Respond to “nei5 hou2 maa3” with “ngo5 hou2 hou2,” which is similar to saying “I’m fine” in English. If the other person asks you first, you might add “nei5 ne1,” which means “how about you” or “and you. “[4] X Research source When greeting friends or children, you can also say “hei1. " This is a more casual greeting that’s usually not suitable if you’re greeting a stranger or someone older than you. In Hong Kong, you might also use “haa1 lo3” as a casual greeting. [5] X Research source
“Zou2 san4”: good morning “Ng5 on1”: good afternoon “Maan5 on1”: good evening
If you’re talking to someone who’s older or in a position of authority and want to ask their name, use the more formal “dim2 cing1 fu1. “[8] X Research source When someone introduces themselves to you, respond with “hou2 hoi1 sam1 sik1 dou2 nei5,” which means “nice to meet you. " Since this phrase means “I am,” you can use it to tell people your occupation, your nationality, or really anything that you “are. “[9] X Research source
“Nei5 hai6 bin1 dou6 lai4?”: Where are you from? “Nei5 zyu6 hai6 bin1 dou6?”: Where do you live? “Ni1 dou6 zung1 ji3 m4 zong1 ji3?”: Do you like it here? “Nei5 mat1 je5 zou6 zik1 jip6?”: What do you do for a living? “Nei5 gei2 seoi3 aa3?”: How old are you?
“M4 goi1 zoi3 gong2?”: Can you say it again? “M4 goi1 maan6 maan6 gong2?” Can you speak more slowly? “Ngo5 m4 ming4”: I don’t understand “Ni1 hai6 mat1 je5”: My Cantonese is bad “Ngo5 gwong2 dung1 waa6 bat1 sin6”: I need to practice my Cantonese
If you’re leaving for the night or going to bed, you might also say “zou2 tau2,” which means “good night. "
“Do1 ze6”: thank you (specifically when someone gives you a gift)[15] X Research source “Fei1 soeng4 gam2 ze6” or “do1 ze6 saai3”: thank you very much “Deoi3 m4 zyu6”: I’m sorry “M4 goi1”: please (also used as “thank you” for a service rendered)[16] X Research source “M4 hou2 ji3 si1”: excuse me. You can also use “m4 goi1” for “excuse me,” such as when someone is blocking your path. [17] X Research source “M4 sai2 haak3 hei3”: you’re welcome (response to “thank you”)
1: jat1 (一) 2: ji6 (二) 3: saam1 (三) 4: sei3 (四) 5: ng5 (五) 6: luk6 (六) 7: cat1 (七) 8: baat3 (八) 9: gau2 (九) 10: sap6 (十)
“Ngo5 m4 gin3 zo2”: I’m lost “Sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai6 bin1 dou6”: Where is the bathroom? “Joek6 fong4 hai6 bin1 dou6”: Where is the pharmacy? “Nei3 sik1 bat1 sik1 gong2 jing1 man4”: Do you speak English?
“Ni1/go2”: this/that “Ni1 dou6/go2 dou6”: here/there “Ngo5/nei5”: me/you “Keoi5”: him or her “Hou2 hou 2/waai6”: good/bad “Daai6/sai3”: big/small “Hai6/ m4 hai6”: yes/no
The “p” sound is similar to the “p” in the English word “pill. " The “t” sound is similar to the “t” in the English word “tick. " The “z” sound is similar to the “ts” in the English word “lots” or the German word “tschüss. " The “k” sound is similar to the “k” in the English word “kayak. " The “kw” sound is similar to the “qu” in the English word “quack. "
The “b” sound is similar to the “b” in the English word “bill. " The “d” sound is similar to the “d” in the English word “dog. " The “dz” sound is similar to the “dz” in the name “Godzilla. " This sound can occur at the beginning of Cantonese words, unlike in English. The “g” sound is similar to the “g” in the English word “gone. " The “gw” sound is similar to the “gu” in the Spanish word “agua. "
The “f” sound is similar to the “f” in the English word “fall. " The “h” sound is similar to the “h” in the English word “hit. " The “l” sound is similar to the “l” in the English word “lick. " The “m” sound is similar to the “m” in the English word “mother. " The “n” sound is similar to the “n” in the English word “noon. " The “ng” sound is similar to the “ng” in the English word “long. " However, unlike English, this sound also appears at the beginning of words. The “s” sound is similar to the “s” in the English word “see. " The “y” sound is similar to the “y” in the English word “yet. " The “w” sound is similar to the “w” in the English word “wet. " The “z” sound is similar to the
The “aa” sound is similar to the “a” in the English word “far. " The “e” sound is similar to the “e” in the English word “yes. " The “i” sound is similar to the “i” in the English word “ski. " The “o” sound is similar to the “o” in the English word “ore. " The “u” sound is similar to the “oo” in the English word “food. " The “oe” sound is similar to the “u” in the English word “fur” or the “eu” in the French word “fleuve. " The “yu” sound is similar to the “u” in the English word “menu. "
The “ai” sound is similar to the “i” in the English word “wide. " The “au” sound is similar to the “ou” in the English word “loud. " The “eu” sound is similar to the “ayo” in the English word “mayo. " The “iu” sound is similar to the “ew” in the English word “few. " The “oi” sound is similar to the “oy” in the English word “boy” or the “äu” in the German word “Häuser. " The “ui” sound is similar to the “uo” in the English word “buoy. " The “ei” sound is similar to the “ay” in the English word “day. " The “ou” sound is similar to the “ow” in the English word “low. " The “öü” sound is similar to the “oi” in the English word “oil” or the diphthong in the French word “œil. "
1 is a high tone. Your voice stays level on the same tone throughout. Think of how your voice would rise in pitch when you ask a question — the final tone is your high tone. 2 is a rising tone that starts in the low-mid range and ends high. Think of how your voice would start low and rise in pitch if you were wondering what someone was doing. 3 is a middle tone. 4 is a falling tone that starts in the low-mid range and drops to the low range. 5 is a rising tone that starts low and goes up to low-mid. 6 is a low-mid tone that stays level throughout.
These syllables are accompanied by their own tones, also referred to as the 7th, 8th, and 9th tones. The 7th is similar to the 1st tone, the 8th corresponds to the 3rd tone, and the 9th shares the same pitch as the 6th tone.
