Order anything by pointing in Cantonese
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Cantonese phrases in this lesson
- 我想要...NGO SEUNG-yiu
- I would like...
- 呢個NAY-go
- This one
- 幾多錢？GAY-do CHIN
- How much is it?
- 埋單，唔該MAI-dan, m-GOY
- The bill, please
- 刷卡SWAAT-kaat
- By card
- 現金YIN-gam
- In cash
- 水SOEY
- Water
- 咖啡ga-FEH
- Coffee
- 茶chaa
- Tea
- 啤酒BE-jau
- Beer
- 走...JAU
- Without...
Literally "I would like ...". At a counter, pointing and saying 呢個 (NAY-go) is enough.
Point and say it. At a deli counter, 呢個 plus a flat hand gesture for "about this much" covers the entire transaction.
The essential market and kiosk question. A shorter and equally common form is just 幾錢 (GAY-chin). Prices in Hong Kong are usually given in dollars and cents.
Literally "close the bill". This is the standard phrase in any restaurant. You will often need to say it to catch a waiter's attention; the bill rarely comes unasked.
You can also ask "可唔可以刷卡？" (can I pay by card?). Octopus card (八達通, baat-daat-TUNG) is the contactless payment system used everywhere in HK, from the MTR to convenience stores.
Cash is still widely used in Hong Kong. Market stalls and small dim sum restaurants often prefer it. Keep some small bills handy.
Tap water in Hong Kong is officially safe but most locals use filtered water or bottled water at home. In restaurants, still water is 凍水 (DUNG-soey) if you want it cold.
Hong Kong milk tea, 奶茶 (NAAI-cha), is the local favorite; mixed with coffee it becomes 鴛鴦 (YUEN-yeung).
飲茶 (yum cha), drinking tea, also means going out for dim sum.
Literally "walk away": 走冰 (JAU-bing), no ice; 走甜 (JAU-tim), no sugar. Pure Hong Kong cafe slang.