Cantonese Phrase Book (Beta)Edited by Kaibo Huang at http://chineseBay.com For original contents, please visit: http://wikitravel.org/en/Cantonese_phrasebook and contribute more contents to it if you know Cantonese. For updates or newer version of this phrase book, please join our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learnCantoneseOnline/ Basic Cantonese With Sound | Cantonese Chatroom Are you interested to get all the sounds for the phrases in this book? Please email your suggestion and feedback to bookfeed@kaibo2.com

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

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

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

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

Numbers1 yt 2 yih 3 sam 3/19

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

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

more d

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

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

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

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

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

yellow green orange purple brown

G lahm sk whng sk luhk sk chahng sk j sk f sk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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