Learn Cantonese 1 PDF

LEARN CANTONESE 1
DIALOGUES AND VOCABULARY
学
广
东
话 by
ELIZABETH LATIMORE BOYLE, PAULINE NG DELBRIDGE

BRIAN KING
HANYU PRESS
TORONTO
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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.
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
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.
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.
dialogue 1.5
Good Morning, Mr Ho.
A: 何生, 早晨。
15
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.
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.
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.
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?
mīyéh?
12. sing mīyéh a? 姓乜嘢呀 What's (your, his etc)
(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?
sing mīyéh?
17. Máh 馬 Ma (surname)
18. sing Máh 姓馬 to have the surname Ma
19. ge 嘅 grammatical focus marker similar to
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
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
haih Seuhnghóiyàhn
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
Seuhnghóiyàhn
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
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
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
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 daahp 搭 tread on
9. daahp bun 搭半 half past
10. daahp géi? 搭幾 how many five minutes past the
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
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
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 呃 sen. suf. a to soften abruptness + k

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
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
B: 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 把 M. for things with handles, such as

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
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
Dialogues
dialogue 6.1
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
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
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
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: 呢啲布幾多錢碼呀?
Clerk: 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
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
Dialogues
dialogue 8.1
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 - 三十八嘅賣嘞。
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.
71
Customer: 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
Clerk: 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?
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Clerk: 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
Customer: 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
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
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Dialogues
dialogue 9.1
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.
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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
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
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
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
Dialogues
dialogue 10.1
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
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,
但係我搵唔到。
Léih Sàang: 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
國銀行喺邊喥呀?
Hòh Sàang: 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 暢開 split, break up large banknote or coin to
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
27. móuhgéidò 冇幾多 not much, not many
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
呀?
Customer: 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
Customer: 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
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
B: 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
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
Dialogues
dialogue 12.1
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
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.
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A: 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
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 過 pass by (a point); cross (a street); go
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 名 name; given name
111
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.
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A: 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: 喂!
小英: 喂, 媽媽呀? 我係小英呀。我而家喺
文化酒店飲茶。你嚟唔嚟呀?
黃太: 你同邊個飲茶呀?
小英: 我同何美華。呢喥啲餅好靚。
你嚟啦。
黃太: 你有朋友喺喥, 我唔嚟啦。
小英: 嚟啦, 媽媽, 我想你一陣同我
去買嘢呀。
黃太: 咁呀, 使唔使我揸車嚟呀?
小英: 呢左近好少位泊車嘅噃。你叫的士嚟啦。
黃太: 好啦, 我就嚟嘞。
Wòhng Táai: Wei!

Siu Yīng: Wei, màhmā àh? Ngóh hàih SíuYīng a. Ngóh yìhgā hái Màhnwàh
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
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
A: 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
啦, 唔該你蹆後些少啦。
B: 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
(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.
A: 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.
A: Hóu. Hái douh tìhng.
Mhsài jáau la.
B: Dòjeh.
A: 524 Nathan Road, please.

B: Ok.
A: 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.
A: Ok. Stop here.
Keep the change.
117
B: 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
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 樣 kind, type
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Dialogues
dialogue 14.1.
Miss Lee! So, where are you off to?
黃生: 呀, 李小姐。去邊喥呀?

李小姐: 哦, 黃生。我啱啱返工。你呢?
黃生: 我啱啱喺銀行攞錢返嚟。食飯未呀?
李小姐: 未呀! 你呢?
黃生: 我都未呀, 我請你去食飯啦, 好唔好呀?
李小姐: 好呃, 去邊間呢?
黃生: 廣州酒家啲鹽焗雞好靚, 你食過未呀?
李小姐: 未食過。
黃生: 咁, 我哋去試吓啦。
(They arrive at the restaurant)
黃生: 伙計, 我哋想要隻鹽焗雞,哼。..李小姐, 仲要乜嘢菜添呢?
李小姐: 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?
黃生: 呀。好, 李小姐真係識點菜嘅嘞。伙計唔該你快啲噃。
李小姐: 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, 埋單。
伙計: 先生, 廿三蚊啦!
黃生: 呢喥廿五蚊, 唔使找嘞。
李小姐: 黃先生, 多謝嗮噃。
黃生: 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?
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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.
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.
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!.
Mr. Wong Waiter, we'd like a Salt-Baked Chicken. Mm...Miss Lee, what other
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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.
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。
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B: 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.
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A: 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.
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A: 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
個大蝦 , 都要細嘅。
B: 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
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A: 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.
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.
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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
B: 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
B: 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
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。
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B: 係講去公司買嘢嘅﹐ 呢課真係好有用。學咗呢課我就可以同

公司嘅伙計講廣東話啦﹗
A: 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 sen. suf. a (QV) + raised intonation for

liveliness
A 呀 oh, ah. (a mild exclamation)
a 呀 sen. suf., to somen abruptness
agō [go] 阿哥 elder brother
àh 呀 sen. suf. with force of "I suppose."
aak 呃 sen. suf. a (QV) + -k (QV)
āam (var: ngāam) 啱 fitting, proper, right
āamāam 啱啱 exactly
(var: ngāamngāam)
āam jeuk 啱着 well-fitting (for clothes), fits well
(var: ngāam jeuk)
aan (var: ngaan) 晏 noon, midday
Aiya! 哎吔 exclamation of consternation
bá 把 Measure for things with handles, such as

umbrellas
baak 百 hundred
baahk 白 white
baahk faahn [wún] [dī] 白飯 boiled or steamed rice
baat 八 eight
bàau 包 package, Measure for cigarette pack
bàhbā [go] 爸爸 father
bāt [jì] 筆 writing implement, either pen or pencil
bātgwo 不過 however; but; although
béi 俾 give
béi 俾 let, allow
bējáu [ji] [bùi] [jèun] 啤酒 beer
béng [go] [dī] [faai] 餅 cake
bīn-? 邊 which?
bīnbihn? 邊便 which side?
bīndouh? 邊度 where? [which place?]
bīngo 邊嗰 whomever, whoever, whichever
143
bīngo? 邊嗰 who?; which person?

-bihn 邊(便) side
bīu [go] 錶 watch, wristwatch
bo 噃 sen. suf. expressing certainty
bohng 磅 pound (weight)
bou [fàai] [fāt] 布 cloth
bouhfahn [go] 部分 department (in a store)
būi [jek] [go] 杯 a cup, glass
bùi 杯 cupful, glass-full (measure of volume)
bun 半 half
bún 本 Measure for book
búndeihyàhn [go] 本地人 a native of the place under discussion [this-
place-person]
chàm̀hdó 差唔多 approximately

chàh [bùi] [wùh] 茶 tea
Chàn 陳 Chan (surname)
chàhlàuh [gàan] 茶樓 Cantonese style tea-house
chāansāt [gàan] 餐室 western style restaurant
cháang [go] 橙 orange
cháau 炒 to toss-fry in small amount of oil, as in
scrambling eggs.
cháau faahn [wún ] [dihp] 炒飯 fried rice
cháau mihn [wún ] [dihp] 炒麵 fried noodles
chāt 七 seven
chē 車 vehicle: car, bus, or tram
chē jaahm 車站 car stop (bus or tram stop)
chéng.... 請... please (+ verb); invite
Chéng mahn 請問 "May I ask...?" Polite form used to preface a
question equivalent to English "Could you
please tell me... ? "
chèuihbín 隋便 As you wish. At your convenience.
Chèuihbín chóh lā. 隋便坐啦 "Sit anywhere you like." Polite phrase used
by host to guest.
cheung 暢(唱) change money into smaller denomi-nation
(followed by denomination desired)
144
cheunghòi 暢(唱)開 split, break up a large banknote or coin for

ones of lesser denomination (followed by
denomination held)
chèuhng 長 long (in length)
chèuhng sāam [gihn] 長衫 cheongsaam. Chinese style dress for
women, with high collar and slit skirt
chēut 出 out, emerge
chēutheui 出去 go out
chēutlàih 出嚟 come out
chēutbihn 出邊 outside, exterior
chēut gāai 出街 to go out (from one's own house)
chi 次 time, occasion
chīn 千 thousand
chìhnbihn 前邊 front side, in front, at the front
chín [dī] 錢 money
chìngchó 清楚 clear
chìhngyìhng 情形 circumstances, conditions
cho 錯 mistake (v/n)
chóh 坐 sit
choi [dihp] [go] 菜 food; a particular food, a dish
choidāan [jèung] 菜單 menu of a specific dinner
choipáai [go] 菜 menu, bill of fare
dā 打 dozen
dá 打 hit
dá dihnwá 打電話 make a telephone call
dá dihnwá giu chē 打電話叫車 phone for a cab
dáhòi 打開 open (as of book)
daai 帶 carry; bring/take something along; bring/take
someone along
daai...heui 帶去 take...along
daai...lai 帶嚟 bring...along
daaih 大 large
daaihdī 大啲 a little larger
Daaih Douh Jùng 大道中 Queen's Road Central
daaihsēng 大聲 loud (voice)
Daaihsēngdī! 大聲啲! Speak louder!
145
daahnhaih 但是 but
daap 答 to answer
Daap cho sin 搭錯線 Wrong number. [connected the wrong line]
(said over the phone)
daaphaak [dī] 搭客 passenger
daahp 搭 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.
daahp bun 搭半 half past (the hour)
daahp géi? 搭幾 how many five minutes past the hour? [tread
on-which number?]
daih 第 ordinal number marker: -st, -nd, -rd, -th, etc
daihyāt 第一 the first
dáifu [tìuh ] 底褲 underpants, undershorts
dáikwàhn [tìuh ] 底裙 slip, petticoat
dáisāam [gihn] 底衫 underwear
dāk 得 OK, all right
dāk... 得 have only..., only have. (dāk with a quantity
phrase as object implies that the quantity is
insufficient.)
yáuh dāk 有得 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."
Dākfuh Douh Jùng 德輔道中 Des Voeux Road Central
Dāk meih? 得未 Are you (Is he, etc.) ready?
dáng 等 wait (for)
dáng Person Verb 等 allow, let Person do something; wait
while Person does something
dáng (yāt)ján 等一陣 wait awhile; in a little while
or dáng yātjahn
deihhá 地下 ground, ground floor
deui 對 pair; group measure for shoes, socks,
chopsticks, things that come in two's
Deuim̀hjyuh 對唔住 Excuse me; I beg your pardon; I'm sorry.
146
deuimihn 對面 opposite side, facing; across the street

dī 啲 the; some. (plural M for individual nouns)
dī 啲 a little, some; the. (general M for mass
nouns)
-dī 啲 suffixed to Adj. to mean: a little
Adj, somewhat Adj, Adj-er. Attached to
predicate Adj. means: a little too Adj.
dihnwá [go] 電話 telephone
dím 點 to order (food, by pointing out your
choice from a list.)
dím? 點 how?
dím bun 點半 1:30 o'clock
dím (jūng) 點鐘 o'clock. (represents the hour place in a time
phrase)
diuhtàuh 掉頭 turn (a car) around [turn-head]
dōdī 多啲 more (in addition). (follows Verb)
dò 多 much, many
dò 多 additional, another, more. (precedes Number
+ M phrase)
Dòjeh 多謝 Thank you (for gift)
Dòjehsaai 多謝嗮 Thank you very much.
dōu 都 also
dōu 都 both; and
dōu haih 都係 really
dōu + neg. V 都 not even V
dou 到 arrive
-dou 到 verb suf. to verbs of motion, indicating
arrival at goal
Douh 道 Road (restricted to use following named
road)
-douh 喥 place. also see: hái douh
-dóu 到 verb suf., indicating successful
accomplishment of the action of the verb.
what is attempted
duhk 讀 read aloud; recite; read
duhkdou ... 讀到... read to...
duhk syù 讀書 to study
147
dyún 短 short
faahn [wún] [túng] 飯 rice (cooked)

fàan 返 return (to/from a place you habitually go to)
fàan gùng 返工 go [return] to work
fàanheui 返去 go back, return
fàan hohk 返學 go to school
fàanjyuntàuh 返轉頭 turn (the car) around and go back in
the direction you had been, do a U-turn
fàanlàih 返嚟 coming. [return-turn-head] come back, return
(here)
fàan (ng)ūkkéi 返屋企 go [return] home
faai 快 fast
faaijí [deui] [jek] [sēung] 筷子 chopstick(s)
fānjūng 分鐘 minute(s)
fànbiht 分別 difference
fo 課 lesson
fógei [go] 伙計 clerk in a grocery store
fógei [go] 伙計 waiter in a restaurant
fu [tìuh] 褲 trousers, slacks, long pants
fu 副 pair; M. for eyeglasses
fut 闊 wide
ga 㗎 sen. suf: a fusion of noun-forming

boundword ge and sen.suf. a (QV)
ga (var: ge, [gə] ) 㗎 sen. suf. for matter of fact assertion: "that's a
fact"
ga 架 M. for vehicles
gāai [tìuh] 街 street
gaaisiuh 介紹 recommend; introduce
gàaiháu [go] 街口 street opening; i.e., intersection
gàaisíh [go] 街市 food market
gáai(sīk) 解(釋) explain
gaaklèih 隔籬 next door, adjacent
gàan 間 M. for buildings
148
gaau 教 teach
gaaudou 教到 teach to...
gafē [bùi] [wùh] 咖啡 coffee
gāi [jek] 雞 chicken
gaijuhk 繼續 continue
gám 咁 so ( Adj.)
gamseuhnghá 咁上下 approximately
gám 咁 that way, this way, thus, such a way
Gám,... 咁 "Well then,..."say,..." (Sen. preface,
resuming the thread of previous discussion)
gàn 斤 catty. unit of weight equalling 600 gms., ca. 1
lb 5 oz.
gàn 跟 follow, come behind
gànjyuh 跟住 follow, come after
gāng [jek] 羹 spoon
gau 夠 enough
gauh 舊 old (not new)
gáu 九 nine
Gaulùhng 九龍 Kowloon
-ge 嘅 noun-forming boundword. added to Verb
Phrase makes it a Noun Phrase
-ge 嘅 as noun substitute
ge 嘅 possessive marker, joins with preceding
personal noun or pronoun to form
possessive.
gèibún 基本 basic; foundation
géi 幾 several
géi-? 幾 which number?; how many?
géi 幾 rather, quite
géidím? (var: géidímjūng?) 幾點 what time is it? [which number -o'clock?]
géidō? 幾多 how much?, how many?
géidò 幾多 quite a lot
géidō houh? 幾多號 what number?
géisí? (var: géisìh?) 幾時 when?
geui 句 sentence
géui 舉 give (an example)
gihn 件 M. for clothes, such as shirt, dress, raincoat
149
giu 叫 instruct, tell (someone to do something);

order; call
giu chē 叫車 call a cab
giu(jouh) 叫(做) is called, is named
go 個 general M. for many nouns
go 個 M. for dollar; represents the dollar place in a
money phrase
gó- 嗰 that; those
gó bihn 嗰便(邊) over there, on that side
gódī 嗰啲 those (in reference to unit nouns); that (in
reference to mass nouns)
gódouh 嗰喥 there [that-place]
góng 講 speak
góng PERSON jì 講...知 tell sb something
góng PERSON tèng 講...聽 tell sb something
guhaak [dī] 顧客 customer
gūngsī [gàan] 公司 department store; office (of a commercial
company)
gùngyàhn [go] 工人 servant, laborer
gwai 貴 expensive
gwaising? 貴姓 what is (your) surname? (polite)
gwaisingmìhng? 貴姓名 what is your surname and given name?
(polite)
gwāt 骨 quarter (hour)
gwo 過 pass by (a point); cross (a street); go over (to
a place)
-gwo 過 V. suf. indicating experience; to have done
something before.
gwodī 過啲 beyond; a little farther on
Gwodī tím 過啲添 Go further on; i.e. Keep going. (said to taxi
driver)
Gwokyúh 國語 Mandarin spoken language [National
language]
Gwóngdùng 廣東 Kwangtung, province in SE China
Gwóngdùng choi 廣東菜 Cantonese food
Gwóngdùngwá 廣東話 Cantonese spoken language
Gwóngdùngyàhn [go] 廣東人 Cantonese person, person from Kwangtung
150
province
hā [jek] 蝦 shrimp
hahbihn 下便(邊) below, downstairs
-háh 吓 verb suf. giving casual effect to the verb it is
joined to.
hàaih [deui] [jek] 鞋 shoes
hāak 黑 black
haakhei 客氣 polite
hàahng 行 go; walk; drive
haih 係 am, is, are, was, were, etc.
haih...làih ge 係...嚟嘅 is...; grammatical structure emphasizing
enclosed noun
hái PW 喺 from PW
hái PW 喺 location verb, translated as "(is) in/on/at"
(requires PW following)
hái douh 喺喥 (he, she, it) is here; is at (this) place
hauhbihn 後便(邊) back side; behind, in the back, at the back
heiséui [ji] [jèun] [bùi] 汽水 soft drink
heui 去 go
-heui 去 attaches to verbs of motion, indicating
direction away from the speaker
heui gāai 去街 go out (from one's own house)
Hèunggóng 香港 Hong Kong
Hòh 何 Ho (sur.)
hóyíh 可以 be permitted, allowed to
hohk 學 study, learn
hohkhaauh [gàan] 學校 school
hohksāang [go] 學生 student
houh 號 number; "size" (for some articles of clothing)
houh 號 number (for street number in giving an
address)
hòuh(jí) 毫子 dime (represents the dime place in a money
expression when the figure is less than a
dollar)
hóu 好 very, quite
hóu 好 well, good
151
Hóu 好 OK. All right. Fine, Agreed. (Response

phrase indicating agreement.)
Hóu aak. 好呃 OK. Agreed. (Lively response phrase
indicating agreement.)
hóudò 好多 a lot
Hóu ma? 好嗎 Is that OK?
hóu m̀hhóu a? 好唔好呀? OK? Is (that) all right?
hóusihk 好食 good to eat; tasty
hóusíu 好少 very little
hóuyám 好飲 good to drink; tasty
ja 喳 sen. suf: a fusion of sen. suffixes jē and a,

implying not much, merely.
jà 揸 to clutch in the hand(s), grab
jà chē 揸車 to drive a car
jaak 窄 narrow
jaahm 站 stop, station, as in " bus stop," 'train station"
jáau 找 give change
jáaufàan 找返 give back change [change-return]
jái [go] 仔 son
jáinéui [dī] 仔女 children of a family, sons and daughters of a
family
jànhaih 真係 really, indeed
jauh 就 then; and; immediately; soon
jáu 走 leave, depart
jáu [jèun] [bùi] 酒 alcoholic beverage
jáudim [gàan] 酒店 hotel
jáugā [gàan] 酒家 Chinese style restaurant
jē 啫 sen. suf. only, merely; that's all
jē [bá] 遮 umbrella
je 借 lend, borrow
jejyuh 借住 lend or borrow temporarily
jek 隻 M. for shoe, sock, ship, cup, spoon, chicken
and others
jeuk 著 wear; put on (clothes)
jéun 準 accurate; right
Jèung 張 Cheung (surname)
152
jèung 張 M. for banknote, table, chair, newspaper, and

other sheet-shaped objects
jí [jèung] 紙 banknote; paper
jì 支 M. for pens, pencils, bottles, and other things
that are small, thin and striplike in size
jì 知 to know
jì(dou) 知 know (something)
jídou 指到 point to
jih 字 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 左 left
jóbihn 左便(邊) left
jógán 左近 nearby, (t)hereabouts
joi 再 again
joi dá làih 再打嚟 call back (on the phone)
joi góng yātchi 再講一次 say it again, repeat
joigin 再見 goodbye
jósáubihn 左手便(邊) lefthand side
jouh 做 to do; work; act as
jouh sāam 做衫 make clothes, have clothes made
jouh yéh 做嘢 do chores, have a job
jóusàhn 早晨 good morning
jūng [go] 鐘 clock
juhng 仲 (or 重) still, in addition, also (+ verb)
Jùngchoi 中菜 Chinese food
Jùnggwok choi 中國菜 Chinese food
Jùnggwokyàhn 中國人 Chinese person
Jùngmàhn 中文 Chinese (written) language
Jùngwàahn 中環 Central District (in Hong Kong)
153
Jùngwàahn Gàaihsíh 中環街市 Central Market (in Hong Kong)

jùngyi 鍾意 like; prefer; like to
júng 種 type, kind
jyuh 住 live, reside
-jyuh 住 V. suf. indicating temporarily, for a short
time
jyùyuhk [gàn] [bohng] [dī] 豬肉 pork
jyúyàhn [wái] [go] 主人 host, hostess
jyun 轉 turn
-k glottal stop ending to certain sen. suffixes,

giving sentence a lively air
kàhmyaht 琴日 yesterday
kámmàaih 冚埋 to close, shut (as of books)
kéuih 佢 he/him, she/her, it
kéuihdeih 佢哋 they, them, their
kwàhn [tìuh ] 裙 skirt
lā 啦 sen. suf. for polite imperative, polite

suggestion.
lā 啦 sen. suf. la for change + raised intonation for
casualness
la sen. suf. indicating change— (that change
has occurred, or is about to occur, or may
occur)
la sen. suf. to imperative sentence, giving
connotation of friendly advice
laak 嘞 sen. suf. la indicating change or potential
change + suffix -k indicating lively mood (la
+ -k = laak)
lāangsāam [gihn] 冷衫 sweater
laih 例 example
laihgeui 例句 example, example sentence
làih 嚟 for the purpose of
làih 嚟 (來) to come
-làih 嚟 attaches to verbs of motion, indicating
direction towards the speaker
...làih ge 嚟嘅 see: haih...làih ge
154
láu 樓 floor, story of a building

Làuh 劉 Lau (surname)
làuhhah 樓下 downstairs
làuhseuhng 樓上 upstairs
léh 咧 sen. suf. for definiteness
lèhng 零 "and a little bit" in a time phrase
following dím, thus: -dím lèhng júng
= a little after the hour
Léih 李 Li (surname)
leng 靚 pretty; good-looking; good, nice (for
foods)
léuhng 兩 two; a couple
lihnjaahp [go] 練習 exercise, drill
lìhng 零 zero
ló 攞 fetch, go get (something)
ló chín 攞錢 withdraw money (from bank)
lohk 落 to go down; to get off/out of a vehicle
lohkheui 落去 go down
louhyàhn [go] 路人 pedestrian
luhk 六 six
ma? 嗎 question marker

màhmā 媽媽 mother
máh 碼 yard (in length)
Máh 馬 Ma (surname)
máhtàuh [go] 碼頭 dock; pier; quay
máaih 買 buy
maaih 賣 to sell
maaihsaai laak 賣嗮嘞 All sold out.
màaih 埋 V. suf. meaning together, close
màaihdāan 埋單 bill (in a restaurant)
maahn 慢 slow
mān 蚊 dollar
mahn 問 ask
mahntàih [go] [dī] 問題 question
155
Màhnwàh Jáudim 文華酒店 Mandarin Hotel

mātyéh? 乜嘢 what?
maht [deui] [jek] 襪 socks
mē? 咩 interrogative sen. suf. indicating surprise
mēyéh? 乜嘢 what?
meih 未 neg: not yet
Méihgwok Jáudim 美國酒店 American Hotel (in HK, another name for the
Hong Kong Hilton)
Méihgwok Ngàhnhòhng 美國銀行 Bank of America
Méihgwokyàhn 美國人 American person
méng [go] 名 name; for persons = given name (in contrast
to surname)
m̀h- 唔 not
m̀hcho 唔錯 good, "not bad" [not-mistake] (said in
commenting favourably about something)
m̀hgányiu 唔緊要 That's all right; It doesn't matter; Never mind.
m̀hgeidāk 唔記得 forget (not remember)
m̀hginjó 唔見咗 lose, lost; "nowhere to be seen"
m̀hgòi 唔該 Thank you (for a service)
m̀hgòi néih... 唔該你 Please..., Would you please... (sen. preface
preceding a request)
m̀hhaih géi Adj 唔係幾 not very Adj, not Adj
m̀hhaih hóu Adj 唔係好 not very Adj
m̀hhóu V 唔好 don't V (as a command) [not good to...]
V dāk m̀hhóu 得唔好 badly, not well
m̀hhóu haakhei 唔好客氣 "Don't be polite." Polite phrase used by host
to urge guest to have something that he has
just politely declined.
m̀hhóu yisi 唔好意思 I'm sorry; It's embarrassing. (used in
apologizing for social gaffe)
m̀hjì(dou)...a? 唔知道...呀 I wonder...?
m̀hsái 唔使 no need to, not necessary
m̀hsái haakhei 唔使客氣 [don't need to be polite.] "No thanksI" (to an
offer) "You're welcome." (when someone
m̀hsái la 唔使啦 thanks you) [Not necessary] No thanks. polite
phrase used in declining a courtesy or a gim.
m̀hsái m̀hgòi. 唔使唔該 [Not necessary to (say) thanks]
156
You're welcome. Polite response when

someone thanks you for something you have
done for him.
mīyéh? 乜嘢 what?
móuh 冇 not have, there isn't (aren't)
Móuh cho 冇錯 That's right.
móuhdák V 冇得 not have available for V-ing; V there's none
to not have available to .;. (used in
combination with following verb)
móuhgéidò 冇幾多 not much, not many
mùhnháu [go] 門口 doorway
nàahmpàhngyáuh [go] 男朋友 boyfriend

Nàh! 嗱 Here! (expression accompanying giving
something to someone)
nē? 呢 interrogative sen. suf.
Nē! 呢 There! (expression accompanying pointing
out something to someone)
Nèihdēun Douh 彌敦道 Nathan Road
néih 你 you, your
néihdeih 你哋 you (plu.)
néui [go] 女 daughter
néuihpàhngyáuh [go] 女朋友 girlfriend
ńgh 五 five
ngāam 啱 fitting, proper, right
ngāamjeuk 啱著 well-fitting (for clothes), fits well
ngāamngāam 啱啱 exactly, just
(var: āamāam)
ngaan (var. aan) 宴 noon, midday
ngàhnchín [go] 銀錢 money [silver-money]
ngàhnhòhng [gàan] 銀行 bank
ngán 銀 coin
ngáhngéng [fu] 眼鏡 eyeglasses
ngáhngéngdói [go] 眼鏡袋 eyeglasses case
ngahp táu 頷頭 nod the head
ngàuhnáaih [dī] 牛奶 milk [cow-milk]
157
ngàuhyuhk 牛肉 beef
[gàn] [bohng] [dī]
ngóh 我 I , me, my
ngóhdeih 我哋 we, our, us
ngoi (var: oi) 愛 want, want to have, want to possess
ngoihgwokyàhn [go] 外國人 foreigner [outside-country-person] (in
practice, this word refers to Caucasians only)
ngūk (var: ūk) [gàan], 屋 house
ngūkkéi (var: ūkkéi) 屋企 home
nī 呢 this
nī bihn 呢便 this side
nī dī 呢啲 these (in reference to individual nouns), this
(in reference to mass nouns)
nīdouh 呢喥 here [this-place]
nījógán 呢左近 close by, hereabouts
nihng táu 擰頭 shake the head
nìng 拎去 carry (something)
nìngheui, nìng...heui 拎去 take, carry something away
nìnglàih, nìng...làih 拎嚟 bring something here
oi (var: ngoi) 愛 want, want to have, want to possess
paak 泊 park (a car)

paak chè 泊車 to park a car
pàhngyáuh [go] 朋友 friend
pèhng 平 cheap
pìhnggwó [go] 蘋果 apple
-saai 嗮 completely
sàam 三 three
sàam go gwat 三個骨 three quarters amer the hour
sáanngán [dī] 散銀 small coins, small change
Sàang 生 Mr.
Sāichāan [go] 西餐 Western meal
sai 細 small
saimúi [go] 細妹 younger sister
sàn 新 new
158
sahp 十 ten
sahpyāt 十一 eleven
sahpyih 十二 twelve
sauhfoyùhn [go] 售貨員 salesclerk [sell-goods-personnel]
sáudói [go] 手袋 (woman's) handbag
sèsíu 些少 a little
sé 寫 write
séjihlàuh [gàan] 寫字樓 office [write-words-building]
sei 四 four
seuhngbihn 上便(邊) above, upstairs
seuhngchi 上次 last time, the previous time
Seuhnghói 上海 Shanghai
Seuhnghói choi 上海菜 Shanghai food
Seuhnghóiwá 上海話 Shanghainese (spoken language)
Seuhnghóiyàhn [go] 上海人 Shanghainese (person)
séung 想 be of a mind to, wish to, would like to, want
to, considering.
séuhng 上 (always followed by Verb) ascend
séui [bùi] [dī] 水 water
séui būi [jek] 水杯 water glass
sēutsāam [gihn] 裇衫 shirt
sīgēi [go] 司機 taxi driver; chauffeur
si 試 try
siháh 試吓 give it a try
sih 事 business, affair, matter
Sihdaahn lā 是但啦 Phrase used when offered a choice,
meaning: As you wish; Either one; Both
equally preferable.
sìhhauh 時候 time
sīk 識 to know someone
sīk 識 know how (to do something)
sīk 色 colour
sihk 食 eat
sihk (ng)aan 食宴 eat lunch
sihk yīn 食煙 to smoke [eat-tobacco]
sīnsàang [go] 先生 husband
159
tèng dihnwa 聽電話 talk [listen] on the telephone

tìm 添 sen. suf. indicating speaker is taken by
surprise by a situation contrary to his
expectation
tìm 添 in addition, also, more
Tīnsīng Máhtàuh 天星碼頭 Star Ferry Pier
tìhng 停 to stop
tìuh 條 M. for trousers, ties, and certain other objects
long and narrow
Tòihsāan 台山 in shape Taishan, a county in Southern
Kwangtung about 100 mi. west of Hong
Kong
Tòihsāanwá 台山話 Taishan dialect
Tòihsāanyàhn 台山人 person from Taishan
tòng [go] [wún] 湯 soup
tòng mihn [go] [wún] 湯麵 soup noodles
tòhng 糖 sugar
Tòhngchoi 唐菜 Chinese food
tòuhsyùgwún [gàan] 圖書館 library
tùhng 同 and (connects nouns)
tùhng 同 on behalf of, for
tùhng 同 with
ūk (var: ngūk) [gàan] 屋 house

ūkkei (var: ngūkkei) 屋企 home
wá 話 spoken language; dialect

wá? 話 interrogative sen. suf. calling for repeat of the
preceding sentence
waahkjé 或者 maybe
wah 話 say; opine
wah yàhn jì 話我知 tell me
話人知 tell someone (any personal noun or pronoun
can fill
wah yàhn tèng 話人聽 posxtxon; i-ii someone ICll .......
wái 位 polite M. for persons
wái [go] 位 a place, seat
161
wānjaahp 溫習 to review
wán 搵 look for, search
wán yàhn 搵人 look someone up
làih wán yàhn 嚟搵人 come see someone
heui wán yàhn 去搵人 go see someone
wán bīnwái a? 搵邊位呀 (on telephone:) "Who do you wish to speak
to?"
Wéi! 喂 Hello! (telephone greeting)
Wíhng Ōn Gūngsī 永安公司 Wing On Department Store
Wòhng 王/ 黃 Wong (sur.)
wuihwá 會話 conversation
wuhn 換 to change. re money, to change into...
(followed by denomination of money
desired); to exchange one national currency
for another (followed by currency desired)
wuhn sāam 換衫 change clothes
wún [go] [jek] 碗 bowl (n.)
wún 碗 a bowl of... (in)
wúnjái [go] [jekj 碗仔 small bowl
yám 飲 to drink
yàhn [go] 人 person
yàhn [go] 人 someone
yàhnhaak [wai] 人客 guest
yahp 入 enter
yahpbihn 入便[邊] inside
yahpheui 入去 go in; enter
yāt 一 one
yātchàih 一齊 together
yātchi 一次 once, one time
yāt chi dóu meih... 一次都未 not even once
yāt M dòu Neg. V 一...都... not even one...
yāt go gwāt 一個骨 a quarter after the hour
yāt go jih 一個字 five minutes; five minutes after the hour
yāt go yāt go 一個一個 one by one
yātjihk 一直 straight a) in a straight direction b) without
162
being interrupted or diverted.

yātyeuhng 一樣 same
Yahtbún choi 日本菜 Japanese food
Yahtbúnwá 日本話 Japanese (spoken) language
Yahtbúnyàhn 日本人 Japanese person
Yahtmán 日文 Japanese (written) language
Yahtmàhn 日文 Japanese (written) language
yauh 右 right (direction)
yauh 又 also (connects Verb Phrases)
yauh V yauh V 又...又... both..., and....
yauhbihn 右便(邊) right side
yauhsáubihn 右手便(邊) right hand side
yàuh...PW 由 from PW
yàuhhaak [go] 遊客 tourist
yáuh 有 has/have; there is/are
yáuhdāk V 有得 to have available to V, have available for V-
ing. (used in combination with following
verb)
(Yáuh) mēyéh sih a? 有乜嘢事呀? What is it you want? (on the phone: May I
take a message?)
yáuh sìh 有事 have something to attend to; have errand,
business
yéh 嘢 work; chores
yéh 嘢 things, stuff
yeuhng 樣 kind, type
yīsāng [go] 醫生 doctor
yih 二 two
yìhgā 而家 now, at this moment
Yì! 噫 Exclamation of distress
...yìkwaahk...? 抑或 ..., or...? (connects two verbal expressions)
yīn [bāau] [dī] 煙 tobacco
yīnjái [jì] 煙仔 a cigarette
yìhn(jì)hauh 然(之)後 then; immediately afterwards
Yìngmán 英文 English language
Yìngmàhn 英文 English language
Yìnggwokyàhn [go] 英國人 Englishman, person from England
yihp 葉 page
163
yàhnhaak [wai] 人客 guest

yahp 入 enter
yahpbihn 入便[邊] inside
yahpheui 入去 go in; enter
yāt 一 one
yātchàih 一齊 together
yātchi 一次 once, one time
yāt chi dóu meih... 一次都未 not even once
yāt M dòu Neg. V 一...都... not even one...
yāt go gwāt 一個骨 a quarter after the hour
yāt go jih 一個字 five minutes; five minutes after the hour
yāt go yāt go 一個一個 one by one
yātjihk 一直 straight a) in a straight direction b) without
being interrupted or diverted.
yātyeuhng 一樣 same
Yahtbún choi 日本菜 Japanese food
Yahtbúnwá 日本話 Japanese (spoken) language
Yahtbúnyàhn 日本人 Japanese person
Yahtmán 日文 Japanese (written) language
Yahtmàhn 日文 Japanese (written) language
yauh 右 right (direction)
yauh 又 also (connects Verb Phrases)
yauh V yauh V 又...又... both..., and....
yauhbihn 右便(邊) right side
yauhsáubihn 右手便(邊) right hand side
yàuh...PW 由 from PW
yàuhhaak [go] 遊客 tourist
yáuh 有 has/have; there is/are
yáuhdāk V 有得 to have available to V, have available for V-
ing. (used in combination with following
verb)
(Yáuh) mēyéh sih a? 有乜嘢事呀? What is it you want? (on the phone: May I
take a message?)
yáuh sìh 有事 have something to attend to; have errand,
business
yéh 嘢 work; chores
yéh 嘢 things, stuff
163
yeuhng 樣 kind, type

yīsāng [go] 醫生 doctor
yih 二 two
yìhgā 而家 now, at this moment
Yì! 噫 Exclamation of distress
...yìkwaahk...? 抑或 ..., or...? (connects two verbal expressions)
yīn [bāau] [dī] 煙 tobacco
yīnjái [jì] 煙仔 a cigarette
yìhn(jì)hauh 然(之)後 then; immediately afterwards
Yìngmán 英文 English language
Yìngmàhn 英文 English language
Yìnggwokyàhn [go] 英國人 Englishman, person from England
yihp 葉 page
yiu 要 want, require
yiu 要 must; need; have to
yiu + money expression 要 want X amount, costs X amount. (i.e., the
asking price is X amount)
yiu 要 going to, intend to
yú 魚 fish
yúhjyù [jek] 乳豬 roast suckling pig
yúhlāu [gihn] 雨褸 raincoat
yùhnbāt [jì] 鉛筆 pencil
yùhnjíbāt [jì] [dī] 原子筆 ballpoint pen
yuhng 用 use
164

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LEARN CANTONESE 1

DIALOGUES AND VOCABULARY

ELIZABETH LATIMORE BOYLE, PAULINE NG DELBRIDGE

Printed in the United States of America

Good Morning, Mr Ho.

A: Hòh Sàang, jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Mr Ho.

Good Morning, Mr Chan.

A: Chàhn Sàang, jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Mr Chan.

Good Morning, Miss Chan.

A: Chàhn Síujé, jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Miss Chan.

Good Morning, Miss Cheung.

A: Jèung Síujé jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Miss Cheung.

Good Morning, Mr Ho.

B: 對唔住, 我唔係何生。 我姓黃。

A: Hòh Sàang jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Mr Ho.

Good Morning, Mr Cheung.

A: Jèung Sàang jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Mr Cheung.

Good Morning, Miss Chan.

A: Chàhn Síujé jóusàhn.

A: Good morning, Miss Chan。

24. yàhn 人 man, person

What's your name, miss? (polite)

Man : Síujé gwaising a?

Man: What's your name, Miss?

What's your name? (informal)

S1: Néih sing mēyéh a?

S1: So, what's your name?

29. sīk 識 to know someone

Does Mr Lee speak Japanese?

A: Léih Sàang sīk mhsīk góng Yahtbúnwá a?

A: Does Mr Lee speak Japanese?

Do you speak Mandarin?

A: Néih sīk mhsīk góng Gwokyúh a?

A: Do you speak Mandarin?

Who are you teaching Cantonese to?

A: Néih gaau bīngo hohk Gwóngdùngwá a?

A: Who do you teach Cantonese to?

Your watch is ten minutes slow.

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

Man: My watch is a bit slow. How about yours?

My watch is 5 minutes fast.

Woman: Yìhgā haih mhhaih baat dím sàamgo gwāt a?

Woman: Is it 8:45 right now?

What time is it, Mr Wong?

Woman: 早晨, 黃生。你知唔知而家幾點鐘呀?

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

1. aak 呃 sen. suf. a to soften abruptness + k

25. léh 咧 sen. suf. for definiteness

A: Néih yám mēyéh a?

A: What would you like to drink?

B: Yes, I'm afraid so.

Have some tea.

Hostess: Yám chàh lā.

Hostess: Have some tea.

What time will you be having dinner, then?

Mrs. Wong: 我同黃生三點半要飲茶。

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

B: 對唔住, 我唔係何生。我姓黃。