Wohng Sinsaang ge sih-hauh, gin-d6u yat go 16uh taai-taai maahn-maan
gam haahng-yahp yat gaan f6ng-jai leuih-bihn. Leih Sin-saang
meih gin-gwo hp, s6-yih keuih rhhji g6 ga haih ITp laih-ge. Leuhng
fcln jOng ji-hauh, f6ng-jai ge muhn hoi-j61ak, yat go yauh leng
yauh hauh-saang ge siu-je hclahng-cheut-laih.
Leih Saang hoi-chi ge sih-hauh gok-dok h6u keih-gwaai, yihn-hauh
keuihjauh h6u hoi-sam gam wah: 'Sihng-sih yahnjan-haih sinjeun lak: hah chi ng6h yat-dihng daai-maaih taai-taai laih.'
Grammar summary
This grammar summary gives some of the basic principles of
Cantonese grammar, which you can use for quick reference.
Where helpful it refers you back to earlier parts of the book where
particular points are discussed in greater detail. These references
are in the form [1.3], where the first number is the unit number
and the second is the number of the heading in the Notes (grammar
sections) of that particular unit. [D] refers to a Dialogue.
1 Adjectives
a Adjectives go before the nouns they describe (yat jek daaih bOi
a large cup). [1.3]
b Adjectives can also function as verbs. [1.3; 13.3]
c Adjectival clauses and phrases go before the nouns they
describe and are linked to them with ge:
ng6h h6u seu ng
maaih ge che ...
2 Adverbs
a A fixed adverb comes immediately before a verb (although the
negative rilh can be placed between them}:
dou all, both, also [1.7; 4.9; 8.3; 9.1; 22.8; 24.7; 25.9]
jauh then [24.9]
Grcmmar summcuy
3I 7
3 Alternatives
a When or occurs in a question it is translated by dihng-haih:
Neih ting-yaht heui dihng-haih
hauh-yaht heui n@?
'-i Classifiers
a Whenever nouns are counted or specified with this, that,
which?, each, the whole the correct classifier must be placed
b
d
e
Grcmmar summcuy
3I 9
bouh
bun
chaan
chahng
cheuhng
cheut
deng
deui
dT
douh
fok
fung
gaan
ga
gihn
go
j6.an
jek
jeung
ji
joh
nin
seui
seung
tiuh
tou
w6.i
wun
yaht
320
books [12.5]
books [12.5]
food; meals [4.D1]
flats, apartments; layers [3.D2]
performances, bouts, games [13.D2]
films, stage plays [9.D1]
hats [11.D1]
pairs of [16.3]
for plural and uncountable nouns [4.D1]
doors [25.D2]
paintings, drawings [24.D1]
letters [20.D1]
houses, rooms [3.D1]
vehicles, machinery [12.5]
items of clothing [5.D1]
people, many objects [2.4]
lamps, lights [12.D2]
animals [5.D2]; utensils [25.3]; one of a pair
[16.3]
flat, sheet-like things [11.D2]
stick-like things [2.D2]
massive things [25.D2]
years (noun without classifier) [8.6]
years of age (noun without classifier) [ 9.8]
pairs of [16.3]
long, thin, flexible things [8.D2]
sets of, suits of [8.D2]
polite for people [17.8]
bowls [25.3]
days (noun without classifier [8.6]
5 Commands
a Negative commands (don't!) are made with mh-h6u or its
more abrupt form maih. [4.12; 16.4]
b Positive commands (do it!) use abruptly spoken verbs (jaul
go!), or (rather less forcefully) the final particle Ia!, or the verb
ending -j6 with a following object, or some adjectival verbs and
verb endings with the comparative -dT ending. [3.10; 17.7; 19.1]
I'm taller.
I'm a lot taller.
You're not so tall. [16.9]
d Superlatives make use ofjeui most, often adding lak after the
adjective:
Keuihjeui gou lak.
Grcmmar summcuy
32
adiective:
Ng6h tuhng neih yatyeuhng gam gou.
Keuih m6uh ng6h
yat-yeuhng gam gou.
7 Directions
8 Final particles
Particles are words which for the most part have no meaning in
themselves, but which add nuance or sentiment or some other
gloss to a sentence or phrase [3.10]. Some are capable of relatively
clear definition, such as a [LII], ah? [3.5], bo [5.D1], je [3.8],
laih-ge [19-7], lak [3.6; 25.4], rna? [1.4], me? [5.8], ne? [1.6; 5.2],
and tim [8.1]; but usage of many others is not consistent among
native speakers and so defies adequate definition. Unfortunately, all
speakers of Cantonese use many particles, but they do not all use
the same particles, neither do they all necessarily agree on which
particle to use when. Sometimes the ill-defined particles seem to
add little or nothing to the meaning and may be treated as 'voiced
pauses' ('spoken commas' if you like) and ignored.
322
9 Money
There is a formal word for the dollar (yU.hn), but in speech most
people use man or go. Slang words for money come and go so fast
that none of them are taught here, except the ubiquitous use of sew
water. [5.11; 13.1; 19.DI, 20.2)
10 Negatives
Negative words come in front of the words they negate. The most
common negative is thh not, but it cannot negate the verb yauh to
have, which is achieved by substituting the verb mouh not to have.
Meih means not yet. The negative command is Mh-hou! Don't,
and even greater stress can be shown by the addition of chln-ke.ih:
Chln-ke.ihthh-hou ... Whatever you do, don't ... [r.ro; 3.7; 3.9;
!6.4; !8.5; 25-41
11 Nouns
Nouns only have one form and do not change according to case,
number or gender. The exception is the noun yahn person which
has a plural form yahn-deih, but this plural form is reserved for the
meaning other people and as an oblique way of referring to oneself
or to the person being addressed - it is not used in such expressions
as three people which is saarn go yahn. [!.9; 2.6]
12 Numbers
The number system is simple, and involves learning only the
numbers zero-ro, plus roo, r,ooo, ro,ooo and roo,ooo,ooo. It
diverges from western systems in that large numbers are counted
Grcmmar summcuy
32 3
13 Passives
The passive construction is not common in Cantonese, but uses the
pattern X beih Y verb and the verb usually carries a verb ending of
some kind:
Tiuh y(l beihjek maau
sihk-j6 lak.
1Lt Possessives
a Possessives are formed with ge which is positioned as if it
were the English apostrophe 's:
Wohng Sfu-je ge
nciahm-pcihng-y6uh.
1 5 Potentials
Potentials (can, to be able) are formed in three ways:
a with the verbs h6-yfh, srk and wuih. H6-yfh often implies
permission to and so is rather like may in English, while srk
I may go swimming.
I can swim. [5.02; 6.11]
16 Questions
Questions do not change basic word orders. There are four main
ways of forming them:
Grcmmar summcuy
32 5
Mh srk.
c Using a question particle such as ah? me? ne? at the end of the
sentence [1.4; 1.6; 3.5]:
Neih haih lung-gwok-yahn me?
haih no:
Mh haih, ng6h rhh haih lung-gwok-yahn. No, I'm not Chinese.
Haih, ng6h haih lung-gwok-yahn.
Yes, I am Chinese.
I love you.
18 Time
clock-time: [15.6; 25.6]
days: [8.5; 10.10; 11.4)
weeks: [5 .1; 10.8]
months: [17.5; 20.3]
seasons: [8.box]
years: [8.5; IO.Io]
19 Verb endings
a A number of endings can be attached directly to verbs to
convey aspects of meaning:
-cho
shows that an error has occurred (haahng-cho go
the wrong way). [19.4]
-d6u
-gan
-gwo
-hclh
32 7
20 Verbs
a Verbs only have one form (they do not conjugate) and do not
change according to tense or number or person. [1.8]
Do you want to go to
Beijing today?
Grcmmar summcuy
32 9
330
33 I
mean nine but it can also mean dog. The two characters, however,
are not at all confusing: i1.. =nine and~= dog. Similarly :flf
akobolk drink and :;iE to run, to leave are both pronounced jau,
but there is no mistaking one character for the other.
Learning the thousands of characters necessary to be fully literate
in Chinese is a time-consuming business (for Chinese people as
well as for foreigners) and that is why you have learned through
romanization. A Chinese, of course, learns to speak at his mother's
knee and he does not need romanization with that language
teaching method!
Even so, you may like to learn to recognize some common
characters. You will find that knowing them gives an extra
dimension to learning Chinese, a very satisfying depth of 'feel' for
the language which you have to experience to appreciate.
Writing a character is subject to certain rules of stroke order- you
cannot write the different strokes in random order or direction.
If you do not observe the correct order it is difficult to get the
character to balance properly and it will probably become illegible
if written in any kind of a hurry. The general rule is that you start at
the top left-hand comer of the character and work downwards to
finish at the bottom right, but the exceptions to this are numerous
and you will need to find a teacher or a specialist book to guide you.
Here are some useful characters written stroke by stroke for you to
practise:
I t1
n c
q:r
jUilg middle
1... !J...
1
chi-so toilet
L-1 LfJ
t:e
w wI n D cheut-hau exit
- t t r r- tt tv !\}: laai pull
I
332
L...
Incidentally, you may write your character text from left to right
across the page as English does (that's the modern way), from
right to left down the page (that's the traditional way and, of
course, means that you start at what would be the end of an
English book) or indeed any way you like, because each character
is a discrete entity - you can write round in a circle anti-clockwise
if that's how the mood takes you. Chinese newspapers quite often
print captions to photographs in a different direction from the
rest of the text that they illustrate and this produces no confusion,
although if an English newspaper were to try it it would be deedni
yrev gnisufnoc.
33 3
Taking it further
Where do you go from here? Very few textbooks go beyond
elementary level and they use a variety of other romanization
systems which are confusingly different from the Yale system
which you have learned, so they would not be easy. Of course, if
you have mastered everything in this book you should be able to
carry on building up vocabulary and fluency through talking with
Cantonese-speaking friends, but there are also some useful works
to help you to study on your own.
Far and away the best reference book is cantonese: a
Comprehensive Grammar by Stephen Matthews and Virginia Yip,
published in 1994 by Routledge. Don't be put off by the title or
the size of the book- it is a goldmine of information and full of
sparklingly colloquial examples to illustrate the wealth of points it
makes. And as a bonus it uses a version of the Yale system almost
identical with that with which you are now familiar.
If you want to expand your vocabulary, you could do worse than
get hold of a copy of The Right Word in Cantonese by Kwan Choi
Wah, published by the Commercial Press in 1989 and reissued
many times since. It has a long list of everyday vocabulary and
some supplementary lists designed specifically for convenience in
getting by in Hong Kong. It too uses the Yale system and at the
front it has a table of some of the most common romanization
systems, so that you could use that to make sense of other books
not written in Yale. To enable you to get help from Chinese people
the Chinese characters are given for all terms.
The Cantonese Dictionary by Parker Po-fei Huang has a
Cantonese-English and an English-Cantonese section and
because it was published by Yale University Press it uses the Yale
system, but it first appeared in 1970 and is hard to get hold of
now. The Chinese-English Dictionary by Chik Hon Man and Ng
334
Talclng It fu'ther
33 5
Exercise 2
J6u-sahn.
b
Ng6h h6u h6u. Neih ne?
c
Joi-gin.
Exercise 3
a mh
b mh
c haih
d Meih-gwok che
Exercise 4
Yaht-bCm che mh gwai.
b
Keuih mh h6u.
c
Neih h6u leng.
d
Keuih-deih yiu mh yiu che a?
e
Keuih dou (h6u) leng.
f
Keuih-deih haih Meih-gwok-yahn.
g
Wohng Sin-saang maaih che.
h
Ying-gwok-yahn mh maaih Meih-gwok che.
UNIT2
True or false?
a False
b False
Exercise 1
Ng6h sing ... (add whatever your surname is).
b
Haih, keuih haih Jung-gwok-yahn.
d False
c
d
Exercise 2
The watch and the pen are both Mr Ho's.
b
That watch is very handsome.
c
Mr Ho is going to ask Mrs Wong later.
d
Which pen is Miss Cheung's?
Exercise 3
a go
e mat
b -yahn
bTn
c bun
g dou
d rhh
h
mahn
Exercise 4
A
Wong
A
Wong
Exercise 5
Sei go Meih-gwok-yahn.
Saam go Jung-gwok-yahn.
Ngh go Yaht-bun-yahn.
Wohng Sin-saang maaih leuhng go sau-bTu.
vat go Meih-gwok-yahn maaih bat.
UNIT3
Picture quiz
C should address A as Bcih-ba.
D should address B as Mcih-ma.
D should address A as Bcih-ba.
You should address D as Wohng Sfu-je.
You should address Bas Wohng Taai-taai.
33 7
a Mh haih
d Mh haih
Mh haih
c Haih
e Haih
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 1
a
b
c
d
Exercise 2
a yr-sang
c yr-sang
d Ying-gwok
Exercise 3
Wohng Sin-saang, h6u-noih-m6uh-gin. Neih h6u ma? Taai-toai ne? Neihdeih yih-ga hoi bln-douh jyuh a?
Deui-mh-jyuh, Wohng Sin-saang, ng6h yiu daap ba-sr heui Fa-yuhn
Douh. Ng6h yiu heui taam ng6h bah-ba, daai keuih heui toi yr-sang.
UNIT4
True or false?
a False
False
c False
d False
e True
Exercise 1
o
Wohng Sin-saang seung dang Hoh Taai-taai yat-chaih sihk-faahn.
b
Hoh Taai-taai hai ch}tuh-f6ng jyu-gan faahn.
c
Hoh Taai-taai mahn Wohng Sin-saang keuih jyu ge sung h6umeih rna?
d
Hoh Sin-saang yauh m6uh bong Hoh Taai-taai sau a?
e
Hoh Taai-taai jyu ge sung h6u-chfh jau-lauh ge yat-yeuhng.
Exercise 2
o
STk, ng6h sTkjyu ngauh-yuhktong.
b
M6uh, ng6h ok-kei fuh-gahn m6uh jau-lauh.
c
M6uh, ng6h m6uh bong keuih sau.
d
Ng6h rhh nau.
e
Mh haih.
Exercise 3
o
Hai chyuh-f6ng yauh luhng-ha, dou yauh saang-gw6, yauh faahn,
yauh tong, yauh tihm-ban. Dou yauh Jeung Sin-saang.
b
Yauh, yauh Jeung Sin-saang: keuih haih laahp-saap-tungl
UNITS
Picture quiz
o
H6u pehng. Mh leng.
b
Yauh laahn. Jeung sru-je g6 gihn dou yauh laahn.
Answer the questions
o
Keuih seung maaih ha.
b
DT ha baat-sahp-tigh man yat gan.
c
Keih-ta dong-hau ge ha chat-sahp-yih man yat gan je.
d
Yan-waih y6uh sei hal
Exercise 1
o
Huhng-sik ge Meih-gwok che h6u gwai.
b
Ng6h bah-ba sTk yauh-seui.
c
Wohng Taai-taai heui pou-tau maaih-yeh.
d
Keuih gam-yaht rhh seung sihk-faahn.
e
Hoh Saang mh sihk Hoh Taai-taai jyu ge sung.
3 39
Exercise 2
o gaan
d ji
c No classifier needed
No classifier needed
f jek-jek
e jek
Exercise 3
Wohng Toai yiu bei yih-sahp-baat man.
b
Keuih yiu bei luhk-sahp-sei man.
UNIT6
True or false?
o True
b False
c False
d False
e False
340
UNIT7
Passage 1
o False
Unknown
c True
d False
e False
Exercise 2
o
b
c
d
e
Exercise 3
o
b
Exercise 4
X
Deui-mh-jyuh, yih-ga. h6u j6u.
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
34 I
Exercise 5
0
keuih mah-ma
b yat
c pehng
d rhh
e h6-yfh
Exercise 6
o
b
c
d
e
Passage 2
UNITS
Have you understood?
o dihn-nyuhn-louh
c cheuhng-gok
rhh saht-yuhng
d m6uh yuhng-gwo
Picture quiz
o Mh dak.
Exercise 1
342
Exercise 2
Jeung sru-je haih h6u leng ge Yaht-bun-yahn.
b
Ng6h mh seung maaih Chahn Sin-saang pou-tau maaih ge Meihgwokbat.
c
Ng6h h6u seung sihk Hoh Taai jfng ge luhng-ha.
Exercise 3
o sau-taih
b mfhn-fai
d san-sin
A creative test
'Mh-h6u nau lal Ng6h rhh haih wah neih ji nT go miht-f6-tung haih sahtyuhng ge yeh me?l'
UNIT9
Caption for the cartoon
Neih-deih gok-dak nl cheut dihn-yfng chi rhh chi-gTk a?
Exercise 1
Hoh Sin-saang h6u-chfh iigh-sahp seui gam seuhng-ha.
b
Sih-sih wahn-duhng deui gihn-hong h6u h6u.
c
Ng6h jf-haih jung-yi da-bo, pah-saan tuhng yauh-seui je.
Exercise 2
sung/san-sin; daaih-gaam-ga/baak-fo-gong-sT; laahn/laahp-saap-tung;
h6i-taan/yauh-seui; lohk-syut/dihn-nyuhn-louh.
Exercise 3
Wohng Sin-saang, j6u-sahn.
b
Neih seung mh seung yam be-jau a?
c
Ou, gam ga-fe ne? chah ne?
d
Deui-rhh-jyuh, ng6h-deih m6uh seui. Ng6h taai-taai wah ng6h ji
nT-douh dT seui rhh h6u-yam. Dfm-gaai rhh yam be-jau a?
e
DT be-jau h6u h6u-yam, haih Ying-gwok be-jau. Cheng yam sfu-sfu
Ia.
f
34 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
o
b
d
e
True or false?
o
b
Exercise 1
o
b
c
d
e
Exercise 2
344
yam taai do be-jau- mh-h6u yam lal Wohng Taai-taai neih yam taai do
ga-fe- mh-h6u yam lal
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
a
b
c
d
e
UNIT 11
Questions
1
2
Yesterday I thought this chair was very comfortable, but now ... 1
You should have left: a sih-jong b rhh hoi-sam c gihn ngoihtou h6u leng d so-ffi.-yf
Exercise 1
a
b
c
d
e
f
sahp-luhk go sfu-je;
yih-baak jeung jf;
iigh-chin-luhk-baak man;
yat-baak-maahn go Jung-gwok yahn;
yat-maahn-yi h-chin-chat-baak-iigh-sa hp;
baat-chin-flhng-saam-sahp-sei;
34 5
g
h
sahp-yat go jOng-tauh;
leuhng jek luhng-ha.
Exercise 3
a gauh-fun
d ji-chihn
b taai pehng
e yiht
c maaih Ok
f SO.i-naahm
Exercise 4
Mrs Ho is going to eat lobster on Monday; Miss Ho is going to see a film
on Tuesday; and Mr Ho is going climbing on Wednesday.
UNIT 12
b sei go jOng-tauh
d gaau-syu sin-saang
Exercise 2
Ng6h go jO.i sai mh sai hohk Jung-mahn a?
b
Keuih muih maahn dou yiu jouh gei-do go jong-tauh gung-fo a?
c
Ng6h go jO.i hai Leuhn-deun yfh-ging duhk-gwo tigh nihn Sfu-hohk.
Ying-gwok hohk-saang sahp-yat seui sin-ji duhk Jung-hohk. Heungg6ng haih mh haih yat-yeuhng a?
d
HO.i neih ge hohk-haauh duhk-syu, duhk yat nihn yiu gei-do
chfn a?
e
Hohk-saang sai mh SO.i maaih fo-bun tuhng lihn-jaahp-b6u a?
Exercise 3
i e
ii a
iii c
iv b
v d
Exercise 4
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
UNIT 13
Exercise 1
c
d
e
Exercise 2
dr
c cheuhng
d ga
Exercise 3
o
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
34 7
UNIT 1./r
Passage 1
When Mr Wong's seven-year-old son came to school yesterday he
cheerfully told me that his father had bought a new house last week.
The house was large and looked nice, with three bedrooms and there
was a front garden and a gamge as well. He said: 'Now I have a room
to myself. it's really comfortable. But mummy has to share a room with
daddy, so Ithink she must be unhappy. I don't know why daddy won't
let mummy use the third bedroom. No one is using that room now,
daddy has only put a lot of books in there. that's all.'
Exercise 1
Keuih haih chat seui.
b
Keuih maaih-j6 yat gaan san Ok.
c
Ok chihn-bihn yauh fa-yOn tuhng-maaih yat gaan che-fohng tim.
d
Haih mah-ma yiu tuhng keuih yat-chaih.
e
Daih-saam gaan fan-f6ng leuih-bihn yauh h6u do syu.
f
M6uh.
Exercise 2
a hei-mohng
d da-syun
b tin-hei
c laahng-tTn
e dihn-yfng
g gei-yuhk
j noih-yuhng
h do-yuh
k sfu-leuhn
f wahn-duhng
gihn-hong
pihng-gwan
Exercise 3
a ting-yaht
d sehng-yaht
e kahm-yaht
g gam-yaht
h yaht-yaht
LO.ih-baai-yaht
Exercise 4
a
i The first horse is No.9.
ii The first horse is not No. 9.
c chihn-yaht
f Yaht-bun
hauh-yaht
Exercise 5
a syu-fuhk
b tihng-che ge
h6u do chfn
Exercise 6
a
Keuih fa an ok-kei ji-chihn, sih-sih dou heui taam keuih naahm
pahng-yauh.
b
Wohng Taai seung maaih g6 ga che, yan-waih ga che h6u leng.
c
Ng6h rhh mihng-baahk g6 go yahn laahng-tTn seung maaih
laahng-hei-gei jouh-mat-yeh a?
d
G6 df ha rhh san-sin, s6-yfh Chahn Taai rhh seung maaih.
e
Keuih sihk-gan yeh ge sih-hauh, rhh g6ng-wa.
Exercise 7
MO.aih g6 ga che yiu gei-do chfn a?
b
Wohng Saang Sing-keih-gei (or gei-sf) leih-hoi Yaht-bun a?
c
Hai Leih Taai j6-sau-bihn g6 jehk gau-jai haih bin-go sung bei
keuih ga?
d
G6 df yahn yauh gei-do go haih gaau-syu sin-saang a?
Passage 2
Mr Ho bets on the horses
If a rich person wants to buy a horse then he goes and buys one, but
that's a very expensive way to buy a horse' 1In Hong Kong you will
often hear poor people saying 'I think I'll buy a horse today.' What's
the explanation? Have a guess, what could it mean if a poor person
talks about buying a horse'? That's right, 'to buy a horse' means 'to
bet on a horse', so when poor people say they want to buy a horse that
means they want to bet on a horse.
Mr Ho is not very rich. One day his good friend Mr Cheung
phoned him up and asked him: 'There's horse racing tonight. I'd
34 9
Mr Cheung came home from gambling at the dog track. His son asked
him: 'Daddy, how did the gambling go today? Did you win?' 'Won nine
races out of ten.' 'Wow! Daddy, you really know how to gamble. You
bet on ten races and only lost on one.' 'To tell you the truth, I didn't
win a cent. I bet on ten races and the dog track was the winner on
each race!'
Here the pun is on gau-cheuhng which sounds like either 'dog track'
or 'nine races'. Mr Cheung's son naturally enough at first heard what
he most wanted to hear, that his father had won handsomely.
350
UNIT 15
Answer the questions
a
Jau-dim fohng-gaan leuih-bihn laahng-hei-gei miht-f6-tung dou
m6uh.
b
Ngh-sfng-kap jO.u-dim haih jeui h6u jeui h6u ge jO.u-dim.
c
Yauh-df tigh-sfng-kap jau-dim leuih-bihn yauh chan-s6 tuhngmaaih wahn-duhng f6ng.
Exercise 1
a
Neih haih Ying-gwok-yahn dihng-haih Meih-gwok-yahn ne?
b
F6-che faai dihng-haih fei-gei faai ne?
c
Keuih Laih-baai-saam dihng-haih Laih-baai-sei laih ne?
d
Hoh Sin-saang seung heui Heung-g6ng dihng-haih Gw6ng-jau ne?
e
Haih Leih Taai m6uh chfn dihng-haih Chahn Taai m6uh chfn ne?
Exercise 2
a yaht-tau
b ya.t-dihng (yauh)
c laahng-seui
d heng
Exercise 3
Keuih g6ng-dakfaai.
b
Wohng Saang maaih ha maaih-dak h6u pehng.
c
Neih haahng-louh haahng-da.k faai-gwo Jeung sru-je.
d
Neih yam yeuhng-jau yam-da.k do-gwo ng6h.
e
Leih Sin-saang ja-che ja-da.k mh-haih-gei-h6u.
Exercise 4
a jeung
e tiuh
b jek
f ga
c ga
g gaan
d gaan
h jeung
gihn
Exercise 5
Vat gan chuhng-gwo yat bohng.
b
HO.i Ying-gwok maaih gihn-hong b6u-hfm h6u gwai.
c
Tuhng-maaih ch6h-gan fei-gei ge sih-hauh dou yauh mfhn-seui
yeuhng-jau maaih.
d
Mh-sai. (remember the normal negative of yiu is rhh-sai)
e
Hai Leuhn-deun yauh sei go fei-gei-cheuhng.
35 I
Exercise 6
saam-dfm-leuhng-go-jih
b
sahp-dfm-sahp-yat-go-jih
c
gau-dfm-bun
d
chat-dfm-saam-go-gwa.t
e
sahp-yih-dfm-lihng-gau-fan(-jOng)
f
iigh-dfm-sahp-iigh-fan(-jOng); jiigh-dfm-saam(-go-jih); jiigh-dfmya.t-go-gwat
Exercise 7
Neih Laih-baai-luhk leuhng-dfm-bun dou-j6 mah-cheuhng.
UNIT 16
Haau-si
Ng6h gO yan-waih g6 go haau-si-gwun pa-dou tauh-wahn
fan-j6 hai-douh je.
Exercise 1
Exercise 3
o = Mr Lee
d =Mrs Lung
Exercise 4
da-Mah-jeuk
b
d6u-pe-paai
c
chaujeung-ban
352
b =Mrs Chan
e = Mr Lung
c = MrChan
f= Mrs Lee
d
e
f
teng gw6ng-bo
chung huhng-dang
tai dihn-yfng
Exercise 5
Wohng Soong gou-gwo Chohn Taai tuhng Wohng Taai, m6uh Leih
Soong Leih Taai gam gou, daahn-haih tuhng Chohn Soong yatyeuhng gam gou. Leih Soong gou-gwo Wohng Taai h6u-do. Leih
Soong jeui gou.
Exercise 6
Exercise 1
Wohng Soong poh-gan soan.
b
Keuih hai seung-yahn-chohng seuhng-bihn fan-gaau.
c
Keuih tiu-gou.
d
Keuih loai-jyuh jek gau.
e
Keuih ch6h hai so-ffi-yf seuhng-bihn.
f
Keuih keih hai yat jeung yf seuhng-bihn.
Exercise 2
o gfng-chaat
d fuhk-mouh-yuhn
b sin-soang
c sr-gei
e yr-sang
353
Exercise 3
a
b
c
d
e
sin-ji She said she would come back on Monday, but she didn't
return until Wednesday.
ji-hauh After you had left I rang your wife.
lihn Last month Mrs Wong didn't even sell one car. her manager
was very unhappy about it.
dou He plays Mahjong every day, so he has no time to go
shopping with me.
jeuk saam-kwclhn It's not very convenient to wear a dress when
swimming.
Exercise 4
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 5
a
b
Keih hai Chahn Taai j6-bihn g6 go sfu-je haih Wohng Saang sahpchat seui ge neui.
Neih hai Meih-gwok leuih-yauh maaih ge Yaht-bun che haih bm
yatga che a?
Neih nT go gauh ge miht-f6-tung mh gau daaih. Maaih yat go
daaih-dTge, h6u rhh h6u a?
UNIT 18
Exercise 1
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 2
a Bak-bihn
354
Neuih-yan
c G6-douh
d Yahp-bihn
e Gauh-nfn
Hauh-yaht
h Neui
Ga
Yeh-maahn
Exercise 3
Wohng Saang jeui daaih. (remember that daaih is used for comparative
age, not 16u h)
Exercise 4
a faai-dTl
d suhk-sTk
g ngoih-tou
b fong-ga
c seuhng-bihn
f yr-sang
e yihng-jan
h ngaam-ngaam
Exercise 5
a bihn-fuhk
d daahn-haih
c gage
e mh jeun
Exercise 6
a faahn-wihng
d yahm-hoh
c sau-leih
f rong-bihn
b fong-mihn
e mfhn-seui
UNIT 19
Exercise 1
a
b
c
Hai sihng-sfh.
Gok-dak san-fO.
Geuk-jai yuhng-laih tihng-che a-rna.
J6u-chaan haih yat yaht daih-yat chi sihk yeh. Haih yaht-tau
sihk ge.
Exercise 2
a i
b ii
c ii
d ii
e ii
Exercise 3
a
b
c
355
Exercise 4
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 1
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 2
a
b
c
d
e
Luhk-yuht sei-houh.
Yat-gau-gau-cha.t-nihn Cha.t-yuht ya.t-houh.
Yih-flhng-lihng-sei-nihn Ngh-yuht sahp-flgh-houh.
Sahp-yih-yuht sahp-ya.t-houh Laih-baai-yaht hah-jau luhk-dfmsaam-go-jih.
Cheut-nfn Baat-yuht sa-ah-yat-houh.
Exercise 3
a
b
c
d
Ying-gwok
Leuhn-deun
chiu-gwo yat-maahn Ying-b6ng
yihn-gam
Exercise 4
a
b
cheut-gaai/haahng-gaai
jin-jang
c
d
e
f
daaih-yeuk
hung-yauh
ging-leih
16-tai
Exercise 5
Passage 1
Passage 2
Long ago there was a doctor in Canton. One day he wrote a letter of
great importance to a doctor in another city. At that time China did not
have a post office and he was very busy and had no time to take the
letter there, so he told his son to take it for him. He said to his son: 'This
letter is very important, it must get there quickly! Let's see, the more legs
the quicker: your two legs won't be as quick as four legs. You had better
use my horse to go. Hurry up!'
357
The young man set off and his father awaited his return. He knew
that a horse would need about eight hours to get to that place and
back. Who could have guessed that it was two days before his son
returned. He said cheerfully to his father: 'I'm back, dad. Was I quick?
I thought and thought and thought up a very fast method. You said
the more legs the quicker and that two legs were not as fast as four
... so I walked leading the horse along ... if two legs aren't as fast as
four, then six legs were bound to be faster than four legs, right?'
Exercise 1
o
b
Exercise 2
o
b
Exercise 3
10a.m.
10.30 a.m.
12.15 p.m.
3.30 p.m.
6.-45 p.m.
7.30 p.m.
Call taxi
To Manager Wong's office
Lunch in City Hall with Miss Cheung
Get air ticket from travel company
Drinks with Miss Ho at Hong Kong Hotel
Cinema with Miss Ho
Exercise 4
0
cha-mh-do
c daahn-haih
e yauh-sih
b hahm-baahng-laahng
d ngaam-ngaam
f jouh-mat-yeh
Exercise 5
o
b
c
Exercise 6
o
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
h6u leng.
leng-haih-leng, daahn-haih m6uh Jeung Saang ge san che
gam leng.
mh-haih-gei-leng.
mh gau daaih.
taai gwai Ia.
haih sai-gaai seuhngjeui leng ge che.
leng-gwo ng6h ga che h6u-do.
tuhng Jeung Saang ge san che yat-yeuhng gam daaih yat-yeuhng
gamgwai.
Exercise 7
o
b
Exercise 8
o
b
c
Wohng Saang A-geuk yiu bei do-dr (B-geuk keuih mh sai bei).
B-geuk haih Leih Saang yiu bei baat-baak man.
Jeung Saang A-geuk yiu bei saam-baak man, B-geuk yiu bei nghbaak man, jlk-haih wah keuih B-geuk yiu bei do yih-baak man.
Bei jeui sfu ge haih Chahn Saang: bei jeui doge haih Leih Saang.
Exercise 9
o
b
c
3 59
e
f
g
h
Keuih giu ng6h wah bei neih ji neih yiu gei-do dfm jOng laih.
Wohng Sin-saang flhn luhng-ha dou mh jung-yi sihk.
NT dT syu yauh saam-fahn-ji-yih haih Jung-mahn syu.
Keuih yuht-IO.ih-yuht-yauh-chfn.
Exercise 10
In July, August and September the weather in Hong Kong is very hot.
When it's hot people like to tmvel by taxi, because cabs are plentiful and
comfortable. Why comfortable? Because they all have air-conditioning.
Four or five people can get in a taxi and it's not very expensive, in fact,
very cheap. Ordinary cars are blue or green, white, red, black or yellow,
every colour under the sun, but taxis are different, they are all painted
red and silver.
UNIT 22
Exercise 1
Mh haih, ng6h rhh haih Meih-gwok-yahn.
b
Haih, keuih-deih yuht-IO.ih-yuht-waaih.
c
Haih, ng6h meih sihk-gwo j6u-chaan.
d
Mh haih, keuih h6u jung-yi faan-gung.
e
Haih, yat-yeuhng gam jung-yi.
Exercise 2
a mei
bei
c fa an
d dyun
Exercise 3
a -gan
b -jyuh
c -gwo
d -saai
e -hoi
Exercise 4
Chat-maahn-flhng-yih-baak-man.
b
Haih Chahn Saang 16 ge chfn do. (Hoh Saang yat-guhng
jf-haih 16 yih-maahn-sei je.)
c
Wohng Taai gam-yaht bat-gwo yuhng-j6 yah-yih-go-sei je.
d
Ng6h ok-kei yat-guhng yauh sahp-flgh go yahn. (Mh-h6u mh geidak ng6h lal)
UNIT 23
Exercise 1
a yat-lauh
d jai-fuhk
b
e
ging-jai
san-seui
laai-yahn
Exercise 2
Yauh ngahn-hohng heui Hoh Saang ok-kei jf yauh leuhng gonga
leihje.
b
Ngahn-hohng hoi Hoh Saang ok-kei dung-bihn.
Exercise 3
Keuih haih sei-sahp bohng.
a
b
Haih yauh-st'iu.
c
Keuih yih-ga luhk seui.
d
Keuih jf-haih gaau-j6 baat-sahp man bei fuhk-mouh-yuhn jeJ
Exercise 4
Yiu tihng-che bol
a
b
Laahm-sik gO. wohng-slk haih luhk-sik.
c
Laahm-slk ga huhng-slk haih jf-slk.
d
H6u gauh ge dihn-yfng haih hak-baahk-slk ge.
Exercise 5
Wahl Nl-douh dl h6i-sln jan haih h6u-meih, yauh san-sin yauh
a
jfng-dak leng. Slk-heung-meih dou haih yat-lauh ge.
You should know, sir, that it's very hard to buy live fish now.
Added to that, our restaumnt presents you with chopsticks, one
pair for each customer.
Thankyou.
36 I
Exercise 6
'Nrtiuh yO j(m-haih leng, yat-dihng h6u h6u-meih. BTn-wai hang bei yatchin man a?'
UNIT 2.1,
Exercise 1
a a shadow
kahm-yaht
Exercise 2
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 3
a
b
c
d
Vat go sai-man-jai seung laai gau, daahn-haih jek gau rhh seung
haahng.
Vat go naahm-yan teui-jyuh yat ga waaih-j6 ge che. Keuih taaitaai ja-jyuh g6 ga waaih che.
Vauh yahn hoi faai che chUng-gwo huhng-dang.
Gfng-chaat yuhng sau-cheung da-sei-j6 yat go yauh cheung ge
waaihyahn.
Exercise 4
a chihn-bihn
d yauh-sau-bihn
bak-bihn
c nT-douh
e cheut-bihn
Exercise 5
a
b
c
d
e
f
Exercise 1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
gfng-chaat
sai-yi-gei
yeuhk-seui
gong-kahm
bei-syu
ji-piu
leuhn-pun
yauh-gaan
gfng-chaat-guhk
chyuh-f6ng
chan-s6 oryi-yOn
haak-teng
se-jih-lauh
ngahn-hohng
d6u-cheuhng
yauh-guk
Exercise 2
a
b
c
d
e
Exercise 3
Taai-taai, g6 chahng lau yauh daaih yauh leng. Jyu-yahn-f6ng h6u daaih,
yauh tou-f6ng chi-s6 tuhng chung-leuhng-f6ng; juhng yauh daih-yih
gO. an fan-f6ng tuhng-maaih daih-yih go chUng-leuhng-f6ng tim. Haakteng tuhng ch}tuh-f6ng dou-gei daaih. Yauh leuhng ga lrp, juhng yauh
che-wai baau-kwut hai ak-ga leuih-bihn. Deih-jf h6u h6u, jlk-haih Gw6ngjO.u Douh yah-chat-houh baat lau. Ga-chihn h6u pehng: bat-gwo yiu nghbaak-ngh-sahp-maahn man G6ng-jf je. Ng6h h6u seung maaihl
Exercise 4
a
b
36 3
Exercise 5
a yauh-seui
d G6ng-jf
c da-bo
b dihn-yfng
e chim-jing
Exercise 6
a Ia
b ah ... a
d bo ... ne
c me/ah ... Ia
Exercise 7
hai mah-cheuhng
Exercise 8
a jeung
b fak
c ga
d tau
e tau
douh
Exercise 9
a
b
c
d
e
It doesn't make sense: how can he be rich if he hasn't got even $1?
How can you be older than your mother?
Mh does not go with -gwo: it should be meih tcli-gwo.
It should be haahng-dak sahp-fan faai.
Yih-che does not go with seui-yihn: change yih-che to daahn-haih.
Passage 1
Avery long time ago in China there was a man who loved painting. His
pictures were superb, especially when he was painting dragons. they
looked just as though they could move. Once a high official, getting
to know that he was good at painting dragons. said to him with great
delight: I myself love dragons too. If you were willing to paint a dragon
for me I would pay you very well.'
A few days later sure enough the dragon was done and very well
painted at that. It attracted a lot of people who came to look at it.
But alas the dragon had no eyes. The official was mystified and asked
why he did not paint the eyes. The painter replied that if he did so the
dragon would fly away.
Of course no one could believe what he said. The official was very angry
and insisted on him putting the eyes in. Strange as it may seem, as soon
as he had painted them the dragon gave a few shakes and really did
jump out from the paper and fly away.
Passage 2
Seventy or 80 years ago Shanghai was considered a very advanced city,
but many other cities and rural areas of China were still very backward.
One day a certain Mr Lee came up from the country with matters about
which he needed to see his friend Wong Tai Kwok in Shanghai. Mr Wong
lived in a large and beautiful hotel with all possible facilities.
When Mr Lee got to the hotel and was waiting in the lobby for
Mr Wong, he saw an elderly lady slowly walk into a tiny room. He had
never seen a lift, so he didn't know that that was what it was. A couple
of minutes later the doors of the little room opened and out walked a
beautiful young lady.
Mr Lee at first thought it very strange, but afterwards he said gleefully:
'The city folks really are advanced: next time I'll be sure to bring my wife
with me.'
36 5
Cantonese-English vocabulary
Numbers in brackets indicate the unit in which the entry is
introduced. Abbreviations:
ap = appendix
cl
classifier
fp
final particle
ve
verb ending
aa?
a?
aail
aan-jau
ah?
A-jau
ci-ma!
au
Au-jau
Au-loh (Au-yuhn)
(22)
(1)
(8)
(2t.)
(22)
baahk-faahn
baahk-jf
baahk-srk
baahn-faat
baak
baak-fahn-ji-saam
baak-fo-gung-sT
baan
bcian-gei
baat
baau
baau-gw6
baau-kwut
boiled/steamed rice
blank paper
white
method, way, means
hundred
3 percent
department store
cl: group of, gang of
scheduled flight
eight
wrap up
parcel
to include
(25)
(20)
(12)
(18)
(11)
(19)
(8)
(17)
(15)
(2)
(20)
(20)
(25)
366
(3)
(19)
(5)
(10)
(19)
(19)
bah-ba
baht-laan-dei
baihl
bak
bak-bihn
Bak-bing-yeuhng
Bak-ging
Bak-ging-choi
ba-si
ba-si-jaahm
bat
bat-gwo
bat-gwo
bat-yuh
behng
behng-ycihn
bei
bei-gaau
bei-gin-neih
beih
beih-bTk
bei-maht
bei-syu
be-jau
bihn-faahn
bihn-fuhk
bihn-yi
biht-ycihn
bTn?
bTn-douh?
bTn-go?
bin-njuhn
bTn-syu?
biu-gaak
bo
bol
bohng
bong
father
brandy
oh dear! oh heck! alas!
north
the north side
Arctic Ocean
Beijing (Peking)
Peking food
bus
bus stop
pen
but, however
only
it would be better if
illness
a patient
give
compare, comparatively
bikini
by (passive)
be forced to
secret
secretary
beer
pot luck
plain clothes
plain clothes
other people
which?
where?
who? which one?
to warm up
where?
a form
ball
fp: let me tell you
pound (weight)
on behalf of, for the benefit of
(3)
(25)
(17)
(6)
(12)
(19)
(23)
(23)
(3)
(6)
(2)
(17)
(20)
(19)
(10)
(10)
(t.)
(19)
(8)
(12)
(11)
(2t.)
(22)
(8)
(t.)
(17)
(17)
(2t.)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(23)
(3)
(20)
(9)
(S)
(12)
(10)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
367
help
inspector
patronize, give custom
boss
to compensate
check in, register
to report, a report
to make up for
area, part, portion
cl: for books
insurance
department
newspaper
to guarantee
material, fabric
security, keep secure
cup, glass
half
cl: for books
capital
local, indigenous
cha
chaai-16u
chaai-ycihn
chaak
chaak-yihm
chaam-ga
chaam-gwun
chaan
chaan-paai
chaan-teng
chaang-sTk
chaau-faahn
chah
chah
Chahn
chahng
not up to scratch,lacking
policeman
policeman
to demolish, tear down
to test; evaluation
take part in
visit a place
meal
menu
restaurant
orange
fried rice
tea
to investigate, check
a surname: Chan
cl: for a flat, apartment; storey, deck
368
(t.)
(17)
(23)
(25)
(22)
(15)
(18)
(10)
(6)
(12)
(15)
(19)
(18)
(20)
(11)
(25)
(25)
(t.)
(12)
(13)
(18)
(19)
(12)
(12)
(23)
(12)
(11)
(6)
(t.)
(23)
(23)
(12)
(25)
(t.)
(19)
(1)
(3)
chah-wun
chc'iih-chyuhn
cha-mh-do
chan-ngaahn
chan-s6
chcit
chauh-fun
chau-jeung
chau-tTn
che
che
che-fOhng
cheh-deui-mihn
chek
chek
chek-geu k-yr-sci ng
chek-jih
Chek-laahp-gok
che-16u
cheng
cheng
cheng-mahn
cheuhng
cheuhng
cheuhng-gok
cheuhng-sai
cheuhn-loh-che
cheuih-bfn
cheui-siu
che ung-lf m-bou
cheun-tTn
cheut
cheut
cheut-bihn
che ut-gciai
cheut-hclu
cheut-nfn
che-wai
tea bowl
complete, all embracing
almost
with one's own eyes
clinic
seven
fund raising
lucky draw
autumn
steep
car
garage
diagonally opposite
foot (length)
red; naked
barefoot doctor
in the red, deficit
Chek Lap Kok (airport)
steep road
invite
please
please may I ask
cl: for performances, bouts, games
long
corner
detailed, fine, minute
patrol car
as you please, feel free
to cancel
curtains
spring
cl: for films and plays
out
outside
to go out into the street
exit
next year
parking space
(25)
(23)
(12)
(18)
(10)
(2)
(13)
(13)
(8)
(16)
(1)
(3)
(12)
(19)
(19)
(19)
(19)
(6)
(16)
(t.)
(3)
(6)
(13)
(22)
(8)
(22)
(17)
(t.)
(10)
(25)
(8)
(9)
(17)
(12)
(18)
(6)
(8)
(25)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
369
chi
chi-fo
chi-gTk
chih-dT
chihn-bihn
chihn-gei-nihn
chihng-fong
chihn-m6.ahn
chihn-nin
chihn-yaht
chih-sihn
chlm-jing
chin
chin
chin
ching-ch6
ching-git
chin-keih
chin-laahm-slk
chi-sin
chi-s6
chit-beih
chit-gai
chiu-gwo
cho
ch6h
ch6h
ch6h-gaam
ch6h-hoi-dT
ch6h-1Tp
ch6h-maai h-dT
chohng
choi
choi-che
choi-che -s6.u
choih-g6.am
choi-m6.h
cho-kap
370
time, occasion
seconds
exciting
later
front
a few years ago
situation, circumstances
the evening of the day before yesterday
the year before last
the day before yesterday
charity
visa
light (coloured); shallow
money
thousand
clear, clearly
cleaning
whatever you do, don't
light blue
crazy
toilet
facilities, equipment
design
to exceed
ve: error
to travel by
sit
to be in prison
sit further away
to ride in a lift
sit closer
bed
vegetables; food, cuisine
motor racing
racing driver
to cut, reduce
to race horses
elementary, first grade
(6)
(5)
(9)
(2)
(12)
(18)
(16)
(11)
(10)
(9)
(13)
(15)
(25)
(5)
(11)
(18)
(25)
(16)
(25)
(16)
(10)
(15)
(11)
(19)
(19)
(6)
(3)
(18)
(17)
(25)
(17)
(15)
(t.)
(16)
(16)
(19)
(13)
(2t.)
chouh
ch6uh-yc1uh-piu
chuhng
chuhng-leuhng
chung
chung-h!uhng
chung-h!uhng-f6ng
chyuh-chuk
chyuh-f6ng
chyuhn
chyuhn-bouh
chyuhn-jon
chyuhn-jon-gei
chyuhn-kauh
chyu-leih
noisy
to collect stamps
heavy
weight
to rush, dash against
to have a shower
bathroom
savings; to save
kitchen
the whole
all, the whole lot
fax
fax machine
global
to handle, deal with
d6.
daahn-haih
daahn-sing
daai
daai
daaih
daaih-dong
daaih-fOng
daaih-g6.am-ga
daaih-hohk
daaih-muhn-h6.u
Daaih-sai-yeung
daaih-seng
daaih-tohng
daaih-wu ih-tohng
daaih-yeuk
Daaih-yahn
doan-che
daan-yahn-chohng
daap
daap-dok-d6u
daap-mh-d6u
hit
but
flexible
to lead
wear
big
gambling den
tasteful, sophisticated
sale
university
main doorway
Atlantic Ocean
loud, in a loud voice
lobby
city hall
approximately
Your Honour, Your Excellency
bicycle
single bed
travel by
able to catch
unable to catch
(25)
(2t.)
(12)
(15)
(12)
(25)
(25)
(19)
(t.)
(12)
(23)
(22)
(22)
(23)
(22)
(9)
(6)
(22)
(2)
( 11)
(3)
(13)
( 11)
(5)
(6)
(20)
(19)
( 11)
(26)
(6)
(20)
(18)
(16)
(15)
(3)
(18)
(18)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
371
da-bo
da-dihn-wci
da-f6
da-f6-gei
da-rung
da-gciau
da-gip
dahk-biht
dahk-daaih
dahk-faai
Dahk-keui
Dahk-sau
da-hoh-bciau
dai
daihdaih-mei
daih-ycit
daih-yih
da-jih
dcik
dcik
dcik
Dcik-gwok
dcik-hciahn
da-lehng-tciai
da-mcih-jeuk
dang
dang
dcing
dang
dcing-d aai h-deu i
ngaahn
dang-dang
dang-ng6h-bei
da-sou
da-syun
da-yan
da-yan-gei
372
play ball
to make a phone call
to strike fire
cigarette lighter
a typhoon
fight
rob
special
XL, extra-large
express
Special Administrative Region (SAR)
Chief Executive of SAR
purse snatching, to pick pockets
worth it
(makes ordinal numbers)
last in order
the first
the second, the next
to type
OK
can
ve: in such a way
Germany
at leisure
to tie a necktie
to play Mahjong
let, allow
wait
a light
to stare, open the eyes
take a good look
etcetera
let me pay
sweep
intend
to print
printer
(9)
(10)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(8)
(18)
(18)
(23)
(12)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(18)
(15)
(6)
(22)
(6)
(6)
(22)
(5)
(6)
(15)
(1)
(13)
(10)
(13)
(5)
(t.)
(12)
(17)
(17)
(15)
(5)
(25)
(8)
(22)
(22)
deih-fOng
deih-hcl
deih-hah-tit-louh
deih-ji
deih-Jln
Deih-jung-h6i
deih-h!ih
deih-min
deih-tit
deih-tit-jaahm
deng
deui
deui
deui
deui-rhh-jyuh
deui-mihn
deui-wuhn-ll!ut
dT
dihn
dihn-che
dihn-daan-che
dihng-haih
dihn-ji
dihn-n6uh
dihn-nyuhn-louh
dihn-sih-gei
dihn-toih
dihn-wa
dihn-yauh
dihn-yauh
dihn-ying
diht-jeuih
dTk-si
drk-si h-go u
dim
dim(-yeung)
dim-gaai
dim-sam
place
ground floor, the ground, the floor
underground railway
address
carpet
Mediterranean Sea
geography
the floor
underground railway
underground station
cl: for hats
exchange money
cl: a pair of
with regard to, towards
sorry
opposite
exchange rate
cl: for plurals and uncountable things
electricity
tram
motorbike
or?
electronic
computer
electric heater
television set
radio station
telephone
petrol
email
film (cinema)
order
taxi
discotheque
a point, spot, dot
how? in what way?
why?
dim sum
(6)
(3)
(6)
(20)
(25)
(19)
(12)
(25)
(6)
(6)
(11)
(19)
(16)
(9)
(1)
(12)
(19)
(t.)
(16)
(9)
(16)
(13)
(25)
(22)
(8)
(15)
(13)
(10)
(16)
(22)
(9)
(12)
(3)
(2t.)
(23)
(5)
(t.)
(23)
dit
diuh-tciuh
do
do-dT
do-jeh
do-jeh-saai
dong
dong-h6.u
dong-yin
d6u
d6u
dou
dou
dou
d6u-bo
d6u-cheuhng
d6u-chin
d6u-g6.u
dou-gei
d6u-gu-piu
douh
douh
d6u-m6.h
d6u-ngoih-wui h
d6u-pe-p6.ai
dou-yih-ga-waih-ji
do-yuh
duhk-laahp
duhk-syu
dung
dung-bak
dung-bihn
dung-naahm
dung-tln
dyun
to fall,fa/1 down
turn to face the other way
many, much
a little more
thank you
thank you very much
regard as
street stall
of course
to gamble on, bet on
ve: successfully
all, both
also
arrive, arrive at, reach
to bet on football
casino
to gamble with money
to bet on dogs
quite
to gamble on shares
cl: for doors
road, street
bet on horses
to gamble on foreign exchange
to gamble at cards
up to now
surplus
independent
study
east
northeast
the east side
southeast
winter
short
faahn
faahn
rice ,food
to offend, commit crime
374
(19)
(16)
(3)
(15)
(5)
(15)
(t.)
(5)
(13)
(13)
(8)
(t.)
(1)
(6)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(3)
(13)
(25)
(3)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(18)
(9)
(22)
(12)
(6)
(6)
(12)
(6)
(8)
(22)
(t.)
(18)
fciahn-duhk
faahn-teng
fcia hn-wi hng
faahn-wun
faai
faai-dT
faai-ji
faai-lohk
fcian
fcian-gung
ffian-taan
fcian-ying
Faat-gwok
faat-gwun
faat-muhng
faat-sang
fahn-ji
faht-chin
fai-yuhng
fan-gaau
fan-lihn
fan-mh-jeuk
fcin-mihn
ffi-yeung
Fa-yuhn-Douh
fci-yun
fei
fei
fei-faat
tei-gei
fei-gei-cheu hng
fei-gei-piu
Fei-jau
fei-16.m
fO
f6-buhn
fo-bun
f6-che
to peddle drugs
dining room
prosperous
rice bowl
fast, quick, quickly
get a move on!
chopsticks
happy
return
go to work
fan tan
reaction
France
a judge
to dream
happen, occur, transpire
element, member
to fine, be fined
cost, fee
sleep
training, to train
unable to get to sleep
to give birth
pattern
Garden Road
flower garden
ticket
to fly
illegal
aircraft
airport
air ticket
Africa
film (for camera)
a subject, a discipline
partner
textbook
railway train
(17)
(25)
(13)
(25)
(15)
(17)
(16)
(23)
(3)
(22)
(13)
(16)
(1)
(18)
(25)
(18)
(12)
(18)
(15)
(16)
(2t.)
(25)
(22)
(11)
(3)
(2)
(15)
(2t.)
(13)
(6)
(6)
(15)
(19)
(25)
(12)
(19)
(12)
(6)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
375
f6-che-ta uh
fO-geih
fOhng-gaan
fO-hohk
fOng-bihn
fong-ga
fong-gung
fOng-mihn
fuh-gahn
fuh-jaak
fuhk-mouh
fuhk-mouh-yuhn
fui-sTk
fuk
fuk-leih
fung
fung
fung-fu
fun-sTk
fun-yihng
(railway) engine
science and technology
room
science
convenient
holiday
finish work
aspect
nearby
responsible
service
waiter; one who serves
grey
cl: for paintings
benefits, welfare
cl: for letters
wind
rich, abundant
style
welcome
(19)
(2t.)
(15)
(12)
(17)
(9)
ga
ga
ga? ge +a?
gaai
gaai-hclu
gaai-siuh
gaam-san
gaam-siu
gaan
gaan-daan
gaan-jip
gaan-jung
gaau
gaau-dihm
gaau-mh-dihm
gaau-syu
gaau-tung
(12)
(17)
(2)
376
(22)
(12)
(t.)
(22)
(15)
(15)
(12)
(2t.)
(22)
(20)
(8)
(13)
(5)
(22)
(3)
(6)
(t.)
(19)
(9)
(3)
(20)
(22)
(10)
(15)
(19)
(19)
(12)
(12)
gciau-tung-dang
gaau-yuhk
ga-chihn
ga-chihn-paai
ga-te
ga-fe-slk (fe-sTk.)
ga-ga
gahn or kclhn
ga-keih
gam
gam
gam
gcim-jiu-j6u
gcim-maahn
gcim-nfn
gam-noih
gam-seu hng-ha
gam-sTk
gcim-yaht
gam-yeung
gcin
gan
Gci-ncih-daaih
gcin-jyuh
gan-yiu
ga-sai
gau
gau
gau
gauh
gauh-nfn
gau-jai-gdm
gau-jung
gci-yahp
ge
ge
ge
ge
traffic light
education
price
price tag
coffee
brown
to increase price
close to
holiday
dare
so, in that case
so
this morning
this evening, tonight
this year
so long a time
approximately
gold, golden
today
in that case, so
catty
ve: -ing
Canada
following, accordingly
important
driving, to drive
dog
nine
enough
old (not new), used
last year
relief money
time's up
to join, recruit into
fp: that's how it is!
links adjectives to nouns
shows possession; -'s
fp: puzzlement
(12)
(12)
(11)
(11)
(3)
(12)
(23)
(20)
(22)
(18)
(3)
(t.)
(t.)
(11)
(8)
(18)
(9)
(12)
(t.)
(3)
(5)
(t.)
(1)
(19)
(21)
(16)
(13)
(2)
(16)
(8)
(8)
(18)
(13)
(17)
(3)
(t.)
(2)
(25)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
377
gei
gei
gei
gei?
gei-cheuhng
gei-dcik
gei-do
gei-ruh
gei-gam ... laak
gei-hei
gei-nihm
gei-noih
gei-piu
gei-st or gei-sih
gei-wuih
gei-yuhk
ge-la
geui-baahn
geuk
geuk-jai
gihn
gihn-hong
gtm-chah
gtm-hung
Gim-kiuh
gin
gin-chih
gtng-chaat
ging-gwo
ging-jai
ging-leih
gtng-yuhn-jing
git-chuk
git-gw6
giu
g6
go
g6-douh
378
(3)
(20)
(9)
(9)
(6)
(9)
(5)
(18)
(18)
(2t.)
(20)
(20)
(15)
(8)
(22)
(9)
(5)
(15)
(16)
(16)
(5)
(9)
(25)
(12)
(6)
(8)
(25)
(12)
(11)
(19)
(15)
(17)
(19)
(16)
(17)
(2)
(2)
(5)
g6i
g6i-bin
g6-jahn-sih
gok-dak
go-kehk
g6ng
G6ng-ji (G6ng-yllhn)
gong-kcihm
g6ng-siu
gon-jehng
g6n-jyuh
g6-syu
gou
gu
gu-dak-d6u
gu-duhk
gu-haak
guhk
guih
gu-rilh-d6u
gung-fo
gung-guhng
gu ng-gwcian
gung-hei
gung-jok
gung-ll!ih
gung-sT
gung-ycihn
gu-piu
gwciai
gwcian-haih
gwa-houh
gw6.i
gwai
gwai-gwok
gwaih-t6i
gw6.i-16u
gwai-sing-a?
alter
to change, alter
at that time
feel
opera
speak
Hong Kong dollars
piano
to joke
clean
hurrying
there
high, tall
guess
able to guess
solitary
customer, client
bureau, office, department
tired
unable to guess
homework
public
public relations
congratulations
work
kilometre
company
worker, servant
stocks and shares
'good boy', well behaved, obedient
relationship, relevance, connection
to register
a ghost
expensive
your country
counter
ghost fellow (westerner)
what is your name?
(8)
(2t.)
(10)
(9)
(2t.)
(9)
(19)
(2t.)
(16)
(15)
(15)
(5)
(10)
(2)
(18)
(2t.)
(23)
(16)
(2t.)
(18)
(12)
(12)
(15)
(23)
(22)
(23)
(8)
(25)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(10)
(21)
(1)
(23)
(15)
(10)
(1)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
379
gwcin-deui
gwcin-fuhk
gwa-ngau
gwcin-ycihn
gwo
gwo
gwo-b6ng
gwo-chuhng
gwok-gci
gw6ng-bo
Gw6ng-dung
Gw6ng-d ung-choi
Gw6ng-jciu
Gw6ng-jciu-w6
gwong-maahng
gwo-sih
gwun
gwun
gwun-ll!ih
army
military uniform
peg
soldier, military personnel
ve: past, across, by
than
to weigh
overweight
country, state
to broadcast
Guangdong (province)
Cantonese food
Guangzhou (Canton)
Cantonese language
bright
overtime
control, be in charge of
an official, an officer
management, manage
ha
hci
hciahng
hciah ng-gaa i
hciah ng-hoi-j6
hciahng-louh
hciahng-scian
haak-hei
haak-teng
hcian
haau
haau-si
hah
hah-(ydt)-chi
hah-bihn
hah-go-laih-baai
hah-go-yu ht
hah-jau
prawn, shrimp
ha hal
to walk
go out into the streets
not here
walk
walk in the country
polite
living room, lounge
to save; stingy
to examine, to test
examination
ve: briefly
next time
under, underside
next week
next month
afternoon. p.m.
hahm-baah(ng)-laahng
hahng
hahng-leih
hah-pah
hahp-kwcli-gaak
hahp-leih
hah-trn
hai
hai-douh
haih
hok-sTk (hoak-sTk)
hclng
hclu-bouh
hauh-bihn
hauh-loih
hauh-maahn
hauh-nin
hauh-saang
hauh-saang-jai
hauh-yaht
hei-che
hei-dim
hei-tei
hei-hauh
hei-laih
hei-mohng
hei-san
hei-yauh-chi-leih
heng
heui
heung
heung
Heung-g6ng
heung-ha
heung-sauh
hing-cheui
hing-daih
Hoh
all told
to journey, go towards
luggage
chin
to qualify, meet requirements
reasonable
summer
at, in, on
at the indicated place
be
black
willing
the mouth
back
later, afterwards
evening of the day after tomorrow
year after next
young
youngster
day after tomorrow
vehicle, car
start
to take off (aircraft)
climate
ve: when it comes to it
hope, to hope
getup
how could that be?
light (in weight)
go, go to
fragrant
towards
Hong Kong
countryside
enjoy
interest
brothers
a surname: Ho
(20)
(6)
(15)
(9)
(17)
(23)
(8)
(2)
(11)
(1)
(12)
(22)
(9)
(12)
(25)
(11)
(10)
(12)
(12)
(10)
(12)
(22)
(15)
(23)
(11)
(10)
(10)
(16)
(15)
(2)
(23)
(6)
(3)
(6)
(15)
(13)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
(3)
(1)
381
hohk
hohk-haauh
hohk-saang
hohng-noi h-yahn
hoi
hoi
hoi
h6i
hoi-che
hoi-chi
hoi-gung
hoi-sam
h6i-sTn
h6i-tdan
h6-nahng
h6-srk
h6u
h6u
h6u
h6u-chih
h6u-ch6i
h6u-do
h6u-gam
houh
h6u-meih
h6u-noih-m6uh-gin
h6u-sihk
h6u-tai
h6u-teng
h6u-w6.an
h6u-ydm
h6-yih
huhng-dang
huhng-luhk-ddng
huhng-sTk
hung
hung-yciuh
hyun
hyut
382
to learn
school
pupil, student
insider, expert
run/start a business
open
ve: open a gap
sea
start/drive a car
begin, start
start work, start a job
happy
seafood
the beach
possible that, possibility
it's a pity that, unfortunately
good
very
ve: satisfactorily
just like
lucky, fortunately
a lot more
favourable impression
day of the month
delicious
long time no see
delicious (to eat)
good-looking, attractive
harmonious, melodic
good fun, enjoyable
delicious (to drink)
may, can
red light
traffic lights
red
empty
airmail
advise, urge, plead with
blood
(12)
(12)
(12)
(15)
(23)
(19)
(17)
(25)
(16)
(23)
(22)
(8)
(23)
(8)
(16)
(11)
(1)
(1)
(20)
(t.)
(12)
(16)
(23)
(20)
(t.)
(3)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(6)
(12)
(12)
(5)
(11)
(20)
(2t.)
(16)
jaahm-sih
jaahp-gwaan
jaahp-hclu
jaahp-jung
jaak
jaan
jaan
jaau(-fclan)-chin
jci-che
jai
jcii
jai-douh
jai-fuhk
jai-neui
jam
jcing
jcing-gci
jcin-haih
jcit-dei
jau
jau
jau-dim
jau-gci
jauh
jauh-faai
jauh-jcin
jau-lciuh
jau-16ng
jau-naahn
jau-wui
je
jek
jek
jek
jeuhn(-leuhng)
jeui
jeui-gahn
jeuih
jeuih-mihng
temporary
accustomed to; habit
gate, gateway
concentrated, centralized
narrow
praise
cl: for lamps and lights
to give change
drive
son
to put, place
system
uniform
children
pour
hate
to increase
truly
quality
alcoholic drink
run, run away
hotel
Chinese restaurant
then
soon
that's for sure!
Chinese restaurant
passage, corridor
flee disaster; take refuge
reception, cocktail party
fp: only, and that's all
cl: one of a pair
cl: for animals
fp: only, and that's all
so far as possible
most
recently
crime
charge, accusation
(20)
(2t.)
(15)
(23)
(16)
(11)
(12)
(20)
(6)
(10)
(8)
(22)
(17)
(22)
(25)
(2t.)
(13)
(t.)
(5)
(8)
(3)
(15)
(23)
(t.)
(23)
(25)
(t.)
(8)
(6)
(11)
(3)
(16)
(5)
(3)
(19)
(6)
(19)
(18)
(18)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
383
jeuih-on
jeui-stu
jeuk
jeuk
jeun
jeun
jeun-bouh
leung
jeung
jeung-ban
jeung-loih
jeun-tip
jt
ji
ji
ji
jt(-haih)
ji-chihn
ji-dou
ji-ffing
jih
jt-haih
ji-hauh
jih-gei
jihk-jip
jihm-jtm
jihng
jih-On
jih-yuhn
Jlk-haih
Jlk-yllhn
Jl-mah
jt-muih
jing
jtng
jing-ru
jing-haih
jtn-16.ahm
384
criminal case
at least
a bird
wear
permit
bottle, bottle of
progress
a surname: Cheung
cl: for sheet-like objects
prize
future
allowance, grant
paper
cl: for stick-/ike objects
to know (a fact)
only then
only
before
know (a fact)
body fat
characters; five minutes
only
after
self
direct, directly
gradually
quiet
law and order
voluntarily, willing
that is to say
staff, employee, clerk
fp: only
sisters
certificate, pass
make, prepare
government
just happens to be
show, exhibition
(13)
(18)
(2t.)
(11)
(17)
(10)
(2t.)
(1)
(2)
(13)
(2t.)
(22)
(20)
(2)
(8)
(10)
(t.)
(10)
(8)
(9)
(15)
(t.)
(6)
(2t.)
(22)
(8)
(25)
(18)
(18)
(5)
(19)
(12)
(3)
(17)
(t.)
(12)
(11)
(11)
ji-noih
ji-piu
jt-sTk
jit-muhk
jiu-j6u
ji-yat
jt-yiu
j6
j6-(s6.u-)bihn
joh
johng
joi
joi-chi
joi-gin
jok-au
j6u
j6u-chaan
jouh
jouh-gung
jouh-mat-yeh?
jou h-saa ng-yi
j6u-scihn
j6-yiu h-yauh-baai
juhng
juhng
juhng-meih
juk-kciuh
juk-kei
jung
jung-dtm
jung-ffi
jung-gaan
lung-gwok
] ung-gwok-choi
] ung-gwok-wa
lung-gwok-ycihn
jung-hohk
jung-leuih
within
a cheque
purple
programme
morning
one of the
so long as, provided that
ve: completion
left side
cl: for massive things
run into, knock into
again
another time, a second time
goodbye
to retch, about to vomit
early
breakfast
do
to work
why? for what reason?
to do business
good morning
shaking from side to side
still, yet
even more; furthermore
still not yet
soccer
play chess
clock
finish
to cultivate flowers
in the middle of, in between
China
Chinese food
Chinese language
a Chinese
secondary school
type, kind, species
(6)
(19)
(12)
(15)
(t.)
(6)
(9)
(t.)
(12)
(25)
(16)
(t.)
(18)
(1)
(10)
(t.)
(22)
(3)
(22)
(3)
(t.)
(1)
(10)
(3)
(8)
(16)
(13)
(2t.)
(15)
(22)
(2t.)
(12)
(2)
(23)
(18)
(10)
(12)
(23)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
385
Jung-mcihn
jung-tciuh
Jung-wciahn
Jung-yi
jung-yi
jyu
jyu
jyu-choi
jyuh
jyuh
jYtJ-jai
jyun
jyun-ga
jyu-sihk-louh
jyu-ycihn-f6ng
jyu-yi
jyu-yi
jyu-yuhk
Chinese language
hour
Central District
Chinese medicine
like,fond of
pig
cook
main course
ve: sustain
live, dwell
piglet
turn, change
expert, specialist
cooking stove
master bedroom
idea
pay attention to
pork
kcihm-maahn
kcihm-yaht
kahn
ka-laai-ou-ke i
kap-duhk
kap-yahn
kciu-tung
keih
keih-gwaai
keih-saht
keih-ta
keu hng-gcian
keuih
king-gai
kwaang
kwaang-gu ng-sT
kwcii-dihng
kyuhn
kyut-dihng
kyut-faht
decide
lack
Ia
1a
laahm-slk
laahn
16.ahng
16.a hng-hei -gei
16.ahng-tin
laahp-saap
laahp-saap-tung
laaht-taat
laai
laai
laak
laih
16.ih-baai
laih-ge/ga?
16.u
lauh
lauh
lauh-dai
lauh-fclan
lauh-tai
lehng-taai
Leih
leih
leih-d6u
leih-hoi
ll!ih-yauh
Ieng
Leuhn-Deun
leuhn-dou
ll!uhng
leuhn-pun
ll!uih-bihn
(25)
(2t.)
(3)
(3)
(12)
(5)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(t.)
(t.)
(15)
(17)
(17)
(3)
(3)
(5)
(19)
(3)
(16)
(2t.)
(25)
(2t.)
(25)
(8)
(1)
(25)
(6)
(9)
(25)
(1)
(6)
(16)
(2)
(13)
(9)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
38 7
leuih-yauh
lihk-st
lihn ... dou ...
lihng
lihng
lihn-jaahp
lihn-jaahp-b6u
lihn-juhk
ITp
lo
16
lohk
lohk-hauh
lohk-heui
lohk-laih
lohk-y(lh
loih-w6hng
16-tcli
16uh
louh-bln
louh-mtn
16uh-saht
louh-tOih
16uh-yahn
luhk
luhk-dang
luhk-sTk
luhng
luhng-ha
tourism, travel
history
even
cause
zero
practise
exercise book
in succession, consecutively
lift
fp: agreement with previous speaker
take
alight
backward, old fashioned
ve: continue
ve: downward
rain
coming and going; current (account)
naked, nude
old, elderly
the roadside
road surface
honest
balcony
the elderly, the aged
six
green light
green
dragon
lobster
(15)
(12)
(17)
(18)
(11)
(2t.)
(12)
(19)
(25)
(15)
(15)
(6)
(25)
(19)
(11)
(8)
(19)
(17)
(6)
(17)
(15)
(13)
(25)
(18)
(2)
(12)
(12)
(26)
(t.)
ma?
m6.ahn
maahn
maahn
m6.ahn-chaan
m6.ahn-faahn
m6.aih
maaih
(1)
(6)
(16)
(11)
(23)
(23)
(2)
(1)
388
mciaih
maaih-choi
mciaih-doan
maaih-mah
maaih-sung
maau
mah
mah-cheuhng
mcih-fciahn
mah-louh
mcih-ma
mahn
mcihn-gfn
mahn-tciih
maih
man
mat-yeh
mciu-dcii
mciuh-saat
mauh-yihk
me?
meih
meih
meih-bo-louh
Meih-gam (Meih-yuhn)
Meih-gwok
Meih-jciu
mh
mh-cho
mh-dok
mh-dihm
mh gan-yiu
mh-gin-j6
mh-goi
mh-goi-saai
mh-gwaai-dok
mh-haih-gei
mh-haih-h6u
ve: close up to
food shopping
make out the bill
bet on horses
food shopping
cat
horse
racecourse
trouble
road
mother
ask a question
document
problem
don't!
dollar
what? what kind of?
squat down, crouch
murder, to murder
trade
fp: do you mean to say that
not yet
tail, end
microwave oven
American dollars
USA
America (Continent)
not
not bad
no can do
can't cope, can't manage
never mind
lost
thank you
thank you very much
no wonder
not very
not very
(17)
(23)
(23)
(1 t.)
(23)
(2t.)
(13)
(13)
(12)
(6)
(3)
(2)
(22)
(15)
(t.)
(5)
(2)
(10)
(18)
(19)
(5)
(10)
(17)
(25)
(19)
(1)
(19)
(1)
(11)
(5)
(19)
(2)
(2t.)
(2)
(15)
(23)
(3)
(3)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
389
mh-h6u
mh-jf
mh-ji
mh-sai
mh-sfu-dcik
mh-syu-fuhk
mfhn-fai
mihng-baahk
mihng-seu n-pfn
mfhn-seui
miht-f6-tung
mohng
m6u
m6uh
m6uh-mahn-tciih
muhk-dTk
muhn
muhn
muhn-hau
muih
muih-hei
don't
not only
I don't know; I wonder
no need to
not less than
unwell, uncomfortable
free of charge
understand
postcard
tax free, duty free
fire extinguisher
busy
hat, cap
have not
no problem!
aim,purpose
bored
door
doorway
each, every
town gas
naahm
naahm
naahm-bihn
naahm-chi(-s6)
Naahm-tei
naahm-gung-yahn
naahm-hohk-sciang
naahm-pahng-yduh
naahm-yan
naahn
nahl
nam
nau
Nau-yeuk
ne?
ne?
male
south
southside
gentlemen's toilet
South Africa
male servant
boy pupils/students
boyfriend
man, adult male person
difficult
there! here it is, look!
think about
angry
New York
fp: for rhetorical questions
fp: repeats same question
390
(t.)
(18)
(11)
(t.)
(15)
(10)
(5)
(12)
(20)
(15)
(8)
(10)
(11)
(3)
(15)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(20)
(20)
(12)
(25)
(9)
(6)
(12)
(17)
(1)
(25)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(5)
(20)
(t.)
(18)
(5)
(1)
neih, neih-deih
neih-tai
neih-wah
neui
neuih
neuih-chi(-s6)
neuih-ging
neui h-hoh k-sci ang
neuih-pahng-yau h
neuih-siu-fOhng-yU hn
neuih-ycin
ngaahn
ngaahng
ngaahn-slk
ngaam
ngaam-ngaam
ngaam-ngaam
ngahn-chin
ngahn-hohng
ngahn-sTk
ngai
ngaih-him
ngauh
ngauh-yuhk
ngh
ngh-sTng-ka p
ngh-wuih
ng6h
ngoih-bihn
ngoih-gwok
ngoih-h6ng-yahn
ngoih-tou
ngoih-wuih
nT
nT-douh
nT-gei-nihn
nT-gei-yaht
nT-go-yuht
you
in your opinion
in your opinion
daughter
female
ladies' toilet
policewoman
girl pupils/students
girlfriend
firewoman
woman, adult female
eye
hard, unyielding
colour
correct
moment ago
exactly, precisely
dollar
bank
silver-coloured
low
danger
cow, ox
beef
five
five star, top class
misunderstand
I, me
outside
foreign country
layman, outsider
jacket
foreign exchange
this, these
here
these last few years
these last few days
this month
(1)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(17)
(11)
(5)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(20)
(19)
(12)
(25)
(2t.)
(t.)
(t.)
(2)
(15)
(16)
(1)
(12)
(18)
(19)
(11)
(13)
(2)
(5)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(17)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
391
nihn
nihn-meih
ning
nT-syu
noih
noih-h6ng-ycihn
noih-yuhng
nyuhn
year
end of the year
bring
here
long time
insider, expert
contents
warm
(8)
(22)
(16)
(5)
6hl
ok-muhng
on-chyuhn
oul
ou-jau
Ou-mun
(t.)
(25)
(25)
(1)
(1)
(13)
pa
paak-w6.i
p6.au-m6.h
pahng-y6.uh
pah-saan
pehng
pei-yllh
pe-p6.ai
pihng-gwan
pihng-yciuh
p6u-pin
pou-t6.u
p6u-tung
P6u-tung-w6.
p6u-tung-yahn
puih
pun
fear
to park a car
horse racing
friend
climb mountains, walk in the hills
cheap
for example
playing cards
average
surface mail
common (widespread)
shop
common
Putonghua (Mandarin)
an ordinary chap
to keep company with
to sentence
(8)
(16)
(19)
(2)
(9)
(5)
(16)
(13)
(12)
(20)
(18)
(5)
(18)
(18)
(18)
(25)
(18)
saai
saai
saai-taai-yeuhng
sa am
ve: completely
waste
to sunbathe
three
(15)
(8)
(8)
(2)
392
(3)
(15)
(9)
(15)
sa am
saam-kwcihn
sci an
saan-bouh
Saan-deng
sciang
sciang-gw6
sciang-yaht
sciang-yi
saan-seui
sahp
sahp-fan
sahp-go-baat-go
saht-joih
saht-yuhng
sai
s6.i
scii
s6.i
scii-bok
scii-bihn
scii-chaan
sai-gaai
sai-man-jai
scii-naahm
s6.i-scin
s6.i-scin-f6ng
s6.i-wun-gei
Sai-yahn
Sai-yi
sai-yi-gei
sci-jin
sci-leut
scim
scim-gei
scin
scin-ching
scin-fcln-jing
clothing
dress
mountain, hill
to stroll, go walking
The Peak, hilltop
raw, 'rare'; unripe
fruit
birthday
business
to scatter away
ten
totally
nine or ten
in fact, really
practical
small
wash
west
to drive
northwest
westside
western food
world
children
southwest
to bathe
bathroom
dishwasher
a westerner
western medicine
washing machine
sergeant
salad
deep
mind, thoughts
new
apply
identity card
(8)
(5)
(9)
(2t.)
(22)
(19)
(t.)
(23)
(t.)
(17)
(2)
(18)
(10)
(11)
(8)
(5)
(15)
(6)
(16)
(6)
(12)
(23)
(6)
(22)
(6)
(15)
(15)
(25)
(9)
(10)
(25)
(17)
(t.)
(25)
(22)
(5)
(17)
(17)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
393
scin-fu
san-fun
scing-wuht
scing-wuht fOng-srk
scin-mahn
San-scii-laahn
scin-seui
scin-sin
scin-tcli
sat-baaih
sau-bTu
sau-cheung
sciu-d6u
sciu-faat
sauh(-d6u)
sau-jai
sau-juhk-fai
sau-juk
sciu-h!ih
sau-scin
sau-sin
sau-tclih
sau-taih-dihn-wa
sau-yaht
se
sehngsehng-yaht
seh-wui
sei
sei
Sei-chjun
Sei-chjun-choi
sei-jai
se-jih-lauh
se-mihng
seng
sehng
seuhng
394
hard, distressing
new style
to live; livelihood
life-style
news
New Zealand
salary
fresh
body
a loss, a failure
wristwatch
handgun, pistol
receive
receive and send
to suffer
handbrake
handling charge
brothers (secret society)
repair
conduct a body search
first of all
portable
mobile phone
first day
write
the whole
the whole day
society
die, dead
four
Sichuan (Szechwan)
Sichuan food
deadbeats, bastards
office
written clearly
wake up
ve: become
go up
(12)
(11)
(18)
(2t.)
(13)
(1)
(22)
(t.)
(9)
(12)
(2)
(17)
(19)
(22)
(2t.)
(16)
(20)
(17)
(16)
(17)
(20)
(15)
(15)
(20)
(19)
(9)
(9)
(12)
(5)
(2)
(23)
(23)
(17)
(2)
(19)
(16)
(8)
(17)
seuhng
seuhng-(yat)-chi
seuhng-baan
seuhng-bihn
seuhng-che
seuhng-go-yuht
Seuhng-h6i
seuhng-jau
seuhng-m6hng
seuhng-scian
seuhng-sT
seuhng-sou
seui
seui
seui-teui
seui-yihn
seuih-f6ng
seun
seun
seun-fung
seung
seung
seung
seung
seung-fclan
seung-gei
seung-jeuhng
seung-pfn
seung-scin
seung-seun
seung-yahn-chohng
seun-jf
si
sr-gei
sih
sih-do
sih-gaan
sih-hauh
ve: onto
last time
go to work, go on shift
on top of
get onto a vehicle
last month
Shanghai
morning, a.m.
surf the internet
go up the hill
superior officer, boss
appeal to a higher court
water
year of age
go into decline
although
bedroom
believe
letter
envelope
cl: pair of
double
to wound, a wound
would like to
on the contrary
camera
to imagine
photograph
double salary
to believe, trust
double bed
letter paper
try
driver
matter, business
a store
time
time
(8)
(15)
(22)
(12)
(17)
(17)
(22)
(15)
(22)
(17)
(17)
(18)
(5)
(9)
(19)
(18)
(1 t.)
(t.)
(19)
(20)
(16)
(9)
(16)
(2)
(11)
(17)
(18)
(17)
(22)
(19)
(15)
(20)
(11)
(12)
(2)
(25)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
(3)
(8)
395
sih-hou
sih-jong
sihk
sfh-keui
sihk-faahn
sihk-maht
sfh-mahn
sihng-Jlk.
sihng-laahp
sihng-sfh
sih-sih
sTk
sTk-hahp
sTk-heung-meih
sin
sing
sing
sing-gaak
si ng-gong-gei
sing-keih
sin-jeun
sin-ji
sin-saang
sin-saang
sfu
siu
Sfusfu-ba
siu-fOhng-guhk
siu-fOhng-yuhn
sfu-hohk
sfu-je
sfu-leuhn
sfu-sam
sfu-sih
siu-sTk
sfu-sfu
si-yuhng-keih
396
hobby
fashion
eat
urban area
to eat, have a meal
food
citizen
result, score, report
established, to establish
city, town
always
know how to
suitable to, fitting
appearance, aroma and flavour
first
rise, go up
surname
temperament, disposition
lift
week
advanced
only then
teacher
Mr
few, little
smile
Little (name prefix)
minibus
fire brigade
fireman
primary school
Miss
ferry
careful
hour
news, information
somewhat
probationary period
(2t.)
(11)
(t.)
(6)
(t.)
(23)
(12)
(16)
(18)
(18)
(8)
(t.)
(13)
(23)
(6)
(19)
(1)
(2t.)
(25)
(5)
(22)
(10)
(12)
(1)
(t.)
(16)
(22)
(6)
(17)
(17)
(12)
(1)
(6)
(16)
(25)
(23)
(5)
(22)
s6
50-fcl-yt
sou-hohk
sou-mah
s6-yth
suhk
suhk-sTk.
sung
sung
syu
syu
syu-faat
syu-fuhk
syun
syun-sat
syut-gou
syut-gwaih
lock
sofa, easy chair
mathematics
digital
therefore
cooked; ripe
familiar with
deliver, send
food
book
lose
calligraphy
comfortable
to be regarded as, to be reckoned
a loss
ice cream
refrigerator
(25)
(11)
(12)
(17)
(t.)
(19)
(15)
(6)
(t.)
(12)
taai
Taai-gwok
Taai-pihng-yeu hng
taai-tclai
taam
tai
tai-dak-d6u
taih
taih-seng
tai-hei
tel i-rilh-d6u
tcli-syu
tcli-yT-shang
tcluh
tauh-jeung
tcluh-jyu
tauh-sin
tauh-tung
tauh-wahn
tau-ji
too
Thailand
Pacific Ocean
Mrs
visit a person
look at
able to see
to mention
remind
see a play, go to the cinema
unable to see
read
see the doctor
head
first prize
to stake, bet
just now
headache
dizzy
overdraft, to overdraw
(t.)
(18)
(19)
(1)
(13)
(2t.)
(10)
(8)
(23)
(8)
(15)
(3)
(5)
(18)
(25)
(2t.)
(9)
(18)
(1 t.)
(3)
(10)
(13)
(13)
(10)
(10)
(10)
(19)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
397
tau-yeh
teng
teui
teui-yc'iu
teui-yc'iu-gcim
tihm-ban
tihng
tihn-se
tim
ting-maahn
ting-yaht
tin-hei
tin-mahn-tOih
Tin-sTng mah-tc'iuh
tip-seuhng
tiu-gou
tiuh
tiuh-gin
tiu-m6uh
Toh ng-chci an
Toh ng-yc'i hn
t6i
toih
tong
tong-wun
tou
tou-f6ng
t6uh
tuhng
tuhng
tuhng-maaih
tuhng-sih
tuhng-yi
tung
tung-yllhng
steal
listen
push
retire
a pension
dessert
stop
fill in a form
fp: as well, what's more, also
tomorrow night
tomorrow
weather
observatory
Star Ferry Pier
to stick on
to jump high; high jump
cl: for long flexible things
conditions, terms
to dance
Chinese food
a Chinese
table
carry, lift
soup
soup bowl
cl: set of, suit of
en suite
stomach, abdomen
same, alike
with, and
and
colleague
to agree
pain
stretch a point
uk
uk-ga
uk-kei
house
house price
home
398
(18)
(6)
(17)
(22)
(22)
(t.)
(11)
(20)
(8)
(11)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(6)
(20)
(10)
(8)
(22)
(2t.)
(23)
(10)
(19)
(16)
(t.)
(25)
(8)
(25)
(10)
(2t.)
(3)
(2)
(16)
(8)
(10)
(15)
(3)
(25)
(3)
wa
Well
waahk-gwai-geuk
waahk-je
waahk-wll
waahn-ging
waaih
waaih
waaih-gauh
waaih-yih
waan
wah
wah ... jilteng
wahn
wahn-duhng
wahn-fai
wahn-syu
wai
wail
wail
waih-hau
waih-keih
Wai-lihm
wan
wan-jaahp
wihng-chih
Wohng
wohng-ngauh
wohng-sTk
wuh-hau
wuh-jiu
wuh-lyuhn-m6hng
wuhn
wuih
wui
wuih
wuih-gwai
wu-jou
wun
language, speech
wow!
'draw a ghost's leg'
or, perhaps
to paint, draw
environment
go wrong, break down
bad
nostalgia, nostalgic
to suspect
play
say
tell
to transport
physical exercise
transportation costs
to transport
cl: (polite) for people
hello! (on the phone)
hey!
appetite
Go, 'surrounding chess'
William
look for
to revise lessons
swimming pool
a surname: Wong
a brown cow
yellow
bank account
passport
internet
exchange
it is likely that (future possibility)
meeting; club, society
able to
Hong Kong Handover (1997)
dirty
bowl
(t.)
(5)
(21)
(16)
(2t.)
(23)
(16)
(12)
(23)
(17)
(6)
(6)
(8)
(11)
(9)
(25)
(11)
(17)
(10)
(17)
(19)
(2t.)
(10)
(2)
(12)
(15)
(1)
(12)
(12)
(19)
(15)
(22)
(25)
(8)
(13)
(5)
(20)
(15)
(25)
Cantonese-English vocabukuy
399
wun-gwaih
wu-yfhm
cupboard
pollution
yahyahm-hoh
yahn
yahn-deih
yahn-haak
Yahn-mahn-bai h
yahn-sou
yahn-yuhn
yahp
yahp-bihn
yahp-dihn-yauh
yahp-hau
yaht
Yaht-bun
yaht-tau
yah-ycit-dfm
yam
yam-chah
Yan-douh-yeuhng
yan-waih
ycit
ycit ... jauh
ycit-bun
ycit-chai
ycit-chaih
ycit-dT
ycit-dihng
ycit-go-yahn
ycit-go-gwcit
ycit-guhng
Ycit-gwok-ll!uhng-jai
yat-hah
ycit-haih ... ycit-haih ...
ycit-heung
ycit-jahn(-gcian)
twentyany
person
other people
customer
Renminbi, RMB
number of people
personnel, staff
enter
inside
refuel, put petrol in
entrance
day
Japan
daytime
blackjack, pontoon
drink
'drink tea', have dim sum
Indian Ocean
because
one
as soon as
general, the general run of, common
every single one of
together
a little bit
certainly
alone
quarter
altogether
'One country, two systems'
a little bit, once
either... or ...
all along, up to now
in/for a moment
400
(25)
(23)
(13)
(17)
(1)
(Ap)
(19)
(19)
(13)
(25)
(5)
(12)
(16)
(6)
(6)
(1)
(15)
(13)
(8)
(25)
(19)
(t.)
(2)
(2t.)
(12)
(22)
(3)
(9)
(3)
(18)
(15)
(20)
(20)
(15)
(25)
(19)
(2t.)
yat-jihk
yat-lciuh
yat-sih
yat-sihng
yat-yeuhng
vat-yuht
yciuh
yciuh
yauh
yauh
yau h-(sau-)bi hn
yauh ... yauh ...
yauh-behng
yauh-chfn
yauh-dT
yciuh-fai
yciuh-gaan
yciuh-guk
yauh-gwcian
yciuh-haak
yciuh-hei
yciu h-hei -gei
Yciuh-jing-jung-guk
yciuh-keih
yau h-ma t-yeh-si h-a?
yauh-meng
yciuh-piu
yauh-scim
yciuh-seui
yciuh-seui-fu
yauh-sih
yauh-sih
yciuh-tung
yauh-ycihn
yauh-yat-dr
yauh-yuhng
yeh
yeh-
straight
first rate
momentarily, briefly
one tenth
same
January
from
tour, to tour
furthermore
have
right side
both
and
to be ill
rich
some, a little bit
postage
airletter form
post office
relevant
tourist
games
games machine
General Post Office
especially
for what purpose? why?
famous
postage stamp
kind of you
swim
swimming trunks
sometimes
something is wrong
pillar box
somebody
somewhat, a little bit
useful
thing, object
twenty-
(6)
(23)
(16)
(19)
(11)
(17)
(6)
(15)
(7)
(2)
(12)
(5)
(10)
(13)
(10)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(19)
(15)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(20)
(12)
(2)
(6)
(20)
(1)
(5)
(8)
(13)
(16)
(20)
(11)
(10)
(8)
(8)
(13)
Cantonese-English vocabulcuy
40
yeh-mciahn
yehng
yeuhk
yeuhk-seui
yeuhn-yuht
yeuhng
yeuhng
yeuhng-jciu
yeuhng-sihng
yeuhng-yeuhng
yt
ytl
yih
yih-che
yih-ga
yth-ging
yih-mcihn
yihm-juhng
yihn-gam
yihng-jon
yihng-sTk
yihn-hauh
yiht
yiht-seui-louh
yth-wciih
yTk
yi-laaih
yi-liuh
Ying-b6ng
Ying-gwok
ytng-heung
ytng(-seung)
yr-sang
yi-si
yiu
yiu
yiu-cheng
yiuh-wcihn
402
nighttime
win
medicine
(liquid) medicine
intercalary month
kind, sort, type
to rear, keep (pets)
(non-Chinese) liquor
inculcate, form, breed
all kinds of
chair
hello, what's this?
two
moreover
now
already
immigrate, emigrate
serious, desperate
cash, ready money
serious, sincere
recognize; understand
afterwards
hot
water heater, boiler
assume, think
hundred million
to rely on
medical
pound sterling
UK
influence
to photograph
doctor
meaning
must, need to
want
to invite
to shake up
(15)
(13)
(10)
(10)
(17)
(13)
(2t.)
(15)
(2t.)
(13)
(11)
(5)
(2)
(9)
(2)
(8)
(17)
(10)
(19)
(16)
(23)
(10)
(8)
(25)
(11)
(13)
(2t.)
(22)
(19)
(1)
(19)
(17)
(3)
(17)
(3)
(1)
(23)
(10)
yi-yih
yi-yun
yu
yuh-g6ng
yuh-beih
yuh-gw6
yuh-gw6-mh-haih
yuh-ji
yuhk
yuhn
yuhn
yuhn
yuhng
yuhn-gung
yuhng-yih
yuhn-loih
yuhn-ycin
yuht
yuht ... yuht ...
yuht-git-daan
yuht-meih
yuk
meaning, significance
hospital
fish
fishing port
prepare
if
otherwise
to predict
meat
dollar
distant, far
ve: ended
spend, use
staff, employees
easy
originally
reason
moon, month
the more the more
monthly statement
end of the month
make a movement
(23)
(10)
(23)
(6)
(t.)
(t.)
(12)
(2t.)
(t.)
(13)
(25)
(6)
(t.)
(19)
(20)
(20)
(23)
(17)
(19)
(19)
(17)
(17)
English-Cantonese vocabulary
Numbers in brackets indicate the unit in which the entry is
introduced.
a little bit
able to
accompany
accordingly
accuse
accustomed to
actually
address
advanced
Africa
after
afternoon
afterwards
again
agree
aim, purpose
air conditioner
aircraft
airmail
airport
alcoholic drink
alight
alike
all, both
all along
all told
almost
alone
already
also
404
siu-siu
wuih
puih
gan-jyuh
gim-hung
jaahp-gwaan
keih-saht
deih-ji
sin-jeun
Fei-jau
ji-hauh
hah-jau
hauh-loih
joi
tuhng-yi
muhk-dlk
laahng-hei-gei
tei-gei
hung-yauh
(tei-)gei-cheuhng
jau
lohk
tuhng
dou
yat-heung
hahm-baah(ng)-laahng
cha-rhh-do
yat-go-yahn
yih-ging
dou
(5)
(5)
(25)
(19)
(12)
(24)
(19)
(20)
(22)
(19)
(6)
(15)
(25)
(4)
(8)
(24)
(8)
(6)
(20)
(6)
(8)
(6)
(24)
(4)
(19)
(20)
(12)
(18)
(8)
(1)
alter
although
altogether
always
America
American dollars
amusing
and, with
angry
any
appeal
appetite
apply
approximately
Arctic Ocean
army
arrest
arrive
as far as possible
as soon as
as you please
Asia
ask a question
aspect
assume, think
at least
at leisure
at, in, on
Atlantic Ocean
attract
Australia
autumn
average
g6i
seui-yihn
yat-guhng
sih-sih
Meih-jau
Meih-gam, Meih-yllhn
h6u-waan
tuhng-maaih
nau
yahm-hoh
seuhng-sou
waih-hclu
san-chfng
daaih-yeuk
Bak-bing-yeuhng
gwan-deui
laai
dou
jeu h n( -leu h ng)
yat ... jauh
cheuih-bfn
A-jau
mahn
fOng-mihn
yfh-wciih
jeui-sfu
dak-haahn
hai
Daaih-sai-yeuhng
kap-y6.hn
Ou-jau
chau-tln
pihng-gwcin
(8)
(18)
(20)
(8)
(19)
(19)
(13)
(2)
(t.)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(17)
(20)
(19)
(17)
(17)
(6)
(19)
(2t.)
(t.)
(19)
(2)
(12)
(11)
(18)
(13)
(2)
(19)
(13)
(1)
(8)
(12)
back
backward
bad
balcony
hauh-bihn
lohk-hauh
waaih
louh-toih
(12)
(25)
(12)
(25)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
405
bank
bank account
bathroom
be
be forced to
beach
because
bed
bedroom
beef
beer
before
begin, start
believe
bet on horses
better if
bicycle
big
bikini
bill
bird
birthday
black
blood
body
boiler
book
bored
boss
both
and
bowl
breakfast
bring
broadcast
broken, damaged
brothers
bus
bus stop
406
ngahn-hohng
wuh-hclu
chung-h!uhng-f6ng
haih
beih-bTk
h6i-tc'ian
yan-waih
chohng
seuih-f6ng
ngauh-yuhk
be-jau
ji-chihn
hoi-chi
seun
d6u-mah
bat-yllh
dCian-che
daaih
bei-gin-neih
mc'iaih-daan
jeuk
sc'iang-yaht
hCik-sTk
hyut
san-tai
yiht-seui-louh
syu
muhn
ba-st
yauh ... yauh ...
wun
j6u-chaan
ning
gw6ng-bo
laahn
hing-daih
ba-st
ba-si-jaahm
(19)
(19)
(25)
(1)
(11)
(8)
(4)
(15)
(14)
(4)
(8)
(10)
(23)
(4)
(13)
(19)
(16)
(3)
(8)
(23)
(24)
(23)
(12)
(16)
(9)
(25)
(12)
(24)
(25)
(5)
(25)
(22)
(16)
(13)
(5)
(3)
(3)
(6)
business
busy
but
buy
by (passive)
saang-yi
mohng
daahn-haih
maaih
beih
(4)
(10)
(6)
(2)
(12)
camera
can
Canada
cancel
car
careful
carpet
carry
cash
cat
catty
cause
ceiling
certainly
chair
chance
charity
chat
cheap
check in
cheque
chess (to play)
children
chin
China
Chinese restaurant
chopsticks
citizen
city, town
city hall
clean
cleaning
seung-gei
wuih
Ga-nah-daaih
cheui-siu
che
stu-sam
deih-Jln
toih
yihn-gam
maau
gan
lihng
lauh-dai
yclt-dihng
yi
gei-wuih
chih-sihn
king-gai
pehng
bou-dou
ji-piu
jok-kei
jai-neui
hah-pah
lung-gwok
jau-lauh
faai-ji
sih-mahn
sihng-sih
daaih-wu ih-tohng
gon-jehng
ching-git
(17)
(5)
(1)
(10)
(1)
(16)
(25)
(16)
(19)
(24)
(5)
(18)
(25)
(3)
(11)
(22)
(13)
(11)
(5)
(15)
(19)
(24)
(22)
(9)
(2)
(4)
(16)
(12)
(18)
(6)
(15)
(25)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
407
clear
climate
clinic
clock
close to
clothing
coffee
cold
colleague
colour
come
come to an end
comfortable
commemorate
commit (crime)
common
communicate
company
compare
compensate
complete
computer
concentrated
condition
congratulations
contents
control
convenient
cook
cooked
cope
correct
corridor
country, state
countryside
cow, ox
crazy
crime
408
ching-ch6
hei-hauh
chcln-s6
jOng
gahn, kahn
saam
ga-ff
laahng
tuhng-sih
ngciahn-sTk
lciih
git-chok
syu-fuhk
gei-nihm
faahn
p6u-tung
kciu-tung
gong-sT
bei-gaau
b6u
chciih-chyu hn
dihn-n6uh
jaahp-jung
tiuh-gfn
gung-hei
noih-yuhng
gwun
fOng-bihn
jju
suhk
gaau-dihm
ngaam
jau-16ng
gwok-gci
heung-ha
ngciuh
chi-sin
jeuih
(18)
(23)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(8)
(3)
(8)
(16)
(5)
(3)
(19)
(10)
(20)
(18)
(18)
(24)
(8)
(19)
(22)
(23)
(22)
(23)
(22)
(23)
(9)
(12)
(17)
(4)
(19)
(19)
(13)
(8)
(19)
(6)
(4)
(16)
(18)
cuisine
cup, glass
cupboard
curtains
customer
choi
bui, bm
wun-gwaih
cheu ng-lim-bou
yahn-haak, gu-haak
dance
danger
dare
daughter
day
day after tomorrow
day before yesterday
daytime
decide
deep
delicious
deliver, send
demolish
department
department store
design
dessert
detailed
diagonally opposite
die, dead
difficult
digital
dining room
dinner
direct, directly
dirty
dishwasher
distant from
distant, far
dizzy
do
doctor
tiu-m6uh
ngaih-him
gam
neui
yaht
hauh-yaht
chihn-yaht
yaht-tau
kyut-dihng
sam
h6u-sihk
sung
chaak
bouh-muhn
baak-fo-gong-sT
chit-gai
tihm-ban
cheuhng-sai
cheh-deui-mihn
sei
naahn
sou-mah
faahn-teng
maahn-faahn
jihk-jip
laaht-taat, wu-jou
sai-wun-gei
leih
yuhn
tauh-wahn
jouh
yT-sang
(4)
(25)
(25)
(25)
(19, 23)
(24)
(24)
(18)
(17)
(6)
(10)
(9)
(15)
(25)
(25)
(13)
(6)
(23)
(19)
(8)
(11)
(4)
(22)
(12)
(5)
(17)
(17)
(25)
(23)
(22)
(15)
(25)
(25)
(25)
(10)
(3)
(3)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
409
document
dog
dollar
don't
door
double
dream
dress
drink
drive
driver
mahn-gin
gau
man
maih, rhh-h6u
muhn
sfung
faat-muhng
saam-kwahn
yam
jc'i-che
sT-gei
(22)
(13)
(5)
(4)
(20)
(9)
(25)
(5)
(8)
(6)
(12)
each, every
early
east
easy
eat
economy
education
eight
either... or ...
elderly, aged
electricity
electronic
elementary
email
employee
empty
engine
en suite
enjoy
enough
enter
entrance
envelope
environment
error
especially
muih
j6u
dung
yuhng-yih
sihk
ging-jai
gaau-yuhk
baat
yclt-haih ... yclt-haih ...
16uh-yc'ihn
dihn
dihn-ji
chO-kap
dihn-yauh
Jlk-yuhn
hung
f6-che-tauh
tou-f6ng
heung-sauh
gau
yahp
yahp-hau
seun-fung
wc'iahn-ging
cho
yauh-keih
(12)
(4)
(6)
(20)
(4)
(19)
(12)
(2)
(25)
(18)
(16)
(25)
(24)
(22)
(19)
(11)
(19)
(25)
(15)
(16)
(5)
(6)
(20)
(23)
(19)
(12)
410
establish
etcetera
Euro
Europe
even
even more
evening
examination
exceed
exchange
exchange rate
exciting
exit
expensive
expert
express
extra-large
eye
sihng-laahp
dang-dang
Au-yuhn, Au-loh
Au-jau
lihn ... dou ...
juhng
maahn
haau-si
chiu-gwo
wuhn
deu i-wuhn-leut
chi-gTk
cheut-hau
gwai
noih-h6ng-yahn
dahk-faai
dahk-daaih
ngaahn
(18)
(15)
(19)
(19)
(17)
(8)
(6)
(16)
(19)
(25)
(19)
(9)
(6)
(1)
(15)
(20)
(12)
(17)
facilities
fall
false
familiar with
famous
fashion
fast
father
fax
fear
feel
female
ferry
few, little
fight
fill in a form
film (camera)
film (cinema)
fine, be fined
chit-beih
dit
ga
suhk-slk
yauh-meng
sih-jong
faai
bah-ba
chyuhn-jcln
pa
gok-dclk
neuih
siu-h!uhn
siu
da-gaau
tihn-se
fei-lam
dihn-ying
faht-chin
(15)
(19)
(17)
(15)
(6)
(11)
(15)
(3)
(22)
(8)
(9)
(17)
(6)
(t.)
(18)
(20)
(25)
(9)
(18)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
411
finish work
fire brigade
fire extinguisher
first
first-rate
fish
fishing port
five
flat, apartment
flee from disaster
flexible
floor
flow
food
foot, leg
for example
foreign country
foreign exchange
form
four
fragrant
France
free of charge
fresh
friend
from
front
fruit
furthermore
future
fong-gung
siu-fOhng-guhk
miht-f6-tung
sin
yat-lauh
yu
yuh-g6ng
ligh
Iau
jau-naahn
daahn-sing
deih-min
lauh
sung; choi
geuk
pei-yllh
ngoih-gwok
ngoih-wuih
biu-gaak
sei
heung
Faat-gwok
mihn-fai
san-sin
pahng-yciuh
yauh
chihn-bihn
saang-gw6
yauh
jeung-loih
(22)
(17)
(8)
(6)
(23)
(23)
(6)
(2)
gamble
garage
garden
gate
general
Germany
getup
d6u
(13)
412
(3)
(6)
(22)
(25)
(16)
(t.)
(16)
(16)
(18)
(13)
(20)
(2)
(23)
(1)
(5)
(t.)
(2)
(6)
(12)
(t.)
(7)
(2t.)
ch~-f0hng
(3)
fci-yun
jaahp-hclu
yat-bun
Dak-gwok
hei-san
(2)
(15)
(12)
(1)
(10)
give
give birth
global
go
go pasUacross
go to work
go towards
go up
go wrong
good
good boy
good morning
goodbye
government
gradually
grant
ground floor
guarantee
guess
(4)
(22)
(23)
(2)
(6)
(22)
(6)
(17)
(16)
(1)
(13)
(1)
(1)
(12)
(8)
(22)
half
hand over
happen
happens to be
happy
happy
hard, distressing
hard, unyielding
hat
hate
have
have not
he, she, it
head
headache
healthy
heavy
help
bun
gaau
faat-sang
jing-haih
hoi-sam
faai-lohk
san-fu
ngaahng
m6u
jang
y6.uh
m6uh
keuih
tauh
tcluh-tung
gihn-hong
chuhng
bong ... s6.u
(4)
(15)
(18)
(11)
(8)
(23)
(12)
(11)
(11)
(24)
(2)
(3)
(20)
(2)
(3)
(1)
(10)
(10)
(9)
(12)
(4)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
413
here
history
hit
hobby
holiday
home
honest
Hong Kong
Hong Kong dollars
hope
horse
hospital
hot
hotel
hour
hour
house
how long? (time)
how much?
how?
hundred
hundred million
hurrying
nT-douh
lihk-sf
da
sih-hou
fong-ga
ak-kei
16uh-saht
Heung-g6ng
G6ng-:jf, G6ng-yllhn
hei-mohng
mah
yi-yun
yiht
jau-dim
jang-tauh
sfu-sih
uk
gei-noih
gei-do
dfm(-yeung)
baak
yTk
g6n-jyuh
(5)
(12)
(9)
(24)
(9)
I, me
I wonder
ice cream
idea
identity card
if
illegal
illness
imagine
important
imprisoned
in addition
in fact
include
ng6h
rilh-ji
syut-gou
jyu-yi
san-fcln-jing
yuh-gw6
fei-faat
behng
seu ng-jeu hng
gan-yiu
ch6h-goam
juhng
keih-saht
baau-kwut
(1)
(11)
(8)
(6)
(17)
(4)
(13)
(10)
(18)
(21)
(18)
(8)
(19)
(25)
414
(3)
(13)
(3)
(19)
(10)
(13)
(10)
(8)
(15)
(4)
(25)
(3)
(20)
(5)
(5)
(11)
(13)
(15)
increase
increase price
independent
Indian Ocean
influence
in reality
inside
insist
inspector
insurance
intend
intercalary month
interest
internet
introduce
investigate
invite
jcing-gci
gci-ga
duhk-laahp
Yan-douh-yeu hng
ying-heung
keih-saht
leuih-bihn
gin-chih
bong-b6.an
b6u-him
d6.-syun
yeuhn-yuht
hing-cheui
wuh-lyuhn-m6hng
gaai-siuh
chcih
cheng
(13)
(23)
(22)
(19)
(19)
(19)
(9)
(25)
(17)
(15)
(8)
(17)
(13)
(22)
(4)
(19)
(4)
Japan
join
joke
judge
just/ike
just now
Yaht-bun
gci-yahp
g6ng-siu
faat-gwun
h6u-chih
tciuh-sTn
(1)
(17)
(16)
(18)
(4)
(10)
kilometre
kind, species
kind of you
kitchen
knock into
know a fact
knowhow to
gung-leih
jung-leuih
y6.uh-scim
chyuh-f6ng
johng
ji-dou
sTk
(23)
(23)
(1)
(4)
(16)
(8)
(4)
kyut-faht
(24)
(4)
(22)
(17)
(8)
lack
language
last in order
last month
last year
w6.
daih-mei
seu hng-go-yuht
gauh-nin
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
415
later
law and order
layman
lead
learn
leave
leave behind
leisure
left side
let, allow
letter
life-style
lift, elevator
light (coloured)
light (lamp)
light (weight)
like, fond of
listen
live, dwell
livelihood
lobby
lobster
local
lock
long
long time
look at
look for
lose
lost
loud
low
lucky
luggage
chih-dT
jih-on
ngoih-h6ng-yahn
daai
hohk
h!ih-hoi
lciuh-fclan
dak-hciahn
j6-(s6u-)bihn
dang
seun
scing-wuht fOng-sTk
Macau
machine
make, prepare
Ou-mun
gei-hei
jfng
416
ITp
chin
dang
heng
jung-yi
teng
jyuh
scing-wuht
daaih-tOhng
luhng-ha
bun-deih
s6
cheuhng
noih
tcli
wan
syu
rilh-gin-j6
daaih-seng
ngai
h6u-ch6i
hcihng-h!ih
(2)
(18)
(19)
(2)
(12)
(9)
(25)
(13)
(12)
(5)
(19)
(24)
(25)
(25)
(12)
(15)
(6)
(6)
(3)
(18)
(26)
(4)
(18)
(25)
(22)
(3)
(5)
(2)
(13)
(24)
(11)
(25)
(12)
(15)
(13)
(24)
(4)
male
manage
manager
many, much
matter, business
may, can
meal
meaning
meat
medical
medicine
Mediterranean Sea
meeting
mention
menu
method
microwave oven
midday
migrate
mind
minibus
mislay
Miss
misunderstand
moment ago
money
moon, month
moreover
morning
most
mother
motorbike
mountain, hill
mouth
move
movie
Mr
Mrs
murder
naahm
chyu-leih
ging-leih
do
sih
h6-yih
chelan
yi-si
yuhk
yi-liuh
yeuhk-seui
Deih-jung-h6i
wui
tciih
chaan-paai
baahn-faat
meih-bo-louh
aan-jau
yih-mahn
sam-gei
siu-ba
rilh-gin-j6
siu-je
ngh-wuih
ngaam-ngaam
chin
yuht
yih-che
jiu-j6u
jeui
mah-ma
(9)
(22)
(15)
dihn-daan-ch~
(16)
(9)
(9)
(17)
(9)
(1)
(1)
(18)
sc'ian
hau-bouh
yuk
dihn-ying
sin-sc'iang
taai-tclai
mauh-saat
(3)
(2)
(6)
(4)
(17)
(4)
(22)
(10)
(19)
(13)
(25)
(23)
(18)
(25)
(22)
(17)
(22)
(6)
(24)
(1)
(16)
(10)
(5)
(17)
(9)
(4)
(6)
(3)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
417
muscle
naked
narrow
nearby
necktie
never mind
new
news
news
newspaper
New Zealand
next year
nightmare
night-time
nine
no need to
no wonder
noisy
north
nostalgia
not
not bad
not up to scratch
not yet
now
gei-yuhk
16-tcli
jaak
fuh-gahn
lehng-tciai
rilh gan-yiu
scin
scin-mcihn
siu-slk
bou-ji
Scin-scii-lcia hn
cheut-nin
ok-muhng
yeh-maahn
gau
mh-sai
rilh-gwaai-dCik
chouh
bak
wciaih-gauh
rilh
rilh-cho
chci
meih
yih-ga
(9)
(17)
(16)
observatory
occasionally
of course
office
official
OK
old (not new)
old (elderly)
on top of
one
only
only then
tin-mcihn-toih
gaan-jong
dong-yihn
se-jih-lciuh
gwun
dak
gauh
16uh
seuhng-bihn
yat
ji-haih
sin-ji
(8)
(10)
(13)
(2)
(16)
(5)
(8)
(6)
(12)
(2)
418
(4)
(8)
(2)
(5)
(13)
(23)
(18)
(1)
(8)
(25)
(15)
(2)
(4)
(23)
(25)
(6)
(23)
(1)
(11)
(19)
(10)
(2)
(4)
(10)
open
opera
opposite
or, perhaps
or?
order
originally
other
other people
otherwise
outside
overtime
hoi
go-kehk
deui-mihn
waahk-je
dihng-haih
diht-jeuih
yuhn-loih
keih-ta
biht-yahn
yuh-gw6-mh-haih
cheut-bihn
gwo-sih
(19)
(24)
(12)
(16)
(13)
(12)
(20)
(5)
(24)
(12)
(12)
(22)
Pacific Ocean
paint
paper
parcel
park (car)
partner
pass by
passport
past, across, by
patronize
pay attention to
peg
pen
pension
perform
perhaps
permit
person
petrol
photograph
physical exercise
pistol
pity
place
play
Taai-pihng-yeu hng
waahk-wa
jf
baau-gw6
paak-wai
f6-buhn
ging-gwo
wuh-:jiu
gwo
bong-chan
jyu-yi
gwa-ngau
bat
teu i-yau-gam
bfu-yihn
waahk-je
jeun
yahn
dihn-yauh
seung-pfn
wahn-duhng
sau-cheung
h6-sTk
deih-fOng
wei an
(19)
(24)
(20)
(20)
(16)
(19)
(11)
(15)
(6)
(19)
(15)
(19)
(2)
(22)
(22)
(16)
(17)
(1)
(16)
(17)
(9)
(17)
(11)
(6)
(6)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
419
play ball
please
please may I ask
policeman
polite
pollution
pork
portable
possibility
post, mail
post office
postage
pot luck
pound (weight)
pour
practical
practise
praise
prawn
predict
prepare
pretty, beautiful
price
print
printer
problem
programme
progress
prosperous
public
public relations
pull
pupil, student
push
put
da-bo
chlmg
chlmg-mahn
ging-chaat, chaai-yahn, chaai-16u
haak-hei
wu-yihm
jyu-yuhk
sau-taih
h6-nahng
gei
yauh-guk
yauh-fai
bihn-faahn
bohng
jam
saht-yuhng
lihn-jaahp
jaan
ha
yuh-ji
yuh-beih
Ieng
ga-chihn
da-yan
da-yan-gei
mahn-taih
jit-muhk
jeun-bouh
fclahn-wihng
gung-guhng
gung-gwaan
laai
hohk-saang
teui
jai
qualify
quality
hahp-kwai-gaak
jat-dei
420
quarter
quiet
quite
yat-go-gwat
jihng
dou-gei
race-track
radio station
railway train
rain
rape
raw, rare
reaction
read
rear(pets)
reason
reasonable
receive
recently
reckon
recognize
red
reduce
reduce wages
refrigerator
regard as
register
regulate
relationship
relevant
rely on
remain
remember
remind
Renminbi
repair
report
responsible
restaurant
result
mah-cheuhng
dihn-toih
f6-che
lohk-y(lh
keuhng-gaan
saang
fclan-ying
tai-syu
yeuhng
yuhn-yan
hahp-leih
sau-d6u
jeui-gahn
syun
yihng-slk
huhng
gaam-siu, choih-gaam
gaam-san
syut-gwaih
dong
gwa-houh
kwai-dihng
gwaan-haih
yauh-gwaan
yi-laaih
lauh
gei-dCI.k
taih-seng
Yahn-mahn-baih
sau-leih
bou-douh
fuh-jaak
chaan-teng
git-gw6
(15)
(25)
(3)
(13)
(13)
(6)
(8)
(18)
(19)
(16)
(1 t.)
(2t.)
(23)
(23)
(19)
(19)
(8)
(23)
(5)
(9, 19)
(19)
(15)
(t.)
(10)
(17)
(13)
(19)
(2t.)
(2t.)
(9)
(2t.)
(19)
(16)
(18)
(22)
(23)
(16)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
421
retire
return
revision
rice
rich
right side
ripe
rise
road
road junction
road surface
rob
room
rubbish
run, run away
rush
teui-yciu
fclan
wan-jaahp
faahn
y6.uh-chin
yauh-bihn
suhk
sing
m6.h-louh
gaai-h6.u
louh-min
d6.-gip
fOhng-gaan
laahp-saap
j6.u
chung
(22)
safe
salad
salary
sale
same
save; miserly
savings
say
school
science
sea
seafood
secret
secretary
security
see
self
sell
serious
service
seven
on-chjuhn
sa-leut
san-seui
daaih-g6.am-ga
yat-yeuhng
haan
chyuh-chok
wah
hohk-haauh
fO-hohk
h6i
h6i-sln
bei-maht
bei-syu
b6u-on
gin
jih-gei
maaih
yihm-juhng
fuhk-mouh
chat
(25)
(4)
(22)
(5)
(11)
(8)
(19)
422
(3)
(12)
(4)
(13)
(12)
(19)
(19)
(6)
(6)
(15)
(18)
(15)
(4)
(3)
(12)
(6)
(12)
(12)
(25)
(23)
(24)
(22)
(25)
(8)
(24)
(1)
(10)
(15)
(2)
several
shares
shop
short
simple
sincerely
sisters
sit
situation
six
sleep
slow
small
smile
snow
so
so
so long as
soccer
society
solitary
some
somebody
sometimes
somewhat
son
soon
sophisticated
sorry
soup
south
South Africa
speak
special
specialist
speech
spend
spring
gei
gu-piu
pou-tau
dyun
gaan-daan
yihng-jan
ji-muih
ch6h
chihng-fong
luhk
fan-gaau
maahn
sai
siu
lohk-syut
gam
gam
ji-yiu
jOk-kcluh
seh-wui
gu-dahk
yauh-dT
yauh-yahn
yauh-sih
siu-siu
jai
jauh-faai
daaih-fong
deu i-rilh-jyuh
tong
naahm
Naahm-tei
g6ng
dahk-biht
jyun-ga
wcl
yuhng
cheun-trn
(9)
(13)
(5)
(22)
(20)
(16)
(3)
(3)
(16)
(2)
(16)
(16)
(5)
(16)
(8)
(3)
(t.)
(9)
(13)
(12)
(2t.)
(10)
(11)
(13)
(5)
(10)
(23)
(11)
(1)
(t.)
(6)
(1)
(9)
(23)
(2t.)
(t.)
(t.)
(8)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
423
staff
staircase
stamp
stand
steal
steep
Sterling
stick on
still, yet
stocks and shares
stomach
stop
stove
straight
strange
street
street stall
stroll
student, pupil
study
style
suffer
suitable
summer
sunbathe
surf the net
surname
surplus
suspect
sweep
swim
swimming pool
swimming trunks
system
yuhn-gong
lauh-tai
yauh-piu
keih
tau-yeh
che
Ying-b6ng
tip-seuhng
juhng
gu-piu
t6uh
tihng
jyu-si hk-lou h
yat-jihk
keih-gwaai
gaai
dong-hau
saan-bouh
hohk-saang
duhk-syu
fun-sTk
sauh(-dou)
sTk-hahp
hah-tTn
saai-taai-yeuhng
seu hng-m6hng
sing
do-yuh
waaih-yih
da-sou
yauh-seui
wihng-chih
yauh-seui-fu
jai-douh
(19)
(25)
(20)
(17)
(18)
(16)
(19)
(20)
table
tail
take
t6i
meih
16
(19)
(17)
(15)
424
(3)
(13)
(10)
(11)
(25)
(6)
(2t.)
(3)
(5)
(2t.)
(12)
(12)
(5)
(2t.)
(13)
(8)
(8)
(22)
(1)
(9)
(17)
(25)
(5)
(15)
(8)
(22)
take drugs
take off (aircraft)
take part in
tax-free
taxi
tea
teach
telephone
television set
tell
tell to do
temperament
temporary
ten
tenth
ten thousand
Thailand
thank you
thank you
that is to say
that, those
then
there
therefore
thing
think about
this, these
thousand
three
ticket
time
time, occasion
time's up
tired
today
together
toilet
tomorrow
kap-duhk
hei-tei
chciam-gci
mthn-seui
dTk-st
chcih
gaau-syu
dihn-wa
dihn-sih-gei
wah ... ji
giu
sing-gaak
jaahm-sih
sahp
sihng
maahn
Taai-gwok
mh-goi
do-jeh
Jlk-haih
g6
jauh
g6-douh
s6-yth
yeh
nam
nT
chin
sci am
i'ei
sih-gaan
chi
gau-jOng
guih
gcim-yaht
yat-chciih
chi-s6
ting-yaht
(18)
(15)
(11)
(15)
(3)
(4)
(12)
(10)
(15)
(8)
(17)
(24)
(20)
(2)
(19)
(11)
(18)
(2)
(5)
(5)
(2)
(4)
(5)
(4)
(8)
(20)
(2)
(11)
(2)
(15)
(3)
(6)
(13)
(24)
(4)
(3)
(10)
(8)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabukuy
425
tonight
too
totally
tourism, travel
tourist
towards
town gas
trade
traffic light
training
tram
transport
travel by
trouble
truly
try
turn, change
turn about
two
type
typhoon
gam-maahn
taai
sahp-fcin
leuih-yciuh
yauh-haak
heung
muih-hei
mauh-yihk
gaau-tung-dang
fan-lihn
dihn-che
wahn
daap
mah-fciahn
jc'in-haih
jyun
diuh-tc'iuh
yih, leuhng
da-:jih
da-fung
(12)
(4)
(11)
(6)
(16)
(2)
(22)
(8)
UK
use
useful
Ying-gwok
hah-bihn
deih-tit
mihng-baahk
jai-fuhk
daaih-hohk
sc'iang
rilh-syu-fuhk
sih-keui
hyun
Meih-gwok
yuhng
yauh-yuhng
(1)
(12)
(6)
(12)
(17)
(6)
(19)
(10)
(6)
(24)
(1)
(4)
(8)
variety
vegetables
jung-leuih
choi
(23)
(4)
under
underground railway
understand
uniform
university
unripe
unwell
urban area
urge
USA
426
si
(11)
(4)
(18)
(15)
(15)
(6)
(25)
(19)
(12)
(24)
(9)
(11)
(3)
very
visa
visit a person
visit a place
voluntarily
vomit
h6u
chim-jing
taam
chciam-gwun
jih-yuhn
jok-au
(1)
(15)
wait
waiter
wake up
walk
want
warm
warmup
wash
washing machine
waste
water
wear
wear
weather
week
weigh
weight
welcome
welfare
well-behaved
west
what?
when?
where?
which?
white
who?
whole day
why?
willing
win
dang
fuhk-mouh-yuhn
slmg
hciahng-louh
yiu
nyuhn
bin-nyuhn
s6.i
sai-yi-gei
sciai
seui
daai
jeuk
tin-hei
laih-baai, sing-keih
gwo-b6ng
chuhng-leuhng
fun-yihng
fok-leih
gwciai
scii
mat-yeh
gei-si or gei-sih
bTn-douh
bTn
baahk-sTk.
bTn-go
sehng-yaht
dim-gaai
hang
yehng
(t.)
(15)
(16)
(15)
(1)
(15)
(23)
(15)
(25)
(8)
(5)
(11)
(11)
(8)
(5)
(15)
(15)
(22)
(22)
(13)
(6)
(2)
(8)
(3)
(6)
(18)
(10)
(3)
(2)
(12)
(2)
(9)
(t.)
(22)
(13)
EngllstH:mltonese vocabulcuy
427
wind
winter
within
work
worker, servant
world
worth it
would like to
wound
wrap up
wristwatch
write
fung
dung-tTn
ji-noih
gung-jok
gung-ycihn
sai-gaai
dai
seung
seung
bciau
sCiu-bTu
year
year of age
yellow
yesterday
you
young
nihn
seui
wohng-srk
kcihm-yaht
neih, nt!ih-deih
hauh-saang
(8)
(9)
(12)
zero
lihng
(11)
se
(8)
(8)
(6)
(22)
(25)
(6)
(15)
(2)
(16)
(20)
(2)
(19)
(4)
(1)
(12)
Credits
Front cover: Digifoto I Alamy
Back cover and pack: Jakub Semeniuk/iStockphoto.com,
Royalty-Free/Corbis, agencyby/iStockphoto.com, Andy
CookliStockphoto.com, Christopher Ewing/iStockphoto.com,
zebicho - Fotolia.com, Geoffrey Holman/iStockphoto.com,
PhotodisdGetty Images, James C. PruittliStockphoto.com,
Mohamed Saber- Fotolia.com
Pack: Stockbyte/Getty Images
Creclts
429