Cantonese Phrase Book (Beta)Edited by Kaibo Huang at http://chineseBay.com

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Table of ContentsCantonese Phrase Book (Beta)...................................................................................................................1

Phrase list..............................................................................................................................................2Problems...........................................................................................................................................3Numbers............................................................................................................................................3Time..................................................................................................................................................6

Clock time....................................................................................................................................6Duration.......................................................................................................................................7Days.............................................................................................................................................7Months.........................................................................................................................................8

Colors................................................................................................................................................8Transportation...................................................................................................................................9

Bus and train................................................................................................................................9Directions.....................................................................................................................................9Taxi.............................................................................................................................................11

Lodging...........................................................................................................................................11Money.............................................................................................................................................12Eating..............................................................................................................................................13Bars.................................................................................................................................................15Shopping.........................................................................................................................................16Driving............................................................................................................................................18Authority.........................................................................................................................................18

1/19

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)

. MG h'gi. Thank you. (when someone gives you a gift)

Djeh. You're welcome.

. MG hsi. / . MG h'si haak3 hei3. / . MG hsi mG h'gi. Yes.

. Haih. No.

. MG h'haih. Excuse me/Pardon me/Sorry.

. Deui-mG h-jyuh. Goodbye

Joigin. I can't speak Cantonese.

. Ngh mG h'sk gng Gwngdngw. Excuse me, do you speak English?

? Chngmahn nih sk-mG h-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

. Ngh mG h'mhng. Where is the toilet?

? Bndouh yuh chi sh?

ProblemsLeave me alone.

. MG h'hu gau ngh. Don't touch me!

! MG h'hu dihm ngh! I'll call the police.

. Ngh wih giu gngchaat. Police!

! Gngchaat! Stop! Thief!

! ! Mih ju! Chaahkji! Please help me.

. MG h'gi bng ngh. It's an emergency.

. Hu gn'gp. I'm lost.

. Ngh dohngst louh. I lost my bag.

. Ngh mG h'gin j go doih. I dropped my wallet.

. Ngh dit j go nghn bau. I'm sick.

. Ngh mG h syfuhk. I've been injured.

. Ngh sauh j sung. Please call a doctor.

. MG h'gi bng ngh giu ysng. Can I use your phone?

? H-mG h-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 timeone 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

6/19

Duration_____ minute(s)

_____ fnjng _____ hour(s)

_____ go jng _____ day(s)

_____ yaht _____ week(s)

_____ go lihbaai _____ month(s)

_____ go yuht _____ year(s)

_____ nhn

Daystoday

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 lihbaai yaht

Monday lihbaai yt

Tuesday lihbaai yih

Wednesday lihbaai sam

Thursday lihbaai sei

7/19

Friday lihbaai gh

Saturday lihbaai luhk

MonthsJanuary

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

lahmG sk yellow

whng sk green

luhk sk orange

chahng sk purple

j sk brown

f sk

Transportation

Bus 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. _____, . Yt jung fi heui _____, mG h'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 _____? []/[]_____? N [ban fch]/[ga bs] thng-mG h- 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?

DirectionsHow 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?

? H-mG h-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

TaxiTaxi!

! Dksh! Take me to _____, please.

_____, . Joi ngh heui _____, mG h'gi. How much does it cost to get to _____?

_____? Heui _____ yiu gid chn gah? Take me there, please.

, . Joi ngh heui gdouh, mG h'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?

? H-mG h-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? ? Nih h-mG h-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? / ? Bau-mG h-bau juchan/mahnchan gah?

What time is breakfast/supper? / ? Gidm yuh juchan/mahnchan gah?

Please clean my room. . MG h'gi bng ngh jp-hh gan fng.

Can you wake me at _____? _____? H-mG h-h'yi _____ giusng ngh a?

I want to check out. . Ngh sung teuifng.

MoneyDo you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

// ? Nihdeih su-mG h-su Mih/Ou/G yhn gah? Do you accept British pounds?

? Nihdeih su-mG h-su Yngbohng gah? Do you accept credit cards?

? Nihdeih su-mG h-su sun-yoong-caht gah? Can you change money for me?

? H-mG h-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?

? H-mG h-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.

/, . Yt jung ytyhnti/yihyhnti, mG h'gi. Can I look at the menu, please?

, . Bi jung chanpai ngh ti, mG h'gi. Can I look in the kitchen?

? H-mG h-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.

. Ngh mG h'sihk jy. I don't eat beef.

. Ngh mG h'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.)

, . MG h'hu lohk gamd yuh, mG h'gi. 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 _____?

_____? H-mG h-h'yi bi bi _____ ngh a? May I have a bottle of _____?

_____? H-mG h-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 _____?

_____? H-mG h-h'yi bi d _____ ngh a? salt

yhm black pepper

hkju butter

nguhyuh Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

. Sihying mG h'gi. I'm finished.

. Sihkyhn gela. It was delicious.

. Husihk Please clear the plates.

. MG h' gi bng ngh chng-hh jung ti. The check, please.

, . Maihdan, mG h'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.

/ , . Yt/luhng bi bju, mG h'gi. A glass of red/white wine, please.

/ , . Yt bi hhng/baahk ju, mG h'gi. A pint, please.

pint, . Yt pint, mG h'gi. (" bn'tyut" is the corresponding word for "pint" in Cantonese, but no one will use it in bars.)

A bottle, please. , . Yt jun, mG h'gi.

15/19

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. __________, . _____ thng _____, mG h'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. /, . Yiu d yt bi/jun, mG h'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 _____?

_____? Su-mG h-su _____ gah? expensive

gwai cheap

phng I can't afford it.

. Ngh bi mG h hi.

16/19

I don't want it. . Ngh mG h 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? ? H-mG h-h'yi bi go di ngh a?

Do you ship (overseas)? ()? Nihdeih sung-mG h-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

? Ngh haih-mG h-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? ? H-mG h-h'yi jauh gm faht chn?

19/19

Basic GreetingsProblemsNumbersTimeClock timeDurationDaysMonths

ColorsTransportationBus and trainDirectionsTaxi

LodgingMoneyEatingBarsShoppingDrivingAuthority