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Cantonese Phrases

The Cantonese phrases are helpful because they are used daily. Below we picked expressions that a new learner will find useful. We included the audio as well. This is a better way to learning. Learn only what you need. We start with greetings and introduction.

Hi: 好嗎!  [hou2 maa1] Audio
What is your name?: 請問閣下貴姓?  [ ceng2 man6 gok3 haa5 gwai3 seng3] Audio
Nice to meet you: 很高興結識你!  [han2 gou1 hing1 git3 sik1 nei5  ] Audio
How are you?: 你好嗎? (禮貌)  [nei5 hou2 maa1  (lai5 maau6  )] Audio
I'm good, thanks: 我很好,多謝你!  [ngo5 han2 hou2 do1 ze6 nei5  ] Audio
And you?: 你呢? (禮貌)  [nei5 ne1  ( lai5 maau6 )] Audio

Language and Age Phrases

More questions about language and age:

Do you speak (English/Cantonese)?: 你會不會講(英語 / 廣府(東)話)?  [nei5 kui2 bat1 kui2 gong2  ( jing1 jyu5 /gwong2 fu2  ( dung1) waa2)  ] Audio
Does she speak Chinese?: 她會講中文嗎  [ji1 kui2 gong2 zung1 man4 maa1  ] Audio
A little bit: 識小小  [sik1 siu2 siu2] Audio
How old are you?: 請問你貴庚?  [ceng2 man6 nei5 gwai3 gang1 ] Audio
I'm 33 years old: 我是今年(33)歲  [ngo5 si6 gam1 nin4 ( ) seoi3 ] Audio
It was nice talking to you: 很高興跟你聊天!  [han2 gou1 hing1 gan1 nei5 liu4 tin1  ] Audio

If you don't understand something, this will be your secret weapon:

What do you mean?: 你是什麼意思?  [nei5 si6 sam6 maa1 ji3 si1 ] Audio
I don't understand: 我不明白!  [ngo5 bat1 ming4 baak6] Audio
I don't know: 我不知道!  [ngo5 bat1 zi1 dou3  ] Audio
Sorry: 對不起(一個錯誤)  [deoi3 bat1 hei2 jat1 go3 co3 ng6  ] Audio
What is that called in Cantonese?: 那個用廣府(東)話怎麼說?  [na6 go3 jung6 gwong2 fu2 dung1 waa2 zam2 maa1 jyut6] Audio
What does that word mean in English?: 那個字英文是什麼意思?  [na6 go3 zi6 jing1 man4 si6 sam6 maa1 ji3 si1] Audio

More personal information about origins and profession:

Where are you from?: 你是哪裡人?  [nei5 si6 naa1 lei5 jan4] Audio
I'm from the U.S: 我來自(美國 / 香港)  [ngo5 lai4 zi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2] Audio
I'm American: 我是美藉華人  [ngo5 si6 mei5 ze3 faa1 jan4] Audio
Where do you live?: 你住在哪裡?  [nei5 zyu6 zoi6 naa1 lei5 ] Audio
I live in the U.S: 我住在(美國/香港)  [ngo5 zyu6 zoi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2] Audio
What do you do for a living?: 你做姓行?  [nei5 zou6 seng3 haang4 ] Audio
I'm a student: 我是(教師 /學生 /工程師)  [ngo5 si6 gaau1 si1 hok6 saang1 gung1 cing4 si1  ] Audio

Offering or asking for help and giving directions:

Can I help you?: 我可以幫你嗎?  [ngo5 ho2 ji5 bong1 nei5 maa1 ] Audio
Can you help me?: 你能幫我嗎?  [nei5 nang4 bong1 ngo5 maa1 ] Audio
Where is the airport?:   [] Audio
Go straight: 直行  [ zik6 haang4  ] Audio
Then: 然後  [jin4 hau6  ] Audio
Turn left: 向左轉  [hoeng3 zo2 zyun2] Audio
Turn right: 向右轉  [hoeng3 jau6 zyun2] Audio

Holiday Wishes Phrases

Good wishes in Cantonese in holidays and occasions:

Happy birthday: 生日快樂!  [saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6] Audio
Happy new year: 新年快樂!  [san1 nin4 faai3 lok6  ] Audio
Merry Christmas: 聖誕快樂!  [sing3 daan3 faai3 lok6 ] Audio
Good luck: 祝你好運!  [zuk1 nei5 hou2 wan6  ] Audio
Congratulations: 恭喜!  [gung1 hei2  ] Audio

Cantonese expressions commonly used when traveling or buying:

I have a reservation: 我訂了房間(一個房間)  [ngo5 deng6 liu5 fong2 gaan1 jat1 go3 fong2 gaan1] Audio
Do you have rooms available?: 你有房嗎?  [nei5 jau5 fong2 maa1] Audio
I would like a non-smoking room: 我要非吸煙房間  [ngo5 jiu1 fei1 kap1 jin1 fong2 gaan1] Audio
How much it costs per night?: 房租每晚是多少?  [fong2 zou1 mui5 maan5 si6 do1 siu2  ] Audio
Waiter: 仕應 / 女仕應!  [si6 jing1 jyu5 si6 jing1] Audio
How much is this?: 這個多少錢?  [ze2 go3 do1 siu2 cin2  ] Audio
What is this?: 這是什麼?  [ze2 si6 sam6 maa1  ] Audio

Survival phrases considered to be important in emergencies:

Are you okay?: 你無事吧?  [nei5 mou4 si6 baa1 ] Audio
I need a doctor: 我需要醫生  [ngo5 seoi1 jiu1 ji1 saang1] Audio
Help: 救命啊!  [gau3 meng6 aa1] Audio
Call the ambulance: 叫十字車!  [giu3 sap6 zi6 ce1  ] Audio
Call the police: 叫警察!  [giu3 ging2 caat3  ] Audio
I am sick: 我覺得唔舒服  [ngo5 gaau3 dak1 m4 syu1 fuk6] Audio

These Cantonese phrases can be used in a variety of conversations. If you have already visited our Cantonese Vocabulary and Cantonese Grammar, you might want to visit our Cantonese Flashcards to practice what you learned.


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Did you know? Phrases are the combination of the use of vocabulary and grammar. Mastering the vocabulary and grammar can result in the ability to make useful Cantonese phrases.


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