Cantonese Expressions and Phrasebook

Cantonese Expressions - 1
Section 1
Vocab
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
1 to 10
10 to 100
Money
Months and weeks
CD sound track records:

1.1
1 to 10 [T1]
10.1
1.2
Tens [T2]
10.2
Ordering [T22]
2.1
11 to 19 [T3]
11.1
Take a look [T23]
3
5
12
15
2.2
Full form for 21-99 [T4]
11.2
Can it be tried? [T24]
2.3
Short form for 21-99 [T5]
12.1
Size [T25]
2.4
The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6]
12.2
Colour [T26]
2.5
Extra [T7]
13.1
Delivery [T27]
3.1
Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8]
13.2
Credit card [T28]
3.2
Money telling [T-]
14.1
Bargaining expressions [T29]
4.1
Months [T9]
14.2
Discount [T30]
4.2
Weeks [T10]
15.1
Food ordering [T31]
Modal particles [T11]
16.1
Drinks ordering [T32]
Section 2
Different parts of speech
18
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Unit 8
Modal particles
Measure Words
Nouns
Pronouns
18
20
24
27
Asking price [T21]
Section 3
Deal with people
32
5.1
Unit 9
Greetings and thanks
32
6.1
When to use measure words [T12]
17.1
Kinds of transports [T33]
Section 4
Shopping
39
6.2
More Nouns and their MWs [T13]
17.2
Stations or stops [T34]
Unit 10
Unit 11
Unit 12
Unit 13
Unit 14
Price and ordering

Take a look and try
Size and colour
Payment and Delivery
Bargaining
39
43
47
52
54
6.3
Measure word d [T14]
18.1
Stop [T35]
7.1
Common nouns [T15]
18.2
Minibus [T36]
7.2
Articles - a, an, the [T16]
18.3
Taxi [T37]
8.1
Personal Pronouns [T17]
19.1
Where is the ? [T38]
Section 5
Food
58
8.2
Demonstrative Pronouns [T18]
Unit 15
Unit 16
Food ordering
Drinks ordering
58
62
8.3
Interrogative Pronouns [T19]
9.1
Greetings [T20]
9.2
Goodbye [T20]
9.3
Thanks [T20]
9.4
Requests [T20]
9.5
Apologies [T20]
Section 6
Getting around
66
Unit 17
Unit 18
Unit 19
Kinds of transports
Taking transports
Asking for direction
66
68
71
The end of the book
72
Key:
[h]
[T#]
MW
PM
hint
Track number
measure word
modal particle
Theres a hint for that question.

Sound track no. for the CD
it works like piece of
it suggests tones of sentences
Vocab format:
English
Cantonese
http://www.clc.com.hk
Chinese character
Literal meanings
Measure word
Page 1
CD sound track records for the fast version:

Unit 1
T 39
Unit 11
Unit 2
T 40
Unit 12
Unit 3
T 41
Unit 13
Unit 4
T 42
Unit 14
Unit 5
T 43
Unit 15
Unit 6
T 44
Unit 16
Unit 7
T 45
Unit 17
Unit 8
T 46
Unit 18
Unit 9
T 47
Unit 19
Unit 10
T 48
T 49
T 50
T 51
T 52
T 53
T 54
T 55
T 56
T 57
Page 2
Section 1
Vocab
1.2
Tens [T2]
1.2.1)
Expressions
1 to 10
Unit 1
10
sahp
20
yih sahp
sam sahp
sei sahp
1.1
1 to 10 [T1]
30
1.1.1)
Vocab
50
1
2
3
4
sam
sei
gh
luhk
cht
baat
gu
9
10
0
1.1.2)
yt
yt
yih
sahp
lhng
40
gh sahp
luhk sahp
60
70
Note
80
cht sahp
baat sahp
90
gu sahp
1.2.2)
Exercises
1)
20 _____________________
yih--sahp
yih
2)
60 _____________________
luhkluhk-sahp
3)
90 _____________________
gu-sahp
2 - When people say two of something, luhng

luhng
yih.
luhng is used instead of yih
yih
4 - Die or dead sounds: si
si,
si which sounds like 4: sei.
sei Therefore Chinese dont
like the number of 4
5 - It should be pronounced as gh
gh
gh according to dictionaries. However most people
say h
h
h instead and it is generally accepted.
1.1.3)
Exercises
a)
Practice
1)
What is your telephone number? ______________________
2)
How many family members do you have? _______________
3)
How many days are there in a week ? _____________
4)
How many people are here ? _____________
Page 3
Page 4
10 to 100
Unit 2
2.1
11 to 19 [T3]
2.1.1)
Vocab
11
sahp yt
12
sahp yih
13
sahp sam
14
sahp sei
15
sahp gh
16
sahp luhk
17
sahp cht
18
sahp baat
19
sahp gu
2.2
Full form for 21-99 [T4]
2.2.1)
Vocab
English
Original Form
20
yih sahp
yih sahp yt
yah yt
yih sahp yih

yih sahp sam
yah yih
yah sam
25
yih sahp sei

yih sahp gh
yah sei
yah gh
26
yih sahp luhk
yah luhk
27
28
yih sahp cht

yih sahp baat
yah cht
yah baat
29
yih sahp gu
yah gu
30
samsam-sahp
sam--sahp yt
sam
ss-ah yt
ss-ah yih
s--ah sam
s
21
22
23
24
Short Form
2.1.2)
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
11 ____________________
sahp yt
33
samsam-sahp yih
sam--sahp sam
sam
2)
13 ____________________
sahp s
san
34
samsam-sahp sei
ss-ah sei
35
17 ____________________
sahp cht
36
samsam-sahp gh
sam--sahp luhk
sam
ss-ah gh
s--ah luhk
s
b)
Practice
38
samsam-sahp cht
sam--sahp baat
sam
ss-ah cht
s--ah baat
s
4)
How many months are there in a year? _____________
39
samsam-sahp gu
ss-ah gu
5)
How many units are there in this book? _____________

40
seisei-sahp
sei--sahp yt
sei
seisei-ah yt
43
seisei-sahp yih
seisei-sahp sam
seisei-ah yih
seisei-ah sam
44
seisei-sahp sei
seisei-ah sei
45
seisei-sahp gh
sei--sahp luhk
sei
seisei-ah gh
sei--ah luhk
sei
3)
31
32
37
41
42
46
Page 5
Chinese
Page 6
47
seisei-sahp cht
seisei-ah cht
48
seisei-sahp baat
sei--sahp gu
sei
seisei-ah baat
sei--ah gu
sei
49
50
ghgh-sahp
51
52
ghgh-sahp yt
gh--sahp yih
gh
ghgh-ah yt
gh--ah yih
gh
53
ghgh-sahp sam
ghgh-ah sam
54
ghgh-sahp sei
gh--sahp gh
gh
ghgh-ah sei
gh--ah gh
gh
ghgh-sahp luhk
gh--sahp cht
gh
ghgh-ah luhk
gh--ah cht
gh
ghgh-sahp baat
gh--sahp gu
gh
ghgh-ah baat
gh--ah gu
gh
55
56
57
58
59
60
luhkluhk-sahp
61
62
luhkluhk-sahp yt
luhk--sahp yih
luhk
luhkluhk-ah yt
luhk--ah yih
luhk
63
luhkluhk-sahp sam
luhkluhk-ah sam
64
luhkluhk-sahp sei
luhk--sahp gh
luhk
luhkluhk-ah sei
luhk--ah gh
luhk
67
luhkluhk-sahp luhk
luhk--sahp cht
luhk
luhkluhk-ah luhk
uhk--ah cht
luhk
68
luhkluhk-sahp baat
luhkluhk-ah baat
69
luhkluhk-sahp gu
luhkluhk-ah gu
65
66
70
chtcht-sahp
71
chtcht-sahp yt
chtcht-ah yt
72
chtcht-sahp yih
cht--sahp sam
cht
chtcht-ah yih
cht--ah sam
cht
chtcht-sahp sei
cht--sahp gh
cht
chtcht-ah sei
cht--ah gh
cht
77
chtcht-sahp luhk
cht--sahp cht
cht
chtcht-ah luhk
cht--ah cht
cht
78
chtcht-sahp baat
chtcht-ah baat
73
74
75
76
79
chtcht-sahp gu
80
baatbaat-sahp
81
baatbaat-sahp yt
baat--sahp yih
baat
baatbaat-ah yt
baat--ah yih
baat
84
baatbaat-sahp sam
baat--sahp sei
baat
baatbaat-ah sam
baat--ah sei
baat
85
baatbaat-sahp gh
baatbaat-ah gh
86
baatbaat-sahp luhk
baat--sahp cht
baat
baatbaat-ah luhk
baat--ah cht
baat
89
baatbaat-sahp baat
baat--sahp gu
baat
baatbaat-ah baat
baat--ah gu
baat
90
gugu-sahp
91
gugu-sahp yt
gu--sahp yih
gu
gugu-ah yt
gu--ah yih
gu
94
gugu-sahp sam
gu--sahp sei
gu
gugu-ah sam
gu--ah sei
gu
95
gugu-sahp gh
gugu-ah gh
96
gugu-sahp luhk
gu--sahp cht
gu
gugu-ah luhk
gu--ah cht
gu
gugu-sahp baat
gu--sahp gu
gu
gugu-ah baat
gu--ah gu
gu
82
83
87
88
92
93
97
98
99
Page 7
chtcht-ah gu
2.2.2)
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
25 ____________________
yihyih-sahp gh
2)
36 ____________________
samsam-sahpsahp-luhk
b)
Practice
3)
How many days are there in a January ? _____________
4)
How many days are there in a April ? _____________
Page 8
2.3
Short form for 21-99 [T5]
2.4
The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6]
2.3.1)
Note
2.4.1)
Note
Most of the time, native speakers use the short form instead of the original full form,
even though it is not much shorter, it makes the sounds smoother.
For the short forms:
21-29: yihyih-sahp is changed into yah
31-39: sam
sam--sahp is changed into s
s--ah
2.4.2)
41-99: sahp is changed into ah

2.3.2)
If talking about twenty, thirty etc, its too short to use the short form, so people still say
the original form.
However if people talk about twenty of something (20 units), thirty of something etc,
people use the short form.
Vocab
Refer to the above table
Expressions
dollar
mn
$20
yah mn
$30
ss-ah mn
2.3.3)
Exercises
$40
seisei-ah mn
1)
66 ____________________
luhkluhk-ahah-luhk
$50
ghgh-ah mn
$60
luhkluhk-ah mn
74 ____________________
ch
cht-ahah-sei
$70
chtcht-ah mn
$80
baatbaat-ah mn
3)
86 ____________________
baatbaat-ahah-luhk
$90
gugu-ah mn
4)
98 ____________________
gugu-ahah-baat
2)
Page 9
2.4.3)
Exercises
1)
$20 ____________________
yah mn
2)
$40 ____________________
seisei-ah mn
3)
$50 ____________________
ghgh-ah mn
Page 10
2.5
Extra [T7]
2.5.1)
Vocab
2.5.2)
10
sahp
100
1000
yt baak
chn
yt ch
10000
yt maahn
Money
Unit 3
3.1
Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8]
3.1.1)
Vocab
dime (value is 10 cents)
3.1.2)
Note
huhhuh-j
Expression
Coins in HK Dimes
The one: y
yt in 100: yt baak,
baak 1000: yt ch
chn and 10000: yt maahn
maahn cant be
skipped.
one dime (10 cents)
yt huhhuh-j
two dimes (20 cents)
luhng huhhuh-j
2.5.3)
Exercises
five dimes (50 cents)
gh huhhuh-j
1)
I have $200. [h] _____________________________________
Coins in HK Dollars
[I: ngh] / [have: yuh]
ng
ngh y
yuh yih baak m
mn
2)
I have $1000. _________________________________________

ng
ngh y
yuh y
yt ch
chn m
mn
$1
yt mn
$2
$5
luhng mn
gh mn
$10
sahp mn
Banknotes in HK
$10
3.1.3)
$20
sahp mn
yih--sahp m
mn
yih
n / yahyah-mn
$50
ghgh-sahp mn / ghgh-ah m
mn
$100
$500
yt-baak mn
gh--baak mn
gh
$1000
yt-ch
chn mn
Note
Dime is the smallest value of coins used in Hong Kong. Its value is equal to 10 cents.
When people say two of something, luhng
luhng
yih.
luhng is used instead of yih
yih Thats why
two-dime coins are called luhng h
huhuh-j
3.1.4)
Exercises
a)
Coins in HK - Dimes
1)
two dimes (20) _______________________

luhng huhhuh-j
Page 11
Page 12
2)
samsam-sahp cht mn
five dimes (50) _______________________

gh huhhuh-j
5)
$49 ____________________
seisei-sahpsahp-gu mn
b)
Coins in HK - Dollars
3)
$2 _______________________
luhng m
mn
6)
$60 _______________________
luhkluhk-sahp mn
4)
$10 _______________________
sahp m
mn
7)
$99 ____________________
gugu-sahp gu mn
c)
Banknotes in HK
c)
Use short form
5)
$20 _______________________
yihyih-sahp mn / yahyah-mn
8)
$28 ____________________
yahyah-baat mn
mn
6)
$100 __________________
ytyt-baak mn
9)
$36 ____________________
ss-ah luhk mn
7)
$500 _______________________
gh baak mn
10)
$42 ____________________
seisei-ahah-yih mn
8)
$1000 _______________________
yt chn mn
11)
$56 ____________________
ghgh-ahah-luhk mn
12)
$63 ____________________
luhk--ahluhk
ah-sam mn
13)
$78 ____________________
cht--ahcht
ah-baat mn
d)
Practice
14)
How much for an apple? ____________________________________
15)
How much for a Chinese newspaper? _____________________________
16)
How much for an English newspaper? ____________________________
17)
How much for a hamburger ? _______________________________
18)
How much for a pen ? ____________________________________
19)
How much for a chair ? ____________________________________
20)
How much for a table ? ____________________________________
3.2
Money telling [T-]
3.2.1)
Note
Just add dollar : mn
mn after the numbers.
3.2.2)
Exercises
a)
Full form only
1)
$8 _______________________
baat mn
2)
$12 _______________________
sahpsahp-yih mn
3)
$18 ____________________
sahpsahp-baat mn
b)
Use full form
4)
$37 _______________________
Page 13
Page 14
Months and weeks
Unit 4
4.1
4.1.1)
Months [T9]
Vocab
month
yuht
January
ytyt-yuht
yih--yuht
yih
February
March
samsam-yuht
sei--yuht
sei
April
May
ghgh-yuht
June
luhkluhk-yuht
cht--yuht
cht
July
August
baatbaat-yuht
gu--yuht
gu
September
October
sahpsahp-yuht
sahp--yt
yt--yuht
sahp
November
December
sahpsahp-yihyih-yuht
4.2
Weeks [T10]
4.2.1)
Note
Both lihlih-baai
baai and sngsng-kih
kih means week and both are commonly used. sngng-kih
kih
is a bit more formal than lihlih-baai
baai
1st month
2nd month
4.2.2)
Vocab
3rd month
lihlih-baai
4th month
week
lihlih-baai
5 month
Monday
6th month
Tuesday
lihlih-baaibaai-yt
ih--baai
baai--yih
lih
7th month
Wednesday
lihlih-baaibaai-sam
8th month
Thursday
lihlih-baaibaai-sei
lihih-baaibaai-gh
th
th
9 month
Friday
th
10 month
Saturday
11th month
Sunday
lihlih-baaibaai-luhk
lih--baai
baai--yaht
lih
th
12 month
sngsng-kih
week
sngng-kih
ng--kih
ih--yt
sng
4.1.2)
Exercises
a)
Translation
Tuesday
1)
October ______________________________________
sahpsahp-yuht
Wednesday
March ______________________________________
samsam-yuht
Friday
sngng-kihih-sei
ng--kih
ih--gh
sng
Saturday
sngng-kihih-luhk
3)
July ______________________________________
chtcht-yuht
Sunday
sngng-kihih-yaht
b)
Practice
4)
What month is this? __________________________________________
5)
Christmas is in which month? ___________________________________
6)
Easter is in which month? ______________________________________
7)
In Hong Kong, which months are very hot? _________________________
8)
In Hong Kong, which months are very cold? ________________________
2)
Monday
Thursday
Page 15
sngng-kihih-yih
ng--kih
ih--sam
sng
week
1st day of the week
2nd day of the week
3rd day of the week
4th day of the week
5th day of the week
6th day of the week
day of the week
week
1st day of the week
2nd day of the week
3rd day of the week
4th day of the week
5th day of the week
6th day of the week
day of the week
Page 16
Section 2
Different parts of speech
Unit 5
Modal particles
4.2.3)
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
Monday ______________________________________
sng/
sng-kihkih-yt / lihlih-baaibaai-yt
2)
Sunday ______________________________________
sng/
sng-kihkih-yaht / lihlih-baaibaai-yaht
5.1
Modal particles [T11]
3)
Saturday ______________________________________
sng/
sng-kihkih-luhk / lihlih-baaibaai-luhk
5.1.1)
Vocab
b)
Practice
4)
What is this day of the week? _______________________________
5)
What day is it tomorrow? ___________________________________
6)
What day was it yesterday? _________________________________
7)
Which day(s) are you off work each week? _____________________
PM (question)
PM (question)
ga
PM (polite request)
PM (answer with pleased ending)
PM (answer with finality tone)
aak
PM (for defining)
ge
5.1.2)
Note
a)
General
PM, Particle Modal stands for Modal Particle. It doesnt carry literal meanings but
just shows different modals or tones.
b)
Skip it
As modal particle dont carry literal meanings, if you are not sure what modal particles
you should use, you can just leave it. It wont change the meanings of your sentences. It
just sounds more plain and not so colourful as native Cantonese speakers do.
c)
aa and ga
ga
ga
When aa and ga
ga
ga are used for questions, very often, they are interchangeable.
aa sounds more for single event questions while ga
ga
ga sounds more for general case
questions
5.1.3)
Expressions
1)
When do you deliver?
2)
Page 17
gigi-sh sungsung-fo
a?
when
PM
deliver goods
Do you deliver?
sung h sungsung-fo
ga ?
delivery not delivery goods
PM?
?
Page 18
3)
May I try it? (Can it be tried?)
yuh muh
have not have
dk
si
possibility to try
a / ga?
PM?
/?
People may say either aa or ga

ga
ga here
4)
One please
yt go
one
5)
piece
PM
Its fine!
hu !
fine
PM
6.1
When to use measure words [T12]
6.1.1)
Note
A measure word (MW) is used before nouns for measuring purposes. It is like the
function of piece in a piece of paper.
Different categories of objects may take different MWs. Usually it depends on the
category or shapes they belong to. While go
go
go is the most general MW, if you do not
know which MW has to be used, it is best to use go
go
go instead of just leaving it out.
Although it maybe wrong, its easier for Hong Kong people to understand you.
is in high level, which sounds more energetic.

6)
Its fine!
hu aak
fine
PM
aak
aak
aak sounds yep in English
7)
a hot one
yiht ge
hot
5.1.4)
PM
There are only a few nouns that dont need measure words. Those nouns are somehow
measurable by themselves, eg. years, days, nights, minutes, seconds, pages and lessons.
Some books call measure words noun classifiers
6.1.2)
Exercises
Add modal particles to the following sentences.
1)
Its fine = hu ________
2)
One please = yt go ______________
3)
When do you deliver? = gi-sh sungsung-fo ________?
4)
Do you deliver? = sung h sung fo ____________?
Measure Words
Unit 6
Page 19
Vocab
this
that
apple
phnghng-gw
gw
person
student
yhn
hohk--sang
hohk
clothes/clothing
sam
T-shirt
T-sut
trousers
dress
fu
kwhn
pen
bt
coke
watch
hh-lohk
su--bu
su
have
yuh
dont have
muh
do you have?
yuh m
muh
go
go
gihn
gihn
tuh
tuh
j
jek
go
learn person
hand watch
Page 20
6.1.3)
MW - people related things
go
MW - clothes
gihn
MW - long, thin objects
tuh
MW - cylindrical objects
MW - round objects
jek
n-go yhn
Expressions
3)
that person ______________________________________

g-go yhn
6.2
More Nouns and their MWs [T13]
6.2.1)
Expressions
b)
Use MW: After a number

one person
yt go yhn
two people
luhng go yhn
three people
sam go yhn
one apple
yt go phnghng-gw
gw
two apple
luhng go phnghng-gw
gw
three apple
sam go phnghng-gw
gw
Use MW: Specific reference

this apple
n go p
phnghng-gw
gw
that apple
the apple
this pen
that pen
the pen
g go p
phnghng-gw
gw
phng
hng--gw
gw
go p
n j
j bt
g j bt
bt
j b
c)
Dont use MW: general reference
1)
Do you have a pen? / Do you have any pens?
yuh m
muh b
bt a?
have not have pen
PM?
a person
go
yt go yhn
a student
yt go hohkhohk-sang
two + piece of + person
clothes
three + piece of + person
MW
one + piece of + apple
two + piece of + apple
an item of clothing
gihn
yt gihn sam
a T-shirt
yt gihn TT-sut
long, thin objects
three + piece of + apple
MW
a pair of trousers
tuh
yt tuh fu
this + piece of + apple
a dress
yt tuh kwhn
that + piece of + apple
cylindrical objects
the piece of + apple
MW
a pen
yt j bt
h--lohk
yt j h
this + piece of + pen

that + piece of + pen
a coke
(a bottle of sth.)
the piece of + pen
round objects
Exercises
1)
4 people ______________________________________
seisei-go yhn
this person ______________________________________
MW
one + piece of + person
6.1.4)
2)
people related nouns
Measure words are used after a number and for specific reference. For general referring,
do not use measure words.
a)
Page 21
MW
jek
a watch
yt jek susu-bu
a CD
yt jek CD
CD
6.2.2)
Exercises
1)
Two students ______________________________________

luhngluhng-go hohkhohk-sang
2)
That T-shirt ______________________________________

g--gihn TT
g
T-sut
Page 22
3)
4)
the watch ______________________________________

jek susu-bu
Unit 7
One coke (in bottle shape) _____________________________

yt--j hyt
h-lohk
7.1
Common nouns [T15]
7.1.1)
Vocab
a)
Nouns of things
5)
The pair of trousers costs $100 ________________________________

tuh fu y
yt-baak m
mn
6)
I have two watches ______________________________________

ng
ngh y
yuh l
luhng jek s
su-bu
7)
Do you have any coke? ______________________________________

yuh m
?
muh h
h-lohk a?
Nouns
People
person
yhn
foreigner
ngoihngoih-gwokgwok-yhn
boy
girl
nahmahm-ji
uih--ji
nuih
kid
saisai-mn-ji
6.3
Measure word d
d [T14]
6.3.1)
Note
book
d
d
d is an universal measure word for plural (without stating specific number) and
uncountable things (eg. water)
pen
sy
sy
bt
TV
dihndihn-sih
telephone
dihndihn-w
s-f
6.3.2)
Expressions
these pens
n d
d bt
those pens
g d bt
bt
d b
the pens
this water
n d
d sui
that water
g d sui
d s
sui
the water
Things
this + pieces of + pens
sofa
that + pieces of + pens
umbrella
the pieces of + pens
homework
j
ng--fo
gng
money
ch
chn
water
sui
Clothes etc.
clothes
sam
shoes
haih
Exercises
shirt
1)
These people _________________________________________

n d
d y
yhn
ring
sutut-sam
gaai--j
gaai
2)
Those people _________________________________________

g d
d y
yhn
apple
phnghng-gw
gw
hamburger
The people _________________________________________

d y
yhn
coke
honhon-bu-bau
h-lohk
6.3.3)
3)
Food & Drinks
Page 23
go
go
male kid
female kid
go
go
go
bn
j
go
go
jung
b
fahn
-
gihn
deui
gihn
jek
go
go
Page 24
b)
c)
Abstract nouns
Cantonese
Gw
Gwngng-dngng-w
mistake
cho
music
ym-ngohk
Proper nouns
Hong Kong
Hungung-gng
Central
Jngng-wahn
Hollywood Road
Hh-lihih-wuht douh
Nathan Road
Nihih-dun douh
7.2
Articles - a, an, the [T16]
7.2.1)
Note
There are no articles - a, an & the in Cantonese.
People say one: yt
yt for a or an.
For definite referring the, people use measure word.
Different category of things use different measure words, go
go
go is the most common
measure word.
7.2.2)
Vocab
a student
yt go hohkhohk-sang
an apple
the student
yt go p
phnghng-gw
gw
hohk--sang
go hohk
the apple
go p
phnghng-gw
gw
the students
d hohkhohk-sang
d p
phnghng-gw
gw
one + piece of + student

one + piece of + apple
the piece of + student
the piece of + apple
the pieces of + student
7.1.2)
Exercises
1)
One umbrella _____________________________________

yt b
b j
j
7.2.3)
Exercises
2)
Two umbrellas _____________________________________

luhng b
b j
j
1)
The apple costs $2. ________________________________

go p
phnghng-gw
gw l
luhng mn
3)
This umbrella _____________________________________

n b
b j
j
2)
The apples cost $10. ________________________________

d p
phnghng-gw
gw sahp m
mn
4)
That umbrella _____________________________________

g b
b j
j
5)
The umbrella _____________________________________

b j
j
6)
These umbrella _____________________________________

n d
d j
j
7)
Those umbrella _____________________________________

g d
d j
j
8)
The umbrellas _____________________________________

d j
j
the apples
the pieces of + apple
Page 25
Page 26
Pronouns
2)
We are Hong Kong people _______________________

nghngh-deih haih HungHung-Gng Yhn
8.1
Personal Pronouns [T17]
3)
You (plural) are not Hong Kong people [h] ______________
8.1.1)
Vocab
a)
Subjective and objective case

I / me
ngh
you (singular)
nih
he, she, it / him, her
kuih
we / us
ngh deih
you (plural)
nih deih
they / them
kuih deih
Unit 8
b)
[not be: h-haih]
nihnih-deih hh-haih HungHung-Gng Yhn
Possessive adjective / Possessive pronoun

my / mine
ngh ge
your / yours
nih ge
kuih ge
his, her, its / his, hers, its

our / ours
your / yours
nghngh-deih ge
ih--deih ge
nih
their / theirs
kuihkuih-deih ge
Reflexive pronoun
myself
ngh jihjih-gi
yourself
nih jihjih-gi
himself, herself, itself
kuih jihjih-gi
ourselves
nghngh-deih jihjih-gi
yourselves
nihnih-deih jihjih-gi
themselves
kuihkuih-deih jihjih-gi
8.1.2)
Exercises
a)
Subjective and Objective case
1)
I am Hong Kong people. [h] ________________

[be: haih]
ngh haih HungHung-gng yhn

4)
They are foreigners ________________

kuih--deih haih ngoihkuih
ngoih-gwok yhn
yhn
5)
A: Is he a student ?___________________________
B: No, he is not a student_____________________________
?
,
A: kuih haih h haih hohk sang a?

hohk--sang
B: h-haih. kuih h-haih hohk
b)
Possessive
6)
their pen(s) __________________________________

kuihkuih-deih ge b
bt
7)
your (singular) pen(s) __________________________________

nih ge b
bt
8)
your (plural) pen(s) __________________________________

nihih-deih ge b
bt
9)
our money __________________________________

ngh--deih ge chn
ngh
c)
Reflexive
10)
You yourself made the mistake [h] ____________________
ge is usually replaced by corresponding measure word (MW) in possessive case

c)
[make mistake: jouh-cho]
nih jihjih-gi jouh cho

11)
They themselves are careless [h] ____________________

[careless: h su-sm]
kuihkuih-deih jihjih-gi h susu-sm
Page 27
Page 28
8.2
Demonstrative Pronouns [T18]
8.3
Interrogative Pronouns [T19]
8.2.1)
Vocab
8.3.1)
Vocab
this one
that one
these
those
n go
g go
n d
here
g d
n douh
there
g douh
this piece
which
bn
that piece
who
this pieces
which
bn go
bn go
which person
this pieces
where
bn douh
which place
how (quantity)
gi
gi d
this place
that place
how many
8.2.2)
Exercises
how long
1)
This is an apple ______________________________

nn-go haih phngphng-gw
2)
3)
how many
how many + duration
when
gi noih
gi sh
what time
gi dm
how many + oclock
That is an apple ______________________________

g-go haih phngphng-gw
why
dm gai
how to + explain
These are apples ______________________________

n--d haih phngn
phng-gw
what
mt yh
m
what stuff
4)
Those are apples______________________________

g-d haih phngphng-gw
5)
Here is Hong Kong_____________________________

nn-douh haih HungHung-Gng
6)
which piece
what
I went there __________________________

ngh heui gg-douh
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
Who are you? [you are who?] ____________________

nih haih bn?
bn-go a?
2)
Which is better ? [h]_______________________
bnbn-go huhu-d a?
3)
Where do you live? [you live in where?] [h]______________

[live: jyuh,
in: hi]
nih jyuh h
hi bnbn-douh a?
Page 29
(a short form)
8.3.2)
[better: hu-d]
how many + time
4)
How many people ? ____________________________

gi--d yhn a?
?
gi
5)
When will you go ? [you when go?] _____________________

nih gigi-sh heui a?
?
Page 30
6)
7)
Why did you go? [you why go?] ____________________________

nih d
dm-gai heui a?
Section 3
What is it? [this is what?] ______________________

n--go haih mtn
mt-yh a?
Unit 9
b)
Dialogue
8)
A: Who is better? ___________________________

B: He is better_____________________________
?
B: k
kuih huhu-d
A: bnbn-go huhu-d a?
9)
10)
Greetings [T20]
9.1.1)
Expressions
Good morning
I wish you well
nih h
hu
Note
a)
Good morning: juju-shn
early morning
you good
you good
Ordinarily, Cantonese do not say good afternoon and good evening to each others. Only
telephone operators and TV or radio presenters do.
Moreover, people can only say good night: ju tu
tu right just before going to bed.
A: Where are they going? ___________________________

B: They are going to Central___________________________
?
B: kuihkuih-deih heui JngJng-Wahn
Therefore usually they can only say ju tu to their family members.

If someone says ju
ju tu l
l (where l
l
l is a modal particle for persuading request) to
another person during the daytime, he means the addressee bothers him and asks him to
go away. This is because the literal meaning for ju
ju tu
tu is early rest but not good
night.
A: Which pen is cheaper? ___________________________

B: This pen is cheaper _____________________________
A: bnbn-j bt phngphng-d a?
B: nn-j bt phngphng-d
12)
nice to meet you
ju-shn
nih h
hu
9.1.2)
A: kuihkuih-deih heui bnbn-douh a?
11)
Greetings and thanks
9.1
A: How many people? ___________________________

B: 4 ___________________________
A: gigi-d yhn a?
sei--go
B: sei
Deal with people
b)
I wish you well: nih hu

I wish you well: nih h
hu is rather formal. People use it when first meeting a new
friend; the usage is then the same as nice to meet you.
You can also use nih hu to greet your friends that you already know . But its not be
for old friends and teenage people, supposing that greeting them should be in a casual
way; saying Hi, Hey or Hello are much more common. The usage is the same as that in
English and quite often people will nod their heads a little bit the same that English
speakers do. These are also common casual greetings when people first meet a new
friend in casual situations.
You can also use nih hu to greet your friends that you already known . But it must not
be for old friends and teenage people supposing that greeting them should be in a casual
way; saying Hi, Hey or Hello are much more common.
If someone says nih hu to you, you should also say nih hu back to him,
A: Which piece of clothing is better? ___________________________

B: That piece of clothing is better_____________________________
?
B: gg-gihn sam huhu-d
A: bnbn-gihn sam huhu-d a?
c)
People dont
dont say how are you?
you?
Native Hong Kong Cantonese do not say How are you: nih hu ma?
ma to each others as
English speakers and Mandarin speakers do in daily greetings
Page 31
Page 32
9.1.3)
b)
Exercises
d
dd-jeh
jeh is a common saying for a sales person to their customers. But if you are the
customer, do not say d
jeh , instead you should say h
gi as in above.
d jeh
h gi
What do you say in the following situation?

1)
You want to greet someone at 9:00 am. _________________

ju shn
2)
You meet your friend on the street at 3:00 pm and want to greet him in a most
common way that a Cantonese will do. ______________________
Hi / Hey / Hello
3)
You meet someone for the first time and want to greet in a more formal way.
nih hu
4)
9.2
9.2.1)
c)
see you
baiai-baai
joi gin
9.3.3)
1)
Someone opens the door for you. ____________________________

h-gi
2)
Your friend gives you a birthday present. ______________________

d--jeh
d
3)
You are a customer and want to say thanks to the sales person. _____
h-gi
4)
You are a sales person and want to say thanks to your customer for buying
things from your shop. ______________________________
dd-jeh
Thanks [T20]
9.3.1)
Expressions
thanks for help /service
5)
h-gi
thanks for a gift
d-jeh
dont mention it
dont mention it
h-si
h-si haakhaak-hei
dont mention it
h-hu haakhaak-hei
9.3.2)
Note
a)
Thanks for help: hh-gi
joi
joibaijoi-gin
gin is more formal and less common than b
ai-baai.
baai
9.3
Exercises
What do you say in the following situations?
again + see
Note
Youre welcome: hh-si

The usage for h
hh-si
si is similar to youre welcome / dont mention it / its nothing.
Cantonese do not say you are welcome, instead they say need not be so polite. Its a
general applicable reply whenever people say thanks (for help or gifts) to you
Goodbye [T20]
bye
9.2.2)
You can also say dd-jeh when someone gives you compliments
compliments or congratulations
Someone say nih hu to you, what do you answer then? ____________

nih hu
Expressions
Thanks for a gift: dd-jeh
You are a sales person, you drop a pen, a customer helps you to pick it up.
What do you say to him/her? ____________________________
h-gi
not + should
6)
many thanks
no need
Someone thanks you for your help. What do you say to that person then?
h si
/ h si haak/ h hu haakhaak-hei
haak-hei
no need + so polite
dont + so polite
The literal meanings of h

hh-gi
gi is I shouldnt trouble you.
For e.g., you can say it when someone opens the door for you or he helps you to hold
the lift. Also, you can say this to people of shops or restaurants as you get services from
them.
Page 33
Page 34
9.4
Requests [T20]
9.4.1)
Vocab
quite often, Cantonese say please: h gi

gi instead.
b)
please
hh-gi
wait a moment
dng d
dng
je
borrow
wash room
si-su g
gan
telephone
dihndihn-w
no problem
muh
feel free for it / help

yourself
mahnmahn-tih
chuih
uih--bn
ch
hh-gi dng dng

When Cantonese repeat the verbs, it means the actions last for a short while.
c)
hh-gi (je je)

Here means borrow the way from others. However very often, it is skipped if it is
obvious, such as when people try to get off public transport
d)
wash +
partition
hand
Quite often, people just make it a request statement instead of making it a question of
May I
electric + talk
hh-gi je go dihndihn-w
9.4.4)
Note - Answer
a)
chuih bn
no + problem
The literal meanings is casual. It means you ask people feel free to use it. It is used to
answer a request where someone wants to use something of yours e.g. washroom,
telephone or borrow something from you e.g. pen
casual
b)
okay
You can answer this as most Hong Kong peole know it and even people dont know
English do also know this word.
9.4.2)
Expressions
Request
please
hh-gi
please wait a moment
hh-gi d
dng d
dng
please make way for me
hh-gi je je
may I use the telephone?
h-gi je go dihndihn-w
may I use the wash room? h-gi je go s

si-su g
gan
Answer
okay
dk
no problem
muh mahnmahn-tih
feel free to use it
ch
chuihuih-bn
9.4.5)
Exercises
1)
Excuse me (You try to get off the MTR) ___________________

(
)
h-gi (je je)
2)
A: Please wait _______________________

B: No problem ______________________________
A: Thanks
______________________________
B: You are welcome.
______________________________
B: muh mahnmahn-tih
A: h-gi
B: h-si (haak(haak-hei) ()
A: h-gi dng dng
3)
X: May I use the toilet? (Please borrow the toilet) _________________

Y: Sure (feel free to use it) _____________________
9.4.3)
Note - Request
hh-gi je go sisi-su gan
a)
hh-gi
chuihchuih-bn
h
h gi
gi has two meanings, one means thanks for service and the second one is used
in request, means please.
In English, people say Excuse me when they start to ask strangers questions. However
Page 35
Page 36
9.5
Apologies [T20]
9.5.1)
Expressions
Sorry
h hu yiyi-si
deui h jyuh
never mind
h g
gn-yiu
no problem
muh mahn
mahnahn-tih
tih
excuse me / sorry
sorry
Answer
9.5.2)
Note
a)
h-hu yiyi-si
not good meanings
9.5.3)
Exercises
a)
Questions
What do you say in the following situations?
1)
You sneeze in the library and you want to say excuse me to others____
h-hu yiyi-si
2)
You caused your friend lose $10,000. _____________________________

deui h jyuh
3)
When you chat with your friend and you have to pick up the phone______
h hu yi si
4)
Someone asks you where a MTR station is but you dont know. ________
h hu yi si
not + important
no + problem
The literal meanings of it is: has a meaning of embarrassing. People use it when they
find sorry for inconvenience caused.
b)
deui h jyuh
Cantonese say it when they really make a fault or a mistake and sounds they make the
apologies more seriously.
In daily life, people say
h-hu yideui h jyuh.
yi-si
si more than deui
jyuh Anyway, quite often,
they are interchangeable.
c)
Answer to apologies
Cantonese do not say dont worry when someone apologize to them.
Besides, quite often, people say
h g
gn-yiu, m
muh mahnmahn-tih
tih together.
Page 37
Page 38
Section 4
b)
Shopping
4)
10.1
Asking price [T21]
10.1.1)
Vocab
General
this one
n go
that one
g go
how much
gi ch
chn
Clothes
clothes
sam
T-shirt
t-sut
trousers
fu
dress
kw
kwhn
Others
pen
bt
table
ti
This is $70
n go chtcht-sahp mn
Price and ordering
Unit 10
This is
5)
This dress is $230
n tuh kwhn yihyih-baak s

samam-sahp m
mn
10.1.3)
Note
a)
Clothes
Cantonese has the word sam which is used to refer to clothing which is worn on the
top.
For example, shirts, T-shirts and overcoats are kinds of sam.
sam
sam sam
sam is a common
word in Cantonese
this piece
that piece
how (much) + money
b)
gihn
gihn
tuh
tuh
j
jung
Measure words (MW)

In n
n-go,
go the MW have to be changed when referring to different nouns. If the noun is
not known, the MW of go is used.
c)
How much?
For how much, the full form should be gi d chn,
chn literally means how much
money. But most of the time, people skip the d and so just say gi ch
chn.
d)
Modal particle
a in gi-ch
chn a?
a? is a question modal particle. Some people may skip the a.
a
However using a can make the tone milder and more polite. Most people do say a
here.
10.1.2)
Expressions
10.1.4)
Exercises
a)
How much?
1)
1)
How much is this one?
How much is this one? _______________________________

i?
i-go gigi-chn a?
2)
How much is this table?________________________________

n?
n-jungjung-ti gigi-chn a?
3)
How much is this T-shirt ? ________________________________

T
?
n gihn tt-sut gigi-chn a ?
4)
This pen cost $24. ________________________________

n j bt yahyah-sei m
mn
5)
This table is $300. ________________________________

n--jungn
jung-ti samam-baak m
mn
n go gigi-chn a ?
2)
How much is this piece of clothing ?
n gihn sam gigi-chn a ?

3)
How much for this pair of pants ?
n tuh fu gigi-chn a ?
Page 39
Page 40
10.2
Ordering [T22]
10.2.1)
Expressions
1)
One please
h gi
2)
One please (refer to clothes)
h gi
3)
yt go
yt gihn
Two please (refer to clothes)
h-gi luhng gihn

4)
Two please (refer to pants or dresses)
h gi
5)
luhng tuh
Three please (refer to pens)
h-gi
sam j
10.2.2)
Note
a)
Habits in ordering things
Exercises
1)
A: How much for this one ? __________________________________

B: This one is $60__________________________________
A: One please__________________________________
B: Thanks for $60__________________________________
A: h-gi ytyt-go
B: dd-jeh luhkluhk-sahp mn
A: nn-go gigi-chn a?
B: nn-go luhkluhk-sahp mn
2)
A: How much is this T-shirt? ______________________

B: $70______________________
A: One please. ______________________
T ?
B: chtcht-sahp mn
A: hh-gi ytyt-gihn
A: n gihn tt-sut gigi-chn a?
3)
People seldom say something like please give me one or May I have this one. They
say it much shorter and direct no matter if in shops or restaurants.
Quite often, as the object that one is going to buy is understood, people skip the object
but they still have to say the measure words. (MWs are always used after numbers)
When people make requests to someone, they usually put
h-gi
gi at the beginning of a
sentence. It sounds more polite than putting it at the end.
However in shopping, its okay to put please: h
h gi
gi at the beginning or at the end.
10.2.3)
Page 41
A: How much for this pair of pants? _________________________

B: $125 __________________________________________
A: One please _______________________________________
A: hh-gi ytyt-tuh .
.
A: nn-tuhtuh-fu gigi-chn a?
yt--baak yih
yih--sahp
sahp--gh mn
B: yt
Page 42
Take a look and try
Unit 11
11.1
Take a look [T23]
11.1.1)
Vocab
want
sung
look
ti
take a look
titi-ti
take a look
titi-hh
(a while)
hh
11.1.2)
Expressions
1)
Take a look at this one
ti ti
ti hh
2)
n go
n go
n go
11.2
Can it be tried? [T24]
11.2.1)
Vocab
have
yuh
muh
dont have
Is there any possibility to
try
I want to take a look at this please.
h-go ngh sung ti ti

11.1.3)
A: h-gi ytyt-tuh
11.2.2)
Expressions
1)
May I / Can I ?
2)
yuh muh
dk
have
possibility
not have
have not have

3)
dk
4)
Exercises
1)
A: How much for this pair of trousers ? _____________________________

B: $200 __________________________________
no
possibility
dk
possibility
6)
I want to try these trousers
ngh
B: No problem _________________________________
7)
sung
si si
n tuh
fu
want
try try
this piece of
trousers
No problem
muh mahnmahn-tih
A: ngh sung ti ti
B: muh mahn tih
si
to try
Im sorry, you cant
A: One please __________________________________
si
to try
h hu yiyi-si, muh dk si
A: I want to take a look please ________________________________
PM?
No, you cant
muh
5)
11.1.4)
ga?
Yes, you can

have
In Cantonese, sung
sung:
sung
sung want is not a verb, its only an auxiliary verb. Therefore sung
sung
is followed by a verb instead of a noun.
want: sung
sung is not used in ordering, it only shows the intention of doing something.
si
possibility to try
yuh dk
Note
May I try it? (Can it be tried?)
yuh muh
yuh m
muh d
dk
si
A: nn-tuh fu gigi-chn a ?
yih--baak mn
B: yih
Page 43
Page 44
2)
A: How much for this item of clothing? ______________________

B: $120 __________________________________
11.2.3)
Note
a)
yuh m
muh d
dk + verb
A: I want to take a look ________________________________
dk
dk
dk is a structural particle which shows the potential or possibility of doing
something.
The literal meanings for y
yuhuh-muhuh-dk is have not have the possibility to ?
which means Is there any possibility to ?
You have to answer with what people ask. Since people ask yuh muh dk,
dk the
B: No problem _________________________________
A: Can it be tried on? ________________________________
B: Im sorry, no _________________________________
A: Its doesnt matter, one please _____________________________
answer should be have: yuh

yuh or not have: muh.
muh
B: Thanks for $120 _________________________________
?
B: ytyt-baak yihyih-sahp mn
A: ngh sung ti ti
B: muh mahn tih
A: yuh muh dk si ga? ?
B: h-hu yiyi-si, muh dk si ,
A: h gngn-yiu, ytyt-gihn ,
B: dd-jeh ytyt-baak yihyih-sahp mn
yuh
yuhyuh-muhmuh-dk
is always followed by a verb
11.2.4)
Exercises
a)
Dialogue
1)
A: Can it be tried on? _____________________________

B: Yes __________________________________
A: nn-gihn sam
sam gi chn a?
A: I want to try this dress ________________________________

B: No problem _________________________________
3)
A: One please __________________________________
B: muh mahn tih
A: h-gi ytyt-tuh
A: yuh
yuh muh dk si ga?
A: I want to try it on _____________________________
B: yuh (dk(
)
(dk-si)
A: ngh sung si si n tuh kwhn
A: How much for this watch? ______________________

B: $850 __________________________________
B: No problem _________________________
A: Two please _____________________________
A: ngh sung si si
B: muh mahn tih
A: h-gi luhng jek
A: nn-jek susu-bu gi chn a?

baat--baak gh
gh--sahp mn
B: baat
Page 45
Page 46
Size and colour
Unit 12
12.1
Size [T25]
12.1.1)
Vocab
size
size
size
large
chekchek-mh
mh
sai--s
sai
medium
daaih mh
jng mh
small
sai mh
extra small
extra large
g sai mh
g daaih mh
one size
yt go mh
free size
f saisai-s
larger
daaihdaaih-d
smaller
saisai-d
too
taai
12.1.2)
Expressions
a)
Ask
1)
Do you have a large one ?
yuh muh
2)
3)
4)
sai d
ga ?
Yes
yuh
5)
No, we dont have
muh
b)
Ordering
6)
One large one please (referring to a clothing)
h gi yt gihn
7)
8)
sai mh
Doesnt fit
This one is too small. (for clothes)
n gihn
Page 47
daaih mh
One small one, please
h gi yt gihn
c)
ga?
daaih d
Do you have a smaller one?
yuh muh
free
ga ?
Do you have a larger one ?
yuh muh
size
daaih mh
taai sai
12.1.3)
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
Do you have a small size? ____________________________

yuh?
yuh-muh saisai-mh ga?
2)
Do you have a larger one? ____________________________

yuh?
yuh-muh daaihdaaih-d ga?
Page 48
b)
Dialogue
3)
A: Do you have a larger one? ___________________________

B: Yes, this (referring to a clothing) is larger ___________________
12.2
Colour [T26]
12.2.1)
Vocab
A: How much? ___________________________
Colour
B: $80 ___________________________
colour
?
B: yuh, n gihn daaihdaaih-d ,
A: gi chn a? ?
B: baatbaat-sahp mn
A: h-gi ytyt-gihn
colour
sk
ngahn--sk
ngahn
black
hak sk
white
baahk sk
hhng sk
A: Do you have a small one? ___________________________

B: Yes ___________________________
yellow
chang sk
whng sk
green
luhk sk
blue
brown
lahm sk
f sk
grey
fi sk
A: One please ___________________________
A: yuh muh daaihdaaih-d ga?
4)
red
orange
A: How much? ___________________________

B: $100 ___________________________
A: One small one please (referring to a clothing) _______________
A: yuh muh saisai-mh ga?
B: yuh
A: gi chn a?
?
B: ytyt-baak mn
A: h-gi ytyt-gihn saisai-mh
c)
Others
Pattern drills
like
jngng-yi
other
kihih-t
another
daihdaih-yih go
hu tti
looks good
Im sorry, this is too
large
small
expensive
Do you have a
smaller one?
larger one?
cheaper one?
large one?
medium one?
a small one
12.2.2)
Expressions
a)
Do you have?
1)
Do you have a brown one?
yuh muh ff-sk a?

2)
Do you have other colours?
yuh muh kihkih-t sk a?
Page 49
?
?
Page 50
3)
Do you have another colour?
yuh muh daihdaih-yihyih-go sk a?

b)
This colour
4)
This colour looks good.
n go sk hu ti
ti
5)
This colour doesnt look good.
n go sk h
h hu ti
ti
Payment and Delivery
Unit 13
13.1
Delivery [T27]
13.1.1)
Vocab
13.1.2)
delivery
1)
Do you deliver?
sung h sung fo
a)
Dialogue
deliver
1)
A: Do you have a black one? ___________________________

B: Yes ___________________________
2)
A: One please (referring to a pair of jeans) ______________________
ga ?
goods
PM ?
Yes
A: ytyt-tuh
3)
No
13.1.3)
Exercises
a)
Dialogue
1)
A: Do you deliver?__________________________________
B: Yes __________________________________
A: Do you have other colours? ___________________________

B: Yes, we have blue ___________________________
A: sung h sung fo ga?

ga?
A: How much? ___________________________
B: sung
B: $ 60 ___________________________
A: One please (referring to a dress) __________________________
13.2
Credit card [T28]
A: yuh muh kihkih-t sk ga?

ga?
B: yuh, yuh lahm sk ,
13.2.1)
Vocab
?

A: gi chn a? ?
B: luhkluhk-sahp mn
A: ytyt-tuh
Because goods is understood here, it can be skipped.
h sung
A: gi chn a?
?
gu--sahp baat mn
B: gu
2)
deliver
sung
B: $ 98 ___________________________
not
Question particle ga is used as this question is asking about the habit if the shop
delivers
A: How much? ___________________________
A: yuh muh hakhak-sk ga?

B: yuh
deliver + goods
Expressions
Exercises
12.2.3)
sung fo
Page 51
receive
su
credit card
octopus card
kat
baat--daaht
daaht--tng
baat
only
jihngjihng-haih
cash
yihnyihn-gm
Page 52
13.2.2)
Expressions
1)
Do you accept credit cards?
su
receive
2)
receive
ga?
card
PM?
h su
not
EPS ?
EPS ga?
receive
EPS
PM?
Do you accept octopus card?
su
receive
4)
kat
receive
Do you accept EPS?
su
3)
h su
not
h su
not
baatbaat-daahtdaaht-tng ga?
receive
octopus card
PM?
14.1
Bargaining expressions [T29]
14.1.1)
Vocab
jeuijeui-phng
1)
Can it be cheaper ?
phng d
Yes
2)
No
okay not okay
a?
PM?
Can it be $100? (How about $100 ?)
ytyt-baak mn dk h dk a ?
$100
We accept cash only
3)
okay not okay
jeui phng
we
most
only
receive
cash
Exercises
1)
A: Do you take credit cards ?__________________________________

B: No __________________________________
A: su h su kat ga?
B: h su
14.1.3)
A: Do you take octopus card? __________________________________

B: Yes __________________________________
A: su h su baatbaat-daahtdaaht-tng ga?
PM?
What is the cheapest price?
nghngh-deih jihngjihng-haih su yihnyihn-gm
B: su
dk h dk
cheaper
13.2.3)
2)
phnghng-d
cheapest
Expressions
h su
6)
cheaper
14.1.2)
su
5)
Bargaining
Unit 14
cheap
gi chn
a?
how much
PM
?
?
?
Note - Bargaining habits

In bargaining, Hong Kong people do not say so expensive, very expensive, it
sounds a bit rude to say this. Also, people dont say I have no money in bargaining.
Instead, people make it more direct in bargaining.
14.1.4)
Exercises
a)
Dialogue
1)
A: How much for this pen? ___________________________

B: $200 ___________________________
A: Can it be cheaper? ___________________________
B: $180 ___________________________
A: One please ___________________________
?
B: yihyih-baak mn
A: phngphng-d dk h dk a? ?
B: ytyt-baak baatbaat-sahp mn
A: nn-j bt gi chn a?
A: ytyt-j
Page 53
Page 54
2)
half price
A: How much for this watch? ___________________________

B: $760 ___________________________
14.2.3)
Expressions
B: $700 ___________________________
a)
Bargaining
A: How about $600?
1)
Is there any discount?
A: What is the cheapest price?
___________________________
___________________________
yuh muh jit ga?
B: No. The cheapest price is $650 ___________________________

A: One please ___________________________
A: jeuijeui-phng gi chn a? ?
B: chtcht-baak mn
A: luhk baak mn dk mh dk a? ?
B: h-dk. jeuijeui-phng luhkluhk-baak ghgh-sahp man ,
A: ytyt-jek
A: nn-jek susu-bu gi chn a?
B: cht baak luhkluhk-sahp mn
2)
14.2
Discount [T30]
14.2.1)
Note
How much discount ?
gigi-d
3)
jit a?
Can it be 20% off?
baatbaat-jit dk h dk a?
b)
Discount
4)
These clothes are 10% off
n-d s
sam g
gu-jit
5)
14.2.2)
bun ga
All are 20% off
chy
chyhnhn-bouh
6)
Up to 60% off
seisei-jit
h
hi
In Cantonese, people talk about how much they pay after the discount. Let say for 10%
off, people say paying 90%.
jit
jit
1 jit
9 jit.
jit itself is a measuring unit. 1
jit = 10%. i.e. paying 90% = 9
jit
Dont not say gu-sahp-gh jit for 5% off, it literally means 950%.
c)
Question
7)
Is it 10% off?
Vocab
8)
discount
how many
all
jit
gi-d
up to
chy
chyhnhn-bouh
hi
h
10% off
gu jit
20% off
30% off
baat jit
cht jit
5% off
gugu-gh jit
15% off
baatbaat-gh jit
cht--gh jit
cht
25% off
baat
baataat-jit
haih h haih gugu-jit a?
half + price
?
?
?
Are these shoes 20% off?
n d h
haih haih h haih baatbaat-jit a?
Page 55
Page 56
Section 5
Food
Unit 15
Food ordering
14.2.4)
Exercises
a)
Translation
1)
How much discount ? ____________________________

gi?
gi-d jit a?
2)
5% off _________________________
gugu-gh jit
15.1
Food ordering [T31]
3)
Can it be 20% off? ___________________________________

baat?
baat-jit dk h dk a?
15.1.1)
Vocab
Food
fried rice
chauhau-faahn
fried noodles
chauhau-mihn
The shoes are 25% off _________________________

d haih chtcht-ghgh-jit
BBQ pork with rice
ch
ch-su faahn
sweet & sour pork
G-lu
lu-yuhk
Is it 2% off? _________________________
?
haih h haih gugu-baatbaat-jit a?
Others
sit
ch
chh
All are in 30% off _________________________

chyhnchyhn-bouh chtcht-jit
want (for ordering) / need
yiu
eat
sihk
b)
Dialogue
vegetarian food
sou
8)
A: How much for this item of clothing? ___________________________

B: $240 ___________________________
sold out
maaih saai
bill-the bill please
maih dan
wait a moment
dng d
dng
4)
5)
6)
7)
Shirts are 10% off _________________________

sutsut-sam gugu-jit
A: Is there any discount? ___________________________

B: 10% off ___________________________
A: How about 20% off?
B: The cheapest price is 15% off
A: One please ___________________________
?
B: yihyih-baak seisei-sahp mn
A: yuh muh jit ga? ?
B: gugu-jit
A: baatbaat-jit d
dk h d
dk a? ?
B: h-dk, jeui p
phng baatbaat-gh jit ,
A: ytyt-gihn
15.1.2)
Expressions
a)
Take a sit
1)
A: nn-gihn sam gi
gii-chn a?
sell entirely
close the bill
wait wait
w
wi is a measure word for people which is used in polite and formal situation.
2)
Two
luhng w
wi
3)
Sit here please
chh nn-douh
4)
How many people?
gi-d w
wi a?
Page 57
Sit there please
Page 58
chh gg-douh
b)
Waiter
5)
What do you want?

What will you have ?
Order
7)
One fried noodles please
h-gi yt go chauchau-mihn
8)
This one please

(pointing at the menu)
d)
Ask
10)
Do you have fried rice?
yuh muh chauchau-faahn a?

Yes
yuh
12)
No
muh
13)
A: One please _____________________________

.
A: The bill please _____________________________
A: h-gi yt go .
A: h-gi maihmaih-dan
B: samsam-sahpsahp-baat mn
A: yuhyuh-muh chauchau-faahn a?
B: yuh
One barbecued pork with rice please
n go
11)
A: Do you have fried rice? ___________________________

B: Yes _____________________________
B: $38 _____________________________
h-gi yt go chch-su faahn

9)
1)
sihk d m a?
c)
Exercises
yiu d m a?
6)
15.1.3)
Sold out
maaihmaaih-saai
e)
Payment
14)
The bill please
maihmaih-dan
f)
Others
15)
We are vegetarian.
nghngh-deih haih sihk sou ge
2)
A: Do you have sweet and sour pork? ______________________

B: sold out _____________________________
A: Do you have fried noodles?___________________________
B: Yes _____________________________
B: $42_____________________________
A: How much? _____________________________

A: One please _____________________________
A: yuhyuh-muh chauchau-mihn a? ?
B: yuh
A: gi chn a? ?
B: seisei-sahpsahp-yih mn
A: h-gi yt go .
A: yuhyuh-muh GG-lulu-yuhk a?
maaih--saai
B: maaih
Page 59
Page 60
3)
A: Please sit here. What do you want?

B: Do you have Barbecue pork with rice?
Drinks ordering
Unit 16
A: Yes ____________________________________________
B: How much ? _____________________________________________
A: $26 ____________________________________________
B: One please _____________________________________________
, ?
B: yuh muh chch-su faahn a? ?
A: yuh
B: gi chn a??
A: yahyah-luhk mn
B: h
h-gi y
yt-go
A: chh nn-douh , yiu d m a?
16.1
Drinks ordering [T32]
16.1.1)
Vocab
Drinks
coffee
ga f
black coffee
jai f
tea with milk (milk tea)
naihnaih-chh
lemon tea
lhnglhng-mngmng-chh
orange juice
changchang-jp
beer
bb-ju
water
sui
tea
chh
Ordering
one of
yt-go
one glass/cup of
yt-bi
cold
dung
hot
yiht
Others
Page 61
drink (to drink)
ym
give
bi
leave
ju
ice
bng
dont, not
Page 62
16.1.2)
Expressions
1)
What do you want to drink?
ym d m a?
2)
One coke please
h-gi ytyt-go hh-lohk
3)
4)
One hot coffee please
h-gi ytyt-go yiht gaga-f

5)
1)
A: One hot tea with milk please___________________________

B: $7.5_____________________________
B: chtcht-gogo-bun
go
go can be replaced by bi
bi which means glass or cup
h-gi ytyt-go dung

dung gaga-f
Exercises
A: h-gi ytyt-go yiht naihnaih-chh
One iced coffee please
16.1.3)
2)
B: baatbaat-go bun
3)
Hot or cold ?
yiht dihng dung ga?

7)
Hot please
yiht ge, h-gi

8)
Cold please
dung ge, h-gi

9)
No ice
ju b
bng
A: h-gi yt go sai hh-lohk
4)
A: Two hot coffee please ___________________________

B: $28 _____________________________
B: yahyah-baat mn / yihyih-sahp baat mn /

A: h-gi luhngluhng-go yiht gaga-f
5)
A: One iced coffee please ___________________________

B: Thanks for $8 _____________________________
(h(h-goi baatbaat-mn means $8 please)
A: h-gi ytyt-go dung gaga-f

d--jeh baat
baat--mn
B: d
/ h yiu bbng
6)
A: Please give me a cup of water ___________________________

B: A moment please _____________________________
A: h-gi bi bi sui
sui
B: dng dng
A: One small coke please ___________________________

B: $6.5 _____________________________
B: luhkluhk-go bun
Usually, the y
yt in y
yt-bi is skipped.
6)
A: One large coke please ___________________________

B: $8.5 _____________________________
A: h-gi yt go daaih hh-lohk
Please give me a glass of water
h-gi bi bi sui
Page 63
Page 64
7)
A: What do you want ? ________________________________

B: One Barbecue pork with rice, one fried noodles.
Section 6
Getting around
Unit 17
Kinds of transports
A: What do you want to drink?

B: 1 hot coffee, 1 coke.
A: Please wait a minute. ______________________________________
17.1
Kinds of transports [T33]
17.1.1)
Vocab
B: The bill please. ___________________________________________

A: $76 ____________________________________________
?
B: yt-go chch-su faahn, yt-go chauchau-mihn ,
A: ymym-d m a? ?
B: yt go yiht gaga-f, yt go hh-lohk ,
A: hh-gi dng dng
B: hh-gi maihmaih-dan
A: ch
cht-ahah-luhk mn
bus
A: yiu d m a?
8)
bb-s
dkdk-s
taxi
minibus
su-b
deih--tit
deih
MTR
train / KCR
A: How many people? _____________________________________

B: Two__________________________________________________
tram
f-ch
ch
dihn--ch
ch
dihn
peak tram
laahmlaahm-ch
17.1.2)
Exercises
A: Sit here. What do you want to eat? _________________________
a)
Translation
B: One fried noodles, one fried rice. Do you have beer?
1)
Many taxi __________________________

hu-d d
dk-s
2)
No taxi __________________________
muh d
dk-s
_________________________
B: Yes. ____________________________________________
A One beer, one coke please. [h] ________________________________
transliteration
transliteration
little bus
ground iron
fire car
electric car
cable car
ga
ga
ga
liht
liht
ga
ga
[a can of: gun]
?
B: luhng wi
A: gi d wi a?
,?
, , ?
A: yauh
B: yt gun b ju, yt go hh-lohk h-gi ,
A: chh n douh ,
, sihk d m a?
B: yt go chauchau-mihn, yt go chauchau-faahn,
faahn, yuh muh b ju a?
Page 65
Page 66
17.2
Stations or stops [T34]
17.2.1)
Vocab
bus stop
bb-s jaahm
taxi stand
dkdk-s jaahm
su-b jaahm
minibus stop
MTR station
KCR / train station
deihdeih-tit jaahm
ch jaahm
f-ch
tram stop
dihndihn-ch
ch jaahm
peak tram station
laahmlaahm-ch
ch jaahm
17.2.2)
Expressions
1)
There is an MTR station
2)
Theres no taxi stand
go
go
go
go
go
go
18.1
Stop [T35]
18.1.1)
Vocab
a)
Tell the places

here
n-douh
a bit further ahead
ch
chhnhn-bihn
street junction
gai hu
Is there any bus station?
7-11
Watsons
Mannings
17.2.3)
Exercises
1)
Is there any taxi stand? ___________________________

?
yuh m
muh d
dk-s jaahm a?
Tell the places - Common shops

Parkn shop
BaakBaak-gai
Wellcome
yuh m
muh b
b-s jaahm a?
2)
go
muh d
dk-s jaahm
3)
b)
yuh deihdeih-tit jaahm
Taking transports
Unit 18
Is there any MTR station? ___________________________

?
yuh m
muh deihdeih-tit jaahm a?
WaihWaih-hng
Ch
Cht sahpsahp-yt
Wt-shnhn-s
Maahn--nhng
Maahn
7-11
street mouth (opening)
hundred + good
gan
gan
7 + 11
gan
transliteration
gan
gan
ten thousand + peace
18.1.2)
Exercises
1)
Theres a Parkn shop, no Wellcome. _____________________________

yuh BaakBaak-gai, m
muh WaihWaih-hng
18.2
Minibus [T36]
18.2.1)
Vocab
stop (for minibus)
18.2.2)
Note
a)
yuh lohk
yuh lohk
have +off
It is used for a minibus. Because they dont hire the minibus, they just say yuh
yuh lohk
lohk
instead of thng
thng:
yuh lohk
thng stop. y
lohk means someone has to get off and then the driver
will stop the minibus for the passengers
Page 67
Page 68
4)
18.2.3)
Expressions
1)
Stop at the MTR station
NihNih-dun douh baatbaat-sahp houh
deihdeih-tittit-jaahm
2)
3)
yuhyuh-lohk
Go around the corner and stop
jyun wan
Nathan
c)
yuhyuh-lohk
The bus stop please (stop at the bus stop please)
bb-s jaahm
h
h-gi
5)
6)
1)
Stop at the street intersection / junction ________________________

gai--hu yuhgai
yuh-lohk
7)
Stop at 7-11 _____________________________________________

Ch
Cht sahpsahp-yt yuhyuh-lohk 77-11
8)
Stop for taxi
Vocab
go
heui
where
bn-douh
stop
thng
Stop here
thng
Stop further ahead
thng
Stop at Parkn shop
BaaakBaaak-gai thng
18.3.3)
Note
a)
Modal Particle
PM in high level is used for requests and help to give a polite tone. Its optional and
people may skip it. If the request starts with please: hh-gi,
gi more likely the PM is
skipped.
which place
18.3.4)
Exercises
a)
Dialogue
1)
a)
Drivers expressions
A: Where do you want to go?

B: Central, Hollywood Road.
1)
Where are you going?
..
Where do you want to stop?
bnbn-douh thng a?
b)
3)
A: Where do you want to stop

B: Please stop at Wellcome
A: $32
A: heui bnbn-douh a?
Ask for destination
deihdeih-tittit-jaahm
B: JngJng-Wahn, HhHh-LihLih-Wuht Douh
The Central MTR station please
JungJung-wahn
h-gi
80
Expressions
2)
please
18.3.2)
heui bnbn-douh a?
h-gi
chhnchhn-bihn
18.3.1)
number
Ask for stop
nn-douh
Taxi [T37]
80
It is used for a hired vehicle only, such as a taxi. In a minibus, it sounds rude if you say
thng.
thng Instead, people say yuh
yuhlohk on minibus
yuh-lohk
Exercises
18.3
Road
thng
18.2.4)
2)
80 Nathan Road please
Page 69
..
bn--douh thng a?
A: bn
B: WaihWaih-Hng thng
sam--sahp
sahp--yih mn
A: sam
Page 70
Asking for direction
Unit 19
19.1
19.1.1)
Where is the ? [T38]
Edited by:
Cantonese Learning Centre
Tel:
(852) 2881 0116
e-mail:
info@clc.com.hk
URL:
Version:
V4.1
First printed in:
1998
Last revised in:
November 2004
Printed in:
June 2006
Vocab
Where
on / at / in
hi
where
bn-douh
Places
wash room
si-su g
gan
telephone
dihndihn-w
lift
lp
Nathan Road
Nihih-dun douh
All rights reserved.

Printed in Hong Kong.
The end of the book

19.1.2)
Expressions
1)
Where is the washroom?
si su gan hi bnbn-douh a ?
2)
Where is the phone?
dihndihn-w
3)
hi bnbn-douh
Where is the lift?
lp
hi
bnbn-douh
a?
a?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
19.1.3)
Exercises
1)
Where is the MTR station. __________________________

deih?
deih-tit jaahm hi
hi bnbn-douh a ?
2)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Where is the Nathan Road? __________________________

Nih?
Nih-dunun-douh hi bnbn-douh a ?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Page 71
Page 72

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Cantonese Expressions - 1

CD sound track records:

Take a look [T23]

Full form for 21-99 [T4]

Can it be tried? [T24]

Short form for 21-99 [T5]

The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6]

Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8]

Credit card [T28]

Money telling [T-]

Bargaining expressions [T29]

Food ordering [T31]

Modal particles [T11]

Drinks ordering [T32]

Different parts of speech

Asking price [T21]

Deal with people

Greetings and thanks

When to use measure words [T12]

Kinds of transports [T33]

More Nouns and their MWs [T13]

Stations or stops [T34]

Price and ordering

Measure word d [T14]

Common nouns [T15]

Articles - a, an, the [T16]

Personal Pronouns [T17]

Where is the ? [T38]

Demonstrative Pronouns [T18]

Interrogative Pronouns [T19]

The end of the book

Theres a hint for that question.

CD sound track records for the fast version:

2 - When people say two of something, luhng

What is your telephone number? ______________________

How many family members do you have? _______________

How many days are there in a week ? _____________

How many people are here ? _____________

Full form for 21-99 [T4]

yih sahp yih

yih sahp sei

yih sahp luhk

yih sahp cht

How many months are there in a year? _____________

How many units are there in this book? _____________

How many days are there in a January ? _____________

How many days are there in a April ? _____________

Short form for 21-99 [T5]

The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6]

41-99: sahp is changed into ah

Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8]

one dime (10 cents)

two dimes (20 cents)

five dimes (50 cents)

I have $200. [h] _____________________________________

[I: ngh] / [have: yuh]

I have $1000. _________________________________________

two dimes (20) _______________________

five dimes (50) _______________________

Use short form

How much for an apple? ____________________________________

How much for a Chinese newspaper? _____________________________

How much for an English newspaper? ____________________________

How much for a hamburger ? _______________________________