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]

What is your name?: 請問閣下貴姓？  [ ceng2 man6 gok3 haa5 gwai3 seng3]

Nice to meet you: 很高興結識你！  [han2 gou1 hing1 git3 sik1 nei5  ]

How are you?: 你好嗎？ （禮貌）  [nei5 hou2 maa1  (lai5 maau6  )]

I'm good, thanks: 我很好，多謝你！  [ngo5 han2 hou2 do1 ze6 nei5  ]

And you?: 你呢？ （禮貌）  [nei5 ne1  ( lai5 maau6 )]

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)  ]

Does she speak Chinese?: 她會講中文嗎  [ji1 kui2 gong2 zung1 man4 maa1  ]

A little bit: 識小小  [sik1 siu2 siu2]

How old are you?: 請問你貴庚？  [ceng2 man6 nei5 gwai3 gang1 ]

I'm 33 years old: 我是今年(33）歲  [ngo5 si6 gam1 nin4 ( ) seoi3 ]

It was nice talking to you: 很高興跟你聊天!  [han2 gou1 hing1 gan1 nei5 liu4 tin1  ]

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 ]

I don't understand: 我不明白！  [ngo5 bat1 ming4 baak6]

I don't know: 我不知道！  [ngo5 bat1 zi1 dou3  ]

Sorry: 對不起（一個錯誤）  [deoi3 bat1 hei2 jat1 go3 co3 ng6  ]

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]

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]

More personal information about origins and profession:

Where are you from?: 你是哪裡人？  [nei5 si6 naa1 lei5 jan4]

I'm from the U.S: 我來自（美國 / 香港）  [ngo5 lai4 zi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2]

I'm American: 我是美藉華人  [ngo5 si6 mei5 ze3 faa1 jan4]

Where do you live?: 你住在哪裡？  [nei5 zyu6 zoi6 naa1 lei5 ]

I live in the U.S: 我住在（美國/香港）  [ngo5 zyu6 zoi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2]

What do you do for a living?: 你做姓行？  [nei5 zou6 seng3 haang4 ]

I'm a student: 我是（教師 /學生 /工程師）  [ngo5 si6 gaau1 si1 hok6 saang1 gung1 cing4 si1  ]

Offering or asking for help and giving directions:

Can I help you?: 我可以幫你嗎？  [ngo5 ho2 ji5 bong1 nei5 maa1 ]

Can you help me?: 你能幫我嗎？  [nei5 nang4 bong1 ngo5 maa1 ]

Where is the airport?:   []

Go straight: 直行  [ zik6 haang4  ]

Then: 然後  [jin4 hau6  ]

Turn left: 向左轉  [hoeng3 zo2 zyun2]

Turn right: 向右轉  [hoeng3 jau6 zyun2]

Holiday Wishes Phrases

Good wishes in Cantonese in holidays and occasions:

Happy birthday: 生日快樂！  [saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6]

Happy new year: 新年快樂！  [san1 nin4 faai3 lok6  ]

Merry Christmas: 聖誕快樂！  [sing3 daan3 faai3 lok6 ]

Good luck: 祝你好運！  [zuk1 nei5 hou2 wan6  ]

Congratulations: 恭喜！  [gung1 hei2  ]

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]

Do you have rooms available?: 你有房嗎？  [nei5 jau5 fong2 maa1]

I would like a non-smoking room: 我要非吸煙房間  [ngo5 jiu1 fei1 kap1 jin1 fong2 gaan1]

How much it costs per night?: 房租每晚是多少？  [fong2 zou1 mui5 maan5 si6 do1 siu2  ]

Waiter: 仕應 / 女仕應！  [si6 jing1 jyu5 si6 jing1]

How much is this?: 這個多少錢？  [ze2 go3 do1 siu2 cin2  ]

What is this?: 這是什麼？  [ze2 si6 sam6 maa1  ]

Survival phrases considered to be important in emergencies:

Are you okay?: 你無事吧？  [nei5 mou4 si6 baa1 ]

I need a doctor: 我需要醫生  [ngo5 seoi1 jiu1 ji1 saang1]

Help: 救命啊！  [gau3 meng6 aa1]

Call the ambulance: 叫十字車！  [giu3 sap6 zi6 ce1  ]

Call the police: 叫警察！  [giu3 ging2 caat3  ]

I am sick: 我覺得唔舒服  [ngo5 gaau3 dak1 m4 syu1 fuk6]

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.