Yes, no and the essentials in Cantonese
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Cantonese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Cantonese phrases in this lesson
- 係HAI
- Yes
- 唔係m-HAI
- No
- 好HO
- Okay
- 我唔明NGO m-MING
- I don't understand
- 你識唔識講英文？NEI sik-m-SIK GONG ying-MAN
- Do you speak English?
- 唔該講多次m-GOY GONG DO chi
- Can you repeat that?
- 講慢啲，唔該GONG MAAN-di, m-GOY
- Slowly, please
- 呢個係乜嘢？NAY-go hai MAT-yeh
- What is this?
- 我要...NGO YIU
- I need...
- 可唔可以幫下我？HO-m-HO-yi BONG-ha NGO
- Can you help me?
Literally "is" or "correct". Cantonese does not have a single universal yes like English; instead you echo the verb of the question. But 係 works as a general affirmative in most everyday contexts.
Literally "is not". The 唔 (m) prefix negates almost anything in Cantonese: 唔好 (not good), 唔識 (don't know), 唔使 (not needed). Once you know 唔, you can negate most things.
Literally "good". This is the Swiss army word of Cantonese: okay, good, fine, yes, got it. You will hear it constantly. 好喇 (HO-la) with the particle adds a sense of "alright, that's settled".
Your honest escape hatch. 唔明 (don't understand) is casual. The more formal 我唔明白 (NGO m-MING-baak) works in the same situations. Follow it with the next phrase in this lesson.
In Hong Kong, English is an official language and widely spoken, especially in business and hospitality. This question is largely a formality, but asking in Cantonese first is appreciated.
Literally "please say it one more time".
Literally "speak a bit slower, please".
Point at any dim sum basket and ask.
Literally "I want" or "I need": 我要睇醫生 (NGO YIU TAI yi-SANG), I need to see a doctor.
Literally "can or cannot help me a bit?".