Learn Cantonese 1

LEARN CANTONESE 1 DIALOGUES AND VOCABULARY

学广东话 by ELIZABETH LATIMORE BOYLE, PAULINE NG DELBRIDGE BRIAN KING

HANYU PRESS TORONTO

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. Hanyu Press 238-1170 Bay St Toronto, ON M5S 2B4 CANADA http://www.hanyu.com isbn: 978-1-897367-19-3 Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents 1 Good Morning.........................................................................................................................................9 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................11 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................13 dialogue 1.1.....................................................................................................................................13 Good Morning, Mr Ho............................................................................................................... 13 dialogue 1.2.....................................................................................................................................14 Good Morning, Mr Chan........................................................................................................... 14 dialogue 1.3.....................................................................................................................................14 Good Morning, Miss Chan........................................................................................................ 14 dialogue 1.4.....................................................................................................................................15 Good Morning, Miss Cheung.....................................................................................................15 dialogue 1.5.....................................................................................................................................15 Good Morning, Mr Ho............................................................................................................... 15 dialogue 1.6.....................................................................................................................................16 Good Morning, Mr Cheung....................................................................................................... 16 dialogue 1.7.....................................................................................................................................17 Good Morning, Miss Chan........................................................................................................ 17 2 What's your name?................................................................................................................................ 19 Vocabulary ..........................................................................................................................................21 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................24 dialogue 2.1.....................................................................................................................................24 What's your name, miss? (polite)...............................................................................................24 dialogue 2.2.....................................................................................................................................24 What's your name? (informal)....................................................................................................25 3 Do you speak Mandarin?.......................................................................................................................27 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................29 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................31 dialogue 3.1.....................................................................................................................................31 Does Mr Lee speak Japanese?................................................................................................... 31 dialogue 3.2.....................................................................................................................................32 Do you speak Mandarin?........................................................................................................... 32 dialogue 3.3.....................................................................................................................................33 Who are you teaching Cantonese to?......................................................................................... 33 4 What time is it?..................................................................................................................................... 35 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................37 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................39 dialogue 4.1.....................................................................................................................................39 Your watch is ten minutes slow................................................................................................. 39 dialogue 4.2.....................................................................................................................................40 My watch is 5 minutes fast........................................................................................................ 40 dialogue 4.3.....................................................................................................................................40 What time is it, Mr Wong?........................................................................................................ 40 5 What would you like to drink?............................................................................................................43 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................45 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................47

dialogue 5.1 ....................................................................................................................................47 Tea or coffee?.............................................................................................................................47 dialogue 5.2.....................................................................................................................................48 Have some tea. .......................................................................................................................... 48 dialogue 5.3.....................................................................................................................................49 What time will you be having dinner, then?.............................................................................. 49 6 How much are the pants?...................................................................................................................... 51 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................53 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................55 dialogue 6.1.....................................................................................................................................55 I'd like to buy some pants...........................................................................................................55 dialogue 6.2.....................................................................................................................................55 Is this shirt $24?......................................................................................................................... 55 dialogue 6.3.....................................................................................................................................56 This one is only $20................................................................................................................... 56 7 I'd like to buy some... ........................................................................................................................... 59 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................61 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................63 dialogue 7.1.....................................................................................................................................63 I'd like to buy some beer............................................................................................................ 63 dialogue 7.2.....................................................................................................................................64 How much is this cloth a yard?..................................................................................................64 dialogue 7.3.....................................................................................................................................64 I'd like to buy some pork............................................................................................................64 8 What size do you take?......................................................................................................................... 67 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................69 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................71 dialogue 8.1.....................................................................................................................................71 Is it for you?............................................................................................................................... 71 dialogue 8.2.....................................................................................................................................72 Do you have anything cheaper? ................................................................................................ 72 dialogue 8.3.....................................................................................................................................73 What size do you take? ............................................................................................................. 73 dialogue 8.4.....................................................................................................................................74 I don't need that much! ..............................................................................................................74 9 Who would you like to speak to?..........................................................................................................77 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................79 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................81 dialogue 9.1.....................................................................................................................................81 I'd like to speak to Mrs Ho......................................................................................................... 81 dialogue 9.2.....................................................................................................................................82 I'm sorry, he's gone out...............................................................................................................82 dialogue 9.3.....................................................................................................................................83 He's gone to the office................................................................................................................83 10 Talking about location.........................................................................................................................85 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................87 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................89

dialogue 10.1...................................................................................................................................89 Is your office on the Hong Kong side?...................................................................................... 89 dialogue 10.2...................................................................................................................................90 Where did you buy that sweater?............................................................................................... 90 dialogue 10.3...................................................................................................................................90 Do you know where the Mandarin Hotel is?............................................................................. 90 11 Doing things for others........................................................................................................................93 Vocabulary...........................................................................................................................................95 Dialogues.............................................................................................................................................97 dialogue 11.1...................................................................................................................................97 Just a moment - I'll go get some change. .................................................................................. 97 dialogue 11.2...................................................................................................................................98 How would you like that? ......................................................................................................... 98 dialogue 11.3...................................................................................................................................99 I'm really sorry...I forgot. ...........................................................................................................99 12 Talking about immediate plans ........................................................................................................ 101 Vocabulary.........................................................................................................................................103 Dialogues...........................................................................................................................................105 dialogue 12.1.................................................................................................................................105 What's the problem? ..............................................................................................................105 dialogue 12.2.................................................................................................................................106 Off home, then?....................................................................................................................... 106 dialogue 12.3.................................................................................................................................107 I'm going shopping...................................................................................................................107 13 Going places......................................................................................................................................109 Vocabulary.........................................................................................................................................111 Dialogues...........................................................................................................................................113 dialogue 13.1.................................................................................................................................113 Hey, isn't that your friend in that black car behind us?............................................................ 113 dialogue 13.2.................................................................................................................................114 Who are you having Yam Cha with?....................................................................................... 114 dialogue 13.3.................................................................................................................................115 Excuse me, is this Queen's Road Central?............................................................................... 115 dialogue 13.4.................................................................................................................................116 524 Nathan Road, please. ........................................................................................................116 14 Eating at a restaurant......................................................................................................................... 119 Vocabulary.........................................................................................................................................121 Dialogues...........................................................................................................................................123 dialogue 14.1. ...............................................................................................................................123 Miss Lee! So, where are you off to?........................................................................................ 123 dialogue 14.2. ...............................................................................................................................125 What kind of soup would you like?......................................................................................... 125 dialogue 14.3. ...............................................................................................................................127 What kind of food do you like to eat?......................................................................................127 dialogue 14.4.................................................................................................................................128 It's nearly 12:30 - let's have lunch!...........................................................................................128 15 Asking directions.............................................................................................................................. 131

Vocabulary.........................................................................................................................................133 Dialogues...........................................................................................................................................135 dialogue 15.1.................................................................................................................................135 How do I get there?.................................................................................................................. 135 dialogue 15.2.................................................................................................................................136 Which department does she work in? ..................................................................................... 136 dialogue 15.3.................................................................................................................................137 Excuse me, is Mr Wong at home?........................................................................................... 137 dialogue 15.4.................................................................................................................................138 Who's teaching you Cantonese these days?............................................................................. 138 GLOSSARY...........................................................................................................................................141 CANTONESE - ENGLISH............................................................................................................... 143

1 Good Morning

早晨

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话

Vocabulary 1. a

呀

sentence suffix

2. Chàhn

陳

Chan

3. Deuimhjyuh

對唔住

sorry

4. haih

係

is, am, are, were, etc.

5. Hòh

何

Ho (surname)

6. hohksāang

學生

student

7. Jèung

張

Cheung

8. Joigin

再見

Goodbye

9. Jóusàhn

早晨

Good morning

10. Làuh

劉

Láu

11. Léih

李

Li

12. Máh

馬

Ma

13. mh-

唔

not

14. mhgányiu

唔緊要

That's all right; It doesn't matter; Never mind.

15. ngóh

我

I, me, my

16. Sàang

生

Mr.

17. sīnsàang

先生

man (see notes); teacher

18. Sīnsàang

先生

Mr. (see notes)

19. sing

姓

have the surname

20. síujé

小姐

unmarried woman; woman, lady

21. Síujé

小姐

Miss

22. Táai

太

Mrs.

23. taaitáai

太太

married woman (see notes)

24. Taaitáai

太太

Mrs. (see notes)

25. Wòhng

黃

Wong

11


Dialogues

dialogue 1.1 Good Morning, Mr Ho. A:

何生, 早晨。

B:

李太, 早晨。

A:

對唔住, 我唔係李太。我姓陳。

B:

呀, 對唔住, 陳小姐。

A:

唔緊要。

B:

再見。

A:

再見。

A:

Hòh Sàang, jóusàhn.

B:

Léih Táai, jóusàhn.

A:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Léih Táai. Ngóh sing Chàhn.

B:

A, deuimhjyuh, Chàhn Síujé.

A:

Mhgányiu.

B:

Joigin.

A:

Joigin.

A:

Good morning, Mr Ho.

B:

Good morning, Mrs Lee.

A:

Excuse me, I'm not Mrs. Lee. My name is Chan.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Miss Chan.

A:

That's all right.

B:

Goodbye.

A:

Goodbye.

13


dialogue 1.2 Good Morning, Mr Chan. A:

陳生, 早晨。

B:

對唔住, 我唔係陳生。我姓張。

A:

呀, 對唔住 , 張生。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Chàhn Sàang, jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Chàhn Sàang. Ngóh sing Jèung.

B:

A, deuimhjyuh, Jèung Sàang.

A:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Mr Chan.

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Mr. Chan. My name is Cheung.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Mr Cheung.

A:

That's all right.

dialogue 1.3 Good Morning, Miss Chan.

A:

陳小姐, 早晨。

B:

對唔住, 我唔係陳小姐。我姓黃。

A:

呀, 對唔住, 黃小姐。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Chàhn Síujé, jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Chàhn Síujé. Ngóh sing Wòhng .

B:

A, deuimhjyuh, Wòhng Síujé.

14

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 A:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Miss Chan.

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Miss Chan. My name is Wong.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Miss Wong.

A:

That's all right.

dialogue 1.4 Good Morning, Miss Cheung. A:

張小姐, 早晨。

B:

對唔住, 我唔係張小姐。我姓李。

A:

呀, 對唔住, 李小姐。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Jèung Síujé jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyu, ngóh mhhaih Jèung Síujé. Ngóh sing Léih.

A:

A, deuimhjyuh, Léih Síujé.

B:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Miss Cheung.

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Miss Cheung. My name is Lee.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Miss Lee.

A:

That's all right.

dialogue 1.5 Good Morning, Mr Ho. A:

何生, 早晨。 15

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 B:

對唔住, 我唔係何生。我姓黃。

A:

呀, 對唔住, 黃生。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Hòh Sàang jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Hòh Sàang. Ngóh sing Wòhng.

A:

A, deuimhjyuh, Wòhng Sàang.

B:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Mr Ho.

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Mr Ho. My name is Wong.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Mr Wong.

A:

That's all right.

dialogue 1.6 Good Morning, Mr Cheung. A:

張生, 早晨。

B:

對唔住, 我唔係張生。我姓李。

A:

呀, 對唔住, 李生。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Jèung Sàang jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Jèung Sàang. Ngóh sing Léih.

A:

A, deuimhjyuh, Léih Sàang.

B:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Mr Cheung.

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Mr Cheung. My name is Lee.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Mr Lee.

A:

That's all right.

16


dialogue 1.7

Good Morning, Miss Chan. A:

陳小姐, 早晨。

B:

對唔住, 我唔係陳小姐。我姓劉。

A:

呀, 對唔住, 劉小姐。

B:

唔緊要。

A:

Chàhn Síujé jóusàhn.

B:

Deuimhjyuh, ngóh mhhaih Chàhn Síujé. Ngóh sing Làuh.

A:

A, deuimhjyuh, Làuh Síujé.

B:

Mhgányiu.

A:

Good morning, Miss Chan。

B:

Excuse me, I'm not Miss Chan. My name is Lau.

B:

Oh, excuse me, Miss Lau.

A:

That's all right.

17

2 What's your name?

贵姓


Vocabulary 1. Sīnsàang

先生

Mr.

2. gwaising?

貴姓

What's your (sur)name? (polite)

3. a

呀

final particle

4. Ngóh sing Wòhng

我姓黃

My (sur)name is Wong

5. Wòhng Síujé

黃小姐

Miss Wong

6. nē?

呢

final particle roughly equiv. to "and what about?". Also used to soften a question.

7. Sīnsàang nē?

先生呢

And you, sir?

8. síusing

小姓

My (sur)name is...(polite)

9. síusing Làuh

小姓劉

My (sur)name is Lau

10. Làuh Sàang

劉生

Mr. Lau

11. mātyéh?/mēyéh?/

乜嘢

What?

姓乜嘢呀

What's (your, his etc)

mīyéh? 12. sing mīyéh a?

(sur)name (informal) 13. pàhngyáuh

朋友

friend

14. néih

你

you

15. néih pàhngyáuh

你朋友

your friend

16. néih pàhngyáuh

你朋友姓乜嘢?

What's your friend's name?

17. Máh

馬

Ma (surname)

18. sing Máh

姓馬

to have the surname Ma

19. ge

嘅

grammatical focus marker similar to

sing mīyéh?

Mandarin "de" 的 20. sing Máh ge

姓馬嘅

to be (sur)named Ma

21. kéuih

佢

he

22. kéuih sing Máh ge

佢姓馬嘅

he is named Ma

23. Gwóngdùng

廣東

Guangdong (Canton)

21

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 24. yàhn

人

man, person

25. Gwóngdùngyàhn

廣東人

Cantonese (person)

26. haih mhhaih ya?

係唔係

isn't it?

27. kéuih haih mhhaih

佢係唔係廣東人呢 Is he Cantonese?

Gwóngdùngyàhn nē? 28. Seuhnghói

上海

Shanghai

29. Seuhnghóiyàhn

上海人

Shanghainese (person)

30. mhhaih ya, kéuih

唔係佢係上海人

No, he's Shanghainese

31. gám

咁

so; then

32. gám, néih nē?

咁, 你呢?

so, how about you?

33. dōu

都

too; also

34. dōu haih Seuhnghóiyàhn

係上海人

to be a Shanghainese too

35. ngóh dōu haih

我都係上海人

I'm Shanghainese too

36. Jùnggwokyàhn

中國人

Chinese (person)

37. Méihgwokyàhn

美國人

American (person)

38. ngóhdeih

我哋

we

39. kéuihdeih

佢哋

they

40. néihdeih

你哋

you (plur)

41. Tòihsāanyàhn

台山人

Taishanese (person)

42. Yahtbúnyàhn

日本人

Japanese (person)

43. Yìnggwokyàhn

英國人

English (person)

44. hohksāang

學生

student

45. sīnsāang

先生

teacher

haih Seuhnghóiyàhn

Seuhnghóiyàhn

22


Dialogues

dialogue 2.1

What's your name, miss? (polite) Man :

小姐貴姓呀?

Woman:

我姓陳。先生貴姓呀?

Man :

小姓何。陳小姐係唔係廣東人呀?

Woman:

唔係呀。我係上海人。你呢? 你係唔係美國人呀?

Man :

係呀。我係美國人。

Man :

Síujé gwaising a?

Woman:

Ngóh sing Chàhn. Sīnsàang gwaising a?

Man :

Síusing Hòh. Chàhn síujé haih mhhaih Gwóngdùngyàhn a?

Woman:

Mhhaih a. Ngóh haih Seuhnghóiyàhn. Néih nē? Néih haih mhhaih Méihgwokyàhn a?

Man :

Haih a. Ngóh haih Méihgwokyàhn.

Man:

What's your name, Miss?

Woman:

Chan. And yours, Sir?

Man:

Ho. Are you from Guangdong?

Woman:

No, I'm from Shanghai. How about you? Are you American?

Man:

Yes, I am.

dialogue 2.2

24

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 What's your name? (informal) S1:

你姓乜嘢呀?

S2:

我姓黃。

S1:

你朋友呢?

S2:

佢都係姓黃嘅。

S1:

你係唔係廣東人呀?

S2:

係。

S1:

你朋友係唔係都係廣東人呀?

S2:

唔係呀。佢係上海人。

S1:

Néih sing mēyéh a?

S2:

Ngóh sing Wòhng.

S1:

Néih pàhngyáuh nē?

S2:

Kéuih dōu haih sing Wòhng ge.

S1:

Néih haih mhhaih Gwóngdùngyàhn a?

S2:

Haih.

S1:

Néih pàhngyáuh haih mhhaih dōu haih Gwóngdùngyàhn a?

S2:

̀hhaih a. Kéuih haih Seuhnghóiyàhn.

S1:

So, what's your name?

S2:

Wong.

S1:

And your friend?

S2:

His name's Wong, too.

S1:

Are you from Guangdong?

S2:

Yes.

S1:

Is your friend from Guangdong, too?

S2:

No, he's from Shanghai.

25

3 Do you speak Mandarin?

唔识


Vocabulary 1. bīngo

邊個

who?

2. chi

次

time, occasion

3. chìngchó

清楚

clear

4. daahnhaih

但係

but

5. dī

啲

a little, some

6. dím?

點

how?

7. dōu

都

both

8. gaau

教

teach

9. ga/ge/g

㗎

sen. suf. for matter of fact assertion

10. geui

句

sentence

11. góng

講

speak

12. Gwokyúh

國語

Mandarin spoken language

13. Gwóngdùngwá

廣東話

Cantonese spoken language

14. hohk

學

study, learn

15. jē

啫

sen. suf. only, merely; that's all

16. jì(dou)

知道

know (something)

17. joi

再

again

18. joi góng yātchi

再講一次

Say it again.

19. Jùngmàhn

中文

Chinese (written) language

20. mē

咩

particle indicating surprise

21. mhgòi néih

唔該你

Please..., Would you please....

22. ńgh

五

five

23. sàam

三

three

24. sé

寫

write

25. sèsíu

些少

a little

26. sei

四

four

27. Seuhnghóiwá

上海話

Shanghainese (spoken language)

28. séung

想

wish to, want to, would like to

29

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 29. sīk

識

to know someone

30. sīk

識

know how (to do something)

31. tèng

聽

hear, listen

32. Tòihsāanwá

台山話

Toishan dialect

33. tùhng

同

and (connects nouns)

34. wá

話

spoken language, dialect

35. Yahtbúnwá

日本話

Japanese (spoken) language

36. Yahtmán

日文

Japanese (written) language

37. Yahtmàhn

日文

Japanese (written) language

38. yāt

一

one

39. yāt chi

一次

once [onetime]

40. yauh

又

also (connects Verb Phrases)

41. yauh V, yauh V. P Adv:

又 ...又

both..., and ....

42. yih

二

two

43. Yìngmàhn

英文

English language

44. Yìngmán

英文

English language

30


Dialogues

dialogue 3.1

Does Mr Lee speak Japanese? A:

李生識係識講日本話呀?

B:

識些少。

A:

咁, 佢識係識講英文嘅呢?

B:

都識些少。

A:

邊個教佢講英文呢?

B.

係黃生教佢嘅。

A:

Léih Sàang sīk mhsīk góng Yahtbúnwá a?

B:

Sīk sèsíu.

A:

Gám, kéuih sīk mhsīk góng Yìngmán nē?

B:

Dōu sīk sèsíu.

A:

Bīngo gaau kéuih góng Yìngmán ge nē?

B:

Haih Wòhng Sàang gaau kéuih ge.

A:

Does Mr Lee speak Japanese?

B:

A little.

A:

Does he speak English, then?

B:

He speaks a little English, too.

A:

Who taught him English?

B:

Mr Wong.

31


dialogue 3.2

Do you speak Mandarin? A:

你識唔識講國語呀?

B:

對唔住。我聽唔清楚。唔該你再講一次。

A:

你識唔識講國語呀?

B:

識些少啫。

A:

咁,你識唔識英文呢?

B:

識講唔識寫。你呢?

A:

我都唔識。"一,二,三", 都唔識講。

A:

Néih sīk mhsīk góng Gwokyúh a?

B:

Deuimhjyuh. Ngóh tèng mhchìngchó mhgòi néih joi góng yātchi.

A:

Néih sīk mhsīk góng Gwokyúh a?

B:

Sīk sèsíu jē.

A:

Gám, néih sīk mhsīk Yīngmàhn nē?

B:

Sīk góng, mhsīk sé. Néih nē?

A:

Ngóh dōu mhsīk. "Yāt yih sàam" dōu mhsīk góng.

A:

Do you speak Mandarin?

B:

Sorry. I didn't get that. Can you repeat it, please?

A:

Do you speak Mandarin?

B:

Just a little.

A:

Do you speak English, then?

B:

I can speak it, but I can't write. How about you?

A:

I don't know any English at all. I can't even say "one, two, three".

32


dialogue 3.3 Who are you teaching Cantonese to? A:

你教邊個學廣東話呀?

B:

我教黃太。

A:

佢係唔係美國人

B:

唔係呀。佢係英國人。

A:

佢識唔識寫中文呢?

B:

唔識。佢學講,但係唔學寫。

A:

佢學唔學國語呢?

B:

我唔知道呀。

A:

Néih gaau bīngo hohk Gwóngdùngwá a?

B:

Ngóh gaau Wòhng Táai.

A:

Keui haih mhhaih Méihgwokyàhn ne?

B:

Mhhaih a. Kéuih haih Yìnggwokyàhn.

A:

Kéuih sīk mhsīk sé Jùngmàhn nē?

B:

Mhsīk.. Kéuih hohk góng, daahnhaih mh hohk sé.

A:

Kéuih hohk mhhohk Gwokyúh nē?

B:

Ngóh mh jìdou a.

A:

Who do you teach Cantonese to?

B:

I teach Mrs Wong.

A:

Is she American?

B:

No, she's British.

A:

Can she write Chinese?

B:

No. She's just learning to speak, not write.

A:

Is she learning Mandarin?

B:

I don't know.

33

4 What time is it?

几点


Vocabulary 1. āamāam

啱啱

exactly

2. baat

八

eight

3. bīu

錶

watch

4. bo

噃

sen. suf. for certainty

5. bun

半

half

6. chàmhhdō

差唔多

approximately

7. chāt

七

seven

8

搭

tread on

9. daahp bun

搭半

half past

10. daahp géi?

搭幾

how many five minutes past the

daahp

hour? 11. dāk meih?

得未

ready?

12. dáng

等

wait (for)

13. dím(jūng)

點鐘

o'clock

14. faai

快

fast

15. fānjūng

分鐘

minute(s)

16. gáu

九

nine

17. géi

幾

several

18. géi?

幾

which number?

19. géidím(jūng)

幾點鐘

What o'clock? What time?

20. go

個

measure for nouns

21. gwāt

骨

quarter (hour)

22. hóu

好

OK. All right

23. jéun

準

accurate, right

24. jìh

字

written figure; word

25. lā

啦

sen. suf. la for change + raised doubt.

26. lā

啦

sen. suf. for polite suggestion

27. la

啦

sen. suf. indicating change from

37

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 condition 28. léuhng

兩

two

29. luhk

六

six

30. maahn

慢

slow

31. meih

未

not yet

32. mhhóu yisi

唔好意思

I'm sorry; It's embarassing.

33. ngāamngāam (var: āamāam)

啱啱

exactly

34. sàam go gwāt

三

three quarters after the hour

35. sahp

十

ten

36. sahpyāt

十一

eleven

37. sahpyih

十二

twelve

38. tìm

添

in addition, also, more

39. wá

話

interrogative sen. suf. calling for repeat of preceding sentence, i.e., did you say?

40. waahkjé

或者

maybe; or

41. yāt go gwāt

一個

a quarter after the hour

42. yāt go jìh

一個字

five minutes

43. yìhgā

而家

now

38


Dialogues

dialogue 4.1

Your watch is ten minutes slow. Man:

我個錶慢些少。你個係唔係呀?

Woman:

唔係。我個係準嘅。

Man:

咁, 而家幾點鐘呀?

Woman:

而家啱啱十二點。

Man:

我個錶而家係十一點搭十。

Woman:

咁, 你個慢兩個字。

Man:

Ngóh go bīu maahn sèsíu. Néih go haih mhhaih a?

Woman:

hhaih. Ngóh go haih jéun ge.

Man:

Gám, yìhgā géidímjūng a?

Woman:

Yìhgā ngāamngāam sahpyih dím.

Man:

Ngóh go bīu yìhgā haih sahpyāt dím daahp sahp.

Woman:

Gám, néih go maahn léuhnggojìh.

Man:

My watch is a bit slow. How about yours?

Woman:

Mine's right.

Man:

So, what time is it?

Woman:

It's 12 'o'clock right on the dot.

Man:

My watch says ten to twelve.

Woman:

Yours is ten minutes slow, then.

39


dialogue 4.2 My watch is 5 minutes fast. Woman:

而家係唔係八點三個骨呀?

Man:

唔係。我個錶而家係八點搭八啫。

Woman:

你個錶準唔準呀?

Man:

準。唔快唔慢。

Woman:

咁, 我個快一個字。

Man:

或者係。

Woman:

Yìhgā haih mhhaih baat dím sàamgo gwāt a?

Man:

hhaih. Ngóh go bīu yìhgā haih baat dím daahp baat jē.

Woman:

Néih go bīu jéun mhjéun a?

Man:

Jéun. hfaai mhmaahn.

Woman:

Gám, ngóh go faai yāt go jìh.

Man:

Waahkjé haih.

Woman:

Is it 8:45 right now?

Man:

No. My watch says it's only 8:40.

Woman:

Is your watch right?

Man:

Yes. It's neither fast or slow.

Woman:

Mine's five minutes fast, then.

Man:

Maybe it is.

dialogue 4.3 What time is it, Mr Wong? Woman:

早晨, 黃生。你知唔知而家幾點鐘呀?

Man:

呀, 早晨, 陳小姐。我個錶而家係九點搭一。 40

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Woman:

你個錶係唔係快些少呀?

Man:

或者係。我唔知。

Woman:

你知唔知李太幾點鐘學廣東話呀?

Man:

我知道。係十點半。

Woman:

Jóusàhn, Wòhng Sàang. Néih jì mhjì yìhgā géidímjūng a?

Man:

A, jóusàhn, Chàhn Síujé. Ngóh go bīu yìhgā haih gáu dím daahp yāt.

Woman:

Néih go bīu haih mhhaih faai sèsíu a?

Man:

Waahkjé haih. Ngóh mhjì.

Woman:

Néih jì mhjì Léih Táai géidímjūng hohk Gwóngdùngwá a?

Man:

Ngóh jìdou. Haih sahp dím bun.

41

5 What would you like to drink?

饮咩


Vocabulary 1. aak

sen. suf. a to soften abruptness + k

呃

for liveliness 2. Aiya!

哎呀

exclamation of consternation

3. bējáu

啤酒

beer

4. béng

餅

cake

5. cháang

橙

orange

6. chàh

茶

tea

7. chèuihbín

隋便

As you wish, At your convenience

8. chèuihbín chóh lā.

隋便坐啦

"sit anywhere you like."

9. chóh

坐

sit

10. faahn

飯

rice (cooked)

11. gafē

咖啡

coffee

12. gam

咁

so, such

13. haakhei

客氣

polite

14. háh

吓

Verb suffix for casual effect

15. heiséui

汽水

soft drink

16. Hóu aak

好呃

OK. Agreed. Response indicating agreement.

17. jànhaih

真係

really, indeed

18. jáu

酒

alcoholic beverage

19. jáu

走

leave, depart

20. jīu

蕉

banana

21. jyúyàhn

主人

host, hostess

22. -k

a glottal stop ending to certain sentence suffixes, giving sentence a lively air.

23. la

啦

sen. suf. indicating potential change

24. laak

嘞

sen. suf. la (change) + sen. suf. -k (liveliness)

45

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 25. léh

咧

sen. suf. for definiteness

26. mhgòi

唔該

Thank you (for service)

27. mhhóu

唔好

don't (as a command)

28. mhhóu haakhei

唔好客氣

"Don't be polite."

29. mhsái

唔使

no need to, not necessary

30. mhsái la

唔使啦

No thanks (when offered something) [not necessary now]

31. mhsái mhgòi.

唔使唔該

"No thanks." (to an offer)

32. mhsái haakhei

唔使客氣

You're welcome, [not necessary] Polite response when someone thanks you for doing him a service [don't need to be polite.]"You're welcome." (when someone thanks you.)

33. ngàuhnaaih

牛奶

milk

34. pìhnggwó

蘋果

apple

35. séui

水

water

36. si

試

try

37. siháh

試吓

give it a try

38. sihk

食

eat

39. sihk yīn

食煙

to smoke

40. Síu sihk

少食

"I don't smoke." non-smoker's response in refusing a cigarette, [seldom-smoke]

41. yàhnhaak

人客

guest

42. yám

飲

drink

43. yīn

煙

tobacco; smoke

44. yiu

要

must, need, have to

46


Dialogues dialogue 5.1

Tea or coffee? A:

你飲乜嘢呀?

B:

我飲咖啡。你呢?

A:

我飲茶。食唔食餅呀?

B:

好呃。

A:

你幾點鐘要走呀?

B:

四點。

A:

真係咁快要走咩?

B:

係呀, 真係。

A:

Néih yám mēyéh a?

B:

Ngóh yám gafē. Néih nē?

A:

Ngóh yám chàh. Sihk mhsihk béng a?

B:

Hóu aak.

A:

Néih géidímjūng yiu jáu a?

B:

Sei dím.

A:

Jànhaih gam faai yiu jáu mē?

B:

Haih a, jànhaih.

A:

What would you like to drink?

B:

I'll have a coffee. How about you?

A:

I'm having tea. Do you want a pastry?

B:

Sounds good.

A:

What time do you have to leave?

B:

At 4.

A:

You really have to go so soon?

47


Yes, I'm afraid so.

dialogue 5.2

Have some tea. Hostess:

飲茶啦。

Guest:

好,唔該。

Hostess:

食餅啦。

Guest:

好呃, 唔該。

Hostess:

食煙啦。

Guest:

少食。唔使客氣。

Hostess:

你客氣啫。

Hostess:

Yám chàh lā.

Guest:

Hóu, mhgòi.

Hostess:

Sihk béng lā.

Guest:

Hóu aak, mhgòi.

Hostess:

Sihk yīn lā.

Guest:

Síu sihk. hsái haakhei.

Hostess:

Néih haakhei jē .

Hostess:

Have some tea.

Guest:

Ok, thanks.

Hostess:

Have a pastry.

Guest:

Thanks a lot.

Hostess:

Have a cigarette.

Guest:

I don't smoke. Thanks anyway.

Hostess:

You're welcome.

48


dialogue 5.3

What time will you be having dinner, then? Mrs. Wong:

我同黃生三點半要飲茶。

Servant :

食唔食餅呀?

Mrs. Wong:

些少啦。

Servant :

咁, 幾點鐘食飯呀?

Mrs. Wong:

八點啦。

Servant:

好呃。

Mrs. Wong:

I'm having tea with Mrs. Wong at 3:30.

Servant:

Are you having pastries?

Mrs. Wong:

A few.

Servant:

What time will you be having dinner, then?

Mrs. Wong:

At 8.

Servant:

Fine.

49

6 How much are the pants?

几钱


Vocabulary

1. bá

M. for things with handles, such as

把

umbrellas 2. bāt

筆

writing implement; pen or pencil

3. béi

俾

give

4. chín

錢

money

5. dáifu

底

underpants, undershorts

6. dáikwàhn

底裙

slip, petticoat

7. deui

對

pair; group measure for shoes, socks, chopsticks

8. fu

褲

trousers

9. gau

夠

enough

10. géi(dō)

幾多

how much? how many?

11. gihn

件

for clothes

12. gó

嗰

that

13. go

個

general M. for nouns

14. guhaak

顧客

customer (restricted use)

15. hàaih

鞋

shoes

16. jē

遮

umbrella

17. jì

支

M. for pen, pencil, bottles

18. jūng

鐘

clock

19. kwàhn

裙

skirt

20. máaih

買

buy

21. maaht

襪

socks

22. mān

蚊

dollar

23. mhjì(dou)...

唔知道...呀?

I wonder...?

24. nī

呢

this

25. sauhfoyùhn

售貨員

Salesclerk [sellgoodspersonnel]

53

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 26. sēutsāam

裇衫

shirt

27. sīnsàang

先生

man

28. síujé

小姐

lady, woman

29. táai

呔

tie

30. tìuh

條

M. for trousers, ties, roads

31. wái

位

polite M. for persons

32. yàhn

人

person

33. yiu

要

+ money expression V: wants X amount, costs X amount, (i.e the asking price is X amount.)

34. yúhlāu

雨褸

raincoat

35. yùhnbāt

鉛筆

pencil

36. yùhnjíbāt

原子筆

ball point pen

54



I'd like to buy some pants. Clerk:

早晨, 想買乜嘢呀?

Customer:

我想買條褲。呢兩條要幾多錢呀?

Clerk:

呢條十八蚊, 嗰條廿二蚊。

Customer:

咁, 我買呢條啦。

Clerk:

Jóusàhn, séung máaih mēyéh a?

Customer:

Ngó séung máaih tìuh fu. Nī léuhng tìuh yiu géidò chín a?

Clerk:

Nī tìuh sahpbaat mān, gó tìuh yahyih mān.

Customer:

Gám, ngóh máaih nī tìuh lā.

Clerk:

Good morning. How may I help you?

Customer:

I'd like to buy some pants. How much are these two pairs?

Clerk:

These are 18 dollars, and those are 22 dollars.

Customer:

Ok, I'll buy these, then.

dialogue 6.2

Is this shirt $24? Customer:

呢件裇衫係唔係廿四蚊呀?

Clerk:

唔係。係廿九蚊。 55

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Customer:

嗰件都係廿九蚊, 係唔係呢?

Clerk:

係。你係唔係兩件都買呢?

Customer:

唔係。我買呢件, 唔買嗰件。

Customer:

Nī gihn sēutsāam haihmhhaih yahsei mān a?

Clerk:

hhaih. Haih yahgáu mān.

Customer:

Gó gihn dōu haih yahgáu mān, haih mhhaih nē?

Clerk:

Haih. Néih haih mhhaih léuhng gihn dōu máaih nē?

Customer:

hhaih. Ngóh máaih nī gihn, mhmáaih gó gihn.

Customer:

Is this shirt 24 dollars?

Clerk:

No, it's 19 dollars.

Customer:

That one's 19 dollars, as well, right?

Clerk:

Right. Do you want both, then?

Customer:

No, I just want this one.

dialogue 6.3 This one is only $20. Clerk:

買乜嘢呀?

Customer:

我想買裇衫。呢件幾多錢呀?

Clerk:

呢件十二蚊啫。買幾多件呢?

Customer:

俾一件我啦。

Clerk:

Máaih mēyéh a?

Customer:

Ngóh séung máaih sēutsāam. Nī gihn géidò chín a?

Clerk:

Nī gihn sahpyih mān jē. Máaih géidò gihn nē?

Customer:

Béi yāt gihn ngóh lā.

Clerk:

How can I help you?

Customer:

I want to buy a shirt. How much is that one?

56

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Clerk:

This one's only 12 dollars. How many would you like?

Customer:

Give me one, please.

57

7 I'd like to buy some...

啤酒


Vocabulary

1. bàau

包

package, M. for cigarette pack

2. bohng

磅

pound

3. bou

布

cloth

4. bún

本

M. for book

5. bun

半

half

6. dī

啲

some, the

7. gāi

雞

chicken

8. gàn

斤

catty, unit of weight ca 1 1/3 lb

9. gó dī

嗰啲

those (in reference to unit nouns); that (in reference to mass nouns)

10. haih...làih ge

係...嚟嘅

is..(grammatical structure giving emphasis to enclosed noun)

11. hòuh(jí)

毫子

dime

12. jek

隻

M. for chicken, shoe, sock, ship.

13. jì

支

M. for cigarette

14. jyùyuhk

豬肉

pork

15. ...làih ge

嚟嘅

see: haih...làih ge

16. maaih

賣

sell

17. máh

碼

yard (in length)

18. ngàhnchín

銀錢

money [silver money]

19. ngàuhyuhk

牛肉

beef

20. nī dī

呢啲

these (in reference to unit nouns) this (in reference to mass nouns)

21. ngoi

愛

var. of oi, want, want to have

22. oi

愛

want, want to have, want to possess

23. syù

書

book

24. tòhng

糖

sugar

25. yātyeuhng

一樣

same

61

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 26. yīnjái

煙仔

cigarette

27. yú

魚

fish

62


Dialogues

dialogue 7.1

I'd like to buy some beer. Clerk:

買乜呀﹖

Customer:

我想買啤酒。幾多錢支呀﹖

Clerk:

個八銀錢。愛幾多支呀﹖

Customer:

愛兩支。

Clerk:

使唔使買煙仔呀﹖

Customer:

好。俾包我啦﹗

Fógei:

Máaih mēyéh a?

Customer:

Ngóh séung máaih bējáu. Géidò chín jì a?

Fógei:

Go baat ngàhnchin. Oi géidò jì a?

Customer:

Oi léuhng jì.

Fógei:

Sái mhsái máaih yīnjái a?

Customer:

Hóu, béi bāau ngóh lā!

Clerk:

How can I help you?

Customer:

I'd like some beer. How much is it a bottle?

Clerk:

$1.80. How many would you like?

Customer:

Two, please.

Clerk:

Would you like some cigarettes, as well?

Customer:

Ok, give me a pack, then.

63


dialogue 7.2 How much is this cloth a yard?

Clerk:

Clerk:

呢啲布幾多錢碼呀? 廿三個半。你要幾多碼呀﹖

Customer:

我唔要嘞。嗰啲呢?幾多錢碼呀?

Clerk:

嗰啲十三個半銀錢碼呀。你買唔買呀?

Customer:

好。我愛兩碼。

Clerk:

廿七蚊兩碼啦。

Customer:

Nī dī bou géidò chín máh a?

Clerk:

Yahsàam go bun. Néih yiu géidò máh a?

Customer:

Ngóh mhyiu laak. Gó dī nē? Géidò chín máh a?

Clerk:

Gó dī sahpsàam go bun ngàhnchin máh a? Néih máaih mhmáaih a?

Customer:

Hóu. Ngóh oi léuhng máh.

Clerk:

Yahchāt mān léuhng máh lā.

dialogue 7.3

I'd like to buy some pork. Clerk:

買乜呀﹖

Customer:

我想買啲豬肉.點賣

Clerk:

呢啲四個八銀錢斤。

Customer:

俾三斤嗰啲我。

Clerk:

三斤廿二個半。

Customer:

我都想愛兩斤呢啲。

Clerk:

好呃。九個六銀錢啦。

64


Clerk:

Máaih mēyéh a?

Customer:

Ngóh séuhng máaih dī jyùyuhk. Dím maaih nē?

Clerk:

Nī dī sei go baat ngàhnchín gàn. Gó dī chāt go bun ngàhnchín gàn.

Customer:

Béi sàam gàn gó dī ngóh lā.

Clerk:

Sàam gàn yahyih go bun.

Customer:

Ngóh dōu séung oi léuhng gàn nī dī.

Clerk:

Hóu aak, gáu go luhk ngàhn chín lā.

Clerk:

How may I help you?

Customer:

I'd like to buy some pork. How much is it?

Clerk:

This is $4.80 a catty. That is $7.50 a catty.

Customer:

I'll take 3 catties of that.

Clerk:

That'll be $22.50

Customer:

I'd like 2 catties of this, too.

Clerk:

Ok, that'll be $9.60.

65

8 What size do you take?

几号


Vocabulary 1.

āamjeuk

啱着

fits well, wellfitting

2.

àh

呀

sen. suf. with force of "I suppose"

3.

baahk

白

white

4.

bīn?

邊

which?

5.

chèuhng

長

long (in length)

6.

chèuhngsāam

長衫

cheongsāam

7.

dā

打

dozen

8.

daaih

大

large

9.

daaihdī

大啲

a little larger

10. dáisāam

底衫

underwear

11. dī

啲

attaches to adjectives to mean "a little Adj; somewhat adj; Adj—er".

12. dò

多

much, many

13. dyún

短

short

14. fut

闊

wide

15. gauh

舊

old (not new)

16. ge

嘅

one(s) = (noun substitute)

17. géi

幾

rather, quite

18. gwai

貴

expensive

19. hāak

黑

black

20. hóu

好

very

21. hóu

好

good

22. Hóu mhhóu a?

好唔好呀?

OK? Is (that) all right?

23. houh

號

number

24. hóusihk

好食

good to eat; tasty

25. hóuyám

好飲

good to drink; tasty

26. jaak

窄

narrow

27. jeuk

着

wear; put on (clothes)

28. júng

種

type

69

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 29. jùngyi

鐘意

like, prefer; like to

30. lāangsāam

冷衫

sweater

31. leng

靚

pretty; goodlooking; good, nice (for foods)

32. Máaihsaai laak

買嗮嘞

All sold out.

33. mhhaih géi

唔係幾

not very..., not...

34. mhhaih hóu

唔係好

not very

35. móuh

冇

not have, there isn't (aren't)

36. ngāamjeuk (var. āamjeuk)

啱着

well fitting (for clothes), fits well

37. pèhng

平

cheap

38. saai

嗮

completely

39. sài

細

small

40. sàn

新

new

41. sīk

色

colour

42. wah

話

say, opine

43. yáuh

有

have, there is (are)

70



Is it for you? Clerk:

早晨。想買乜呀?

Customer:

有冇白裇衫呀?

Clerk:

係唔係你著㗎?

Customer:

係。

Clerk:

你著幾多號呀?

Customer:

三十六, 或者三十八。

Clerk:

呢件係三十六。

Customer:

呢件唔夠大。有冇三十八嘅呢?

Clerk:

對唔住

Customer:

Yáuh móuh baahk seutsāam a?

Clerk:

Haih mhhaih néih jeuk ga?

Customer:

Haih.

Clerk:

Néih jeuk géidò houh a?

Customer:

Sàamsahpluhk, waakjé sàamsahpbaat.

Clerk:

Nī gihn haih sàamsahpluhk.

Customer:

Nī gihn mh gau daaih. Yáuh móuh sàamsahpbaat ge nē?

Clerk:

Deuimhjuh - sàamsahpbaat ge maaihsaai laak.

Customer:

Do you have any white shirts?

Clerk:

Is it for you?

Customer:

Yes.

Clerk:

What size do you take?

Customer:

36 or 38.

Clerk:

This one is 36.

-

三十八嘅賣嘞。

71


This is too small. Do you have a 38?

Clerk:

Sorry - the 38 is sold out.

dialogue 8.2

Do you have anything cheaper? Customer:

有冇白鞋買呀?

Clerk:

有。你鐘唔鐘意呢對呢?

Customer:

幾靚呀。幾多錢對呀?

Clerk:

呢對係美國鞋。七十九蚊對。

Customer:

有冇平啲嘅呢?

Clerk:

有。嗰對係日本鞋。五蚊對。

Customer:

唔該你俾對日本我啦。

Clerk:

好呃.

Customer:

Yáuh móuh baahk hàaih maaih a?

Clerk:

Yáuh. Néih jùng mhjùngyi nī deui nē?

Customer:

Géi leng. Géi(dò) chín deui a?

Clerk:

Nī deui haih Méihgwok hàaih. Chāt'ahgáu mān deui.

Customer:

Yáuh móuh pèhngdī ge nē?

Clerk:

Yáuh. Gó deui haih Yahtbún hàaih. Yahńgh mān deui jē.

Customer:

Mhgòi néih béi deui Yahtbún ge ngóh lā.

Clerk:

Hóu aak.

Customer:

Do you have any white shoes?

Clerk:

Yes. What do you think of these?

Customer:

Really nice. How much are they?

72


These are from the US. They're $79.00.

Customer:

Do you have anything cheaper?

Clerk:

These are from Japan. They're only $25.00.

Customer:

I'll take a pair of the Japanese ones, then.

Clerk:

Ok.

dialogue 8.3

What size do you take? Customer:

有冇襪呀﹖

Clerk:

有。你鐘唔鐘意呢﹖

Customer:

幾鐘意。點賣呀﹖

Clerk:

六個半銀錢對。你著幾號呀﹖

Customer:

我著六號美國鞋。

Clerk:

九號啦。你想買幾多對呀﹖

Customer:

俾三對我啦。

Clerk:

好呃。愛唔愛鞋呢﹖

Customer:

唔愛嘞。唔該。

Customer:

Yáuh móuh maht a?

Clerk:

Yáuh. Nī dī néih jùng mhjùngyi nē?

Customer:

Géi jùngyi. Dím maaih a?

Clerk:

Luhk go bun ngàhnchin deui. Néih jeuk géi houh a?

Customer:

Mhji - Ngóh jeuk luhk houh ge Méihgwok hàaih.

Clerk:

Gám, gáu houh lā. Néih séung máaih géidò deui a?

Customer:

Béi sàam deui ngóh lā.

Clerk:

Hóu aak. Oi mhoi hàaih nē?

Customer:

Mhoi laak. Mhgòi.

Customer:

Do you have any socks?

73


Sure. How about these?

Customer:

Not bad. How much are they?

Clerk:

$6.50. What size do you take?

Customer:

I don't know. I wear a US size 6 shoe.

Clerk:

Well, that'll be a 9. How many pairs do you want?

Customer:

Give me three pairs.

Clerk:

Ok. Do you need any shoes?

Customer:

No thanks.

dialogue 8.4

I don't need that much! Customer:

有冇糖賣呀﹖

Clerk:

有。買幾多磅呢﹖ 五磅夠唔夠呀﹖

Customer:

唔使咁多。兩磅夠嘞. 我想愛牛肉﹐ 點賣呀﹖

Clerk:

四個八銀錢斤。

Customer:

俾一斤我啦。

Clerk:

好。

Customer:

Yáuh móuh tòhng maaih a?

Clerk:

Yáuh. Máaih géidò bohng nē? Ńgh bohng gau mhgau a?

Customer:

Mhsái gam dò. Léuhng bohng gau laak. A! Ngóh séung oi ngàuhyuhk, dím maaih a?

Clerk:

Sei go baat ngàhnchín gàn.

Customer:

Béi yāt gàn ngóh lā.

Clerk:

Hóu.

Customer:

Do you sell sugar?

Clerk:

Sure. How much do you need? Is 5 pounds enough?

74


I don't need that much! Two pounds will do. Oh, I want some beef. How much is it?

Clerk:

$4.80 a catty.

Customer:

I'll take one catty.

Clerk:

Ok.

75

9 Who would you like to speak to?

电话


Vocabulary 1.

aan (var: ngaan)

晏

noon, midday

2.

chēut gāai

出街

go out (from one's own house)

3.

cho

錯

mistake, make a mistake

4.

Daaihsèngdī

大聲啲

Speak louder!

5.

dáng yātján (also dáng yātjahn) 等一陣

wait awhile

6.

Daap cho sin!

搭錯線

Wrong number! [caught mistake line]

7.

dá

打

hit

8.

dá dihnwá

打電話

make a telephone call

9.

dáng

等

wait

10. dáng

等

allow, let Person do something; wait while Person does something.

11. dihnwá

電話

telephone

12. dím bun

點半

1:30 o'clock

13. fàan

返

return (to/from a place you habitually go to)

14. fàan gùng

返工

go [return] to work

15. fàan hohk

返學

go to school

16. fàanlàih

返嚟

come back, return (here)

17. fàan (ng)ūkkéi

返屋企

go [return] home

18. gamseuhnghá

咁上下

approximately

19. ge

嘅

mark of the possessive, joins with preceding personal noun (or pronoun) to form possessive.

20. géidō houh?

幾多號

what number?

21. géisí? or géisìh?

幾時

when?

22. giu

叫

instruct, tell, order, call

23. góng Person jì

講知

tell someone

24. góng Person tèng

講聽

tell someone

25. gùngyàhn

工人

servant, laborer

79

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 26. heui gāai

去街

go out (from one's own house)

27. jó

咗

verb suf. indicating accomplishment of the action

28. joi dálàih

再打嚟

call back (on the phone)

29. lèhng

零

"and a little bit" in a number phrase

30. líhng

零

zero

31. ló

攞

fetch, to go get (something)

32. ngaan

晏

noon, midday

33. ngūkkéi or ūkkéi

屋企

home

34. sih

事

business, affair, matter

35. sihk (ng)aan

食晏

eat lunch

36. sìn

先

first

37. sin

線

line, thread

38. tèng

聽

hear, listen to

39. tèng dihnwá

聽電話

talk [listen] on the telephone

40. ūkkéi or ngūkkei

屋企

home

41. wah ngóh jì

話我知

tell me

42. wah yàhn tèng

話人聽

tell someone

43. wah yàhn jì

話人知

tell someone

44. wán

搵

look for, search

45. wán yàhn

搵人

look someone up

80



I'd like to speak to Mrs Ho. Amah:

喂。

Mr. Wong:

係唔係七三零四五零呀﹖

Amah:

唔該你大聲啲。我聽唔清楚。

Mr. Wong:

七三零四五零。係唔係呀﹖

Amah:

係。邊呀?

Mr. Wong:

唔該你叫何太聽電話啦。

Amah:

好。等一陣。

Mrs. Ho:

喂。

Mr. Wong:

何太, 早晨。

Mrs. Ho:

早晨。

Mr. Wong:

我係黃生呀。你知唔知陳先生電話幾多號呀﹖

Mrs. Ho:

啊。知。佢電話係五四三二一零。

Mr. Wong:

好。唔該。

Mrs. Ho:

唔使唔該。

Amah:

Wéi.

Caller:

Haih mhhaih chāt-sàam-lìhng-sei-ńgh-lìhng a?

Amah:

Mhgòi néih daaihsēngdī. Ngóh tèng mhchìngchó.

Caller:

Chāt-sàam-lìhng-sei-ńgh-lìhng, haih mhhaih a?

Amah:

Haih. Wán bīngo a?

Caller:

Mhgòi néih giu Hòh Táai tèng dihnwá lā.

Amah:

Hóu. Dáng (yāt)ján.

Mrs. Ho:

Wéi.

Caller:

Hòh Táai, jóusàhn.

81

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Mrs. Ho:

Jóusàhn.

Caller:

Ngóh haih wòhng Sàang a. Néih jì mhjì Chàhn Sīnsáang ge dihnwá géidò houh a?

Mrs. Ho:

A! Jì. Kéuih ge dihnwá haih ńgh sei sàam yih yāt lìhng.

Caller:

Hóu, mhgòi.

Mrs. Ho:

Mhsái mhgòi.

Amah:

Hello.

Caller:

Is this 7-3-0-4-5-0?

Amah:

Can you speak up. I can't hear.

Caller:

Is that 7-3-0-4-5-0?

Amah:

Yes. Who would you like to speak to?

Caller:

Mrs Ho, please.

Amah:

Ok. Just a minute.

Mrs. Ho:

Hello.

Caller:

Good morning, Mrs Ho.

Mrs. Ho:

Good morning.

Caller:

This is Mr Wong. Do you know Mr Chan's number?

Mrs. Ho:

Sure. His number is 543210.

Caller :

Ok, thanks.

Mrs. Ho:

You're welcome.

dialogue 9.2

I'm sorry, he's gone out. Secretary:

喂。

Caller:

喂。係唔係三八六零五九呀﹖

Secretary:

係。搵邊位呢﹖

Caller:

我想搵李生聽電話。

Secretary:

對唔住嘞。佢出咗街噃。

82

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Caller :

咁,佢幾點鐘返嚟呢?

Secretary:

兩點零鐘咁上吓啦。

Caller :

好。唔該你。

Secretary:

唔使唔該。

Secretary:

Wái.

Caller :

Wái. Haih mhhai sàam baat luhk lìhng ńgh gáu a?

Secretary:

Haih. Wán bīnwái nē?

Caller :

Ngóh séung wán Léih Sàang tèng dihnwá.

Secretary:

Deuimhjyuh laak. Kéuih chēutjó gāai bo.

Caller :

Gám, kéuih géidímjūng fàanlàih nē?

Secretary:

Léuhng dím lèhng jùng gamseuhnghá lā.

Caller :

Hóu. Mhgòi néih.

Secretary:

Mhsái mhgòi.

Secretary:

Hello

Caller:

Hello. Is this 386059?

Secretary:

Yes, who would you like to speak to?

Caller:

Mr Lee.

Secretary:

I'm sorry, but he's out of the office right now.

Caller:

So when will he be back, then?

Secretary:

Around 2:00.

Caller:

Ok, thanks.

Secretary:

You're welcome.

dialogue 9.3 He's gone to the office. Amah:

喂. 搵邊個呀?

Caller:

喂. 唔該你叫陳先生聽電話啦。

Amah:

佢返咗工噃. 貴姓搵佢呀?

Caller:

姓何嘅. 佢幾時返嚟呢? 83

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Amah:

唔知噃.

Caller:

等佢返嚟唔該你叫佢打電話俾我啦. 我嘅電話係...

Amah :

唔該你等一陣; 我攞支筆先. 喂, 你電話係...

Caller:

七一一二零七.

Amah:

好啦. 佢返咗嚟, 我叫佢打俾你啦.

Amah:

Wái. Wán bīngo a?

Caller:

Wái. Mhgòi néih giu Chàhn Sīnsàang tèng dihnwá lā.

Amah:

Kéuih fàanjó gùng bo. Gwaising wán kéuih a?

Caller:

Sing Hòh ge. Kéuih géisìh fàanlàih nē?

Amah:

Mhjì bo.

Caller:

Dáng kéuih fàanlàih mhgòi néih giu kéuih dá dihnwá béi ngóh lā. Ngóh dihnwá haih....

Amah :

Mhgòi néih dáng yātján; ngóh ló jì bāt sin. Wéi, néih ge dihnwá haih....

Caller:

Chāt-yāt-yāt-yih-lìhng-chāt.

Amah:

Hóu lā. Kéuih fàanlàih, ngóh giu kéuih dá béi néih lā.

Amah:

Hello. Who would you like to speak to?

Caller:

Hello. Mr Chan, please.

Amah:

He has gone to work. May I ask who's calling, please?

Caller:

My name's Ho. What time will he be back?

Amah:

I don't know.

Caller:

When he comes back can you tell him to call me. My number is...

Amah :

Just a minute. I'll get a pen. Ok, your number is...

Caller:

7-1-1-2-0-7.

Amah:

Ok. When he comes back, I'll tell him to call you.

84

10 Talking about location

边度


Vocabulary 1. bīnbihn?

邊便

which side?

2. bihn

邊(便)

side

3. bīndouh?

邊喥

where?

4. búndeihyàhn

本地人

a native of the place under discussion

5. chāansāt

餐室

western style restaurant

6. chàhlàuh

茶樓

Cantonese style teahouse

7. chē

車

vehicle: car, bus, or tram

8. chē jaahm

車站

car stop (bus or tram stop)

9. chéng mahn

請問

"May I ask...?"

10. Daaih Douh Jùng

大道中

Queen's Road Central

11. Dākfuh Douh Jùng

德輔道中

Des Voeux Road Central

12. deuimihn

對面

opposite side

13. dóu

到

verb suffix indicating successful accomplishment of the action of the verb.

14. gàan

間

M. for buildings

15. gaaklèih

隔籬

next door

16. gódouh

嗰喥

there

17. gó bihn

嗰便(邊)

over there, on that side

18. gūngsī

公司

department store; office (of a commercial company)

19. hái

喺

location verb, translated as: is in/at/on

20. Hèunggóng

香港

Hong Kong

21. jaahm

站

station, stop (as train station, bus stop)

22. jáudim

酒店

hotel

23. jógán

左近

nearby, hereabouts

24. Jùngwàahn

中環

Central District

25. lóchín

攞錢

withdraw money (from bank)

26. máhtàuh

碼頭

pier

87

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 27. Màhnwàh Jáudim

文華酒店

Mandarin Hotel

28. mahn

問

ask

29. Méihgwok Jáudim

美國酒店

American Hotel, (in HK, the Hong Kong Hilton)

30. Méihgwok Ngàhnhòhng

美國銀行

Bank of America

31. mùhnháu

門口

doorway

32. Nē!

呢

"there!" an exclamation used when pointing out something to someone

33 nībihn

呢便(邊)

this side

34. nīdouh

呢喥

here

35 nījógán

呢左近

closeby, hereabouts

36. ngàhnhòhng

銀行

bank

37. ngūk (or ūk)

屋

house

38. séjihlàuh

寫字樓

office

39. táimhdóu

睇唔到

can't see

40. táidóu

睇到

see [look successfully]

41. táimhtáidóu?

睇唔睇到

can you see?

42. tái syù

睇書

read (a book)

43. Tīnsīng Máhtàuh

天星碼頭

Star Ferry Pier

44. tòuhsyùgwún

圖書館

library

45. ūk (var: ngūk)

屋

house

46. yàhnhaak

人客

tourist

88



Is your office on the Hong Kong side? A:

你寫字樓喺唔喺香港呢邊呀﹖

B:

係。喺大道中。

A:

嗰喥左近有冇好個茶樓呀﹖

B:

有。我寫字樓隔離有間好好。我好鐘意喺嗰喥飲茶。

A:

我寫字樓左近嘅茶樓都唔係幾好 , 但係有間幾好嘅餐室。我鐘意嗰喥食晏。

A:

Néih séjihlàuh hái mhhái Hèunggóng nī bihn a?

B:

Hái. Hái Daaih Douh Jùng.

A:

Gódouh jógán yáuh móuh hóu ge chàhlàuh a?

B:

Yáuh. Ngóh séjihlàuh gaaklèih yáuh gàan hóu hóu ga. Ngóh hóu jùngyi hái gódouh yám chàh ga.

A:

Ngóh séjihlàuh jógán ge chàhlàuh dōu mhhai géi hóu, daahnhaih yáuh gàan géi hóu ge chāansāt. Ngóh jùngyi hái gódouh sihk ngaan.

A:

Is your office over here in Hong Kong? [as opposed to Kowloon etc]

B:

Yes. It's on Queen's Road Central.

A:

Are there any good restaurants [Chinese-style] around there?

B:

Yes. There's a really good one right across from my office. I really like to go there for yam cha.

A:

There's one near my office, but it's not too good. There's a fairly good Western-style restaurant there where I like to eat lunch.

89


dialogue 10.2

Where did you buy that sweater? Mrs. Ho:

你件冷衫好靚。喺邊喥買㗎。

Miss Wong:

喺中環一間公司買嘅。

Mrs. Ho:

喺邊間呢?

Miss Wong:

喺我寫字樓隔離嗰間。

Mrs. Ho:

係唔系喺車站對面呀?

Mrs. Ho:

Néih gihn lāangsāam hóu leng. Hái bīndouh máaih ga?

Miss Wong:

Hái Jùngwàahn yāt gàan gūngsī máaih ge.

Mrs. Ho:

Bīn gàan nē?

Miss Wong:

Hái ngóh séjihlàuh gaaklèih gó gàan.

Mrs. Ho:

Haih mhhaih hái chèjaahm deuimihn a?

Miss Wong:

Haih. Haih gó gàan.

Mrs. Ho:

That's a nice sweater. Where did you buy it?

Miss Wong:

At a store in Central.

Mrs Ho:

Which store?

Miss Wong:

It's just across from my office.

Mrs Ho:

Is it the one opposite the bus station?

Miss Wong:

Yes. That's the one.

dialogue 10.3

Do you know where the Mandarin Hotel is?

Léih Sàang:

喂。

Hòh Sàang:

李生呀? 90

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Léih Sàang:

係呀。邊位呀?

Hòh Sàang:

我係何日先呀。你知唔知美國酒店喺邊喥呀? 有個朋友一陣三點等我。佢話我知美國酒店喺上海銀行隔離,

Léih Sàang:

但係我搵唔到。美國酒店唔係喺上海銀行隔離。喺中國銀行對面。你知唔知中

Hòh Sàang:

國銀行喺邊喥呀? 哦。咁,我知嘞。唔該嗮。再見。

Léih Sàang:

Wái.

Hòh Sàang:

Léih Sàang àh.

Léih Sàang:

Haih a, bīn wái a?

Hòh Sàang:

Ngóh haih Hòh Yaht-sīn a. Néih jì mhjì Méihgwok Jáudim hái bīndouh a? Yáuh go pàhngyáuh yātján sàam dím hái gódouh dáng ngóh. Kéuih wah ngóh jì Méihgwok Jáudim hái Seuhnghói Ngàhnhòhng gaaklèih, daahnhaih ngóh wán mhdóu.

Léih Sàang:

Méihgwok Jáudim mhhaih hái Seuhnghói Ngàhnhòhng gaaklèih. Hái Jùnggwok Ngàhnhòhng deuimihn. Néih jì mhjì Jùnggwok Ngàhnhòhng hái bīndouh a?

Hòh Sàang:

O. Gám, ngóh jì laak. Mhgòisaai. Joigin.

Léih Sàang:

Hello.

Hòh Sàang:

Is that Mr Lee?

Léih Sàang:

Yes, who's speaking?

Hòh Sàang:

This is Yat Sin Ho. Do you know where the Mandarin Hotel is? There's a friend who's supposed to meet me there at 3 'o'clock He told me the Hilton was next to the Shanghai Bank, but I can't find it.

Léih Sàang:

Méihgwok Jáudim mhhai hái Seuhnghói Ngàhnhòhng gaaklèih. Hái Jùnggwok Ngàhnhòhng deuimihn. Néih jì mhjì Jùnggwok Ngàhnhòhng hái bīndouh a?

Hòh Sàang:

Oh, I know now. Thanks. Bye.

91

11 Doing things for others

唔该


Vocabulary 1. agō

阿哥

elder brother

2. baak

百

hundred

3. cheung

暢

change money into smaller denomination

4. cheunghōi

split, break up large banknote or coin to

暢開

exchange for ones of lesser denomination. 5. chīn

千

thousand

6. daai

帶

carry

7. daai...heui

帶去

take...along

8. daai...lai

帶...嚟

bring...along

9. dāk

得

all right, OK, will do

10. dāk

得

in yáuhdāk .;. = available, can

11. dāk...

得

only have ...

12. fu

副

M. for eyeglasses

13. géidò

幾多

quite a lot

14. hái douh

喺喥

(he, she, it, etc.) is here; is at (this) place

15. hóudò

好多

a lot

16. hóusíu

好少

very little

17. jáau

找

give change

18. jáaufàan

找返

V: give back change

19. je

借

lend, borrow

20. jejyuh

借

lend or borrow temporarily

21. jèung

張

M. for banknotes

22. jí

紙

banknote; paper

23. jyuh

住

temporarily, for a short time

24. mhgeidāk

唔記得

forget (not remember)

25. mhginjó

唔見咗

lose, lost; "nowhere to be seen"

26. móuhdāk

冇得

not have available for V-ing

95

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 27. móuhgéidò

not much, not many

冇幾多

96


Dialogues

dialogue 11.1

Just a moment - I'll go get some change. Clerk:

四支啤酒六支汽水﹐十個橙。。。十三個二啦。

Customer:

嗱, 呢喥一百蚊。

Clerk:

好﹐等我找返俾你啦。哎呀﹐對唔住唔夠散紙添。你有冇散紙

Customer:

呀? 我都冇噃。

Clerk:

咁, 唔該你等陣, 我搵人暢開佢啦.

Customer:

好啦。

Clerk:

呢喥找返八十六個八俾你。

Customer:

你有冇一蚊銀呀?

Clerk:

有﹐你想要幾多呢?

Customer:

唔該你暢十蚊我啦。

Clerk:

好。

Customer:

唔該嗮。

Clerk:

Sei jì bejáu, luhk jì heiséui, sahp go cháang...sahpsàam go yih lā.

Customer:

Nàh, nīdouh yāt baak mān.

Clerk:

Hóu, dáng ngóh jáaufàan béi néih lā. Aiya, deuimhjyuh, mhgau sáanjí tìm. Néih yáuh móuh sáanjì a?

Customer:

Ngóh dōu móuh bo.

Clerk:

Gám, mhgòi néih dáng jahn, ngóh wán yàhn cheunghòi kéuih lā.

Customer:

Hóu lā.

Clerk:

Nīdouh jáaufàan baatsahpluhk go baat béi néih.

Customer:

Néih yáuh móuh yāt mān ngán a?

Clerk:

Yáuh, néih séung yiu géidò nē?

97


Mhgòi néih cheung sahp mān ngóh lā.

Clerk:

Hóu.

Customer:

Mhgòisaai.

Clerk:

Four beers, six pop, ten oranges...that'll be $13.20.

Customer:

Here's $100.

Clerk:

Ok, let me get your change. Darn, sorry, I don't have enough change. Do you have anything smaller?

Customer:

No, I'm afraid not.

Clerk:

Well, hang on a minute and I'll go get some change.

Customer:

Ok.

Clerk:

Here's your $86.80 change.

Customer:

Do you have any dollar coins?

Clerk:

Sure, how many do you need?

Customer:

Can you give me ten?

Clerk:

Ok.

Customer:

Thanks.

dialogue 11.2

How would you like that?

Mr. Wòhng:

唔該你同我暢開佢啦!

Teller:

暢開幾多呀? 係唔係愛嗮十蚊紙呀?

Mr. Wòhng:

唔係。愛四張一百蚊紙十張十蚊。

Teller:

唔夠十蚊紙噃。愛九張十蚊紙﹐十個一蚊銀, 好唔好﹖

Mr. Wòhng:

好﹐愛啲散銀都好。

Mr. Wòhng:

Mhgòi néih tùhng ngóh cheunghòi kéuih lā!

Teller:

Cheung géidò a? Haih mhhaih ngoisaai sahp mān jì a?

98

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Mr. Wòhng:

Mhhaih. Oi sei jèung yāt baak mān jí, sahp jèung sahp mān.

Teller:

Mhgau sahp mān jí bo. Oi gáu jèung sahp mān jí, sahp go yāt mān ngán, hóu mhhóu a?

Mr. Wòhng:

Hóu, oi dī sáangán dōu hóu.

Mr. Wòhng:

I'd like to change this.

Teller:

How would you like it? Do you want all tens?

Mr. Wòhng:

No. I'd like four $100 bills and ten tens.

Teller:

It looks like I don't have enough tens. I can give you nine tens and ten one dollar coins. How about that?

Mr. Wòhng:

That's fine. I don't mind some coins.

dialogue 11.3

I'm really sorry...I forgot. A:

你今日唔記得帶嗰本書返來俾我呀﹖

B:

哎呀﹗唔記得添﹗ 真係對唔住嘞。你幾時要用呀﹖

A:

我等陣要㗎。一陣我學英文冇書睇唔得嘅噃!

B:

咁, 我而家返屋企攞俾你啦.

A:

要返屋企攞呀﹖ 唔好嘞。你知唔知呢喥邊個有呢本書可以接住俾我先㗎?

B:

啊﹗陳生都用嗰本書學英文﹐等我叫佢接俾你啦。

A:

好呃﹗唔該嗮。

A:

Néih gàmyaht mhgeidāk daai gó bún syù fàanlàih béi ngóh a?

B:

Aiya! Mhgeidāk tìm! Jànhaih deuimhjyuh laak! Néih géisìh (géisi) yiu yuhng a?

A:

Ngóh dáng jahn yiu ga. Yātján ngóh hohk Yìngmán móuh syù tái. Mhdāk ge bo!

99


Gám, ngóh yìhgā fàan ūkkéi ló béi néih lā.

A:

Yiu fàan ūkkéi ló àh. Mhhóu laak. Néih jì mhjì nīdouh bīngo yáuh nī bún syù hóyíh jejyuh béi ngóh sìn ga?

B:

A! Chàhn Sàang dōu yuhng gó bún syù hohk Yìngmán, dáng ngóh giu kéuih je béi néih lā.

A:

Hóu aak! Mhgòisaai.

A:

You didn't remember to bring that book back today by any chance, did you?

B:

Oh, darn! No, I didn't. I'm really sorry. When do you need it?

A:

I need it pretty soon. It'll be a real pain if I have to go to English class without a book!

B:

Well, I'll go home and get it for you.

A:

No need to do that!. Do you know somebody who has a copy they can lend me?

B:

Oh, yeah! Mr Chan uses that book for his English class. Let me ask him to lend it to you.

A:

Great! Thanks.

100

12 Talking about immediate plans

咩事


Vocabulary 1. bàhbā

爸爸

father

2. chìhnbihn

前便(邊)

front (front side)

3. chìngchó

清楚

clear, vivid, clearly

4. daai

帶

take/bring (someone/something) along

5. douh

道

road, restricted to use following named road

6. gà

架

M. for vehicle

7. gàn

跟

follow, come behind

8. gànjyuh

跟住

follow, come behind

9. Gáulùhng

九龍

Kowloon

10. hauhbihn

後便(邊)

back (back side); behind

11. heui

去

go

12. hohkhaauh

學校

school

13. houh

號

number

14. jái

仔

son

15. jáinéui

仔女

children (of a family), sons and daughters

16. jìp

接

meet, fetch, pick up (a person)

17. jouh

做

do, work

18. jouh sāam

做衫

make clothes, have clothes made

19. jouh sih

做事

to work, have a job

20. jyuh

住

live

21. làih

嚟

come

22. láu

樓

floor, storey of a building

23. màhmā

媽媽

mother

24. Móuh cho

冇錯

That's right.

25. nàahmpàhngyáuh

男朋友

boyfriend

26. Nèihdēun Douh

彌敦道

Nathan Road

27. néui

女

daughter

103

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 28. néuihpàhngyáuh

女朋友

girlfriend

29. sih

事

piece of business, affair, matter

30. sīnsàang

先生

husband

31. sung

送

deliver

32. taaitáai

太太

wife; married woman

33. taam

探

to visit

34. tái yīsāng

睇醫生

see the doctor

35. tùhng

同

with

36. yéh

嘢

things, stuff

37. yīsāng

醫生

doctor

104



What's the problem? Mrs Wong:

李太﹐同個女去邊呀?

Mrs Li:

我帶佢睇醫生呀。

Mrs Wong:

乜嘢事呀?

Mrs Li:

佢唔想食飯咯。

Mrs Wong:

你帶佢去睇邊個醫生呀?

Mrs Li:

我先生叫我帶佢睇張醫生。佢係我哋個朋友。

Mrs Wong:

邊個張醫生呀? 係唔係上海銀行嗰個呀?

Mrs Li:

冇錯。係佢嘞。

Mrs Wong:

咁, 我送你哋去。我啱啱要去銀行錢。

Mrs Li:

好呃。唔該嗮。

Wòhng Táai:

A, Léih Táai, tùhng gó néui heui bīn a?

Léih Táai :

Ngóh daai kéuih heui tái yīsāng a.

Wòhng Táai:

Mēyéh sih a?

Léih Táai:

Kéuih mhséung sihk faahn lòh.

Wòhng Táai:

Néih daai kéuih heui tái bīngo yīsāng a?

Léih Táai :

Ngóh sīnsàang giu ngóh daai kéuih tái Jèung Yīsāng. Kéuih haih ngóhdeih ge pàhngyáuh.

Wòhng Táai:

Bīngo Jèung Yīsāng a? Haih mhhaih Seuhnghói Ngàhnhòhng gó go a?

Léih Táai:

Móuh cho, haih kéuih laak.

Wòhng Táai:

Gám, ngóh sung néihdeih heui lā. Ngóh ngāamngāam yiu heui ngàhnhòhng ló chin.

Léih Táai:

Hóu aak. Mhgòisaai bo.

Mrs Wong:

Hello, Mrs Li! So, where are you off to with your daughter?

105

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Léih Táai:

I'm taking her to the doctor.

Mrs Wong:

What's up?

Léih Táai:

She doesn't feel like eating.

Mrs Wong:

Which doctor are you taking her to?

Léih Táai:

My husband told me to take her to see Dr Cheung. He's a friend of ours.

Mrs Wong:

Which Dr Cheung? Is it the one by the Shanghai Bank?

Léih Táai:

Right! That's the one.

Mrs Wong:

Well, I'll take you there. I'm just off to the bank.

Léih Táai:

Ok. Thanks a lot.

dialogue 12.2

Off home, then? A:

係唔係返屋企呀?

B:

唔係 - 我而家要去我女朋友屋企探佢媽媽.

A:

佢媽媽有乜嘢事呀?

B:

冇乜嘢事。佢叫我去佢哋喥食飯咧。

A:

哦—佢哋住喺邊呀?

B:

佢哋啱啱住你後邊。

A:

係咩? 咁, 我送你去。

B:

唔該嗮。

A:

Néih haih mhhaih fàan ūkkéi a?

B:

Mhhaih - ngóh yìhgā yiu heui ngóh néuipàhngyáuh ūkkéi taam kéuih màhmā.

A:

Kéuih màhmā yáuh mēyéh sih a?

B:

Móuh mēyéh sih. Kéuih giu ngóh heui kéuihdeih douh sihk faahn lē.

A:

O—kéuihdeih jyuh hái bīn a?

B:

Kéuihdeih ngāamngāam jyuh hái néih hauhbihn.

106


Haih mē? Gám, ngóh sung néih heui lā.

B:

Mhgòisaai.

A:

Going home?

B:

No, I'm off to my girlfriend's to visit her mother?

A:

What's wrong with her mother?

B:

Nothing. She invited me over for dinner..

A:

Oh, where do they live?

B:

Just behind where you live.

A:

Really? I'll take you there, then.

B:

Thanks.

dialogue 12.3

I'm going shopping... Wong Táai :

我一陣要去公司買。你有冇錢呀?

Wong Sàang:

我得些少喳。我啱啱想去銀行攞錢。你幾點出街呀?

Wong Táai :

哼...我要等何太電話。

Wong Sàang:

咁...我而家去銀行攞錢先。你一陣來我寫字樓攞錢﹐好唔好呀

Wong Táai :

好! 呀﹐ 你有冇嘢要買呀?

Wong Sàang:

冇嘞。

Wong Táai :

Ngóh yātján yiu heui gūngsī máaih yéh. Néih yáuh móuh chín a?

Wong Sàang:

Ngóh dāk sèsíu ja. Ngóh ngāamngāam séung heui ngàhnhòhng ló chín. Néih géidímjung chēutgāai a?

Wong Táai :

Hmmm...Ngóh yiu dáng Hòh Táai dihnwá bo.

Wong Sàang:

Gám...Ngóh yihgā heui ngàhnhòhng ló chín sin. Néih yātján làih ngóh séjihlàuh ló chín, hóu mhhóu a?

107

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Wong Táai :

Hóu! ...A, ...néih yáuh móuh yéh yiu máaih a?

Wong Sàang:

Móuh laak.

Miss Chan:

I'm going shopping in a while. Do you have any money?

Mr. Wong:

Not much. I'm planning to go to the bank. When are you going out?

Miss Chan:

Not sure. I'm waiting for Mrs Ho to call.

Mr. Wong

Well, I'll go to the bank first and then you can come to my office and get some money. Ok?

Miss Chan:

Ok. Do you need me to get you anything?

Mr. Wong:

No. That's ok.

108

13 Going places

泊车


Vocabulary 1. daaphaak

搭客

passenger

2. diuhtàuh

調頭

turn (a car) around [reverse head]

3. dou

到

arrive

4. fàanjyun tàuh

返轉頭

turn (the car) around and go back [return turn head] Make a U-turn.

5. gāai

街

street

6. giu(jouh)

叫做

is called, is named

7. gwaisingmìhng?

貴姓名

what is your surname and given name? (polite)

8. gwo

pass by (a point); cross (a street); go

過

over to (a place) 9. gwodī

過啲

beyond; a little farther on

10. Gwodītìm

過啲添

Go further on; Keep going (said to taxi driver)

11. hàahng

行

go; walk; drive

12. hóyíh

可以

can, as (1) be permitted, allowed to; (2) be willing to

13. jà chē

揸車

to drive a car

14. jauh

就

immediately, soon; as clause connector = then; and

15. jihk

直

straight

16. jó

左

left (direction)

17. jóbihn

左便(邊)

left side

18. jósáubihn

左手便(邊)

lefthand side

19. jyun

轉

turn

20. la

啦

as sen. suf. to imperative sentence, gives connotation of friendly advice

21. méng

name; given name

名 111

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 22. paak chē

泊車

park a car

23. tanhauh

蹆後

back (a car) up, move back

24. tìhng

停

stop

25. wái

位

place, seat

26. Wíhngōn Gūngsī

永安公司

Wing On Department Store

27. yahp

入

enter

28. yahpbihn

入便(邊)

inside

29. yahpheui

入去

go in; enter

30. yātjihk

一直

straight a) direction b) without being diverted: straight

31. yauh

右

right (direction)

32. yauhbihn

右便(邊)

right side

33. yauhsáubihn

右手便(邊)

right hand side

112


Dialogues dialogue 13.1 Hey, isn't that your friend in that black car behind us? A:

喺黑色嗰架車後邊嗰個人係唔係你朋友呀?

B:

係噃! 唔該你返轉頭啦。我有啲嘢想話佢知嘅。

A:

好呃。佢係唔係姓張㗎?

B:

唔係, 佢姓陳嘅。

A:

佢叫做乜嘢名呀?

B:

佢叫做國華。

A:

陳國華...哼...咁, 唔係嘞。

B:

唔係乜嘢呀?

A:

佢唔係李小姐嘅男朋友嘞。

A:

Hái hāak sīk gó gà chē hauhbihn gó go yàhn haih mhhaih néih pàhngyáuh a?

B:

Haih bo! Mhgòi néih fàanjyuntàuh lā. Ngóh yáuh dī yéh séung wah kéuih jì ge.

A:

Hóu aak. Kéuih haih mhhaih sing Jèung gà?

B:

Mhhaih, kéuih sing Chàhn ge.

A:

Kéuih giujouh mēyéh méng a?

B:

Kéuih giujouh Gwokwàh.

A:

Chàhn Gwokwàh...Hmm...Gám, mhhaih laak.

B:

Mhhaih mēyéh a?

A:

Kéuih mhhaih Léih Síujé ge nàahmpàhngyáuh laak.

A:

Hey! Isn't that guy in the black car behind us your friend?

B:

Hey, it is! Do a U-turn I've got something to tell him.

A:

Ok. Is his last name Cheung?

B:

No, it's Chan.

113


What's his first name?

B:

Kwok Wah.

A:

Kwok Wah Chan...Hmm...So it's not.

B:

Not what?

A:

It's not Miss Li's boyfriend.

dialogue 13.2 Who are you having Yam Cha with?

黃太: 小英:

黃太: 小英: 黃太:

喂! 喂, 媽媽呀? 我係小英呀。我而家喺文化酒店飲茶。你嚟唔嚟呀? 你同邊個飲茶呀? 我同何美華。呢喥啲餅好靚。你嚟啦。你有朋友喺喥, 我唔嚟啦。嚟啦, 媽媽, 我想你一陣同我去買嘢呀。咁呀, 使唔使我揸車嚟呀? 呢左近好少位泊車嘅噃。你叫的士嚟啦。好啦, 我就嚟嘞。

Wòhng Táai:

Wei!

Siu Yīng:

Wei, màhmā àh? Ngóh hàih SíuYīng a. Ngóh yìhgā hái Màhnwàh

黃太: 小英: 黃太: 小英:

Jáudim yám chàh. Néih làih mhlàih a? Wòhng Táai:

Néih tùhng bīngo yám chàh a?

Siu Yīng:

Ngóh tùhng Hòh Méi Wàh. Nīdouh dī béng hóu leng gà. Néih làih lā.

Wòhng Táai:

Néih yáuh pàhngyáuh hái douh, ngóh mhlàih la.

Síu Yīng:

Làih lā, màhmā, ngóh séung néih yātján tùhng ngóh heui máaih yéh a.

Wòhng Táai:

Gám áh, sài mhsái ngóh jà chē làih ā?

Síu Yīng:

Nījógán hóu siu wái paak chē ge bo. Néih giu dīksí làih lā.

114

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Wòhng Táai:

Hóu lā, ngóh jauh làih laak.

Mrs Wong:

Hello?

Siu Ying:

Hello, Mom? It's me, Siu Ying. I'm having yamcha at the Màhnwàh Hotel. Are you coming?

Mrs Wong:

Who are you with?

Siu Ying:

I'm with Mei Wah Ho. The pastries are great here. Come and join us!

Mrs Wong:

You're with your friend. Never mind.

Siu Ying:

Come on, Mom. I want to go shopping with you later.

Mrs Wong:

Shall I drive over, then?

Siu Ying:

There aren't too many parking spaces around here. You'd better take a cab.

Mrs Wong:

Ok. I'm on my way.

dialogue 13.3 Excuse me, is this Queen's Road Central? A:

請問呢條係唔係大道中呀?

B:

唔係, 你喺呢喥一直去, 行到第三個街口嗰條就係嘞。

A:

哦, 唔該。

(He goes on...) A:

請問, 大道中五百零四號喺唔喺呢左近呀?

C:

五百零四號呀。呢,前邊右手邊第三間就係嘞。

A:

嗰喥有冇位泊車?

C:

好似冇噃。

A:

好。唔該嗮。

A:

Chéng mahn nī tìuh haih mhhaih Daaih Douh Jùng a?

B:

Mhhaih, néih hái nīdouh yātjihk heui, háahng dou daih sàam go gàaiháu gó tìuh jauh haih laak.

115


O, mhgòi.

(He goes on...) A:

Chéng mahn, Daaih Douh Jùng ńgh baak lìhng sei houh hái mhhái nījógán a?

C:

Ńgh baak lìhng sei houh àh. Nē, chìhnbihn yauhsáubihn daih sàam gàan jauh haih laak.

A:

Gó douh yáuh móuh wái paak chē gà?

C:

Hóu chìh móuh bo.

A:

Hóu. Mhgòisaai.

A:

Excuse me, but is this street Queen's Road Central?

B:

No. Just go another 3 blocks and you'll see it right there.

A:

Oh, thanks.

(He goes on) A:

Excuse me, is 504 Queen's Road Central around here?

C:

504, eh? Yes, it's the third building over there on the right.

A:

Is there any parking there?

C:

Looks like there isn't.

A:

Ok, thanks.

dialogue 13.4 524 Nathan Road, please. A:

唔該彌敦道, 五百二十四號。

B:

好。

(They ride for awhile) A:

過咗第二個街口右邊,停車啦。嗨! 過咗

B:

啦, 唔該你蹆後些少啦。哦, 唔得噃, 後邊有車嚟, 唔可以蹆後。

A:

咁, 再駛過啲, 返轉頭啦。

B:

得。 116

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 (The driver makes a U-turn at the intersection and goes back) A:

好。喺喥停。

(He pays the driver $3 for the $2.70 ride)

唔使找啦。 B:

多謝。

A:

Mhgòi Nèih Dèun Douh, ńgh baak yihsahp sei houh.

B:

Hóu.


Gwojó daih yih go gàaiháu yauhbihn, tìhng chē lā. Ei! Gwojó la, mhgòi néih tanhauh sèsiu lā.

B:

O, mhdāk bo, hauhbihn yáuh chē làih, mhhóyih tanhauh.

A:

Gám, joi sài gwodī, fàanjyuntàuh lā.

B:

Dāk.

(The driver makes a U-turn at the intersection and goes back) A:

Hóu. Hái douh tìhng.

(He pays the driver $3 for the $2.70 ride) Mhsài jáau la. B:

Dòjeh.

A:

524 Nathan Road, please.

B:

Ok.


Just past the second street on the right. Whoops! You went past it. Just back up a bit, can you?

B:

No, I can't. There's a car coming up behind.

A:

Well, go on a bit and turn round, then.

B:

Ok.

(The driver makes a U-turn at the intersection and goes back) A:

Ok. Stop here.

(He pays the driver $3 for the $2.70 ride) Keep the change.

117


Thanks.

118

14 Eating at a restaurant

食饭


Vocabulary 1. baahk faahn

白飯

boiled or steamed rice

2. bātgwo

不過

however; but; although

3. būi

杯

cup, glass

4. bùi

杯

M. for cup, glass

5. cháau

炒

to sautee or toss fry in small amt of oil, as in scrambling eggs.

6. cháau faahn

炒飯

fried rice

7. cháau mihn

炒麵

fried noodles

8. choi

菜

food; a particular food, a dish

9. choipáai

菜

menu, bill of fare

10. dím

點

to order (food)

11. dò

多

additional, as modifier in Noun phrase

12. dōdī

多啲

more (in addition) (follows V)

13. Dòjeh

多謝

Thank you. (for a gift)

14. Dòjehsaai.

多謝嗮

Thank you very much.

15. dōuhaih

都係

always, really

16. faaijí

筷子

chopsticks

17. fógei

伙計

waiter in restaurant

18. gaaisiuh

介紹

recommend; introduce

19. gāng

羹

spoon

20. gwo

過

indicates experience; to have done something before

21. Gwóngdùng choi

廣東菜

Cantonese food

22. hā

蝦

shrimp

23. Hóu ma?

好嗎

Is that OK?

24. jáugā

酒家

Chinese style restaurant

25. jek

隻

M. for spoon

26. jouh yéh

做嘢

do chores; have a job

121

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 27. juhng

重

still, in addition, also (+ verb)

28. jùngchoi

中菜

Chinese food

29. jùnggwok choi

中國菜

Chinese food

30. ma?

嗎

sen. suf. making a question of the sentence it attaches to

31. Màaihdāan!

埋單

The check please!

32. meih

未

negative, "not yet"

33. mhcho

唔錯

good, not bad

34. ngoihgwokyàhn

外國人

foreigner(s)

35. nìng

拎

carry (something)

36. nìng ...heui

拎去

take, carry off (something)

37. nìng ...làih

拎嚟

bring (something)...here

38. Sāichāan

西餐

Western meal

39. Seuhnghói choi

上海菜

Shanghai food

40. séui būi

水杯

water glass

41. Sihdaahn lā.

是但啦

Either one. No preference. As you wish. (when offered a choice). Whatever.

42. táiháh

睇吓

have a look

43. tòng

湯

soup

44. tòng mihn

湯麵

soup noodles

45. wún

碗

M. a bowl of...

46. wún

碗

bowl

47. wúnjái

碗仔

small bowl

48. Yahtbún choi

日本菜

Japanese food

49. yāt chi dōu meih.

一次都未

not even once...

50. yāt M dōu Neg V

一...都

Not even one...; can't V. even one M .

51. yéh

嘢

work (as in jouh yéh) (with restricted use)

52. yeuhng

kind, type

樣

122


Dialogues dialogue 14.1. Miss Lee! So, where are you off to?

黃生: 李小姐: 黃生: 李小姐: 黃生: 李小姐: 黃生: 李小姐: 黃生:

呀, 李小姐。去邊喥呀? 哦, 黃生。我啱啱返工。你呢? 我啱啱喺銀行攞錢返嚟。食飯未呀? 未呀! 你呢? 我都未呀, 我請你去食飯啦, 好唔好呀? 好呃, 去邊間呢? 廣州酒家啲鹽焗雞好靚, 你食過未呀? 未食過。咁, 我哋去試吓啦。

(They arrive at the restaurant)

黃生: 李小姐: 黃生: 李小姐:

伙計, 我哋想要隻鹽焗雞,哼。..李小姐, 仲要乜嘢菜添呢? 芥蘭炒牛肉啦, 哼...一隻雞太多, 我哋食唔嗮, 要半隻就夠啦, 再點個西洋菜湯。好唔好呀? 呀。好, 李小姐真係識點菜嘅嘞。伙計唔該你快啲噃。呢喥啲菜真係唔錯, 我都要帶我媽媽嚟試吓。

(They finish eating)

黃生: 伙計: 黃生: 李小姐: 黃生:

伙計, 埋單。先生, 廿三蚊啦! 呢喥廿五蚊, 唔使找嘞。黃先生, 多謝嗮噃。唔使客氣。

Wòhng Sàang:

A, Léih Síujé. Heui bīndouh a?

Léih Síujé :

O, Wòhng Sàang. Ngóh ngāamngāam fòng gùng. Néih nē?

Wòhng Sàang:

Ngóh ngāamngāam hái ngàhnhòhng lóchín fàanlaih. Sihk faahn meih a?

Léih Síujé :

Meih a! Néih nē?

Wòhng Sàang:

Ngóh dōu meih a, ngóh chéng néih heui sihk faahn lā, hóu mhhóu a?

123

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Léih Síujé:

Hóu aak, heui bīn gàan nē?

Wòhng Sàang:

Gwóngjàu Jáugā dī yìhm guhk gāi hóu leng gà, néih sihkgwo meih a?

Léih Síujé:

Meih sihkgwo.

Wòhng Sàang:

Gám, ngóhdeih heui siháh lā.

(They arrive at the restaurant) Wòhng Sàang:

Fógei! Ngóhdeih séung yiu jek yìhm guhk gāi, mm...Léih Síujé, juhng yiu mēyeh choi tìm nē?

Léih Síujé:

Gaailáan chaau ngàuhyuhk lā, mm...yāt jek gāi táai dò, ngóhdeih sihk mhsaai, yiu bun jek jauh gau la, joi dim go sài yéuhng choi tòng. Hóu mhhóu a?

Wòhng Sàang:

A. Hóu, Léih Síujé jànhaih sīk dím choi ge laak. Fógei mhgòi néih faai dī bo.

Léih Síujé:

Nīdouh dī choi jànhaih mhcho, ngóh dōu yiu daai ngóh màhmā làih siháh.

(They finish eating) Wòhng Sàang:

Fógei, màaihdāan.

Fógei:

Sīnsàang, yahsàam mān lā!

Wòhng Sàang:

Nīdouh yah ńgh mān, mhsái jáau laak.

Léih Síujé :

Wòhng Sīnsàang, dòjehsaai bo.

Wòhng Sàang:

Mhsái haakhei.

Mr. Wong:

Oh, Miss Lee. Where are you going?

Miss Lee :

Oh, Mr. Wong. I just got off work. How about you?

Mr. Wong:

I'm just on my way back from the bank to get some money. Did you eat yet?

Miss Lee :

No. Did you?

Mr. Wong

Me neither. I'd like to treat you, ok?

Miss Lee:

Sounds good, where shall we go?

Mr. Wong

The Salt-Baked Chicken at the Guangzhou Restaurant is good. Have you had it?

Miss Lee:

No.

Mr. Wong

Well, let's go try it!.

(They arrive at the restaurant) Mr. Wong

Waiter, we'd like a Salt-Baked Chicken. Mm...Miss Lee, what other

124

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 dishes do you want? Miss Lee:

Sauteed Chinese Broccoli with Beef, mm...a whole chicken is too much for the two of us. A half will do. Let's have some Watercress Soup, shall we?

Mr. Wong:

Ok. You really know how to order dishes. Waiter, can you bring it as soon as possible, please.

Miss Lee:

It's really good here. I'll have to bring my mother along some time.

(They finish eating) Mr. Wong

Waiter, the bill, please.

Waiter:

That'll be 23 dollars, please!

Mr. Wong:

Here's 25 dollars, keep the change.

Miss Lee :

Thanks Mr. Wong, I really appreciate it.

Mr. Wong

You're welcome.

dialogue 14.2. What kind of soup would you like? A:

呢間酒家唔錯。啲嘢又平又靚。

B:

哦。係咩?

A:

喂, 伙計! 唔該你拎個菜牌嚟睇吓啦。

W:

好。就嚟。

A:

呢喥有廣東菜, 上海菜。你想食邊樣呢?

B:

我想試吓廣東菜。唔該你介紹吓啦。

A:

咁, 點個乳豬, 再要個大蝦。好唔好呀?

B:

好呃。叫個揚州炒飯試吓啦。

A:

哼...你想愛個乜嘢湯添呢?

B:

西洋菜湯啦.

A:

呀, 伙計, 唔該攞多兩支汽水嚟啦。

B:

哼, 啲炒飯同大蝦真係唔錯嘞。

A:

食多啲添啦! 唔好客氣呀。

125


夠啦! 多謝嗮。

A:

伙計! 埋單!

A:

Nī gàan jáugā mhcho gà. Dī yéh yauh pèhng yauh leng.

B:

O. Haih mē?

A:

Wái, fógei! Mhgòi néih nìng go choipáai làih táiháh lā,

W:

Hóu. Jauh làih.

A:

Nīdouh yáuh Gwóngdùng choi, Seuhnghói choi. Néih séung sihk bīn yeuhng nē?

B:

Ngóh séung siháh Gwóngdùng choi. Mhgòi néih gaaisiuhháh lā.

A:

Gám, dím go yúhjyù, joi yiu go daaih hā. Hóu mhhóu a?

B:

Hóu aak. Giu go Yèuhngjàu cháau faahn siháh lā.

A:

Mmm...Néih séung oi go mēyéh tòng tìm nē?

B:

Sàiyèuhngchoi tòng lā.

A:

A, fógei, mhgòi lódò léuhng jì heiséui làih lā.

B:

Mmm, dī cháau faahn tùhng daaih hā jànhaih mhcho laak.

A:

Sihk dōdī tìm lā! Mhhóu haakhei a.

B:

Gau la! Dòjehsaai.

A:

Fógei! Màaihdāan!

A:

This is a pretty good restaurant. The food's great and it's not too expensive.

B:

Oh, really?

A:

Waiter! Can we have a menu?

W:

Sure. I'll get you one.

A:

They have Cantonese and Shanghainese food here. Which would you prefer?

B:

I'd like to try Cantonese food. Can you suggest some dishes?

A:

Well, let's have a Roast Suckling Pig, and then Prawns, shall we?

B:

Ok. Let's try a Yangzhou Fried Rice, too.

A:

Hmm...what soup would you like?

B:

Watercress.

A:

Waiter, and please bring us two bottles of pop.

B:

Mmm, the fried rice and prawns are really great.

126


Have some more! Don't be polite.

B:

I've had enough. Thanks a lot!.

A:

Waiter, bill, please!

dialogue 14.3. What kind of food do you like to eat? A:

你鐘意食乜嘢呢?

B:

你話啦, 我乜嘢都食嘅.

A:

咁, 你想食中菜抑或西餐呢?

B:

都得;你話啦。

A:

咁, 我哋去食廣東菜, 好唔好呀?

B:

好! 你知唔知邊喥嘅廣東菜好食呀?

A:

中國茶樓嘅幾好。去嗰喥, 好唔好呀?

B:

好呃。揸唔揸車去呢?

A:

唔使啦。中國茶樓喺對面啫。我哋行去啦。

A:

Néih jùngyi sihk mēyéh nē?

B:

Néih wah lā, ngóh mēyéh dōu sihk gé.

A:

Gám, néih séung sihk Jùngchoi yìkwaahk sāichāan nē?

B:

Dōu dāk; néih wah lā.

A:

Gam, ngóhdeih heui sihk Gwóngdùng choi, hóu mhhóu a?

B:

Hóu! Néih jì mhjì bīndouh ge Gwóngdùng choi hóusihk a?

A:

Jùnggwok Chàhlàuh ge géi hóu. Heui gódouh, hóu mhhóu a?

B:

Hóu aak. Jà mhjà chē heui nē?

A:

Mhsái la. Jùnggwok Chàhlàuh hái deuimihn jē. Ngóhdeih háahng heui lā.

A:

What do you like to eat?

B:

It's up to you. I can eat anything.

127


Would you like to eat Chinese food or Western food, then?

B:

Either is fine.

A:

Let's have Cantonese food, then, shall we?

B:

Ok. Do you know a good place for Cantonese food?

A:

The China Tea House is pretty good. Let's go there, shall we?

B:

Ok. Shall we drive?

A:

No need. The China Tea House is just over there. We can walk there.

dialogue 14.4. It's nearly 12:30 - let's have lunch! A:

呀! 而家就快十二點啦。我哋去食晏先 , 好唔好呀?

B:

好呃!

A:

呢喥左近有間好有名嘅廣東酒家。我帶你去試吓啦。

B:

好呀。

(In the restaurant a waiter gives them a menu card:)

伙計:

兩位想點啲乜嘢菜呢?

A:

黃太, 你鐘意食啲乜嘢呀?

B:

我唔識點。你介紹幾樣就得啦。

A:

咁,我點幾樣呢喥有名嘅畀你試吓啦。伙計, 要個咕嚕肉, 一

B:

個大蝦 , 都要細嘅。再要一個豬肉湯, 好唔好呀?

A:

好呃! 伙計, 仲要一個豬肉湯添。快啲噃。

伙計:

好。

A:

黃太, 食多啲啦。

B:

夠啦—呢喥啲菜真係唔錯噃!

A:

係呀。呀! 而家就快一點半呀, 我哋走呀, 好嗎?

B:

好呃。

A:

伙計! 埋單。 (She pays the bill, leaving a tip.)

伙計:

多謝嗮。㗎㗎 128


A! Yìhgā jauh faai sahpyih dím la. Ngóhdeih heui sihk aan sìn , hóu mhhóu a?

B:

Hóu aak!

A:

Nīdouh jógán yáuh gàan hóu yáuh méng ge Gwóngdùng jáugā. Ngóh daai néih heui siháh lā.

B:

Hóu a.

(In the restaurant a waiter gives them a menu card:) Fógei:

Léuhng wái séung dím dī mēyéh choi nē?

A:

Wòhng Táai, néih jùngyi sihk dī mēyéh a?

B:

Ngóh mhsīk dím gà. Néih gaaisiuh géi yeuhng jauh dāk la.

A:

Gam, ngóh dím géi yeuhng nīdouh yáuh méng ge béi néih siháh la. Fógei, yiu go gùlòu yuhk, yāt go daaih hā, dōu yiu sàige.

B:

Joi yiu yāt go jyùyuhk tòng, hóu mhhóu a?

A:

Hóu aak! Fógei, juhng yiu yāt go jyùyuhk tòng tìm. Faaidī bo.

Fógei:

Hóu.

A:

Wòhng Táai, sihk dōdī lā.

B:

Gau la—nīdouh dī choi jànhaih mhcho bo!

A:

Haih a. A! Yìhgā jauh faai yāt dím bun la, ngóhdeih jáu la, hóu ma?

B:

Hóu aak.

A:

Fógei! Màaihdāan (She pays the bill, leaving a tip.)

Fógei:

Dòjehsaai.

A:

It's nearly 12.30! Let's have lunch, shall we?

B:

Sure!

A:

There's a really famous Cantonese restaurant around here I'd like to take you to.

B:

Ok.

(In the restaurant a waiter gives them a menu card:) W:

May I take your order?

A:

Mrs Wong, what do you like to eat?

B:

I don't know how to order. Please go ahead.

A:

Well, I'll order some well-known dishes for you to try, then. Waiter, a Sweet and Sour Pork, and an order of Prawns - make those

129

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 small dishes. B:

Let's have some Pork Soup, as well, shall we?

A:

Sure! Waiter, add a Pork Soup to that. Hurry, please.

W:

Ok.

A:

Mrs Wong, have some more.

B:

I've had enough, thanks. The food here is really good!

A:

Yes, it is. Oh, it's almost 1.30. Let's go, shall we?

B:

Ok.

A:

Waiter, can we have the bill, please. (She pays the bill, leaving a tip.)

W:

Thank you.

130

15 Asking directions

街市


Vocabulary 1. bouhfahn

部分

department (in a store)

2. chéng...

請

please (+ verb); invite

3. chēut

出

out

4. chēutheui

出去

go out

5. chēutlàih

出嚟

come out

6. chēutbihn

出邊

outside, exterior

7. dá dihnwá giu chē

打電話叫車

phone for a cab

8. dáhòi

打開

open (as of a book)

9. daih

第

ordinal number marker: st, nd, rd, th.

10. daihyāt

第一

the first

11. deihhá

地下

ground, ground floor

12. dou

到

suffix to verbs of motion, indicating arrival at goal

13. duhk

讀

read

14. duhkdou...

讀到

read to...

15. fo

課

lesson

16. gàaiháu

街口

street opening, i.e. intersection

17. gàaisíh

街市

food market

18. hàahng

行

walk; go

19. hahbihn

下便(邊)

below; under

20. hái

喺

from

21. heui

去

attaches to verbs of motion, indicating direction away from speaker

22. jó

咗

verb suf. indicating "accomplishment"

23. Jùngwàahn Gàaisíh

中環街市

Central Market

24. làih

嚟

V suf: attaches to verbs of motion, indicating direction towards the speaker

25. làuhhah

樓下

[floor below] downstairs

26. làuhseuhng

樓上

[floor above] upstairs

133

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 27. lohk

落

descend

28. lohkheui

落去

go down

29. louhyàhn

路人

pedestrian

30. seuhng

上

ascend

31. seuhngbihn

上邊

above; on top

32. seuhngchi

上次

last time

33. ...sìn , yihnhauh...

先, 然後

...first, then...

34. wuhn sàam

換衫

change clothes

35. yàhn

人

someone

36. yàuh

由

from

37. yihn(jì)hauh

然後

afterwards, then

38. yihp

頁

page

134


Dialogues dialogue 15.1 How do I get there? A:

請問你﹐美國公司喺邊喥呀﹖

B:

喺德道中

A:

由呢喥點去呀﹖

B:

喺喥一直行﹐過咗第一個街口﹐然後轉右。

A:

轉右之後呢﹖

B:

再一直行﹐過咗街市﹐ 就係德道中。去到嗰喥﹐ 你就睇到㗎㗎嘞。

A﹕

好。唔該。

B﹕

唔使唔該。

A:

Chéng mahn néih, Méihgwok Gūngsī hái bīndouh a?

B:

Hái Dāk Douh Jùng.

A:

Yàuh nīdouh dím heui a?

B:

Hái nīdouh yātjihk hàahng, gwojó daih yih go gàaiháu, yìhnhauh jyun yauh.

A:

Jyun yauh jìhauh nē?

B:

Joi yātjihk hàahng, gwojó gàaisíh, jauh haih Dāk Douh Jùng. Heuidou gódouh, néih jauh táidóu ga laak.

A:

Hóu, mhgòi.

B:

Mhsái mhgòi.

A:

Excuse me, where is the American Company?

B:

It's on Des Voeux Rd Central.

A:

How do I get there?

B:

Go two blocks, then turn right.

A:

What then?

135


Carry on past the market, then you'll see it.

A:

Ok, thanks.

B:

You're welcome.

dialogue 15.2

Which department does she work in?

A:

請問﹐李小玲喺邊喥呀﹖

B:

李小玲﹐佢喺邊個部份做事㗎。

A:

喺賣冷衫嗰個部份。

B:

哦﹐係嘞﹐佢話我知有位先生要搵佢﹐而家佢喺入邊等你。

A:

咁﹐我喺邊入去呀﹖

B:

哼﹐你喺呢喥一直行﹐然後轉出左手邊﹐李小姐就喺嗰喥嘞。

A:

唔該嗮。

B:

唔使唔該。

A:

Chéng mahn, Léih Síu-lìhng Síujé hái bīndouh a?

B:

Léih Síu-lihng, kéuih hái bīn go bouhfahn jouh sih ga?

A:

Hái maaih lāangsāam gó go bouhfahn.

B:

O, haih laak. Kéuih wah ngóh jì yáuh wái sīnsàang yiu wán kéuih, yìhgā kéuih hái yahpbihn dáng néih.

A:

Gám, ngóh hái bīndouh yahpheui a?

B:

Hmm...Néih hái nīdouh yātjihk hàahng, yìhnhauh jyunchēut jósáubihn, Léih Síujé jauh hái gódouh laak.

A:

Mhgòisaai.

B:

Mhsái mhgòi.

A:

Excuse me, where is Miss Siu Ling Lee?

B:

Which department does she work in?

A:

She's in the sweater department.

136


Oh, I know. She told me that a gentleman would be coming to see her. She's inside waiting for you.

A:

So where do I go in?

B:

Well, go straight ahead and turn left. You'll find her there.

A:

Thanks.

B:

You're welcome.

dialogue 15.3

Excuse me, is Mr Wong at home? A:

請問你, 黃先生喺唔喺喥呀?

B:

邊位黃先生呀?

A:

黃永葉先生。

B:

唔喺呢喥噃。請你上去四樓問吓啦。

(Goes up) A:

請問, 黃永葉先生喺唔喺喥呀?

C:

你搵邊個呀? 我哋呢喥冇姓黃嘅噃

A:

係咩? 對唔住噃。但係我啱啱問過二樓一個人, 佢話黃永葉住喺四樓嘅噃。

C:

哦! 黃永葉! 佢係唔係教廣東話㗎 ?

A:

冇錯, 係佢。

C:

佢住喺三樓, 你行返落去啦。

A:

好,唔該嗮。

A:

Chéng mahn néih, Wòhng Sīnsàang hái mhhái douh a?

B:

Bīn wái Wòhng Sīnsàang a?

A:

Wòhng Wíhng-yihp Sīnsàang.

B:

Mhhái nīdouh bo. Chéng néih séuhngheui sei láu mahnháh lā.

(Goes up) A:

Chéng mahn, Wòhng Wíhng-yihp Sīnsàang hái mhhái douh a?

137

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 C:

Néih wán bīngo a? Ngóhdeih nīdouh móuh sing Wòhng ge bo.

A:

Haih mē? Deuimhjyuh bo. Daahnhaih ngóh ngāamngāam mahngwo yih láu yāt go yàhn, kéuih wah Wòhng Wíhng-yihp jyuh hái sei láu ge bo.

C:

Oh! Wòhng Wíhng-yihp! Kéuih haih mhhaih gaau Gwóngdùngwá ga?

A:

Móuh cho, haih kéuih laak.

C:

Kéuih jyuh hái sàam láu, néih hàahng fàan lohk heui lā.

A:

Hóu, mhgòisaai.

A:

Excuse me. Is Mr Wong in?

B:

Which Mr Wong?

A:

Wing Yip Wong.

B:

He's not here. Try the fourth floor.

(Goes up) A:

Excuse me. Is Wing Yip Wong there?

C:

Who are you looking for? There's nobody called Wong here.

A:

No? I'm sorry. But I just asked the guy down on the second floor and he said Wing Yip Wong lived on the fourth floor.

C:

Oh! Wing Yip Wong! You mean the Cantonese teacher?

A:

Right. That's him.

C:

He lives on the third floor. You'd better go back down there.

A:

Ok, thanks.

dialogue 15.4

Who's teaching you Cantonese these days? A:

而家邊個教你講廣東話呀﹖

B:

都係張生。

A:

學到第幾課呀﹖

B:

第十五課嘅啦。

A:

第十五課講乜嘢㗎。

138


係講去公司買嘢嘅﹐ 呢課真係好有用。學咗呢課我就可以同

A:

公司嘅伙計講廣東話啦﹗ 係呀。

B:

係呀。個伙計仲話我廣東話好好添。

A:

係呀。你嘅廣東話係唔錯呃。

B:

你咁講﹐我就真係唔好意思啦。

A:

Yìhgā bīngo gaau néih góng Gwóngdùngwá a?

B:

Dōu haih Jèung Sàang.

A:

Hohkdou daih géi fo a?

B:

Daih sahpńgh fo ge la.

A:

Daih sahpńgh fo góng mēyéh ga?

B:

Haih góng heui gūngsī máaih yéh gé, nī fo jànhaih hóu yáuh yuhng. Hohkjó nī fo ngóh jauh hóyíh tùhng gūngsī ge fógei góng Gwóngdùngwá laak.

A:

Haih àh.

B:

Haih a! Go fógei juhng wah ngóh ge Gwóngdùngwá hóu hóu tìm.

A:

Haih a. Néih ge Gwóngdùngwá haih mhcho aak.

B:

Néih gám góng, ngóh jauh jànhaih mhhóu yisi la.

A:

Who's teaching you Cantonese now?

B:

It's still Mr. Cheung.

A:

Which lesson are you up to?

B:

Lesson 15.

A:

What's lesson 15 about?

B:

It's about going shopping. It's really useful. After this lesson, I'll be able to speak Cantonese with the store clerk.

A:

That's right.

B:

Yes, and the clerk also said my Cantonese was very good.

A:

Yes. Your Cantonese is really good.

B:

If you say that, I'll really be embarassed.

139

GLOSSARY

生词


CANTONESE - ENGLISH ā

啊

A a agō [go] àh aak āam (var: ngāam) āamāam (var: ngāamngāam) āam jeuk (var: ngāam jeuk) aan (var: ngaan) Aiya!

呀呀阿哥呀呃啱啱啱

sen. suf. a (QV) + raised intonation for liveliness oh, ah. (a mild exclamation) sen. suf., to somen abruptness elder brother sen. suf. with force of "I suppose." sen. suf. a (QV) + -k (QV) fitting, proper, right exactly

啱着

well-fitting (for clothes), fits well

晏哎吔

noon, midday exclamation of consternation

bá

把

baak baahk baahk faahn [wún] [dī] baat bàau bàhbā [go] bāt [jì] bātgwo béi béi bējáu [ji] [bùi] [jèun] béng [go] [dī] [faai] bīn-? bīnbihn? bīndouh? bīngo

百白白飯八包爸爸筆不過俾俾啤酒餅邊邊便邊度邊嗰

Measure for things with handles, such as umbrellas hundred white boiled or steamed rice eight package, Measure for cigarette pack father writing implement, either pen or pencil however; but; although give let, allow beer cake which? which side? where? [which place?] whomever, whoever, whichever 143

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 bīngo? -bihn bīu [go] bo bohng bou [fàai] [fāt] bouhfahn [go] būi [jek] [go] bùi bun bún búndeihyàhn [go]

邊嗰邊(便) 錶噃磅布部分杯杯半本本地人

who?; which person? side watch, wristwatch sen. suf. expressing certainty pound (weight) cloth department (in a store) a cup, glass cupful, glass-full (measure of volume) half Measure for book a native of the place under discussion [thisplace-person]

chàm̀hdó chàh [bùi] [wùh] Chàn chàhlàuh [gàan] chāansāt [gàan] cháang [go] cháau

差唔多茶陳茶樓餐室橙炒

approximately tea Chan (surname) Cantonese style tea-house western style restaurant orange to toss-fry in small amount of oil, as in scrambling eggs. fried rice fried noodles

cháau faahn [wún ] [dihp] 炒飯 cháau mihn [wún ] [dihp] 炒麵 chāt chē chē jaahm chéng.... Chéng mahn

七車車站請... 請問

chèuihbín Chèuihbín chóh lā.

隋便隋便坐啦

cheung

暢(唱)

seven vehicle: car, bus, or tram car stop (bus or tram stop) please (+ verb); invite "May I ask...?" Polite form used to preface a question equivalent to English "Could you please tell me... ? " As you wish. At your convenience. "Sit anywhere you like." Polite phrase used by host to guest. change money into smaller denomi-nation (followed by denomination desired)

144

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 cheunghòi

暢(唱)開

chèuhng chèuhng sāam [gihn]

長長衫

chēut chēutheui chēutlàih chēutbihn chēut gāai chi chīn chìhnbihn chín [dī] chìngchó chìhngyìhng cho chóh choi [dihp] [go] choidāan [jèung] choipáai [go]

出出去出嚟出邊出街次千前邊錢清楚

split, break up a large banknote or coin for ones of lesser denomination (followed by denomination held) long (in length) cheongsaam. Chinese style dress for women, with high collar and slit skirt out, emerge go out come out outside, exterior to go out (from one's own house) time, occasion thousand front side, in front, at the front money clear circumstances, conditions mistake (v/n) sit food; a particular food, a dish menu of a specific dinner menu, bill of fare

情形

錯坐菜菜單菜

dā dá dá dihnwá dá dihnwá giu chē dáhòi daai

打打打電話打電話叫車打開帶

daai...heui daai...lai daaih daaihdī Daaih Douh Jùng daaihsēng Daaihsēngdī!

帶去帶嚟大大啲大道中大聲大聲啲!

dozen hit make a telephone call phone for a cab open (as of book) carry; bring/take something along; bring/take someone along take...along bring...along large a little larger Queen's Road Central loud (voice) Speak louder! 145

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 daahnhaih daap Daap cho sin

但是答搭錯線

daaphaak [dī] daahp

搭客搭

daahp bun daahp géi?

搭半搭幾

daih daihyāt dáifu [tìuh ] dáikwàhn [tìuh ] dáisāam [gihn] dāk dāk...

第第一底褲底裙底衫得得

yáuh dāk

有得

Dākfuh Douh Jùng Dāk meih? dáng dáng Person Verb

德輔道中得未等等

dáng (yāt)ján or dáng yātjahn deihhá deui

等一陣

Deuim̀hjyuh

對唔住

but to answer Wrong number. [connected the wrong line] (said over the phone) passenger tread on. in time expression daahp combines with the numbers on the clock face to indicate the 5-minute subdivisions of the hour. Thus, daahp yāt = 5 after, daahp yih = 10 after, etc. half past (the hour) how many five minutes past the hour? [tread on-which number?] ordinal number marker: -st, -nd, -rd, -th, etc the first underpants, undershorts slip, petticoat underwear OK, all right have only..., only have. (dāk with a quantity phrase as object implies that the quantity is insufficient.) available, can. (used between the verb yáuh (or its negative móuh) and a second verb, forms a phrase: "have (or not have) available for V-ing;" "can ,V." Des Voeux Road Central Are you (Is he, etc.) ready? wait (for) allow, let Person do something; wait while Person does something wait awhile; in a little while ground, ground floor pair; group measure for shoes, socks, chopsticks, things that come in two's Excuse me; I beg your pardon; I'm sorry.

地下對

146

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 deuimihn dī dī

對面啲啲

-dī

啲

dihnwá [go] dím

電話點

dím? dím bun dím (jūng)

點點半點鐘

diuhtàuh dōdī dò dò

掉頭多啲多多

Dòjeh Dòjehsaai dōu dōu dōu haih dōu + neg. V dou -dou

多謝多謝嗮都都都係都到到

Douh

道

-douh -dóu

喥到

duhk duhkdou ... duhk syù

讀讀到... 讀書

opposite side, facing; across the street the; some. (plural M for individual nouns) a little, some; the. (general M for mass nouns) suffixed to Adj. to mean: a little Adj, somewhat Adj, Adj-er. Attached to predicate Adj. means: a little too Adj. telephone to order (food, by pointing out your choice from a list.) how? 1:30 o'clock o'clock. (represents the hour place in a time phrase) turn (a car) around [turn-head] more (in addition). (follows Verb) much, many additional, another, more. (precedes Number + M phrase) Thank you (for gift) Thank you very much. also both; and really not even V arrive verb suf. to verbs of motion, indicating arrival at goal Road (restricted to use following named road) place. also see: hái douh verb suf., indicating successful accomplishment of the action of the verb. what is attempted read aloud; recite; read read to... to study 147

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 dyún

短

short

faahn [wún] [túng] fàan fàan gùng fàanheui fàan hohk fàanjyuntàuh

飯返返工返去返學返轉頭

fàanlàih

返嚟

fàan (ng)ūkkéi faai faaijí [deui] [jek] [sēung] fānjūng fànbiht fo fógei [go] fógei [go] fu [tìuh] fu fut

返屋企快筷子分鐘分別課伙計伙計褲副闊

rice (cooked) return (to/from a place you habitually go to) go [return] to work go back, return go to school turn (the car) around and go back in the direction you had been, do a U-turn coming. [return-turn-head] come back, return (here) go [return] home fast chopstick(s) minute(s) difference lesson clerk in a grocery store waiter in a restaurant trousers, slacks, long pants pair; M. for eyeglasses wide

ga

㗎

sen. suf: a fusion of noun-forming boundword ge and sen.suf. a (QV)

ga (var: ge, [gə] )

㗎

ga gāai [tìuh] gaaisiuh gàaiháu [go] gàaisíh [go] gáai(sīk) gaaklèih gàan

架街介紹街口街市解(釋) 隔籬間

sen. suf. for matter of fact assertion: "that's a fact" M. for vehicles street recommend; introduce street opening; i.e., intersection food market explain next door, adjacent M. for buildings 148

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 gaau gaaudou gafē [bùi] [wùh] gāi [jek] gaijuhk gám gamseuhnghá gám Gám,...

教教到咖啡雞繼續咁咁上下咁咁

gàn

斤

gàn gànjyuh gāng [jek] gau gauh gáu Gaulùhng -ge

跟跟住羹夠舊九九龍嘅

-ge ge

嘅嘅

teach teach to... coffee chicken continue so ( Adj.) approximately that way, this way, thus, such a way "Well then,..."say,..." (Sen. preface, resuming the thread of previous discussion) catty. unit of weight equalling 600 gms., ca. 1 lb 5 oz. follow, come behind follow, come after spoon enough old (not new) nine Kowloon noun-forming boundword. added to Verb Phrase makes it a Noun Phrase as noun substitute possessive marker, joins with preceding personal noun or pronoun to form possessive. basic; foundation several which number?; how many? rather, quite what time is it? [which number -o'clock?] how much?, how many? quite a lot what number? when? sentence give (an example) M. for clothes, such as shirt, dress, raincoat

gèibún 基本 géi 幾 géi-? 幾 géi 幾 géidím? (var: géidímjūng?) 幾點 géidō? 幾多 géidò 幾多 géidō houh? 幾多號 géisí? (var: géisìh?) 幾時 geui 句 géui 舉 gihn 件 149

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 giu

叫

giu chē giu(jouh) go go

叫車叫(做) 個個

gógó bihn gódī

嗰嗰便(邊) 嗰啲

gódouh góng góng PERSON jì góng PERSON tèng guhaak [dī] gūngsī [gàan]

嗰喥講講...知講...聽顧客公司

gùngyàhn [go] gwai gwaising? gwaisingmìhng?

工人貴貴姓貴姓名

gwāt gwo

骨過

-gwo

過

gwodī Gwodī tím

過啲過啲添

Gwokyúh

國語

Gwóngdùng Gwóngdùng choi Gwóngdùngwá Gwóngdùngyàhn [go]

廣東廣東菜廣東話廣東人

instruct, tell (someone to do something); order; call call a cab is called, is named general M. for many nouns M. for dollar; represents the dollar place in a money phrase that; those over there, on that side those (in reference to unit nouns); that (in reference to mass nouns) there [that-place] speak tell sb something tell sb something customer department store; office (of a commercial company) servant, laborer expensive what is (your) surname? (polite) what is your surname and given name? (polite) quarter (hour) pass by (a point); cross (a street); go over (to a place) V. suf. indicating experience; to have done something before. beyond; a little farther on Go further on; i.e. Keep going. (said to taxi driver) Mandarin spoken language [National language] Kwangtung, province in SE China Cantonese food Cantonese spoken language Cantonese person, person from Kwangtung 150

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 province hā [jek] hahbihn -háh

蝦下便(邊) 吓

hàaih [deui] [jek] hāak haakhei hàahng haih haih...làih ge

鞋黑客氣行係係...嚟嘅

hái PW hái PW

喺喺

hái douh hauhbihn heiséui [ji] [jèun] [bùi] heui -heui

喺喥後便(邊) 汽水去去

heui gāai Hèunggóng Hòh hóyíh hohk hohkhaauh [gàan] hohksāang [go] houh houh

去街香港何可以學學校學生號號

hòuh(jí)

毫子

hóu hóu

好好

shrimp below, downstairs verb suf. giving casual effect to the verb it is joined to. shoes black polite go; walk; drive am, is, are, was, were, etc. is...; grammatical structure emphasizing enclosed noun from PW location verb, translated as "(is) in/on/at" (requires PW following) (he, she, it) is here; is at (this) place back side; behind, in the back, at the back soft drink go attaches to verbs of motion, indicating direction away from the speaker go out (from one's own house) Hong Kong Ho (sur.) be permitted, allowed to study, learn school student number; "size" (for some articles of clothing) number (for street number in giving an address) dime (represents the dime place in a money expression when the figure is less than a dollar) very, quite well, good 151

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Hóu

好

Hóu aak.

好呃

hóudò Hóu ma? hóu m̀hhóu a? hóusihk hóusíu hóuyám

好多好嗎好唔好呀? 好食好少好飲

ja

喳

jà jà chē jaak jaahm jáau jáaufàan jái [go] jáinéui [dī]

揸揸車窄站找找返仔仔女

jànhaih jauh jáu jáu [jèun] [bùi] jáudim [gàan] jáugā [gàan] jē jē [bá] je jejyuh jek

真係就走酒酒店酒家啫遮借借住隻

jeuk jéun Jèung

著準張

OK. All right. Fine, Agreed. (Response phrase indicating agreement.) OK. Agreed. (Lively response phrase indicating agreement.) a lot Is that OK? OK? Is (that) all right? good to eat; tasty very little good to drink; tasty sen. suf: a fusion of sen. suffixes jē and a, implying not much, merely. to clutch in the hand(s), grab to drive a car narrow stop, station, as in " bus stop," 'train station" give change give back change [change-return] son children of a family, sons and daughters of a family really, indeed then; and; immediately; soon leave, depart alcoholic beverage hotel Chinese style restaurant sen. suf. only, merely; that's all umbrella lend, borrow lend or borrow temporarily M. for shoe, sock, ship, cup, spoon, chicken and others wear; put on (clothes) accurate; right Cheung (surname) 152

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 jèung

張

jí [jèung] jì

紙支

jì jì(dou) jídou jih

知知指到字

M. for banknote, table, chair, newspaper, and other sheet-shaped objects banknote; paper M. for pens, pencils, bottles, and other things that are small, thin and striplike in size to know know (something) point to five minutes; written figure; character

jìhauh

之後

after

jihgéi

自己

self

jip

接

meet, fetch, pick up a person

jīu [jek] [sō]

蕉

banana

jó

咗

verb suf. indicating accomplishment of the action

jó jóbihn jógán joi joi dá làih joi góng yātchi joigin jósáubihn jouh

左左便(邊) 左近再再打嚟再講一次再見左手便(邊) 做

left left nearby, (t)hereabouts again call back (on the phone) say it again, repeat goodbye lefthand side to do; work; act as

jouh sāam jouh yéh jóusàhn jūng [go]

做衫做嘢早晨鐘

make clothes, have clothes made do chores, have a job good morning clock

juhng Jùngchoi Jùnggwok choi Jùnggwokyàhn Jùngmàhn Jùngwàahn

仲 (or 重) 中菜中國菜中國人中文中環

still, in addition, also (+ verb) Chinese food Chinese food Chinese person Chinese (written) language Central District (in Hong Kong) 153

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Jùngwàahn Gàaihsíh jùngyi júng jyuh -jyuh

Central Market (in Hong Kong) like; prefer; like to type, kind live, reside V. suf. indicating temporarily, for a short time pork host, hostess turn

中環街市鍾意種住住

jyùyuhk [gàn] [bohng] [dī] 豬肉 jyúyàhn [wái] [go] 主人 jyun 轉 -k kàhmyaht kámmàaih kéuih kéuihdeih kwàhn [tìuh ]

琴日冚埋佢佢哋裙

lā

啦

lā

啦

glottal stop ending to certain sen. suffixes, giving sentence a lively air yesterday to close, shut (as of books) he/him, she/her, it they, them, their skirt sen. suf. for polite imperative, polite suggestion. sen. suf. la for change + raised intonation for casualness sen. suf. indicating change— (that change has occurred, or is about to occur, or may occur) sen. suf. to imperative sentence, giving connotation of friendly advice sen. suf. la indicating change or potential change + suffix -k indicating lively mood (la + -k = laak) sweater example example, example sentence for the purpose of to come attaches to verbs of motion, indicating direction towards the speaker see: haih...làih ge

la la laak

嘞

lāangsāam [gihn] laih laihgeui làih làih -làih

冷衫例例句嚟嚟 (來) 嚟

...làih ge

嚟嘅 154

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 láu Làuh làuhhah làuhseuhng léh lèhng

樓劉樓下樓上咧零

Léih leng

李靚

léuhng lihnjaahp [go] lìhng ló ló chín lohk lohkheui louhyàhn [go] luhk

兩練習零攞攞錢落落去路人六

floor, story of a building Lau (surname) downstairs upstairs sen. suf. for definiteness "and a little bit" in a time phrase following dím, thus: -dím lèhng júng = a little after the hour Li (surname) pretty; good-looking; good, nice (for foods) two; a couple exercise, drill zero fetch, go get (something) withdraw money (from bank) to go down; to get off/out of a vehicle go down pedestrian six

ma?

嗎

question marker

màhmā

媽媽

mother

máh Máh máhtàuh [go] máaih maaih maaihsaai laak màaih màaihdāan

碼馬碼頭買賣賣嗮嘞埋埋單

yard (in length) Ma (surname) dock; pier; quay buy to sell All sold out. V. suf. meaning together, close bill (in a restaurant)

maahn

慢

slow

mān mahn mahntàih [go] [dī]

蚊問問題

dollar ask question 155

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 Màhnwàh Jáudim mātyéh? maht [deui] [jek] mē? mēyéh? meih Méihgwok Jáudim

文華酒店乜嘢襪咩乜嘢未美國酒店

Méihgwok Ngàhnhòhng Méihgwokyàhn méng [go]

美國銀行美國人名

m̀hm̀hcho

唔唔錯

m̀hgányiu m̀hgeidāk m̀hginjó m̀hgòi m̀hgòi néih...

唔緊要唔記得唔見咗唔該唔該你

m̀hhaih géi Adj m̀hhaih hóu Adj m̀hhóu V V dāk m̀hhóu m̀hhóu haakhei

唔係幾唔係好唔好得唔好唔好客氣

m̀hhóu yisi

唔好意思

m̀hjì(dou)...a? m̀hsái m̀hsái haakhei

唔知道...呀唔使唔使客氣

m̀hsái la

唔使啦

m̀hsái m̀hgòi.

唔使唔該

Mandarin Hotel what? socks interrogative sen. suf. indicating surprise what? neg: not yet American Hotel (in HK, another name for the Hong Kong Hilton) Bank of America American person name; for persons = given name (in contrast to surname) not good, "not bad" [not-mistake] (said in commenting favourably about something) That's all right; It doesn't matter; Never mind. forget (not remember) lose, lost; "nowhere to be seen" Thank you (for a service) Please..., Would you please... (sen. preface preceding a request) not very Adj, not Adj not very Adj don't V (as a command) [not good to...] badly, not well "Don't be polite." Polite phrase used by host to urge guest to have something that he has just politely declined. I'm sorry; It's embarrassing. (used in apologizing for social gaffe) I wonder...? no need to, not necessary [don't need to be polite.] "No thanksI" (to an offer) "You're welcome." (when someone thanks you) [Not necessary] No thanks. polite phrase used in declining a courtesy or a gim. [Not necessary to (say) thanks] 156

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 You're welcome. Polite response when someone thanks you for something you have done for him. what? not have, there isn't (aren't) That's right. not have available for V-ing; V there's none to not have available to .;. (used in combination with following verb) not much, not many doorway

mīyéh? móuh Móuh cho móuhdák V

乜嘢冇冇錯冇得

móuhgéidò mùhnháu [go]

冇幾多門口

nàahmpàhngyáuh [go] Nàh!

男朋友嗱

nē? Nē!

呢呢

Nèihdēun Douh néih néihdeih néui [go] néuihpàhngyáuh [go] ńgh ngāam ngāamjeuk ngāamngāam (var: āamāam) ngaan (var. aan) ngàhnchín [go] ngàhnhòhng [gàan] ngán ngáhngéng [fu] ngáhngéngdói [go] ngahp táu ngàuhnáaih [dī]

彌敦道你你哋女女朋友五啱啱著啱啱

boyfriend Here! (expression accompanying giving something to someone) interrogative sen. suf. There! (expression accompanying pointing out something to someone) Nathan Road you, your you (plu.) daughter girlfriend five fitting, proper, right well-fitting (for clothes), fits well exactly, just

宴銀錢銀行銀眼鏡眼鏡袋頷頭牛奶

noon, midday money [silver-money] bank coin eyeglasses eyeglasses case nod the head milk [cow-milk] 157

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 ngàuhyuhk [gàn] [bohng] [dī] ngóh ngóhdeih ngoi (var: oi) ngoihgwokyàhn [go]

牛肉

beef

我我哋愛外國人

ngūk (var: ūk) [gàan], ngūkkéi (var: ūkkéi) nī nī bihn nī dī

屋屋企呢呢便呢啲

nīdouh nījógán nihng táu nìng nìngheui, nìng...heui nìnglàih, nìng...làih

呢喥呢左近擰頭拎去拎去拎嚟

I , me, my we, our, us want, want to have, want to possess foreigner [outside-country-person] (in practice, this word refers to Caucasians only) house home this this side these (in reference to individual nouns), this (in reference to mass nouns) here [this-place] close by, hereabouts shake the head carry (something) take, carry something away bring something here

oi (var: ngoi)

愛

want, want to have, want to possess

paak paak chè pàhngyáuh [go] pèhng pìhnggwó [go]

泊泊車朋友平蘋果

park (a car) to park a car friend cheap apple

-saai sàam sàam go gwat sáanngán [dī] Sàang Sāichāan [go] sai saimúi [go] sàn

嗮三三個骨散銀生西餐細細妹新

completely three three quarters amer the hour small coins, small change Mr. Western meal small younger sister new 158

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 sahp sahpyāt sahpyih sauhfoyùhn [go] sáudói [go] sèsíu sé séjihlàuh [gàan] sei seuhngbihn seuhngchi Seuhnghói Seuhnghói choi Seuhnghóiwá Seuhnghóiyàhn [go] séung

十十一十二售貨員手袋些少寫寫字樓四上便(邊) 上次上海上海菜上海話上海人想

séuhng séui [bùi] [dī] séui būi [jek] sēutsāam [gihn] sīgēi [go] si siháh sih Sihdaahn lā

上水水杯裇衫司機試試吓事是但啦

sìhhauh sīk sīk sīk sihk sihk (ng)aan sihk yīn sīnsàang [go]

時候識識色食食宴食煙先生

ten eleven twelve salesclerk [sell-goods-personnel] (woman's) handbag a little write office [write-words-building] four above, upstairs last time, the previous time Shanghai Shanghai food Shanghainese (spoken language) Shanghainese (person) be of a mind to, wish to, would like to, want to, considering. (always followed by Verb) ascend water water glass shirt taxi driver; chauffeur try give it a try business, affair, matter Phrase used when offered a choice, meaning: As you wish; Either one; Both equally preferable. time to know someone know how (to do something) colour eat eat lunch to smoke [eat-tobacco] husband 159

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 tèng dihnwa tìm

聽電話添

tìm Tīnsīng Máhtàuh tìhng tìuh

添天星碼頭停條

Tòihsāan

台山

Tòihsāanwá Tòihsāanyàhn tòng [go] [wún] tòng mihn [go] [wún] tòhng Tòhngchoi tòuhsyùgwún [gàan] tùhng tùhng tùhng

台山話台山人湯湯麵糖唐菜圖書館同同同

talk [listen] on the telephone sen. suf. indicating speaker is taken by surprise by a situation contrary to his expectation in addition, also, more Star Ferry Pier to stop M. for trousers, ties, and certain other objects long and narrow in shape Taishan, a county in Southern Kwangtung about 100 mi. west of Hong Kong Taishan dialect person from Taishan soup soup noodles sugar Chinese food library and (connects nouns) on behalf of, for with

ūk (var: ngūk) [gàan] ūkkei (var: ngūkkei)

屋屋企

house home

wá wá?

話話

waahkjé wah wah yàhn jì

或者話話我知話人知

wah yàhn tèng wái wái [go]

話人聽位位

spoken language; dialect interrogative sen. suf. calling for repeat of the preceding sentence maybe say; opine tell me tell someone (any personal noun or pronoun can fill posxtxon; i-ii someone ICll ....... polite M. for persons a place, seat 161

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 wānjaahp wán wán yàhn làih wán yàhn heui wán yàhn wán bīnwái a?

溫習搵搵人嚟搵人去搵人搵邊位呀

to review look for, search look someone up come see someone go see someone (on telephone:) "Who do you wish to speak to?" Hello! (telephone greeting)

Wéi!

喂

Wíhng Ōn Gūngsī Wòhng wuihwá wuhn

永安公司王/ 黃會話換

wuhn sāam wún [go] [jek] wún wúnjái [go] [jekj

換衫碗碗碗仔

Wing On Department Store Wong (sur.) conversation to change. re money, to change into... (followed by denomination of money desired); to exchange one national currency for another (followed by currency desired) change clothes bowl (n.) a bowl of... (in) small bowl

yám yàhn [go] yàhn [go] yàhnhaak [wai] yahp yahpbihn yahpheui yāt yātchàih yātchi yāt chi dóu meih... yāt M dòu Neg. V yāt go gwāt yāt go jih yāt go yāt go yātjihk

飲人人人客入入便[邊] 入去一一齊一次一次都未一...都... 一個骨一個字一個一個一直

to drink person someone guest enter inside go in; enter one together once, one time not even once not even one... a quarter after the hour five minutes; five minutes after the hour one by one straight a) in a straight direction b) without 162


yātyeuhng Yahtbún choi Yahtbúnwá Yahtbúnyàhn Yahtmán Yahtmàhn yauh yauh yauh V yauh V yauhbihn yauhsáubihn yàuh...PW yàuhhaak [go] yáuh yáuhdāk V

一樣日本菜日本話日本人日文日文右又又...又... 右便(邊) 右手便(邊) 由遊客有有得

(Yáuh) mēyéh sih a?

有乜嘢事呀?

yáuh sìh

有事

yéh yéh yeuhng yīsāng [go] yih yìhgā Yì! ...yìkwaahk...? yīn [bāau] [dī] yīnjái [jì] yìhn(jì)hauh Yìngmán Yìngmàhn Yìnggwokyàhn [go] yihp

嘢嘢樣醫生二而家噫抑或煙煙仔然(之)後英文英文英國人葉

being interrupted or diverted. same Japanese food Japanese (spoken) language Japanese person Japanese (written) language Japanese (written) language right (direction) also (connects Verb Phrases) both..., and.... right side right hand side from PW tourist has/have; there is/are to have available to V, have available for Ving. (used in combination with following verb) What is it you want? (on the phone: May I take a message?) have something to attend to; have errand, business work; chores things, stuff kind, type doctor two now, at this moment Exclamation of distress ..., or...? (connects two verbal expressions) tobacco a cigarette then; immediately afterwards English language English language Englishman, person from England page 163

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 yàhnhaak [wai] yahp yahpbihn yahpheui yāt yātchàih yātchi yāt chi dóu meih... yāt M dòu Neg. V yāt go gwāt yāt go jih yāt go yāt go yātjihk

人客入入便[邊] 入去一一齊一次一次都未一...都... 一個骨一個字一個一個一直

yātyeuhng Yahtbún choi Yahtbúnwá Yahtbúnyàhn Yahtmán Yahtmàhn yauh yauh yauh V yauh V yauhbihn yauhsáubihn yàuh...PW yàuhhaak [go] yáuh yáuhdāk V

一樣日本菜日本話日本人日文日文右又又...又... 右便(邊) 右手便(邊) 由遊客有有得

(Yáuh) mēyéh sih a?

有乜嘢事呀?

yáuh sìh

有事

yéh yéh

嘢嘢

guest enter inside go in; enter one together once, one time not even once not even one... a quarter after the hour five minutes; five minutes after the hour one by one straight a) in a straight direction b) without being interrupted or diverted. same Japanese food Japanese (spoken) language Japanese person Japanese (written) language Japanese (written) language right (direction) also (connects Verb Phrases) both..., and.... right side right hand side from PW tourist has/have; there is/are to have available to V, have available for Ving. (used in combination with following verb) What is it you want? (on the phone: May I take a message?) have something to attend to; have errand, business work; chores things, stuff 163

LEARN CANTONESE 学广东话 yeuhng yīsāng [go] yih yìhgā Yì! ...yìkwaahk...? yīn [bāau] [dī] yīnjái [jì] yìhn(jì)hauh Yìngmán Yìngmàhn Yìnggwokyàhn [go] yihp yiu yiu yiu + money expression

樣醫生二而家噫抑或煙煙仔然(之)後英文英文英國人葉要要要

yiu yú yúhjyù [jek] yúhlāu [gihn] yùhnbāt [jì] yùhnjíbāt [jì] [dī] yuhng

要魚乳豬雨褸鉛筆原子筆用

kind, type doctor two now, at this moment Exclamation of distress ..., or...? (connects two verbal expressions) tobacco a cigarette then; immediately afterwards English language English language Englishman, person from England page want, require must; need; have to want X amount, costs X amount. (i.e., the asking price is X amount) going to, intend to fish roast suckling pig raincoat pencil ballpoint pen use

164

Learn Cantonese 1

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