FOREIGN LANGUAGE 1 LECTURE NOTES

1. Cantonese Numbers 0-9

You can use both digits or Cantonese characters to express numbers. For
example, if you want to express “zero,” you can either use 0 or 零 (ling4).
Also, as you can see below, when it comes to Cantonese numbers, tones
are still important.

 0: 零 (ling4)
 1: 一 (jat1)
 2: 二 (ji6)
 3: 三 (saam1)
 4: 四 (sei3)
 5: 五 (ng5)
 6: 六 (luk6)
 7: 七 (cat1)
 8: 八 (baat3)
 9: 九 (gau2)

You can check out our website to learn the pronunciation of these
Cantonese numbers (Cantonese numbers 1-10 pronunciation).

2. Cantonese Numbers 10-100

十 (sap6) is equivalent to “ten” in English. If you want to express twenty,

thirty, and so on, just add the Cantonese equivalent of the first digit in
front of 十 (sap6).

Take twenty for example:

Twenty is “20,” and the Cantonese equivalent of the first digit “2” is 二 (ji6).
Adding 二 (ji6) in front of 十 (sap6), we have 二十 (ji6 sap6) for “twenty.”

When the number reaches one-hundred, 十 (sap6) turns to 百 (baak3), and

we have 一百 (jat1 baak3) for “100.”
  10: 十 (sap6)
 20: 二十 (ji6 sap6)
 30: 三十 (saam1 sap6)
 40: 四十 (sei3 sap6)
 50: 五十 (ng5 sap6)
 60: 六十 (luk6 sap6)
 70: 七十 (cat1 sap6)
 80: 八十 (baat3 sap6)
 90: 九十 (gau2 sap6)
 100: 一百 (jat1 baak3)

Expressing eleven, twelve, thirteen, all the way up to ninety-eight and

ninety-nine in Cantonese is easy and similar to English.

For example, if you want to express “twenty-one,” you only need to

combine “20” (二十 [ji6 sap6]) and “1” (一 [jat1]), and you have 二十一 (ji6
sap6 jat1) in Cantonese.

The same rule applies for Cantonese numbers 11 to 99. If you want to
express “eleven,” you can combine “10” (十 [sap6]) and “1” (一 [jat1]), and
you’ll get 十一 (sap6 jat1).

 11: 十一 (sap6 jat1)

 22: 二十二 (ji6 sap6 ji6)
 33: 三十三 (saam1 sap6 saam1)
 44: 四十四 (sei3 sap6 sei3)
 55: 五十五 (ng5 sap6 ng5)
 66: 六十六 (luk6 sap6 luk6)
 77: 七十七 (cat1 sap6 cat1)
 88: 八十八 (baat3 sap6 baat3)
 99: 九十九 (gau2 sap6 gau2)
Once again, you can check out our website to learn the Cantonese
numbers’ pronunciation.

3. Cantonese Numbers up to 1000

Now that we’ve basically covered numbers in Cantonese 1-100, it’s time to
count even higher!

百 (baak3) is equivalent to “hundred” in English. If you want to express

“two-hundred,” “three-hundred,” and so on, just add the Cantonese
equivalent of the first digit in front of 百 (baak3).

Take “two-hundred” for example:

“Two-hundred” is “200,” and the Cantonese equivalent of the first digit “2”
is 二 (ji6). Adding 二 (ji6) in front of 百 (baak3), we have 二百 (ji6 baak3) for
“two-hundred.”

When the number reaches a thousand, 百 (baak3) turns to 千 (cin1), and

we have 一千 (jat1 cin1) for “1000.”

Counting by hundreds, here are Cantonese numbers from 200-1000:

 200: 二百 (ji6 baak3)

 300: 三百 (saam1 baak3)
 400: 四百 (sei3 baak3)
 500: 五百 (ng5 baak3)
 600: 六百 (luk6 baak3)
 700: 七百 (cat1 baak3)
 800: 八百 (baat3 baak3)
 900: 九百 (gau2 baak3)
  1000: 一千 (jat1 cin1)

Again, expressing “one-hundred and one” up to “nine-hundred and ninety-

nine” in Cantonese is simple and similar to English.

For example, if you want to express “one-hundred and twenty-one,” you

just need to combine “100” (一百 [jat1 baak3]) and “21” (二十一 [ji6 sap6
jat1]), and you have 一百二十一 (jat1 baak3 ji6 sap6 jat1) in Cantonese.

Note that if the second digit of a three-digit number is “0,” we need to add
零 (ling4) in the middle.

Take “207” as an example. In addition to “200” (二百 [ji6 baak3]) and “7” (七
[cat1]), we also need to include “0” (零 [ling4]) in the middle. Hence, “207” is
二百零七 (ji6 baak3 ling4 cat1).

Here are some more examples of triple-digit Cantonese numbers:

 108: 一百零八 (jat1 baak3 ling4 baat3)

 166: 一百六十六 (jat1 baak3 luk6 sap6 luk6)
 230: 二百三十 (ji6 baak3 saam1 sap6)
 344: 三百四十四 (saam1 baak3 sei3 sap6 sei3)
 456: 四百五十六 (sei3 baak3 ng5 sap6 luk6)
 550: 五百五十 (ng5 baak3 ng5 sap6)
 612: 六百一十二 (luk6 baak3 jat1 sap6 ji6)
 722: 七百二十二 (cat1 baak3 ji6 sap6 ji6)
 805: 八百零五 (baat3 baak3 ling4 ng5)
 910: 九百一十 (gau2 baak3 jat1 sap6)

4. How to Give Your Phone Number

If you want to ask for someone’s phone number, you can say: 可唔可以比
你個電話我呀 (ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 nei5 go3 din6 waa2 ngo5 aa3), meaning
“Could you please give your phone number to me?”

To give your number to someone else, you can simply say the digits of
your number in Cantonese. If your number is 91234567, you can say 九一
二三四五六七 (gau2 jat1 ji6 saam1 sei3 ng5 luk6 cat1).

A typical Hong Kong phone number has eight digits. Mobile numbers
usually start with 5, 6, or 9, and fixed landline numbers start with 2 or 3.
Hong Kong’s country code is 852, and we don’t have an area code.

Numbers that aren’t eight digits are usually reserved for carrier/operator
services or special services, such as 999 (gau2 gau2 gau2) for emergency
sErvices.

5. Shopping: How to Use Numbers when Shopping

Now, here are some useful phrases for an activity that you may not be
able to resist, especially when you’re in Hong Kong: Shopping!

It’s easy to express prices in Hong Kong. You just have to say the number
directly in Cantonese and add the word 蚊 (man1) to the end. For example:

 $3 is 三蚊 (saam1 man1)
 $18 is 十八蚊 (sap6 baat3 man1)
 $100 is 一百蚊 (jat1 baak3 man1)
  $612 is 六百一十二蚊 (luk6 baak3 jat1 sap6 ji6 man1)
 $1000 is 一千蚊 (ljat1 cin1 man1)

You can use the below phrases to inquire about the price of something:

 呢個幾錢？
o Romanization: ni1 go3 gei2 cin2
o Translation: How much is this?
 嗰個幾錢？
o Romanization: go2 go3 gei2 cin2
o Translation: How much is that?

You can use the below phrases to bargain for lower prices:

 平啲啦!
o Romanization: peng4 di1 laa1!
o Translation: Cheaper please!
 可唔可以平啲呀?
o Romanization: ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 peng4 di1 aa1?
o Translation: Can you lower the price?
 太貴喇!
o Romanization: taai3 gwai3 laa3!
o Translation: It’s too expensive!
 我唔買喇.
o Romanization: ngo5 m4 maai3 laa3.
o Translation: I’m not buying it.

To practice the above phrases, especially the ones for bargaining prices,
you can visit 女人街 (neoi3 jan2 gaai1). 女人街 (neoi3 jan2 gaai1) literally
translates as “ladies market,” and is one of the most popular Hong Kong
street markets and tourist destinations.

Even though it’s called the “ladies market,” the market actually sells
everything, including the latest fashion for men and women, electronics,
records, and even dairy products.

List of the Months in Cantonese

January 一月 yāt'yuht

February 二月 yih'yuht

March 三月 sāam'yuht

April 四月 seiyuht

May 五月 ńgh'yuht

June 六月 luhk'yuht

July 七月 chāt'yuht

August 八月 baat'yuht

September 九月 gáuyuht

October 十月 sahpyuht

November 十一月 sahpyāt'yuht

December 十二月 sahpyih'yuht

Telling the Days of The Week in Cantonese

 Today 今日 gām'yaht

yesterday 尋日 chàhm'yaht

tomorrow 聽日 tīngyaht

the day before last 前日 chìhnyaht

the day after tomorrow 後日 hauh'yaht

this week 今個禮拜 gām go láihbaai

last week 上個禮拜 seuhng go láihbaai

next week 下個禮拜 hah go láihbaai

Sunday 禮拜日 SING GEI CHAT

Monday 禮拜一 SING KEI yāt

Tuesday 禮拜二 SING KEI yih

Wednesday 禮拜三 SING KEI sāam

Thursday 禮拜四 SING KEI sei

Friday 禮拜五 SING KEI ńgh

Saturday 禮拜六 SING GEI luhk

CHINESE BASIC classifiers

Yan – person dim - time

Gaan – kilo jhin - money

Man – dollar boon – half of a thing

Gaan – kilo sik - color

Leung goo- two pieces

BASIC CHINESE
EXPRESSIONS
Cantonese (廣東話 Gwóng dōng wá) is a widely
spoken Chinese language. It is the local
language in current use within the province of
Guangdong, China, official language in the
Special Administrative Region of

To be or not to be? Cantonese, as in Chinese, does not

have words for "yes" and "no" as
such; instead, questions are
typically answered by repeating
the verb. Common ones include:

To be or not to be 係 haih, 唔係 mh'haih

To have or not have / there is or is not 有 yáuh, 冇 móuh

To be right or wrong 啱 āam, 唔啱 mh'āam

Hello. 你好. Néih hóu.

How are you? 你好嗎? Néih hóu ma?

How are you recently? (more popular in daily 近排點呀? Gahnpàaih dím a?
usage) (informal)

Fine. 好. Hóu. (No need to say "thank

you" after answering "fine" in
Cantonese)

What is your name? 你叫乜嘢名呀? Néih giu māt'yéh

mèhng a?

What is your name (formal, literally means 請問點稱呼? Chíngmahn dím

"How do I address you")? chīngfū?

My name is ______ . 我個名叫______. Ngóh go méng giu

 ______ .

Nice to meet you. 幸會. Hahng'wúih.

Please. 請. Chíng.

Thank you. (when someone helps you) 唔該. M̀h'gōi.

Thank you. (when someone gives you a gift) 多謝 Dōjeh.

You're welcome. 唔使客氣. M̀h'sái haak-hei.

Excuse me. (getting attention) 唔好意思. M̀h'hóu yisi

Excuse me. (to get past) 唔該. M̀h'gōi or 唔該借借 M̀h'gōi jeje.

Sorry. 對唔住. Deui-m̀h-jyuh. (In Hong

Kong, it's more common to use the
English word "sorry" instead)

Goodbye (formal) 再見 Joigin.

Goodbye (informal) 拜拜 Bāaibaai.

I can't speak Cantonese. 我唔識講廣東話. Ngóh m̀h'sīk góng

Gwóngdōngwá.

Do you speak English? 你識唔識講英文呀? Néih sīk-m̀h-sīk

góng Yīngmán a?

Is there someone here who speaks English? 呢度有冇人識講英文呀? nī douh yáuh

móuh yàhn sīk góng Yīngmán a?

Help! 救命呀! Gau mehng ā!

Look out! 小心! Síusām!

Good morning. 早晨. Jóusàhn.

I don't understand. 我唔明. Ngóh m̀h'mìhng.

Where is the toilet? 廁所喺邊度呀? Chi só hái bīn douh

a?

Names of different Asian countries in Cantonese

When you are traveling in Asia, have you ever wonder how these
countries are called in Cantonese?

In this lesson, you will learn how to say countries and names of
different Asian counties in Cantonese.

Country in Cantonese: 國家 [gwok3 gaa1] /國 [gwok3]

Country in Cantonese is 國家 [gwok3 gaa1].

For naming a country, only 國 [gwok3] will be used. Nevertheless,

not all countries have this character in their name.

nei5 heoi3 gwo3 gei2 do1 go3 gwok3 gaa1 aa3？

你去過幾多個國家啊？

How many countries have you been to?

Korea in Cantonese: 韓國 [hon4 gwok3]
Korea in Cantonese is 韓國 [hon4 gwok3].

hon4 gwok3 ge3 dung1 tin1 hou2 dung3 gaa3！

韓國嘅冬天好凍㗎！

Winter in Korea is very cold!

Japan in Cantonese: 日本 [jat6 bun2]

Japan in Cantonese is 日本 [jat6 bun2].

jau4 hoeng1 gong2 fei1 heoi3 jat6 bun2 jiu3 gei2 noi6 aa3？

由香港飛去日本要幾耐啊？

How long will it take to travel from Hong Kong to Japan?

Thailand in Cantonese: 泰國 [taai3 gwok3]

Thailand in Cantonese is 泰國 [taai3 gwok3].

taai3 gwok3 di1 gwong2 gou3 zan1 hai6 hou2 hou2 siu3 aa1。

泰國啲廣告真係好好笑啊。

Commercials of Thailand are really funny.

Malaysia in Cantonese: 馬來西亞 [maa5 loi4 sai1 aa3]

Malaysia in Cantonese is 馬來西亞 [maa5 loi4 sai1 aa3].
ngo5 heoi3 gwo3 saam1 ci3 maa5 loi4 sai1 aa3。

我去過三次馬來西亞。

I have been to Malaysia for three times.

Vietnam in Cantonese: 越南 [jyut6 naam4]

Vietname in Cantonese is 越南 [jyut6 naam4].

jyut6 naam4 di1 je5 sik6 zan1 hai6 hou2 hou2 mei6 aa3。

越南啲嘢食真係好好味啊。

Vietnamese food are really delicious.

India in Cantonese: 印度 [jan3 dou6]

India in Cantonese is 印度 [jan3 dou6].

ngau4 hai2 jan3 dou6 hai6 san4 sing3 ge3 dung6 mat6。

牛喺印度係神聖嘅動物。

Cow is a sacred animal in India.

Taiwan in Cantonese: 台灣 [toi4 waan1]

Taiwan in Cantonese is 台灣 [toi4 waan1].

toi4 waan1 tung4 zung1 gwok3 hai6 loeng5 go3 m4 tung4 ge3
gwok3 gaa1。
台灣同中國係兩個唔同嘅國家。

Taiwan and China are two different countries.

China in Cantonese: 中國 [zung1 gwok3]

China in Cantonese is 中國 [zung1 gwok3].

mou5 hon3 fai3 jim4 zeoi3 zou2 hai2 zung1 gwok3 baau3 faat3。

武漢肺炎最早喺中國爆發。

Wu Han Coronavirus first broke out in China.

FAQs
How to say Korea in Cantonese?

Korea in Cantonese is 韓國 [hon4 gwok3].

How to say Japan in Cantonese?

Japan in Cantonese is 日本 [jat6 bun2].

How to say Thailand in Cantonese?

Thailand in Cantonese is 泰國 [taai3 gwok3].

How to say Malaysia in Cantonese?

Malaysia in Cantonese is 馬來西亞 [maa5 loi4 sai1 aa3].

How to say Vietnam in Cantonese?

Vietnam in Cantonese is 越南 [jyut6 naam4].

How to say India in Cantonese?

India in Cantonese is 印度 [jan3 dou6].

How to say Taiwan in Cantonese?

Taiwan in Cantonese is 台灣 [toi4 waan1].

How to say China in Cantonese?

China in Cantonese is 中國 [zung1 gwok3].

- Singular
1- 你

Meaning: you

Romanization: nei5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 你鐘意咖啡。

 Romanization: nei5 zung1 ji3 gaa3 fe1
 Meaning: You like coffee.

2- 我

Meaning: I

Romanization: ngo5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我想改變世界。

 Romanization: ngo5 soeng2 goi2 bin3 sai3 gaai3
 Meaning: I want to change the world.

3- 佢

Meaning: she / he / it

Romanization: keoi5
Note: There are no differences between “he,” “she,” or “it” in Cantonese. You
can use 佢 for all circumstances.

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 佢好得意。

 Romanization: keoi5 hou2 dak1 ji3
 Meaning: She / He / It is cute.

4- 你嘅

Meaning: your / yours

Romanization: nei5 ge3

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我好想睇穿你嘅心。

 Romanization: ngo5 hou2 soeng2 tai2 cyun1 nei5 ge3 sam1
 Meaning: I want to see right through your heart.

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 係你嘅。

 Romanization: hai6 nei5 ge3
 Meaning: It’s yours.

5- 我嘅

Meaning: my / mine
Romanization: ngo5 ge3

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我嘅天堂

 Romanization: ngo5 ge3 tin1 tong4
 Meaning: My paradise

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 你係我嘅。

 Romanization: nei5 hai6 ngo5 ge3
 Meaning: You are mine.

6- 佢嘅

Meaning: her / his / its / hers

Romanization: keoi5 ge3

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 佢嘅答覆

 Romanization: keoi5 ge3 daap3 fuk1
 Meaning: His / her reply

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 唔係佢嘅。

  Romanization: m4 hai6 keoi5 ge3
 Meaning: It’s not his / hers.

2- Plural

7- 你哋

Meaning: you guys

Romanization: nei5 dei6

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 你哋無做錯到。

 Romanization: nei5 dei6 mou4 zou6 co3 dou3
 Meaning: You guys didn’t do anything wrong.

8- 我哋

Meaning: we / us

Romanization: ngo5 dei6

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我哋係香港人。

 Romanization: ngo5 dei6 hai6 hoeng1 gong2 jan4
 Meaning: We are Hong Kongers.

Example 2 –
  Sentence / Phrase: 佢同我哋講佢係警察。
 Romanization: keoi5 tung4 ngo5 dei6 gong2 keoi5 hai6 ging2 caat3
 Meaning: He told us he is a cop.

9- 佢哋

Meaning: they / them

Romanization: keoi5 dei6

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 佢哋係醫生。

 Romanization: keoi5 dei6 hai6 ji1 sang1
 Meaning: They are doctors.

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 你其實都好關心佢哋。

 Romanization: nei5 kei4 sat6 dou1 hou2 gwaan1 sam1 keoi5 dei6
 Meaning: Actually, you care about them.

10- 你哋嘅

Meaning: your / yours (plural)

Romanization: nei5 dei6 ge3

Example 1 –
  Sentence / Phrase: 發揮你哋嘅創意。
 Romanization: faat3 fai1 nei5 dei6 ge3 cong3 ji3
 Meaning: Let your imagination go wild.

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 呢啲係你哋嘅。

 Romanization: ni1 di1 hai6 nei5 dei6 ge3
 Meaning: These are yours.

11- 我哋嘅

Meaning: our / ours

Romanization: ngo5 dei6 ge3

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我哋嘅字典

 Romanization: ngo5 dei6 ge3 zi6 din2
 Meaning: Our dictionary

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 字典係我哋嘅。

 Romanization: zi6 din2 hai6 ngo5 dei6 ge3
 Meaning: The dictionary is ours.

12- 佢哋嘅
Meaning: their / theirs

Romanization: keoi5 dei6 ge3

Example 1 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 佢哋嘅文化

 Romanization: keoi5 dei6 ge3 man4 faa3
 Meaning: Their culture

Example 2 –

 Sentence / Phrase: 可能係佢哋嘅。

 Romanization: ho2 nang4 hai6 keoi5 dei6 ge3
 Meaning: Maybe it’s theirs.

2. Demonstrative Pronouns
1- 呢個

Meaning: this

Romanization: ni1 go3

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 呢個係我嘅電話。

 Romanization: ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3 din6 waa2
 Meaning: This is my cell.
2- 嗰個

Meaning: that

Romanization: go2 go3

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 嗰個人

 Romanization: go2 go3 jan4
 Meaning: That person

3- 呢啲

Meaning: these

Romanization: ni1 di1

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 呢啲珍珠好韌㗎。

 Romanization: ni1 di1 zan1 zyu1 hou2 jan6 gaa3
 Meaning: These bubbles are very chewy.

4- 嗰啲

Meaning: those

Romanization: go2 di1

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 嗰啲蟬嘅聲音， 我覺得好好聽㗎。

 Romanization: go2 di1 sim4 ge3 sing1 jam1, ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2
hou2 teng1 gaa3
 Meaning: I love the sound of those cicadas.

5- 呢度

Meaning: here

Romanization: ni1 dou6

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 呢度係香港。

 Romanization: ni1 dou6 hai6 hoeng1 gong2
 Meaning: Hong Kong is here.

6- 嗰度

Meaning: there

Romanization: go2 dou6

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 嗰度好靚。

 Romanization: go2 dou6 hou2 leng3
  Meaning: It’s beautiful there.

3. Interrogative Pronouns

1- 乜嘢

Meaning: what
Romanization: mat1 je5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 乜嘢係通貨膨脹呀？

 Romanization: mat1 je5 hai6 tung1 fo3 paang4 zoeng3 aa3
 Meaning: What is inflation?

2- 邊個

Meaning: who

Romanization: bin1 go3

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 邊個超級英雄係最強㗎呢？

 Romanization: bin1 go3 ciu1 kap1 jing1 hung4 hai6 zeoi3 koeng4
gaa3 ne1
 Meaning: Who is the strongest superhero?

3- 邊個嘅

Meaning: whose

Romanization: bin1 go3 ge3

Example –
  Sentence / Phrase: 部電話係邊個嘅？
 Romanization: bou6 din6 waa6 hai6 bin1 go3 ge3
 Meaning: Whose phone is it?

4- 幾時

Meaning: when

Romanization: gei2 si4

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 幾時得閒呀？

 Romanization: gei2 si4 dak1 haan4 aa3
 Meaning: When are you free?

5- 邊度

Meaning: where

Romanization: bin1 dou6

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 邊度有廁所呀？

 Romanization: bin1 dou6 jau5 ci3 so2 aa3
 Meaning: Where is the toilet?

6- 點樣
Meaning: how

Romanization: dim2 joeng2

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 應該點樣準備呢？

 Romanization: jing1 goi1 dim2 joeng2 zeon2 bei6 ne1
 Meaning: How should I prepare?

7- 點解

Meaning: why

Romanization: dim2 gaai2

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 點解想做呢份工？

 Romanization: dim2 gaai2 soeng2 zou6 ni1 fan6 gung1
 Meaning: Why do you want this job?

4. Indefinite Pronouns

As opposed to English, there isn’t a set of pronouns in Cantonese with the

fixed prefixes of “every-,” “any-,” or “some-.” As such, we’ve instead
included the Cantonese equivalents of common indefinite pronouns
below:
1- 所有嘢

Meaning: everything

Romanization: so2 jau5 je5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 所有嘢都會同老婆交代。

 Romanization: so2 jau5 je5 dou1 wui3 tung4 lou5 po4 gaau1 doi6
 Meaning: I will tell my wife everything.

2- 所有人

Meaning: everybody

Romanization: so2 jau5 jan4

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 所有人都鐘意你。

 Romanization: so2 jau5 jan4 dou1 zung1 ji3 nei5
 Meaning: Everybody likes you.

3- 邊度

Meaning: everywhere

Romanization: bin1 dou6

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 邊度都見到你。

 Romanization: bin1 dou6 dou1 gin3 dou2 nei5
 Meaning: You’re everywhere.

4- 一啲嘢

Meaning: something

Romanization: jat1 di1 je5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 如果二零一九年要捨棄一啲嘢，我最想捨棄一啲壞

習慣。
 Romanization: jyu4 gwo2 ji6 ling4 jat1 gau2 nin4 jiu3 se2 hei3 jat1 di1
je5, ngo5 zeoi3 soeng2 se2 hei3 jat1 di1 waai6 zaap6 gwaan3
 Meaning: If I must let go of something in 2019, I want to let go of my
bad habits.

5- 一啲人

Meaning: somebody

Romanization: jat1 di1 jan4

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 係一啲人嘅問題。

  Romanization: hai6 jat1 di1 jan4 ge3 man6 tai4
 Meaning: That’s somebody’s problem.

6- 某啲地方

Meaning: somewhere

Romanization: mau5 di1 dei6 fong1

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 某啲地方一定有所犧牲。

 Romanization: mau5 di1 dei6 fong1 jat1 ding6 jau5 so2 hei1 sang1
 Meaning: There will be sacrifices somewhere.

7- 冇嘢

Meaning: nothing

Romanization: mou5 je5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我冇嘢講。

 Romanization: ngo5 mou5 je5 gong2
 Meaning: I have nothing to say.

8- 冇人

Meaning: no one
Romanization: mou5 jan4

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 冇人係完美。

 Romanization: mou5 jan4 hai6 jyun4 mei5
 Meaning: No one is perfect.

9- 冇地方

Meaning: nowhere

Romanization: mou5 dei6 fong1

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 冇地方住

 Romanization: mou5 dei6 fong1 zyu6
 Meaning: I got nowhere to live.

10- 乜嘢

Meaning: anything

Romanization: mat1 je5

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 乜嘢都有可能。

  Romanization: mat1 je5 dou1 jau5 ho2 nang4
 Meaning: Anything is possible.

11- 乜人

Meaning: anyone

Romanization: mat1 jan4

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 乜人都可以申請。

 Romanization: mat1 jan4 dou1 ho2 ji5 san1 cing2
 Meaning: Anyone can apply.

12- 乜嘢地方

Meaning: anywhere

Romanization: mat1 je5 dei6 fong1

Example –

 Sentence / Phrase: 我乜嘢地方都可以瞓得着。

 Romanization: ngo5 mat1 je5 dei6 fong1 dou1 ho2 ji5 fan3 dak1
zoek6
 Meaning: I can fall asleep anywhere.
 Colors in Cantonese
 When we are young (if we can still recall), we are usually given puzzles where
we have to match colors and shapes. Colors are one of the basic vocabulary we
have learned during our formation years. You can see the smile on our parents’
faces when we are able to identify colors. Before we start naming colors in
Cantonese, let us first learn some vocabulary related to color in the Cantonese
language.

English Cantonese Pinyin

color 顏色 ngaan4 sik1

colored 彩色 coi2 sik1

plain colors 淨色 zing6 sik1 plain

dark (color) 深 sam1

bright (color) 光亮 gwong1 loeng6

colorful 鮮豔 sin1 jim6

watercolor 水彩 seoi2 coi2

colorful lantern 花燈 faa1 dang1

color ink 彩色墨 coi2 sik1 mak6

Flying Colors Parade 飄色巡遊 piu1 sik1 ceon4 jau4

to shine brightly with color and light 流光溢彩 lau4 gwong1 jat6 coi2

measure word for colors 隻 zek3

to shine brightly with color and light 流光溢彩 lau4 gwong1 jat6 coi2