Useful Cantonese phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Cantonese, a variety of Chinese spoken in Hong Kong, Macau,
southern China, and a number of other places, in traditional characters and Yale Romanization.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide
recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

English 廣東話/粵語 (Cantonese)

Welcome 歡迎 (fùnyìhng)

Hello (General greeting) 你好 (néih hóu)

Hello (on phone) 喂 (wái)

你好嗎? (néih hóu ma)

How are you?
點呀? (dím a)

我幾好，你呢？ (ngóh géi hóu, néih nē)

Reply to 'How are you?' 好好 (hóu hóu)
幾好 (géi hóu)

Long time no see 好耐冇見 (hóunoih móuhgin)

你叫(做)乜野名呀？
(néih giu(jouh) mātyéh méng a)
What's your name?
你點稱呼呀？
(néih dím chìngfù a)

My name is ... 我叫做 ... (ngóh giujouh ...)

你係邊度人呀？
(néih haih bīndouh yàhn a)
你由邊度嚟架？
Where are you from?
(néih yàuh bīndouh lèih ga)
你係邊國人呀？
(néih haih bīngwok yàhn a)

I'm from ... 我係 ... 人 (ngóh haih ... yàhn)

Pleased to meet you 好開心認識你 (hóu hòisàm yihngsīk néih)

好開心見到你 (hóu hòisàm gindóu néih)

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 好高興認識你 (hóu gòuhing yihngsīk néih)

Good morning
早晨 (jóusàhn)
(Morning greeting)

Good afternoon
午安 (ńgh ōn)
(Afternoon greeting)

Good evening 晚安 (máahn ōn)

(Evening greeting) 晚上好 (máahnseuhng hóu)

Good night 早抖 (jóutáu)

Goodbye 再見 (joigin)
(Parting phrases) 拜拜 (bāaibaai)

Good luck! 祝你好運 (jūk néih hóuwahn)

飲勝 (yám sing)
Cheers! Good Health! 飲杯 (yám bùi)
(Toasts used when drinking) 敬酒 (ging jáu)
幹杯 (gòn bùi)

Bon appetit /
食飯! (sihk faahn) - eat
Have a nice meal

Bon voyage / 一路順風 (yāt louh seuhn fùng)

Have a good journey 一路平安 (yāt louh pìhng ngòn)

Do you understand? 你明唔明呀? (néih mìhngm̀hmìhng a)

I understand 我明白嘞 (ngóh mìhngbaahk la)

I don't understand 我唔明白 (ngóh m̀h mìhngbaahk)

我唔知道 (ngóh m̀ jìdou)

I don't know
我唔識 (ngóh m̀ sīk)

你識唔識講英文呀?
Do you speak English?
(neih sīkm̀hsīk góng yìngmán a?)

你識唔識講廣東話呀
Do you speak Cantonese?
(neih sīkm̀hsīk góng gwóngdùngwá a)

Yes, a little 我識講小小呀

(reply to 'Do you speak ...?') (ngóh sìk góng síusíu a)

Please speak more slowly 你可唔可以講慢小小呀?

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 (néih hóm̀hhóyíh góng maahn síusíu a)
請你講慢啲
(chéng néih góng maahn di)

唔該你講多一次吖?
(m̀hgòi néih góng dō yātchi a)
Please say that again
唔該再講
(m̀hgòi joi góng)

唔該你寫低吖? (m̀hgòi néih sédài a?)

Please write it down
唔該筆記 (m̀hgòi bātgei)

同我講廣東話
Speak to me in Cantonese
(tùhng ngóh góng gwóngdùngwá)

How do you say ... ... 廣東話點講呀？

in Cantonese? (... gwóngdùngwá dím góng a)

請問 (chéngmahn) - to get attention

Excuse me 唔該 (m̀hgòi) - to get past
失陪 (sàtpùih) - used when leaving for a while

How much is this? 呢個幾多錢呀? (Nīgo géidō chín a?)

Sorry 對唔住 (deuim̀hjyuh)

Please 唔該 (m̀hgòi)

多謝 (dòjeh) - for something given

Thank you
唔該 (m̀hgòi) - for a service

唔駛 (m̀hsái)
Reply to thank you 唔駛客氣 (m̀hsái haakhei)
冇問題 (móuh mahntàih)

廁所喺邊度呀？
(chisó hái bīndouh a?)
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
洗手間喺邊度呀？
(sáisáugāan hái bīndouh a?)

你要唔要同我跳舞？
Would you like to dance with (néih yium̀hyiu tùhng ngóh tiumóuh) - inf
me? 賞面同我跳隻舞嗎？
(séungmíhn tùhng ngóh tiujek móuh ma) - frm

I miss you 我掛住你 (ngóh gwaajyuh néih)

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 我好掛住你 (ngóh hóu gwaajyuh néih)

I love you 我愛你 (ngóh oi néih)

早日康復 (jóuyaht hòngfuhk)
Get well soon
快啲好番呀 (faaidi hóufàan a)

Leave me alone! 唔好搞我! (m̀hhóu gáau ngóh!)

Help! 救命呀! (gau mehng a!)

Fire! 火燭呀! (fóh jūk a!)

Stop! 停低! (tìhng dài!)

叫警察! (giu gíngchaat)
Call the police!
報警! (bou gíng)

Christmas greetings 聖誕節快樂 (singdaanjit faailohk)

新年快樂 (sànnìhn faailohk)
New Year greetings 恭喜發財 (gùng héi faat chōi) - used at Chinese New
Year

復活節快樂
Easter greetings
(fuhkwuhtjit faailohk)

Birthday greetings 生日快樂 [生日快乐] (sàangyaht faailohk)

我隻氣墊船裝滿晒鱔
(ngóh jek heidínsyùhn jòngmúhnsaai síhn)
My hovercraft is full of eels
我隻氣墊船裝滿晒鰻
(ngóh jek heidínsyùhn jòngmúhnsaai màahn)

一種語言永遠不夠
(yātjúng yúhyìhn wíhngyyúhn bātgau)
One language is never enough
一種語言永遠唔夠
(yātjúng yúhyìhn wíhngyyúhn m̀gau)

Note: the word 鱔 (síhn) can be translated as eel, but refers specifically to the Asian swamp
eel (monopterus albus), an eel-like fish found in China and other parts of Asia. 鰻 (màahn) refers eels,
that is any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes. [Thanks to Ge Tianyu for pointing this out]

Bonus phrases
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I don't speak Cantonese 我唔識講廣東話 (ngóh m̀hsìk góng gwóngdùngwá)

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 有冇人識講英文呀? (yáuhmóuh yàhn sīk góng yìngmán
Does anyone speak English?
a?)

Sorry, I didn't get that 對唔住,我唔明白 (deuim̀hjyuh, ngóh m̀h mìhngbaahk)

What did you say? 你講乜嘢話? (néih góng mātyéh wá?)

你可唔可以幫我翻譯呀? (néih hóm̀hhóyíh bòng ngóh

Can you translate it for me?
fáanyihk a?)

What does this mean? 呢個點解呀? (nīgo dímgáai a?)

How do you pronounce that? 呢個點讀呀? (nīgo dím duhk a?)

There's a problem in the room 間房有啲問題 (gàanfóng yáuhdī mahntàih)

There's no hot water 冇熱水 (móuh yihtséui)

The tap/faucet is leaking 水龍頭漏水 (séuilùhngtàuh lauhséui)

The drain is blocked 坑渠塞咗呀 (hàangkèuih sākjó a)

The air conditioner is too

冷氣好嘈呀 (láahnghei hóu chòuh a)
noisy

I would like to move to

我想換過間房 (ngóh séung wuhngwo gàanfóng)
another room

When should I vacate the

我幾時要退房呀? (ngóh géisìh yiu teuifóng a)
room?

I'd like to check out 唔該, 埋單 (m̀hgòi màaihdāan)

I'd check out on this date 我個日會走 (ngóh goyaht wúih jáu)

Please call a taxi for me 唔該幫我叫架的士吖 (m̀hgòi bòng ngóh giuga dīksí a)

我可唔可以睇吓賬單呀? (ngóh hóm̀hhóyíh táihá

May I see the bill please?
jeungdàan a)

帳單總數係幾多錢呀? (jeungdàan jóngsou haih géidō

How much is the total bill?
chín a)

唔該,俾張詳細賬單我吖?
Can I have an itemised bill?
(m̀hgòi, béi jèung chèuhngsai jeungdàan ngóh a)

I think there's a mistake on 我覺得呢張單有一度錯咗

this bill (ngóh gokdāk ni jèungdàan yáuh yātdouh cho jó)

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 我地一齊食晏晝飯好嘛?
Are you free for lunch?
(ngóhdeih yātchàih sihk ngaanjaufaahn hóu ma?)

你今晚得唔得閒呀? (néih gàmmáahn dākm̀hdākhàahn

Are you free this evening?
a?)

Can you suggest a place for 可以介紹個食晏嘅地方嗎?

lunch? (hóyíh gaaisiuh go sihk ngaan ge deihfòng ma?)

Can you suggest a place for 可以介紹個食晚飯嘅地方嗎?

dinner? (hóyíh gaaisiuh go sihk máahnfaahn ge deihfòng ma?)

I'll meet you there 我地喺個度見 (ngóhdeih hái gódouh gin)

I'll meet you then 你地到時見 (néihdeih dousìh gin)

Can I have your phone 可以講你個電話號碼我知嗎?

number? (hóyíh góng néih go dihnwá houhmáh ngóh jì ma)

可以講你個地址我知嗎?
Can I have your address?
(hóyíh góng néih go deihjí ngóh jì ma)

呢個係我嘅電話號碼 (nīgo haih ngóh ge dihnwá

This is my phone number
houhmáh)

This is my address 呢個係我嘅地址 (nīgo haih ngóh ge deihjí)

Is there a restaurant near here? 附近有冇餐館呀? (fuhgahn yáuhmóuh chāangún a?)

I'd like to reserve a table 我想訂一張枱 (ngóh séung dehng yātjèung tói)

We have a reservation 我地訂咗張枱嘠嘞 (ngóhdeih dehng jó juèng tói ge la)

Do you have an English 你地有冇英文餐牌呀?

menu? (néihdeih yáuhmóuh yìngmán chāanpáai a?)

我可唔可以睇吓個酒單呀?
Can I see the wine list?
(ngóh hóm̀hhóyíh táiháa go jáudāan a?)

I am a vegetarian 我食齋 (ngóh sihk jāai)

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Greetings
 
你 好 ！
Hello!
néi hóu!
早 晨 ！
Good morning! (sg/pl)
zóu sěn!
你 好 ！
Hello! (sg/pl)
néi hóu!
夜 晚 黑 好 ！
yé mán hāg hóu! Good evening! (sg/pl)
早 抖 ！
Good night! (sg/pl)
zóu téo!
拜 拜 ！
Bye! (infml)
bāi bái!
再 見 ！
Good bye! (fml.)
zōi gīn!

Important vocabulary
系
yes
hěi
唔 系
no
m hěi
大 概
dǎi gói maybe

得 !
OK
deg!
多 謝 ！
Thank you!
dō zé!
唔 客 氣 ！
You're welcome! (m/f)
m hāg héi!

對 唔 住 ， ...
Excuse me, … (sg/pl)
dêu m jǔ ,...
請 原 諒 。
I'm sorry. (m/f)
céng yǔn lêng.

我 有 .../ 我 冇 ...
I have … / I don't have ...
ngó yéo .../ ngó móu ...

我 哋 有 .../ 我 哋 冇 ...
We (don't) have …
ngó dé yéo .../ ngó dé móu ...

裏 豆 有 .../ 裏 豆 冇 ...
There is (no) ...
lī dǒu yéo .../ lī dǒu móu ...

Introducing yourself
我 叫 ...
My name is ...
ngó giu ...

我 由 ...
I'm from ...
ngó yěo ...

我 有 ... 歲 。
I'm ... years old.
ngó yéo ... sêu.

8
 我 結 咗 婚 。 / 我 冇 結 婚 。
I am married. / I am not married.
ngó jī zó fēng./ ngó móu jī fēng.
我 系 一 個 人 旅 遊 。 不 系 一 個 人 旅 遊 。
hǎi yēd go yěn lêu yěo./ ngó m hǎi yēd go yěn lêu I am traveling alone. / I am not traveling alone.
(m/f)
yěo.

我 同 ... 一 齊 旅 遊 。
I'm traveling with ...
ngó tǒng ... yēd cǎid lêu yěo.

Comprehension
 
我 唔 識 講 廣 東 話 。
ngó m xīg góng guáng dong wá. I don't speak any Cantonese.
我 聽 唔 懂 。
I don't understand that. (m/f)
ngó têng m dóm.

你 講 ... 麼 ？
Do you speak …? (m/f)
néi góng ... med?

呢 邊 有 人 講 ... 麼 ？
Does anyone here speak ...?
nī bīn yéo yěm góng ... med?
英 文
English
yīng měn
法 文
French
fad měn
唔 該 你 寫 落 來 。
m gōi néi sé lǒg lei. Could you write that down please. (m/f)

唔 該 你 講 多 一 次 。
Could you please repeat that. (m/f)
m gōi néi góng dō yēd qi.
唔 該 你 等 陣 先 。
Just a moment please.
m gōi néi déng zěn xīn.

Numbers

9
零
zero
lǐng
一
one
yēd
二
two
yǐ
三
three
sām
四
four
séi
五
five
ng
六
six
lug

10
七
seven
ced
八
eight
bad
九
nine
géo
十
ten
seb
十 一
eleven
seb yēd
十 二
seb yǐ twelve

十 三
thirteen
seb sām
十 四
fourteen
seb séi
十 五
fifteen
seb ng
十 六
sixteen
seb lug
十 七
seventeen
seb ced
十 八
eighteen
seb bad
十 九
nineteen
seb géo
二 十
yǐ seb twenty

二 十 一
twenty-one
yǐ seb yēd
三 十
thirty
sām seb
四 十
forty
séi seb
五 十
fifty
ng seb
六 十
sixty
lug seb
七 十
seventy
ced seb
八 十
eighty
bad seb
九 十
ninety
géo seb
一 百
one hundred
yēd bag
一 千
one thousand
yēd qīn
一 百 萬
yēd bag mǎn one million
11
 一 對
some / a couple
yēd dêu

你好 sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou3 aa3 ?

nei5 hou2 Where is the bathroom?

Hello 中國

唔該 / 多謝 zung1 gwok3

m4 goi1 / do1 ze6 China

Thank you 香港

唔好意思 hoeng1 gong2

m4 hou2 ji3 si3 Hong Kong

Excuse me 廣東話

唔該 gwong2 dung1 waa2

m4 goi1 Cantonese (language)

Please 蚊

飲杯！ man1

jam2 bui1 ! … yuan (Chinese currency)

Cheers! 係

拜拜 hai6

baai1 baai3 Yes

Goodbye 唔係

幾多錢？ m4 hai6

gei1 do1 cin2 ? No

How much is it? 一

唔該埋單 jat1

m4 goi1 maai4 daan1 One (1)

The check, please 二

洗手間喺邊道呀？ ji6

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Two (2) What?

三 幾時？

saam1 gei2 si4 ?

Three (3) When?

呢個 少少

ne1 go3 siu2 siu2

This A little

嗰個 歡迎！

go2 go3 fun1 jing4 !

That Welcome!

好好 早晨

hou2 hou2 zou2 san4

Very good Good morning

靚 晚安

leng3 maan5 ngon1

Beautiful, pretty Good night

好食 下次見

hou2 sik6 haa6 ci3 gin3

Delicious See you later

我鍾意 好多謝你

ngo5 zung1 ji3 hou2 do1 ze6 nei5

I like it Thank you very much

有冇問題？ 唔使客氣

jau5 mou5 man6 tai4 ? m4 sai2 haak3 hei3

Is it OK? You're welcome

…喺邊度？ 冇問題

… hai2 bin1 dou6 ? mou5 man6 tai4

Where is …? No problem

乜嘢？ 我愛你

mat1 je5 ? ngo5 ngoi3 nei5

13
I love you I'm fine

恭喜晒！ 請問點樣稱呼你？

gung1 hei2 saai3 ! cing2 man6 dim2 joeng2 cing1 fu1 nei5 ?

Congratulations! What is your name? (formal)

唔該借借 我叫…

m4 goi1 ze3 ze3 ngo5 giu3 …

Excuse me (to walk by) My name is …

對唔住 好高興認識你

deoi3 m4 zyu6 hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5

I'm sorry Nice to meet you

你有冇啲咩好介紹？ 呢度

nei5 jau5 mou5 di1 me1 hou2 gaai3 siu6 ? ne1 dou6

What do you recommend? Here

我可唔可以影相㗎？ 嗰度

ngo5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 jing2 soeng2 gaa3 ? go3 dou6

Can I take a photo? There

咩嚟㗎？ 得意

me1 lei4 gaa3 ? dak1 ji3

What is that? Interesting

你嚟自邊度㗎？ 可能

nei5 lai4 zi6 bin1 dou6 gaa3 ? ho2 nang4

Where are you from? Possible

我嚟自… 啱

ngo5 lei4 zi6 … ngaam1

I am from … Correct, right

你好嗎？ 精彩

nei5 hou2 maa1 ? zing1 coi2

How are you doing? Wonderful

我好好 最鍾意

ngo5 hou2 hou2 zeoi3 zung1 ji3

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Favorite Please (formal)

出名 冇嘢

ceot1 meng2 mou5 je5

Famous Nothing

正！ 多啲

zeng3 ! do1 di1

Awesome! More

忙 或者

mong4 waak6 ze2

Busy Maybe

準備好 梗係

zeon2 bei6 hou2 gang2 hai6

Ready Of course

晏啲 我都覺得係

ngaan3 di1 ngo5 dou1 gok3 dak1 hai6

Later I agree

而家 我明白

ji4 gaa1 ngo5 ming4 baak6

Now I understand

我 我唔明

ngo5 ngo5 m4 ming4

I I don't understand

你 你再講一次吖

nei5 nei5 zoi3 gong2 jat1 ci3 aa1

You (informal) Repeat it, please

朋友 你識唔識講英文？

pang4 jau5 nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 jing1 man2 ?

Friend Can you speak English?

請 我識講少少廣東話

ceng2 ngo5 sik1 gong2 siu2 siu2 gwong2 dung1 waa2

15
I can speak a little bit of Cantonese Which way?

廣東話…應該點講？ 提款機

gwong2 dung1 waa2 … jing1 goi1 dim2 gong2 ? tai4 fun2 gei1

How do you say … in Cantonese? ATM (money machine)

…點解呀？ 今日

… dim2 gaai2 aa3 ? gam1 jat6

What does … mean? Today

呢度可唔可以上網㗎？ 今晚

ne1 dou6 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 soeng5 mong5 gaa3 ? gam1 maan5

Can I get Internet access here? Tonight

呢頭有冇好嘅餐廳介紹下？ 聽日

ne1 tau4 jau5 mou5 hou2 ge3 caan1 teng1 gaai3 siu6 ting1 jat6
haa5 ?
Tomorrow
Can you recommend a good restaurant nearby?
左邊
可唔可以俾個折頭我呀？
zo2 bin1
ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 go3 zit3 tau4 ngo5 aa3 ?
Left
Can you give me a discount?
右邊
救命呀！
jau6 bin1
gau3 meng6 aa3 !
Right (not left)
Help!
預訂
警察
jyu6 deng6
ging2 caat3
Reservation (for hotel or restaurant)
Police
閂門
醫生
saan1 mun4
ji1 sang1
Closed (for business)
Doctor
水
我蕩失路
seoi2
ngo5 dong6 sat1 lou6
Water
I'm lost
飯
邊個方向？
faan6
bin1 go3 fong1 hoeng3 ?
16
Rice 街

麵 gaai1

min6 Street

Noodles 黐線蜘蛛條蜘蛛絲黐住咗枝樹枝

開心 ci1 sin3 zi1 zyu1 tiu4 zi1 zyu1 si1, ci1 zyu6 zo2 zi1 syu6 zi1

hoi1 sam1 Tongue Twister: Crazy spider's cobweb sticks to a tree

branch
Happy

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