Shops and hotels in Cantonese
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk. 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
- 有冇...？YAU-mo
- Do you have...?
- ...喺邊度？hai BIN-do
- Where is...?
- 營業中YING-yip-JUNG
- Open
- 休息YAU-sik
- Closed
- 要唔要袋？YIU-m-yiu DOI
- A bag?
- 太貴喇TAAI GWAI la
- Too expensive
- 我有訂房NGO YAU DENG-fong
- I have a reservation
- 包唔包早餐？BAAU-m-BAAU JO-chaan
- Is breakfast included?
- Wi-Fi 密碼係乜嘢？WAI-fai MAT-ma hai MAT-yeh
- What's the wifi password?
- 可唔可以...？HO-m-HO-yi
- Can I...?
The universal "do you have" question. 有冇 is the Cantonese yes-no question form of 有 (to have). 有冇麵包？ Do you have bread? Works in any shop.
Put the thing you are looking for first, then 喺邊度. 廁所喺邊度？ (Where is the toilet?). The answer will come with pointing, which is all you need.
The sign for "open for business". In speech, 開咗 (HOI-jo), opened.
The sign on a closed shop door, literally "resting". In speech, 閂咗門 (SAAN-jo MOON), the door is shut.
The cashier question asking if you want a bag. Hong Kong charges for plastic bags. Answer 要 (YIU) for yes or 唔使 (m-SAI) for no need.
Bargaining only works at street markets like Temple Street.
Literally "I have booked a room".
Literally "includes or not includes breakfast?".
Literally "can or cannot ...?": 可唔可以坐呢度？ (HO-m-HO-yi CHO NAY-do), can I sit here?