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MODERN CANTONESE BOOK 1
The first volume of Modern Cantonese aims to provide solid linguistic training to
beginner Cantonese learners, highlighting cultural points with lively language
scenarios.
This book provides daily conversational scenarios, such as introducing yourself
and others, ordering food, going out with friends, shopping, planning a weekend, and
talking about hobbies and leisure activities, as well as holidays and festivals. The
scenarios cover daily settings with essential learning points, and on completion of
the course, learners will be able to understand questions and statements in Cantonese
conversations and will be able to discuss familiar everyday topics using simple
sentences in Cantonese.
The book is ideal for students seeking to learn Cantonese as a second language
at the novice level, based on ACTFL speaking proficiency guidelines. It may also be
of interest to language teachers and linguists in the field of Cantonese as a second
language.
Siu-lun Lee is Senior Lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has over
25 years of experience teaching Cantonese at the tertiary level. His research interests
include applied linguistics, Cantonese studies, Chinese linguistics, sociolinguistics,
and language teaching pedagogy.
MODERN CANTONESE
BOOK 1
A textbook for global
learners
Siu-lun Lee
Designed cover image: Siu-lun Lee
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Siu-lun Lee
The right of Siu-lun Lee to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-0-367-53910-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-53909-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-08368-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Access the Support Material: www.routledge.com/9780367539092
CONTENTS
A note on the volumes vi

Preface vii
Introduction viii
How to use this book xv
Meet the characters in this book xvii
1 What is your name? – Néih giu mātyéh méng a? 1

2 What do you like doing? – Néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh a? 9
3 Where can we go to see an art exhibition? – Ngóhdeih hóyíh hái
bīn douh tái wájín a? 18
4 What is the date today? – Gāmyaht haih géi yuht géi houh a? 27
5 What time are we going to see a movie? – Ngóhdeih géi dím
heui tái hei a? 37
6 How much is this phone? – Nī go dihnwá géi dō chín a? 48
7 What presents do you give to your friends? – Néih sung mātyéh
béi pàhngyáuh a? 57
8 What is your phone number? – Néih ge dihnwá houhmáh haih
géi dō houh a?66
9 What kind of dim sum do you like to eat? – Néih séung sihk
mātyéh dímsām a? 75
10 What do you do at Chinese New Year? – Jūngwok Sānnìhn néih
jouh mātyéh a? 85
Appendix 1 Glossary of linguistic terms 95

Appendix 2 English translation of questions 97
Appendix 3 List of learning points 102
Appendix 4 List of relevant phrases 104
v
A NOTE ON THE VOLUMES
This book series is designed for learners of Cantonese as a second language. The
book series is targeted at learners who are English speakers or who use English as
an additional language. It is designed for learners from novice to intermediate level,
and for institutions or schools providing structured courses in the modern Cantonese
language, as spoken in Hong Kong. These books can be used for teaching Cantonese
in colleges and universities, as well as other schools and institutions in the Asian
region and elsewhere in the world. The examples of language use in the book series
are drawn from authentic data, including an 800,000-word corpus collected from L1
(first-language) Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong. In all, the series contains around
2000 relevant phrases, 150 constructions and structures used in thirty language sce-
narios. All the lessons in the series are systematically structured according to increas-
ing levels of difficulty, and the book series uses the Yale romanization system to
demonstrate and teach Cantonese pronunciation.
vi
PREFACE
The majority of the Cantonese textbooks previously published have typically

been designed for learners at the beginner or upper-beginner level. Many stu-
dents want to continue their studies beyond this level but lack the appropriate
materials or textbooks to do so. In the past, a number of noteworthy textbooks
have been published. These include the First Year Cantonese series by Thomas
O’Melia published in 1954 (Part I) and 1959 (Part II and Part III); the book
series by Sidney Lau in 1972 (Elementary Cantonese and Intermediate Canton-
ese) and 1975 (Advanced Cantonese); and the Speak Cantonese series by Parker
Po-fei Huang and Gerard P. Kok published in 1973 (Book 1 and Book 2) and 1975
(Book 3). In their time, these series provided systematic guidance to learners of
Cantonese, although they appear somewhat dated by today’s standards. This new
Modern Cantonese textbook series sets out to provide a modern and up-to-date
approach to the learning and teaching of Cantonese as a second language. It is
intended that the series will be used by universities, colleges, and schools in
Hong Kong, as well as by other institutions around the world. Students looking
for self-study materials will also find this series useful, as it focuses on authentic
spoken Cantonese as used in contemporary Hong Kong and sets out to provide an
authentic and contextualized approach to the learning of the language.
Book 1 in the series is targeted at beginning learners of Cantonese. This book
provides daily conversational scenarios, such as introducing yourself and others,
ordering food, going out with friends, shopping, planning a weekend, and talking
about hobbies and leisure activities, as well as holidays and festivals. The scenarios,
which cover daily settings with essential learning points, aim at providing solid lin-
guistic training to learners, and on completion of the course, learners will be able to
understand questions and statements in Cantonese conversations, and will be able to
discuss familiar everyday topics using simple sentences in Cantonese.
vii
INTRODUCTION
The term ‘Cantonese’ refers to the language varieties used by immigrants who came
to Hong Kong from various districts in Guangdong province, including Macau,
Panyu, Taishan, Xinhui, and Zhongshan. Over time, their speech coalesced into the
contemporary variety of Cantonese used in Hong Kong from the late nineteenth cen-
tury onwards. Cantonese is often used to refer to the entire Yue subgroup of Chinese,
which includes varieties of Cantonese spoken in southern China, Hong Kong, Macau,
Malaysia, Singapore, and among overseas Chinese in North America, Europe, and
Australia. It is currently estimated that there are about 70 million Cantonese speak-
ers in the world. Cantonese has been and is still the major language variety used by
people in daily life in Hong Kong (Bacon-Shone, Bolton, & Luke, 2015; Bolton,
Bacon-Shone, & Lee, 2020; Bolton & Lee, 2020). Currently, the language policy of
the Hong Kong government promotes ‘trilingualism and biliteracy’. Trilingualism
refers to the three major spoken languages used in Hong Kong, that is, Cantonese,
Putonghua, and English, while biliteracy refers to the use of two written languages,
written Chinese and written English. According to the census results, around 90 per-
cent of Hong Kong’s population use Cantonese as their usual spoken language (Hong
Kong SAR Government, 2011, 2016).
Cantonese grammar
This book series uses a practical approach to grammar and focuses on describing
how words are used and sentences formed. A glossary of linguistic terms used in the
book may be found in Appendix 1.
Grammatical constructions
The notion of ‘grammatical construction’ refers to words and phrases that form the
constituents of sentences. Grammatical constructions are presented in the ‘Learning
points’ and ‘Relevant phrases’ sections. For example, in English, the grammatical
construction, ‘the easier, the better’, is not just a fixed phrase, but a general pattern
(‘the – er, the better’) with slots that can be filled by almost any comparative phrase.
viii In this book series, grammatical constructions are the fundamental building blocks
of sentences, paragraphs, and discourse, which are useful patterns for learners to Introduction
acquire, to experiment with, and to use creatively.
Spoken Cantonese, written Cantonese,

and written Chinese
The relationship between spoken Cantonese, written Cantonese, and written Chi-
nese is complex. When the educational authorities of the People’s Republic of China
started to promote spoken Putonghua and simplified characters on the mainland after
1949, Hong Kong retained the use of ‘standard written Chinese’ in full characters in
most schools in the region. Accordingly, until recently, most children were taught
to read ‘standard written Chinese’ aloud with spoken Cantonese pronunciation. In
addition to standard written Chinese, there is a distinct variety of ‘written Canton-
ese’ that is popular in informal written communication, commercial advertisements,
television subtitles, and comic books (Snow, 2004; Bauer, 2018). The use of ‘written
Cantonese’ is stigmatized in schools and in official settings, and in Hong Kong there
is a ‘diglossic’ situation in operation, where ‘written Cantonese’ and informal spoken
Cantonese are both regarded as ‘L’ forms, and ‘standard written Chinese’ and its cor-
responding spoken forms are regarded as the ‘H’ forms and are used in educational
and other formal settings. For example, mātyéh 乜嘢 (a question word meaning
‘what’) is the spoken form in Cantonese, while the form sahmmō 甚麼 is used in
standard written Chinese. This book series does not include Chinese characters, but
uses Yale romanization to represent spoken Cantonese.
The Yale system and Cantonese pronunciation

A syllable in Cantonese is composed of three elements:
(1) an initial formed by a consonant or consonant cluster at the beginning of a

syllable,
(2) a final formed by a vowel or vowel glide in open syllables and a vowel or vowel
glide with a consonant in closed syllable,
(3) a tone, which is the pitch contour of a syllable, including ā (high-level tone), á
(high-rising tone), a (mid-level tone), àh (low-falling tone), áh (low-rising tone),
ah (low-level tone). Cantonese is a tonal language, in which tones play a very
important role in identifying the meaning of words. This book series uses the
Yale romanization system to mark the initials, finals, and tones for teaching
purposes.
Cantonese initials
According to their phonological features, the nineteen initials (sīngmóuh 聲母) are
divided into five groups, as shown in Table 1. ix
Introduction Table 1 Cantonese initials with examples
Initials in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

romanization Phonetic Alphabet characters
Stops
p [ph] po 破 to break
b [p] bō 波 ball
t [th] tō 拖 to drag
d [t] dō 多 many
k [kh] kāt 咳 to cough
g [k] gō 哥 elder brother
kw [kwh] kwā 誇 to praise
gw [kw] gwa 掛 to hang
Nasals
m [m] mē 咩 what
n [n] nī 呢 this
ng [ŋ] ngō 痾 diarrhoea
Fricatives and affricates
f [f] fū 夫 husband
s [s] sō 梳 comb
h [h] hah 夏 summer
ch [tsh] chē 車 car
j [ts] jē 遮 cover
Lateral approximants
l [l] la 罅 crack
Semi-vowels
y [j] yeh 夜 night
w [w] wā 蛙 frog
Cantonese finals
Table 2 shows fifty-one Cantonese finals (wáhnmóuh 韻母) transcribed in Yale
romanization system. Note the following:
• Cantonese has single vowel sounds, e.g., a, e, i, o, u, eu, yu and diphthongs, e.g.,
aai, aau, ai, au, ei, iu, oi, ou, and ui. When single vowels in open syllables, they
are pronounced as ‘long vowels’, e.g., ma [ma:], me [mɛ:], mi [m i:], mo [mɔ:],
mu [mu:].
• The -p, -t, -k, consonants in word ending position are unreleased.
• The o, e.g., sō (‘comb’), is similar to the vowel in ‘got’ in English, pronounced
with rounded lips.
• The u, e.g., fú (‘bitter taste’), is also similar to the vowel in ‘wood’ in English,
pronounced with rounded lips.
x
Table 2 presents fifty-one Cantonese finals in real-life Cantonese syllables. Introduction
Table 2 Cantonese finals with examples
Finals in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

a [a:] gā 加 to add
aai [a:i] tāai 呔 necktie
aau [a:u] gāau 膠 plastic
aam [a:m] tāam 貪 greedy
aan [a:n] chāan 餐 meal
aang [a:ŋ] sāang 生 to give birth
aap [a:p⸣] gaap 鴿 pigeon
aat [a:t⸣] chaat 刷 to brush
aak [a:k⸣] jaak 窄 narrow
ai [ɐi] sāi 西 west
au [ɐu] sāu 收 to receive
am [ɐm] jām 針 needle
an [ɐn] jān 真 real
ang [ɐŋ] dāng 燈 lamp
ap [ɐp⸣] jāp 汁 juice
at [ɐt⸣] chāt 七 seven
ak [ɐk⸣] sāk 塞 piston
e [ɛ:] chē 車 car
eng [ɛŋ] geng 鏡 mirror
ek [ɛk⸣] sek 錫 to kiss
ei [ei] gēi 機 machine
eu [œ:] hēu 靴 boot
eung [œŋ] hēung 香 fragrant
euk [œk⸣] geuk 腳 leg
eui [ɵi] tēui 推 to push
eun [ɵn] jēun 樽 bottle
eut [ɵt⸣] sēut 恤 shirt
i [i:] dī 啲 some
iu [i:u] sīu 燒 to burn
im [im] jīm 尖 sharp
in [in] sīn 鮮 fresh
ip [ip⸣] tip 貼 to stick
it [it⸣] tit 鐵 steel
ing [ɪŋ] sīng 星 star
ik [ɪk⸣] sīk 識 to know
o [ɔ:] sō 梳 comb
oi [ɔ:i] sōi 鰓 gill
on [ɔn] gōn 乾 dry
ong [ɔŋ] chōng 倉 warehouse
ot [ɔt⸣] got 葛 yam bean
ok [ɔk⸣] gok 角 corner xi
ou [ou] jōu 租 to rent
u [u:] fū 夫 husband
ui [u:i] būi 杯 cup
(Continued )
Introduction Table 2 (Continued)
Finals in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

un [un] būn 搬 to move
ut [ut⸣] put 潑 to splash
ung [ʊŋ] jūng 鐘 clock
uk [ʊk⸣] lūk 轆 wheel
yu [y:] syu 恕 forgive
yun [yn] syūn 酸 sour
yut [yt⸣] syut 雪 snow
Cantonese tones
This book series adopts a six-tone system and uses diacritics to transcribe Cantonese
tones (sīngdiuh 聲調). Table 3 shows the pitch contours of the six Cantonese tones.
Table 3 Pitch contours of the six Cantonese tones
There is also a high-falling tone (53) in some Cantonese varieties to stress words.
However, the distinction between high-level tones (55) and high-falling tones (53) is not
majorly significant for most practical purposes and is not highlighted in this course.
Table 4 Cantonese tones with examples
Cantonese tones High-level High- Mid-level Low- Low- Low-level

tone rising tone falling rising tone
tone tone tone
xii Yale romanization yī yí yi yìh yíh yih

Example in Chinese 醫椅意疑已易
characters
English gloss medical chair meaning doubt already easy
Other features of the transcription system Introduction
• The diacritic tone-marks for high-level tones as in ā, rising tones as in á, as well

as falling tones as in àh, are placed above the first vowels.
• The high-level diacritic tone-marks in open syllables and in closed syllables are
placed above the first vowels, as in gāai 街 (‘street’) and hēung 香 (‘fragrant’).
• The high-rising tone-marks in open syllables and in closed syllables are also
placed above the first vowels, as in hói 海 (‘ocean’) and góng 講 (‘to speak’).
• An h is placed behind the vowel or diphthong to indicate low pitch tone in a
syllable.
• The low-falling tone-marks in open syllables and in closed syllables are put above
the first vowel and an ‘h’ is put behind the vowels or diphthongs to indicate low
pitch in a syllable, as in sìh 時 (‘time’) and yàhn 人 (‘people’).
• The low-rising tone-marks in open syllables and in closed syllables are put above
the first vowel and an ‘h’ is put behind the vowels or diphthongs to indicate low
pitch in a syllable, as in kéuih 佢 (‘he/she’) and in séuhng 上 (‘to go up’).
• There is no diacritic for the Cantonese mid-level tone, as in baat 八 (‘eight’), leng
靚 (‘pretty’).
• There is no diacritic for the Cantonese low-level tone. An ‘h’ is put after the
vowel or diphthong for low-level tone in open syllable and in closed syllable to
indicate low pitch tone in a syllable, as in deih 地 (‘ground’) and in faahn 飯
(‘cooked rice’).
• A single straight apostrophe ' is used to separate a syllable boundary, if an open
syllable is followed by another syllable starting with or is preceded by another
syllable ending with m, n, ng, p, t, or k, such as in gā'tìhng 家庭 (‘family’),
āam'āam 啱啱 (‘just now’), as well as when a syllable ending with an n is
followed by a syllable starting with a g, such as chēun'gyún 春卷 (‘spring roll’)
and when a syllable ending with a g or a k is followed by a syllable started with a
w, such as yihng'wàih 認爲 (‘to think that’).
References
Bacon-Shone, J., Bolton, K., and Luke, K. K. (2015). Language use, proficiency and
attitudes in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Social Sciences Research Centre, HKU.
Bauer, R. S. (2018). Cantonese as written language in Hong Kong. Global Chinese, 4,
103–142.
Bolton, K., Bacon-Shone, J., and Lee, S-L. (2020). Societal multilingualism in Hong
Kong. In Peter Siemund and Jakob Leimgruber (eds.), Multilingual global cities:
Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore, 160–184. London: Routledge.
Bolton, K., and Lee, S-L. (2020). A socio-historical approach to multilingualism in Hong
Kong. In Peter Siemund and Jakob Leimgruber (eds.), Multilingual global cities:
Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai, 38–62. London: Routledge.
Hong Kong SAR Government. (2011). Population census. Hong Kong: Census and Sta-
tistics Department, Hong Kong Government.
xiii
Hong Kong SAR Government. (2016). Population by-census. Hong Kong: Census and
Statistics Department, Hong Kong Government.
Huang, P. P., and Kok, G. P. (1973a). Speak Cantonese: Book 1. New Heaven: Far Eastern
Publications.
Introduction Huang, P. P., and Kok, G. P. (1973b). Speak Cantonese: Book 2. New Heaven: Far Eastern
Publications.
Huang, P. P., and Kok, G. P. (1975). Speak Cantonese: Book 3. New Heaven: Far Eastern
Publications.
Lau, S. (1972a). Elementary Cantonese. Hong Kong: The Government Printer.
Lau, S. (1972b). Intermediate Cantonese. Hong Kong: The Government Printer.
Lau, S. (1975). Advanced Cantonese. Hong Kong: The Government Printer.
O’Melia, T. A. (1954). First year Cantonese (Part I). Hong Kong: Catholic Truth
Society.
O’Melia, T. A. (1959a). First year Cantonese (Part II). Hong Kong: Catholic Truth
Society.
O’Melia, T. A. (1959b). First year Cantonese (Part III). Hong Kong: Catholic Truth
Society.
Snow, D. B. (2004). Cantonese as written language: The growth of a written Chinese
vernacular. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
xiv
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Book 1 of this book series consists of ten lessons. The ten lessons in this book include
language scenarios in daily life and cover various language functions, such as asking for
help, asking for information, describing people, places and things, making appointments,
narrating events, and providing information. Each lesson consists of five parts:
1 Situated conversations
All the situated conversations are dialogues based on real-life topics, and many of the
examples used in this book are adapted from authentic corpus materials collected in
Hong Kong. An English gloss of the conversations is provided, and Yale romaniza-
tion is used as a guide to pronunciation.
2 Relevant phrases
The relevant phrases used in situated conversations are listed in this section. All
phrases are transcribed in Yale romanization with grammatical explanations and
English glosses for learners and teachers to use. Additional useful phrases, construc-
tions, and related vocabulary items are also provided. Learners can experiment and
produce novel phrases or sentences by using the relevant phrases and additional items.
3 Learning points
Grammatical notes and authentic examples are provided in this section. This section
aims at building a strong foundation for understanding Cantonese grammar and lan-
guage use. Teachers and learners can devise further practice and activities based on
these learning points.
4 Additional texts
The additional texts provide examples of language use related to the situated conver-
sations. These additional texts demonstrate how words, phrases, and sentences are xv
used in a range of related contexts.
How to use 5 Exercises and practice
this book
The exercises and practice section help learners to monitor their progress at each
stage. Learners can then work on the exercises to reinforce and revise key learning
points throughout the course.
Further practice: Learning a language is both challenging and fun. Cantonese
learners should be encouraged to experiment with the language and to use the lan-
guage creatively in real-life situations whenever they have the chance.
Use of symbols
🎧 This symbol indicates that audio recordings are available for these texts on the
Routledge website for this series.
This symbol indicates that there is an English-language translation of these ques-
tions in Appendix 2 of this book.
xvi
MEET THE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK
In the book series, Modern Cantonese, you will meet a number of characters who
take part in the conversations and dialogues presented in different situations. In Book
1, there are four main characters. They are all studying Cantonese as a second lan-
guage at a bilingual university in Hong Kong.
Charlotte Lee
Charlotte is 19 years of age. Her grandparents moved to Vancouver and settled down
in 1965. Her parents are both medical doctors in Vancouver, where she herself was
born and grew up. She is very interested in Chinese studies and learning more about
her own Chinese heritage. She is now studying for a B.A. in Communication Studies.
John Chan
John is 24 years old. He was born in Singapore, where his father is an accountant
and his mother is a school teacher. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Studies
at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and he is now studying for an MBA
degree. After graduation, he intends to find a job in the financial sector in Hong
Kong. His parents spoke both English and Cantonese at home, so John had a good
grounding in Cantonese before coming to Hong Kong.
Wayne Wilson
Wayne Wilson is a 21-year-old white American student who comes from San Fran-
cisco. He studies anthropology at San Francisco State University and is currently in
Hong Kong as an exchange student. He likes Chinese food, especially dim sum, and
he is also a big Cantonese movie fan.
xvii
Meet the Park Soo-young
characters in
this book
Park Soo-young is 20 years of age. She is studying an international business pro-
gramme at Seoul National University in Korea. Her mother is a lawyer, and her
father is a businessman. She is another exchange student, visiting Hong Kong for one
year. She is fascinated by Cantonese movies and pop music and also has a serious
interest in Chinese history and culture.
xviii
LESSON 1
What is your name?
Néih giu mātyéh méng a?
Activities: Greeting people and introducing yourself.
1 Situated conversation 🎧
Context: Four students meet in the Cantonese class at university. They introduce
themselves and chat to each other.
Cantonese text English gloss

Charlotte: Daaihgā hóu. Ngóh haih Hi everyone. I am Charlotte;
Charlotte, ngóh sing Léih. Ngóh my surname is Lee. I speak a
góng síusíu Gwóngdūngwá. little Cantonese. What is your
Néih gwai sing a? surname?
Wayne: Ngóh sing Wilson, ngóh haih My surname is Wilson; I am
Wayne. Néih hóu! Wayne Wilson. Hello!
Charlotte: Néih hóu! Néih haih m̀haih Hello! Are you Canadian?
Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn a?
Wayne: M̀ haih, ngóh m̀haih No, I am not Canadian. I am
Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn. Ngóh haih American.
Méihgwok yàhn.
Charlotte: Néih pàhngyáuh nē? Kéuih How about your friend? Is she
dōu haih Méihgwok yàhn, haih also an American?
m̀ haih a?
Wayne: M̀ haih, kéuih m̀haih No, she is not American. She is
Méihgwok yàhn. Kéuih haih Korean.
Hòhn'gwok yàhn.
Charlotte: Néih hóu! Néih giu mātyéh Hi! What is your name?
méng a? 1
(Continued )
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-1
1 (Continued)
What is your
name?
Park Ngóh giu Park Soo-young. I am called Park Soo-young.
Soo-young:
Charlotte: Soo-young, néih hóu. Soo-young, hi.
Hòhn'gwok hóu leng. Ngóh Korea is beautiful. I like Korea.
jūngyi Hòhn'gwok.
Park Hēunggóng dōu hóu leng, Hong Kong is also very
Soo-young: daahnhaih Hēunggóng m̀haih beautiful, but Hong Kong is not
géi daaih. very big.
Charlotte: Haih a, Hēunggóng m̀haih géi Yes, Hong Kong is not very big.
daaih.
Néih nē? Néih haih bīn gwok How about you? Which
yàhn a? country are you from?
John: Ngóh haih Sān'gabō yàhn. I am Singaporean.
Charlotte: Néih giujouh mātyéh méng a? What is your name?
John: Ngóh sing Chàhn, giujouh My surname is Chan; I am
John. called John.
Charlotte: John, néihhóu! Hóu gōuhing John, hi! Very happy to know
yihngsīk néih. you.
John: Charlotte, néih hóu! Ngóh dōu Charlotte, hi! I am also very
hóu gōuhing yihngsīk néih. happy to know you.
2 Relevant phrases 🎧
Yale romanization Grammatical form/function English gloss

ngóh pronoun I, me
ngóhdeih pronoun we, us
haih verb to be (am, is, are)
sing noun surname
verb
góng verb to speak
síusíu adverb a little
Gwóngdūngwá noun Cantonese
néih pronoun you (singular)
néihdeih pronoun you (plural)
2 m̀ negative prefix for verbs not
and adjectives
yàhn noun man, person
Yale romanization Grammatical form/function English gloss 1
What is your
pàhngyáuh noun friend name?
nē? sentence-final particle how about?
kéuih pronoun he, she, him, her, it
kéuihdeih pronoun they, them
dōu adverb too, also, either
giujouh verb be named
mātyéh question word what
méng noun name
leng adjective beautiful, good-looking, pretty
hóu adjective good, well, fine, okay
adverb very
Hēunggóng noun Hong Kong
daahnhaih conjunction but, however
géi adverb quite
daaih adjective big, large
bīn gwok phrase which country
sīnsāang noun Mr.
taaitáai noun Mrs.
síujé noun Miss, lady
Here are nine more phrases that you can use in daily conversation:
Jóusàhn! Good morning!

Daaihgā hóu! Hello everybody!
Néih hóu! Hello! Hi!
Néih gwai sing a? What is your surname?
Néih giujouh mātyéh méng a? What is your name?
Hóu gōuhing yihngsīk néih! Nice to meet you!
Ngóh jūngyi . . . I like . . .
Joigin! Goodbye!
Bāaibaai! Bye bye!
Here are some more country names:
Jūnggwok Hòhn'gwok Yahtbún Sān'gabō Fēileuhtbān

China Korea Japan Singapore Philippines
Yandouh Taaigwok Yannèih Bāgēisītáan Tóuyíhkèih
India Thailand Indonesia Pakistan Turkey 3
1 Yihdaaihleih Sāibāanngàh Pòuhtòuhngàh Faatgwok Yīngwok
What is your Italy Spain Portugal France Britian
name?
Seuihsih Hòhlāan Dākgwok Béileihsìh Oujāu
Switzerland Netherlands Germany Belgium Australia
Gā'nàhdaaih Méihgwok Mahksāigō Bāsāi Sānsāilàahn
Canada United States of Mexico Brazil New Zealand
America
Here are some city names:
Bākgīng Seuhnghói Gwóngjāu Oumún Jyūhói

Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Macau Zhuhai
Sìhngdōu Chùhnghing Sāiōn Tīnjēun Móuhhon
Chengdu Chongqing Xi’an Tianjin Wuhan
Náuyeuk Lohkchaamgēi Sāamfàahnsíh Wān'gōwàh Dōlèuhndō
New York Los Angeles San Francisco Vancouver Toronto
Lèuhndēun A'móuhsīdahkdāan Honbóu Bālàih Máihlàahn
London Amsterdam Hamburg Paris Milan
Máhdākléih Boulóuhchoiyíh Bāchoilùhngnàh Léihsībún Sōulàihsai
Madrid Brussels Barcelona Lisbon Zurich
Lòhmáh Sīdākgōyíhmō Faatlàahnhāakfūk Mohksīfō Douhbaai
Rome Stockholm Frankfurt Moscow Dubai
Sīknèih Mahkyíhbún Sān Dākléih Dūnggīng Daaihbáan
Sydney Melbourne New Deli Tokyo Osaka
Sáuyíh Ngáhgādaaht Gātlùhngbō Maahn'gūk Máh'nèihlāai
Seoul Jakarta Kuala Lumpur Bangkok Manila
3 Learning points
3.1 Word order of simple sentences
Simple sentence structure Negative form

Noun – Verb Noun – m̀ Verb
Noun – Adjective Noun – m̀ Adjective
e.g., Ngóh haih Yidaaihleih yàhn. Ngóh m̀haih Yīnggwok yàhn.

I am Italian. I am not British.
4 Hēunggóng leng. Hēunggóng m̀daaih.
Hong Kong is beautiful. Hong Kong is not big.
3.2 Yes/no questions 1
What is your
The most common yes/no question form in Cantonese is choice-type (X not-X type).
name?
Here are some examples:
Noun – Adjective m̀ Adjective – a? Noun – haih m̀ haih – Noun – a?

Gā'nàhdaaih leng m̀leng a? Néih haih m̀haih Peter a?
Is Canada beautiful? Are you Peter?
Hòhn'gwok leng m̀leng a? Néih haih m̀haih Yahtbún yàhn a?
Is Korea beautiful? Are you Japanese?
Gā'nàhdaaih daaih m̀daaih a? Néih haih m̀haih Léih sīnsāang a?
Is Canada big? Are you Mr. Lee?
3.3 Verb: sing (‘surname’)

Sing can function as a verb in a sentence.
e.g., Ngóh sing Léih, néih nē?

My surname is Lee, how about you?
Ngóh sing Chàhn. Néih gwai sing?

My surname is Chan. What is your surname?
Note: Néih gwai sing? literally means ‘what is your honourable surname?’ and could
be used when people meet each other for the first time in a formal or semi-formal
situation. In casual setting, people would use Néih giu mātyéh méng a? (‘What is
your name?’), which literally means ‘you call what name?’
3.4 Adverbs modifying adjectives: hóu (‘very’), géi (‘quite’),

m̀ haih hóu (‘not very’) and m̀ haih géi (‘not quite’)
Cantonese adverbs English gloss Example sentences

hóu very Hòhn'gwok hóu leng.
Korea is very beautiful.
géi quite Yahtbún géi hóu.
Japan is quite good.
m̀ haih hóu not very Yahtbún m̀haih hóu daaih.
Japan is not very big.
m̀ haih géi not quite Hòhn'gwok m̀haih géi daaih. 5
Korea is not quite big.
1 4 Additional text 🎧
What is your
name? Charlotte’s self-introduction
Jóusàhn, néihdeih hóu! Ngóh haih Charlotte.

Ngóh sing Léih. Ngóh haih Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn.
Ngóh bàhbā haih Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn. Ngóh màhmā haih Jūnggwok yàhn.
Ngóh góng síusíu Gwóngdūngwá.
Hóu gōuhing yihngsīk néihdeih!
5 Exercises and practice
5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation

exercise: 🎧
mā má ma màh máh mah sān sāan gām gāam
tai daai hàhng hàahng gau kaau ngaat baahk sahp dāk
sānsām gaiwaahk hàahng sāan taailáahng baatsahpbaat
5.2 Translate these sentences into English:

Hóu gōuhing yihngsīk néih, ngóh giujouh Charlotte.

Néih pàhngyáuh m̀haih Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn.

Kéuih m̀haih Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn, kèuih haih Hòhn'gwok yàhn.

Hēunggóng m̀haih géi daaih, daahnhaih hóu leng.

Ngóh giu Wayne. Ngóh góng síusíu Gwóngdūngwá.
5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:

Néih gwaising a?

6 Néih giujouh mātyéh méng a?

Néih haih bīn gwok yàhn a? 1
What is your
name?
Gā'nàhdaaih daaih m̀daaih a? Jūnggwok nē?
Néih haih m̀haih Yidaaihleih yàhn a?
Néih pàhngyáuh haih m̀haih Sān'gabō yàhn a?
5.4 Make sentences with given words or structures:

ngóh . . .

. . . haih . . .

. . . m̀haih . . .

. . . leng m̀leng a?

. . . haih m̀haih . . . a?

Ngóh jūngyi . . .

. . . dōu . . .

mātyéh

Ngóhdeih . . .

. . . daahnhaih . . . 7

1 5.5 Write a short paragraph to introduce yourself
What is your
name?
8
LESSON 2
What do you like doing?
- ngyi jouh mātyéh a?
Néih ju
Activity: Asking for simple information.
Context: At the university, Charlotte is talking with John. John is showing her a
photo of his family.

John: Charlotte, kéuihdeih haih ngóh Charlotte, they are my family.
ūkkéi yàhn.
Charlotte: Wa! Yáuh hóu dō yàhn. Yāt, yih, Wow! So many people. One, two,
sāam, sei, nǵh, luhk, chāt, baat. three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Néih ūkkéi yáuh baat go yàhn. Your family has eight people.
John: Hā hā, haih a! Ngóh ūkkéi yáuh Ha ha, yes! My family has eight
baat go yàhn! people.
Charlotte: Hóu dō yàhn a! Kéuihdeih haih Many people! Who are they?
bīn go a?
John: Kéuihdeih haih ngóh bàhbā They are my father and mother,
màhmā, ngóh yèhyé tùhng my grandfather and grandmother
màhmàh, ngóh gùhnggūng tùhng on father’s side, my grandfather
pòhpó. Ngóh yáuh yāt go jèhjē. and grandmother on mother’s
side. I have one elder sister.
Charlotte: Néih jèhjē hóu leng a! Kéuih haih Your elder sister is very pretty! Is
m̀ haih daaihhohksāang a? she a university student?
John: M̀ haih, kéuih m̀haih No, she is not a university
daaihhohksāang. Kéuih yíhgīng student. She is already working.
jouh yéh. Kéuih haih yāt go yīsāng. She is a doctor.
9
(Continued )
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-2
2 (Continued)
What do you
like doing?
Charlotte: Wa! Néih jèhjē hóu lēk a! Kéuih Wow! Your sister is very smart!
yáuh móuh nàahmpàhngyáuh a? Has she got a boyfriend?
John: Ngóh jèhjē yáuh nàahmpàhngyáuh. My sister has a boyfriend. Her
Kéuih nàahmpàhngyáuh haih boyfriend is a lawyer. Both two
leuhtsī. Kéuihdeih léuhng go dōu of them are very tall and very
hóu gōu, hóu leng. good-looking.
Charlotte: John, néih pìhngsìh jūngyi jouh John, what do you usually like
mātyéh a? Jūng m̀jūngyi tái syū a? doing? Do you like reading?
John: Ngóh pìhngsìh jūngyi tái syū, I usually like reading and
duhk syū. studying.
Ngóh dōu jūngyi jouh wahnduhng I also like taking exercise and
tùhng léuihhàhng. travelling.
Jouh wahnduhng, ngóh hóu hōisām. Taking exercise, I am very happy.
Charlotte, néih nē? Néih jūng Charlotte, how about you? Do
m̀ jūngyi jouh wahnduhng a? you like taking exercise?
Charlotte: Ngóh m̀ jūngyi jouh wahnduhng, I don’t like taking exercise; it is
jouh wahnduhng hóu nàahn. difficult taking exercise.
Ngóh jūngyi tēng gō, cheung I like listening to music,
gō. Ngóh jūngyi jyú faahn, dōu singing. I like cooking and also
jūngyi sihk faahn. like eating.
John: Òh, néih jūngyi sihk faahn! Ngóh I see, you like eating! I also like
dōu jūngyi sihk faahn. eating.
Néih jūngyi sihk mātyéh choi a? What kind of food you like
eating?
Charlotte: Ngóh jūngyi sihk Hòhn'gwok I like eating Korean food,
choi, Faatgwok choi. French food.
Daahnhaih, ngóh jeui jūngyi sihk However, I like eating Chinese
Jūnggwok choi. food most.
Néih nē? How about you?
John: Ngóh jeui jūngyi sihk Sān'gabō I like eating Singaporean
choi, yānwaih ngóh haih food most because I am
Sān'gabō yàhn. Singaporean.

ūkkéi noun home, family
10 Wa! interjection Wow!
yáuh verb to have
What do you
hóu dō adjective many like doing?
yāt number one
yih number two
sāam number three
sei number four
nǵh number five
luhk number six
chāt number seven
baat number eight
go classifier piece of
bīn go question word who
hohksāang noun student
daaihhohksāang noun university student
yíhgīng adverb already
jouh yéh verb–object construction to work
yīsāng noun medical doctor
lēk adjective smart
móuh verb not to have
nàahmpàhngyáuh noun boyfriend
néuihpàhngyáuh noun girlfriend
léuhng number two (used with classifiers)
gōu adjective tall
pìhngsìh adverb usually
jūngyi verb to like
jouh verb to do
tái syū verb–object construction to read books
duhk syū verb–object construction to study
wahnduhng noun sports
léuihhàhng verb to travel
hōisām adjective happy
nàahn adjective difficult
tēng gō verb–object construction to listen to songs
cheung gō verb–object construction to sing songs
yih adjective easy 11
jyú faahn verb–object construction to cook meal
(Continued )
2 (Continued)
What do you
like doing?
sihk faahn verb–object construction to eat meal
sihk verb to eat
Òh! interjection I see!
choi noun food, vegetables
jeui adverb indicating the most
superlative degree
yānwaih conjunction because
Here are some more useful phrases:
M̀ hóu yisī! Sorry!

Deui m̀ jyuh! Sorry!
M̀ gányiu It doesn’t matter.
Ngóh m̀ jīdou I don’t know.
Dōjeh Thank you for your present, invitation,
treat, expression of appreciation.
M̀ gōi Thank you (for a favour); excuse me.
M̀ sái haakhei! Don’t mention it!
My pleasure!
Móuh mahntàih No problem.
This is how you address your family members in Cantonese:
gòhgō / jèhjē / dàihdái / mùihmúi /

daaihgō gājē sailóu saimúi
elder brother elder sister younger brother younger sister
bàhbā màhmā
father mother
yèhyé / màhmàh / gùhnggūng / pòhpó /
a yèh a màh a gūng a pòh
grandfather on grandmother on grandfather on grandmother on
father’s side father’s side mother’s side mother’s side
Here are the names of various jobs and professions:
chitgaisī chyùhsī faatyìhngsī fēigēisī gíngchaat

designer chef hair stylist pilot police
geijé gīngléih ginjūksī gūngyàhn gūngchìhngsī
journalist manager architect worker engineer
leuhtsī lóuhsī ngàhyī nùhngfū sīgēi
12
lawyer teacher dentist farmer driver
sipyíngsī wuhsih wuihgaisī yīsāng yínyùhn
photographer nurse accountant medical doctor actor/actress
Note these leisure activities: 2
What do you
tái hei tái dihnsih dá gēi séuhng móhng like doing?
watch movies watch television play video games surf the Internet
tēng yāmngohk dá bō yàuh séui hàahng sāan
listen to music play ball games swim hike
3 Learning points
3.1 Numbers (1~99)
1~10
1 yāt 6 luhk
2 yih 7 chāt
3 sāam 8 baat
4 sei 9 gáu
5 nǵh 10 sahp
11~19
Please note that for the numbers 11 through 19, the leading yāt (‘one’) is omitted.
11 sahpyāt 16 sahpluhk
12 sahpyih 17 sahpchāt
13 sahpsāam 18 sahpbaat
14 sahpsei 19 sahpgáu
15 sahpnǵh
20~90 (integers)
20 yihsahp 60 luhksahp
30 sāamsahp 70 chātsahp
40 seisahp 80 baatsahp
50 nǵhsahp 90 gáusahp
21~99
21 yihsahpyāt 27 yihsahpchāt
22 yihsahpyih 28 yihsahpbaat
23 yihsahpsāam 29 yihsahpgáu
24 yihsahpsei ......
25 yihsahpnǵh 98 gáusahpbaat
26 yihsahpluhk 99 gáusahpgáu
13
3.2 Classifiers
When counting objects in Chinese languages, we need to put a classifier between the
number and the noun, as in ‘one piece of paper’ and ‘a glass of water’ in English.
2 Every noun has its own specific classifier, which should be learnt together with
What do you the noun.
like doing?
Classifier Examples
go sei go daaihhohksāang
four university students
yihsahpchāt go pàhngyáuh
twenty-seven friends
baatsahpbaat go Faatgwokyàhn
eighty-eight French
bún sāam bún syū
three books
3.3 Sentence-final particle: . . . a?
. . . a? is a sentence-final particle putting at the end of a sentence to indicate the sen-
tence is a yes/no question or a wh-question.
e.g., Néih tái m̀tái Jūngmàhn syū a?

Do you read Chinese books?
Néih sihk mātyéh a?

What do you eat?
Here are some more examples of the use of . . . a:
A Néih tái m̀tái Jūngmàhn syū a?

Do you read Chinese books?
B Ngóh tái Jūngmàhn syū. Ngóh jūngyi tái Jūngmàhn syū.
I read Chinese books. I like reading Chinese books.
A Néih jyú m̀jyú Yidaaihleih choi a?
Do you cook Italian cuisine?
B Ngóh m̀ jyú Yidaaihleih choi. Ngóh m̀jūngyi jyú faahn.
I don’t cook Italian food. I don’t like cooking
3.4 Verbs: yáuh (‘to have’) and móuh (‘not to have’)
Cantonese English meaning

yáuh to have
móuh not to have
yáuh móuh to have or not to have?
14
e.g., Ngóh yáuh yāt go jèhjē. 2
I have one elder sister. What do you
like doing?
Ngóh móuh dàihdái.
I don’t have a younger brother.
Here are more examples of the use of yáuh and móuh in the following conversation:
A Néih yáuh móuh Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh a?

Do you have Hong Kong friends?
B Yáuh, ngóh yáuh Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh. Ngóh yáuh sahpluhk go
Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh.
Yes, I have Hong Kong friends. I have sixteen Hong Kong friends.
A Néih yáuh móuh Yidaaihleih pàhngyáuh a?
Do you have Italian friends?
B Móuh, ngóh móuh Yidaaihleih pàhngyáuh.
No, I do not have Italian friends.
3.5 Wh-questions: mātyéh (‘what’) and géi dō (‘how many/

how much’)
Cantonese English Word order Example

meaning
mātyéh what Noun – Verb – mātyéh a? Néih jūngyi mātyéh a?
What do you like?
géi dō how many/ Noun – yáuh – géi dō – Néih yáuh géi dō bún syū a?
how much Classifier – Noun a? How many books do you have?
Here are some more examples of mātyéh and géi dō:
A Néih jouh mātyéh a?

(lit. You do what?)
What do you do?
B Ngóh tái syū.
I read a book.
A Néih tái mātyéh syū a?
What book do you read?
B Ngóh tái Jūngmàhn syū.
I read Chinese book.
A Néih yáuh géi dō bún Jūngmàhn syū a?
How many Chinese books do you have?
B Ngóh yáuh sāam bún Jūngmàhn syū.
I have three Chinese books.
15
What do you
like doing? John’s self-introduction
Daaihgā hóu! Ngóh haih John. Ngóh haih Sān'gabō yàhn. Ngóh yáuh chāt
go ūkkéi yàhn. Ngóh yáuh bàhbā, màhmā, yèhyé, màhmàh tùhng gùnggūng,
pòhpó. Ngóh dōu yáuh yāt go jèhjē. Ngóh jèhjē haih yāt go yīsāng. Kéuih yáuh
nàahmpàhngyáuh. Kéuih nàahmpàhngyáuh haih yāt go leuhtsī.
Ngóh pìhngsìh jūngyi tái syū tùhng jouh wahnduhng. Jouh wahnduhng, ngóh
hóu hōisām. Ngóh hóu jūngyi sihk Jūnggwok choi tùhng Sān'gabō choi.

exercise: 🎧
chē ché che chèh chéh cheh gēng chek séui léuhng
hēung jéui seun pèhng yéh deih chēut yèuhng geuk chèuih
heiséui hēungchéung chekgeuk chēutheui chēlèuhn
Ngóh pìhngsìh jūngyi táisyū tùhng jouh wahnduhng.

Kéuih bàhbā haih yāt go yīsāng.

Ngóh jèhjē jūnyi duhksyū. Kéuih haih yāt go daaihhohksāang.

Kéuih m̀jūngyi jyúfaahn, yānwaih jyúfaahn hóu nàahn.

Ngóh jūngyi sihk Faatgwok choi. Ngóh dōu jūngyi jyú Faatgwok choi.
Néih yáuh géi dō go hóu pàhngyáuh a?

Kéuihdeih haih bīn douh yàhn a?
16

Néih ge ūkkéi yáuh géi dō go yàhn a?

Néih yáuh móuh Jūngmàhn syū a? Yáuh géi dō bún a? 2
What do you
like doing?
Néih pìhngsìh jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?
. . . yáuh . . .

pìhngsìh

Ngóh jūngyi . . ., yānwaih . . .

yáuh móuh . . .

. . . m̀jūngyi . . .

. . . móuh . . .

Néih jūng m̀jūngyi . . .

. . . hóu dō . . .

jeui . . .

. . . yānwaih . . .

5.5 Introduce your family and your friends:
17
LESSON 3
Where can we go to see an art exhibition?
Ngóhdeih hóyíh hái bīn douh tái wájín a?
Activities: Indicating the location and describing hobbies.
Context: During the break, Charlotte asks John if he wants to go to an art exhibition
with her.

Charlotte: John, néih jūng m̀jūngyi tái John, would you like to see an
wájín a? art exhibition?
John: Jūngyi a. I’d like that.
Ngóh hái Sān'gabō, gīngsèuhng When I was in Singapore,
tái wájín. I always went to art
exhibitions.
Charlotte: Néih jūngyi bīn go ge wá a? Whose paintings do you like?
John: Ngóh jūngyi Bātgāsok ge wá. I like Picasso’s paintings.
Kéuih ge wá hóu leng, hóu His paintings are very
dahkbiht. Néih jūng m̀jūngyi beautiful, very special. Do you
kéuih a? like him?
Charlotte: Ngóh dōu jūngyi a. I also like him.
Kèihsaht, ngóh jīdou yáuh yāt In fact, I know that there is
go Bātgāsok ge wájín. an exhibition of Picasso’s
paintings.
Néih séung m̀ séung heui tái a? Do you want to go see?
John: Jānhaih! Ngóh séung heui tái. Really! I want to go see.
Hái bīn douh a? Where is it?
18
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-3
Cantonese text English gloss 3
Where can
Charlotte: Hái Jūngwàahn. It is in Central. we go to
Ngóhdeih hóyíh daap deihtit We can take the subway to see an art
heui Jūngwàahn jaahm, go to Central station, and exhibition?
gānjyuh hàahng louh heui tái then walk to go see the art
wájín. exhibition.
Wájín hái deihtit jaahm The art exhibition is near the
fuhgahn, m̀haih hóu yúhn. subway station, it is not very
far away.
John: Wájín fuhgahn yáuh Near the art exhibition, is there
móuh chāantēng tùhng any restaurant and shopping
sēungchèuhng a? mall?
Ngóhdeih hóyíh heui sihk We can go eat, then go see the
faahn, gānjyuh heui tái wájín. art exhibition.
Charlotte: Gó douh gaaklèih móuh Next to that place, there is no
chāantēng. restaurant.
Néih hóyíh làih ngóh ge ūkkéi You can come to my home
sihk faahn, gānjyuh ngóhdeih and eat, then we go see the art
heui tái wájín. exhibition.
John: Hóu a. Néih jyuh hái bīn douh a? Good. Where do you live?
Charlotte: Ngóh jyuh hái Tùhnglòhwāan. I live in Causeway Bay.
Néih hóyíh daap síubā làih You can take a minibus to
ngóh ūkkéi. come to my home.
Néih dōu hóyíh daap deihtit You can also take the subway
làih. Ngóh ūkkéi hái deihtit to come. My flat is next to the
jaahm pòhngbīn. subway station.
John: Taai hóu la. Ngóh hóyíh máaih That’s great. I can buy some
dī yéh heui néih ūkkéi. food to go to your home.
Néih jūngyi sihk mātyéh a? What would you like to eat?
Charlotte: Ngóh séung sihk pīsàh, dāk I want to eat pizza, is that
m̀ dāk a? okay?
John: Gánghaih dāk lā. Of course.
Fāanké jīsí pīsàh hōu m̀hóu a? Is tomato and cheese pizza
okay?
Charlotte: Hóu a. Hóu yéh! That’s good. Great!

tái verb to see, to watch
19
wájín noun art exhibition
(Continued )
3 (Continued)
Where can
we go to
see an art gīngsèuhng adverb often
exhibition?
wá noun painting, picture
jīdou verb to understand,
to know
Bātgāsok personal name Picasso
dahkbiht adjective special
kèihsaht adverb in fact
séung auxiliary verb would like to, want to
heui verb to go
jānhaih adverb really
hái co-verb in, at, on
bīn douh question word where
hóyíh auxiliary can
daap / verb to travel by, to ride on (a vehicle)
chóh
deihtit noun subway
jaahm noun station
gānjyuh verb to follow
hàahng louh verb–object construction to walk
fuhgahn adverb nearby
yúhn adjective far
chāantēng noun café, restaurant, including those
serving non-Chinese food
tùhng conjunction and
sēungchèuhng noun shopping mall
gó douh adverb there
place word
nī douh adverb here
place word
gaaklèih noun beside, next to
làih verb to come
jyuh hái phrase to live in
síubā noun mini bus
pòhngbīn noun next to
20
taai adverb too
máaih verb to buy
Where can
dī determiner some we go to
see an art
yéh noun things exhibition?
pīsàh noun pizza
gánghaih adverb of course
fāanké noun tomato
jīsí noun cheese
Here are two more useful phrases:
. . ., dāk m̀dāk a? . . ., is it okay?

Hóu yéh! Wonderful!
Here are some more place names in Hong Kong:
Jūngwàahn Gāmjūng Wāanjái Tùhnglòh wāan Seuhng’wàahn

Central Admiralty Wan Chai Causeway Bay Sheung Wan
Tīnhauh Paautòih Sāan Bāk Gok Taai Gú Gīnnèihdeih
Tin Hau Fortress Hill North Point Tai Koo Sìhng
Kennedy Town
Jākyùh Chūng Sāi Wāan Hó Sāaugēi Wāan Hahngfā Chàaih Wāan
Quarry Bay Sai Wan Ho Shau Kei Wan Chyūn Chai Wan
Heng Fa Chuen
Jódēun Jīmsājéui Yàuhmàhdéi Wohnggok Hùhngham
Jordan Tsim Sha Tsui Yau Ma Tei Mong Kok Hung Hom
Sāmséuibóu Wòhngdaaisīn Jyunsehk Sāan Gáulùhng Gūntòhng
Sham Shui Po Wong Tai Sin Diamond Hill Wāan Kwun Tong
Kowloon Bay
Taaijí Sehkgipméih Chóihùhng Ngàuhtàuhgok Làahmtìhn
Prince Eward Shek Kip Mei Choi Hung Ngau Tau Kok Lam Tin
Sātìhn Fótaan Daaih Wàih Gáulùhng Daaihbou
Sha Tin Fo Tan Tai Wai tòhng Tai Po
Kowloon Tong
Fánléhng Seuhngséui Lòhwùh Gēi Chèuhng Chīng Yī
Fanling Sheung Shui Lo Wu Airport Tsing Yi
Laihgíng Laihjīgok Kwàihfōng Méihfū Chyùhnwāan
Lai King Lai Chi Kok Kwai Fong Mei Foo Tsuen Wan
Ouwàhn Dūngchūng Jēunggwān’ou Dihksihnèih Hóiyèuhng
Olympic Tung Chung Tseung Kwan O Disneyland Gūngyún 21
Ocean Park
3 Here are some other place words:
Where can
we go to chìhn bihn / hauh bihn / jó bihn / yauh bihn /
see an art chìhn mihn hauh mihn jó mihn yauh mihn
exhibition? front back left right
seuhng bihn / hah bihn / léuih bihn / ngoih bihn /
seuhng mihn hah mihn léuih mihn / ngoih mihn /
above, on top of below, under yahp bihn / chēut bihn /
yahp mihn chēut mihn/
inside outside
Here are the names of various shops:
syūgúk sìhjōng dim faai chāan dim

bookstore fashion shop fast food shop
bihnleih dim daahngōu dim chīukāp síhchèuhng
convenience store cake shop supermarket
mihnbāau póu dihnhei póu sáiyī dim
bakery electronic appliance shop laundry
tìhmbán dim yeuhkfòhng jaahpfo póu
dessert shop pharmacy grocery
jyūbóu dim gafē dim wuhngeuih dim
jewellery shop coffee shop toy store
Here are some means of transportation:
bāsí dīksí syùhn

bus taxi ferry/boat
deihtit fóchē gōutit
subway train high speed rail
dihnchē Sāandéng laahmchē dāanchē
tram Peak tram bicycle
dihn dāanchē fēigēi jihksīng gēi
motorcycle aeroplane helicopter
3 Learning points
3.1 The use of yáuh to indicate location

Yáuh means ‘to have, to possess’ or ‘there is/are’. Place words are put before yáuh
22 to indicate the place of existence.
e.g., Ngóh ūkkéi fuhgahn yáuh yāt gāan chīukāp síhchèuhng. 3
There is a supermarket near my home. Where can
we go to
Ngóh ge sáudói léuih bihn yáuh géijēung jí tùhng yāt go sáugēi. see an art
exhibition?
Inside my handbag, there are several pieces of paper and a mobile phone.
Here are some more examples of yáuh:
A Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn, yáuh mātyéh poutáu a?

Near your flat, what kind of shops are there?
B Ngóh ūkkéi fuhgahn yáuh hóu dō chāantēng tùhng yāt gāan hóu daaih ge
chīukāp síhchèuhng.
Near my flat, there are many restaurants and a very big supermarket.
A Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn yáuh móuh sēungchèuhng a?
Is there any shopping mall near your flat?
B Ngóh ūkkéi fuhgahn móuh sēungchèuhng.
There is no shopping mall near my flat.
3.2 Co-verb: hái (‘in /at/on’)

The co-verb hái describes ‘something/somebody is located at/in/on a place’. Hái is
followed by a place word. The negative form is to put m̀ in front of hái.
Noun – hái – Place word Noun – m̀ hái – Place word

Néih hái ngóh chìhnbihn Léih sīnsāang m̀hái ūkkéi
You are in front of me. Mr. Lee is not at home.
Chīukāp sìhchèuhng hái ngàhnhòhng Ngóh ge syū m̀hái tói seuhng bihn.
chìhnbihn. My book is not on the table.
Supermarket is in front of the bank.
If there is a time word in a sentence, the time word is placed before hái.
Noun – Time word – hái – Place word Noun – Time word – m̀ hái – Place word
Léih sīnsāang gāmyaht hái ūkkéi Léih sīnsāang gāmyaht m̀ hái ūkkéi
Mr. Lee is at home today. Mr. Lee is not at home today.
Here are some more examples of hái:
A Peter, néih hái bīn douh a?

Peter, where are you?
B Ngóh hái ūkkéi.
I am at home.
A Néih hái ūkkéi jouh mātyéh a?
What do you do at home?
B Ngóh hái ūkkéi tái dihnsih.
I watch television at home.
23
3 3.3 The use of ge
Where can
we go to The word ge is a possessive marker, similar to the apostrophe ‘s’ as in ‘Peter’s book’.
see an art
exhibition? e.g., ngóh ge pàhngyáuh
my friend
kéuih ge màhmā
his/her mother
Ngóh ge pàhngyáuh heui Hòhn'gwok.

My friends go to Korea.
Kéuihdeih làih ngóh ge ūkkéi sihk faahn.

They come to my flat to have a meal.
4 Additional text 🎧
Talking about an art gallery
John hóu jūngyi tái wájín. John tùhng Charlotte dōu hóu jūngyi Bātgāsok ge
wá. Charlotte tùhng John yātchàih heui tái Bātgāsok ge wájín. Nī go wájín hái
Jūngwàahn, hái deihtit jaahm fuhgahn. Charlotte jyuh hái Tùhnglòhwāan.
John heui Charlotte ūkkéi sihk faahn, gānjyuh yātchàih heui tái wájín.

exercise: 🎧
yaujihyún síuhohk jūnghohk daaihhohk jáudim
syūgúk heiyún mihnbāaupóu sáiyīdim ngàhnhòhng
jáulàuh gēichèuhng chējaahm wuhngeuihdim fuhkjōngdim
hàaihpóu yīyún bihnleihdim yàuhjaahm yàuhgúk
gafēdim chāaigún sēungchèuhng tìhngchēchèuhng gūngyún

Kéuih ūkkéi fahngahn yáuh yāt go sēungchèuhng.
Ngóh jīdou Jūngwàahn jaahm pòhngbīn yáuh yāt go síubā jaahm.

24 Ngóh pìhngsìh jūngyi tēng gō tùhng tái wájín.

Ngóhdeih hóyíh heui chāantēng sihk pīsàh, gānjyuh heui tái wájín. 3
Where can
we go to
see an art
Chāantēng hái deihtit jaahm fuhgahn. Ngóhdeih hóyíh daap deihtit heui. exhibition?

Néih jyuh hái bīn douh a?
Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn yáuh móuh sēungchèuhng a?
Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn, yáuh mātyéh a?
Deihtit jaahm hái bīn douh a?
Néih jūng m̀jūngyi tái wájín a? Néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh?

Ngóh jīdou . . .
hóyíh
nī douh
hó m̀ hóyíh
bīn douh
. . . dāk m̀dāk a? 25

3 . . . séung . . .
Where can
we go to

see an art
exhibition? . . . tùhng . . .
. . . m̀séung . . ., yānwaih . . .
. . . hái . . .
5.5 Write a short passage about your neighbourhood:
26
LESSON 4
What is the date today?
Gāmyaht haih géi yuht géi houh a?
Activity: Talking about dates.
Context: At lunch, Charlotte talks to John about buying birthday presents for her family.

Gāmyaht haih yāt yuht Today is 26 January, Sunday.
yihsahpluhk houh, sīngkèih yaht. John is meeting Charlotte and
John gindóu Charlotte, kéuih asks her a question.
mahn Charlotte.
John: Charlotte, gāmyaht haih sīngkèih Charlotte, today is Sunday,
yaht, néih jouh mātyéh a? what are you doing?
Charlotte: Gāmyaht ngóh yiu heui máaih Today I need to go to buy a
láihmaht. present.
John: Máaih mātyéh láihmaht a? What present are you buying?
Charlotte: Ngóh máaih sāangyaht láihmaht, I am buying a birthday present.
ngóh bàhbā hah go láihbaai yāt Next Monday is my father’s
sāangyaht. birthday.
John: Néih séung máaih mātyéh What do you want to buy as a
sāangyaht láihmaht a? birthday present?
Charlotte: Ngóh séung béi yāt go sáugēi kéuih. I want to buy a mobile phone
for him.
Ngóh bàhbā ge dihnwá sìhsìhdōu My father’s phone always has
yáuh mahntàih. problems.
Néih gāmyaht yáuh móuh Do you have time today?
sìhgaan a? Bātyùh yātchàih heui, How about we go together,
hóu m̀ hóu a? is that okay? 27
(Continued )
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-4
4 (Continued)
What is the
date today?
John: Hóu a. Yātchàih heui lā. That’s fine. Let’s go together.
Haih la, Charlotte, néih géisìh By the way, Charlotte, when is
sāangyaht a? your birthday?
Charlotte: Ngóh sāangyaht haih sahpyih My birthday is on
yuht yihsahpnǵh houh. December 25.
John: Néih Singdaanjit sāangyaht àh? Your birthday is on Christmas
Hóu hóu! day? Very nice!
Charlotte: Haih a, bātgwo, ngóh múihchi Yes, but I only get one present
dōu jíyáuh yāt fahn láihmaht. every time.
Ngóh bàhbā màhmā múihchi My father and mother always
dōu góng: ‘Nī fahn haih néih ge say, ‘This is your Christmas
Singdaanjit tùhng sāangyaht and birthday present!’
láihmaht!’
John: Charlotte, néih m̀hóu m̀ hōisām lā. Charlotte, don’t be unhappy.
Haih la, néih bàhbā jouh bīn By the way, what is your
hòhng a? father’s job?
Charlotte: Ngóh bàhbā haih yīsāng. Kéuih My father is a medical doctor.
sìhsìhdōu m̀dākhàahn. He is always busy.
Múih yaht ngóh dōu tùhng ngóh ge Every day I play with my
mùihmúi wáan tùhng sihk faahn. younger sister and eat with her.
John: Néih ge múi géi dō seui a? How old is your younger
sister?
Charlotte: Kéuih gāmnìhn sahpsei seui. She is 14 years old.
John: Kéuih gāmnìhn sāangyaht, néih This year, for her birthday,
béi mātyéh kéuih a? what did you give her?
Charlotte: Kéuih gāmnìhn sāangyaht, ngóh This year for her birthday,
béi yāt go sān syūbāau tùhng yāt I gave her a new school bag
hahp jyūgūlīk kéuih. and a box of chocolates.
John: Hóu hóu! Very nice!

gindóu phrase can meet
mahn verb to ask
gāmyaht time word today
28 sīngkèih yaht time word Sunday
What is the
yiu verb to want, to need date today?
láihmaht noun gift

yāt fahn láihmaht phrase one gift
sāangyaht noun birthday
hah go láihbaai time word next week
láihbaai yāt time word Monday
béi verb to give
sáugēi noun mobile phone
dihnwá noun telephone
mahntàih noun problem
sìhgaan noun time
bātyùh phrase it is better
yātchàih adverb together
géisìh question word when
sahpyih yuht time word December
Singdaanjit noun Christmas
. . . àh? sentence-final particle for tag questions . . . isn’t it?
bātgwo conjunction but
múihchi phrase every time
jíyáuh phrase only have
bīn hòhng question word what job
dākhàahn adjective have free time
múih yaht phrase every day
wáan verb to play
géi dō seui question word how old
gāmnìhn time word this year
syūbāau noun schoolbag
sān adjective new
jyūgūlīk noun chocolate
yāt hahp jyūgūlīk phrase a box of chocolate
sìhsìhdōu . . . . . . all the time

Haih la! . . . By the way! . . . 29
4 Here are some more shopping items:
What is the
date today? sēutsāam T-sēut fu kwàhn
shirt T-shirt trousers skirt
hàaih maht sáubīu / bīu ngàhnbāau
shoes socks waist watch purse
tāai sīgān pèihdáai móu
necktie scarf belt hat
sáudói daahn'gōu syū sāangyaht kāat
handbag cake book birthday card
Here are some more fast foods:
sāanmàhnjih honbóubāau dōsí yiht gáu

sandwiches hamburger toast hot dog
kūkkèihbéng syùhpín syùhtíu guhk syùh
cookies potato chips French fries baked potatoes
ja gāi ja gāiyihk ja gāibéi sāi dōsí
deep fried chicken deep fried chicken deep fried French toast
wings drumsticks
pìhnggwó pāi bōlòh bāau yidaaihleih fán / wàhntān mihn
apple pie pineapple bun yifán wonton noodles
spaghetti
syutgōu náaihsīk hólohk gwó jāp
ice cream milkshake coke fruit juice
náaihchàh jānjyū náaihchàh gafē nìhngmūng chàh /
milk tea bubble tea coffee níngchàh
lemon tea
3 Learning points
3.1 Time words: nìhn, yuht, yaht, sīngkèih (‘year, month,

day, and week’)
e.g., Gāmyaht haih yih lìhng sāam sei nìhn, nǵh yuht chāt houh, sīngkèih yaht.
Today is 7 May 2034, Sunday.
Below are examples of more time words:
Days of the week
30 sīngkèih sīngkèih sīngkèih sīngkèih sīngkèih sīngkèih sīngkèih

yaht yāt yih sāam sei nǵh luhk
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
January ~ December 4
What is the
yāt yuht yih yuht sāam yuht sei yuht date today?
January February March April
nǵh yuht luhk yuht chāt yuht baat yuht
May June July August
gáu yuht sahp yuht sahpyāt yuht sahpyih yuht
September October November December
Year
chìhnnín gauhnín gāmnín chēutnín hauhnín

the year before last year this year next year the year after
last year next year
Month
seuhng go yuht nī go yuht hah go yuht

last month this month next month
Week
seuhng go sīngkèih nī go sīngkèih hah go sīngkèih

last week this week next week
Day
chìhnyaht kàhmyaht gāmyaht tīngyaht hauhyaht

the day before yesterday today tomorrow the day after
yesterday tomorrow
There are more examples of time words in the following conversation:
A Gāmyaht haih géi yuht géi houh, sīngkèih géi a?

(lit. Today is which month, which date, which day of the week?)
What is the date today?
B Gāmyaht haih yih lìhng yih sei nìhn yāt yuht yihsahpyih houh, sīngkèih yāt.
Today is 22 January 2024, Monday.
A Néih hah go sīngkèih sāam jouh mātyéh a?
(lit. You next Wednesday do what?)
What do you do next Wednesday?
B Ngóh hah go sīngkèih sāam heui ngàhnhòhng.
(lit. I next Wednesday go bank.)
I go to the bank next Wednesday.
A Néih chēutnín séung m̀séung heui Gā'nàhdaaih a?
Do you want to go to Canada next year?
B Ngóh chēutnín m̀séung heui Gā'nàhdaaih. Ngóh chēutnín séung heui 31
Sāibāanngàh.
I don’t want to go to Canada next year. I want to go to Spain.
4 Note that time words can serve as adverbs and can go before or after the subject of a
What is the sentence.
date today?
e.g., Gāmyaht, ngóh máaih sāangyaht láihmaht.
Today, I buy birthday gift.
or Ngóh gāmyaht máaih sāangyaht láihmaht.

I, today, buy birthday gift.
3.2 Question word: géisìh (‘when’)

Géisìh is a question word that means ‘when’ in Cantonese.
e.g., Néih géisìh jyú faahn a?

(lit. You when cook?)
When do you cook?
Kéuih géisìh máaih yéh a?

When do you do shopping?
Néih géisìh sāangyaht a?

When is your birthday?
Here are more examples of géisìh:
A Néih ge màhmā géisìh sāangyaht a?

(lit. Your mother when birthday?)
When is your mother’s birthday?
B Kéuih gáu yuht sahp houh sāangyaht.
(lit. She September 10th birthday.)
Her birthday is 10 September.
A Néih géisìh máaih láihmaht a?
When do you buy a gift?
B Ngóh tīngyaht máaih láihmaht.
I buy gifts tomorrow.
3.3 Verb: béi (‘to give’)

The verb béi means ‘to give’. The construction is béi an object to a person. Please
note that the order of the object and the person cannot be changed.
e.g., Ngóh béi yāt go syūbāau kéuih.

I give a schoolbag to him/her.
Here are more examples:
Ngóh béi luhksahp mān kéuih.

32 I give sixty dollars to him/her.
Kéuih sāangyaht, ngóh béi yāt fahn láihmaht kéuih. 4
On his/her birthday, I give a gift to him/her. What is the
date today?
Gāmnìhn Singdaanjit, néih béi mātyéh kéuih a?
What do you give him/her this Christmas?
As demonstrated in Lesson 2, there is no need to change word order of the sentence

to form wh-questions in Cantonese.
e.g., Néih béi mātyéh néih ge ūkkéi yàhn a?

What do you give to your family members?
Answering wh-question, you just need to substitute the wh-word with the answer.
e.g., Ngóh béi Sānnìhn kāat kéuihdeih

I give a New Year’s card to them.
Here are more examples of béi in the following conversation:
A Gāmnìhn Sānnìhn, néih béi mātyéh néih ge ūkkéi yàhn a?

This year’s New Year, what do you give to your family members?
B Gāmnìhn Sānnìhn, ngóh béi Sānnìhn kāat kéuihdeih. Néih béi m̀béi
Sānnìhn kāat kéuihdeih a?
This year’s New Year, I give New Year cards to them. Do you give New Year
cards to them?
A Ngóh m̀ béi. Ngóh séung béi jyūgūlīk kéuihdeih.
I don’t give (New Year cards). I want to give chocolate to them.
3.4 Construction: dá dihnwá béi . . . (‘to phone someone’)

The word béi is obligatory in dá dihnwá béi . . . construction.
e.g., Tīngyaht, Ngóh dá dihnwá béi néih.

Tomorrow, I call you.
Ngóh yiu hōi wúi, m̀hóyíh dá dihnwá béi pàhngyáuh.

I need to have a meeting and cannot call my friends.
3.5 Tag question: . . . àh? (‘. . . isn’t it?’)

. . . àh? is used in a tag question. It can be put at the end of a sentence.
e.g., Hòhn'gwok hóu leng àh?

Korea is very pretty, isn’t it?
Hēunggóng m̀daaih àh?

Hong Kong is not big, is it?
33
4 Néih haih Yidaaihleih yàhn àh?
What is the You are Italian, aren’t you?
date today?
Kéuih m̀haih Léih sīnsāang àh?
He is not Mr. Lee, is he?
Talking about birthday presents
Gāmyaht haih yāt yuht yihsahpluhk houh. Charlotte gāmyaht heui máaih
sāangyaht láihmaht. Kéuih bàhbā hah go láihbaai sāangyaht. Kéuih bàhbā ge
dihnwá sìhsìhdōu yáuh mahntàih. Kéuih séung béi yāt go dihnwá kéuih.
Charlotte ge mùihmúi gāmnìhn sahpsei seui. Gāmnìhn mùihmúi sāangyaht,
Charlotte béi yāt go sān syūbāau tùhng yāt hahp jyūgūlīk kéuih. Kéuih mùihmúi
hóu hōisām.

exercise: 🎧
sī sí si sìh síh sih yiu jīm chín chíng
tit lìhng tìhng chīk jihk gin gim gip ging giu
jīmgiu chīsin sìhngyihng sīnyihm deihtit

Ngóh séung béi yāt hahp jyūgūlīk ngóh jèhjē.
Gāmyaht haih sīngkèih luhk, ngóh séung heui sēungchèhng máaihyéh.
Ngóh bàhbā hah go yuht sāangyaht. Ngóh séung máaih láihmaht béi kéuih.
Kéuih ge sāangyaht haih yāt yuht yāt houh.

34
Gāmnìhn Singdaanjit ngóh séung máaih yāt go sáugēi béi ngóh mùihmúi.

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese: 4
What is the
Gāmyaht haih géi yuht géi houh, sīngkèih géi a? Tīngyaht nē? date today?
Néih sāangyaht, néih pàhngyáuh béi mātyéh néih a?
Hah go sīngkèih yaht, néih séung jouh mātyéh a?
Gāmnìhn Singdaanjit, néih séung jouh mātyéh a?

hōisām
séung m̀ séung . . .
máaih
jouh mātyéh
. . . yātcháih . . .
géisìh
. . . bātgwo . . .
. . . heui . . .
35

4 . . . fuhgahn . . .
What is the
date today?

. . . jānhaih . . .
5.5 Write a short passage on ‘My birthday’
36
LESSON 5
What time are we going to see a movie?
Ngóhdeih géi dím heui tái hei a?
Activities: Talking about time and scheduling activities.
Context: Charlotte invites John to see a movie, but John is very busy today.

Charlotte: John, néih jūng m̀jūngyi tái John, would you like to see a
hei a? Jeuigahn yáuh yāt tou movie? Recently there is a good
dihnyíng hóu hóu tái. movie.
Néih séung m̀ séung tùhng Do you want to go with me to the
ngóh yātchàih heui fuhgahn cinema in the nearby shopping
sēungchèuhng ge heiyún tái a? mall to see this movie?
John: Hóu a! Ngóh dōu jūngyi tái hei. Great! I’d also like to see a movie.
Ngóhdeih yātchàih tái lā. Let’s see together.
Charlotte: Gāmyaht haih sīngkèih luhk. Today is Saturday.
Ngóh gāmyaht dākhàahn. I am free today.
Gāmyaht yātchàih heui lā. Let’s go today.
John: Gāmyaht. Dáng ngóh táiháh. Today. Let me take a look.
Néih séung géi dím heui a? What time do you want to go?
Charlotte: Ngóhdeih hóyíh ngaanjau We can have lunch together today,
yātchàih sihk ngaan, gānjyuh and then go see a movie, is that
heui tái hei, hóu m̀hóu a? okay?
John: Gāmyaht ngaanjau ngóh yiu Today at mid-day, I need to have a
hái hohkhaauh hōi wúi. meeting at my school.
Ngóhdeih sihk ngaan gójahnsìh When we have lunch, we have a
hōi wúi. meeting.
37
(Continued )
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-5
5 (Continued)
What time are
we going to
see a movie?
Charlotte: Wa! Sīngkèih luhk dōu yiu hōi Wow! Saturday, you need to have
wúi. a meeting.
Néih hōi wúi yiu géi noih nē? Your meeting will be how long?
Hōiyùhn wúi heui dāk m̀dāk a? After the meeting, is it okay to go
(to see the movie)?
John: Gāmyaht yiu hōi léuhng go Today we need to meet for two
jūngtàuh wúi, yàuh ngaanjau hours, from twelve noon to two
sahpyih dím dou hahjau léuhng pm.
dím.
Charlotte: Gám, hahjau sāam dím bun nē? Then, how about half past three in
the afternoon?
John Gāmyaht hahjau sāam dím This afternoon at half past three,
bun, ngóh wúih heui yīyún I’m going to the hospital to visit
taam ngóh pàhngyáuh. my friend.
Charlotte: Gám, yehmáahn dāk m̀dāk a? Well, is the evening okay?
John: Yehmáahn ngóh pàhngyáuh This evening, my friends are
yáuh yāt go sāangyaht wúi. having a birthday party.
Ngóh wúih tùhng kéuihdeih I will eat with them.
sihk faahn.
Charlotte: Gám, sihkyùhn máahnfaahn Well, how about after dinner?
nē?
John: Ngóh gú sihkyùhn máahnfaahn, I guess I’ll be quite tired after
ngóh wúih géi guih. dinner.
Sihkyùhn máahnfaahn ngóh After dinner, I want to
séung jīkhāak fāan ūkkéi chūng immediately go back home, take a
lèuhng, fan gaau. shower, and go to sleep.
Charlotte: Wa! Néih gāmyaht hóu mòhng. Wow! You are so busy today.
Gám, tīngyaht dāk m̀dāk a? Well, is tomorrow okay?
John: Dáng ngóh táiháh ngóh ge Let me take a look at my schedule
sìhgaanbíu sīn. first.
Ngóh chāt dím héi sān. Héi sān I wake up at seven o’clock. After
jīhauh tùhng pàhngyáuh dá bō. I wake up, I’m playing a ball game
with my friend.
Dáyùhn bō tùhng kéuih After playing the ball game, we
yātchàih sihk jóuchāan. are having breakfast together.
Gānjyuh, ngóh yiu tùhng Then, I need to go with my
tùhnghohk heui tòuhsyūgún classmates to the library to look
wán géi bún syū yātchàih jouh for several books to do research
yìhn'gau. together.
38
What time are
Charlotte: Wa! Néih nī go sīngkèih hóu Wow! This week you are so busy. we going to
mòhng. see a movie?
Gám, ngóhdeih hah go láihbaai Then, let’s go next week then.
heui lā.
John: Hóu a! Ngóh hah go sīngkèih Okay! I am free next Saturday.
luhk hóu dākhàahn.
Ngóhdeih hah go sīngkèih luhk Let’s go next Saturday.
heui lā.
Charlotte: Hóu, hah go sīngkèih joi yeuk Okay, I will confirm with you
néih lā. again next week.
John: Hóu, joi yeuk! Okay, let’s confirm (then)!

jeuigahn adverb recently
yāt tou dihnyíng phrase one movie
hóu tái adjective interesting, good-looking
heiyún noun cinema
géi dím question word what time
ngaan jau / time word noon
jūngnǵh
seuhngjau time word morning
jīujóu time word morning
sihk ngaahn verb–object construction to have lunch
tùhnghohk noun classmate
hōi wúi verb–object construction to have a meeting
gójahnsìh conjunction when, while
géi noih question word how long
léuhng go jūngtàuh phrase two hours
jūngtàuh noun hour
fānjūng noun minute
hahjau time word afternoon
yàuh . . . dou . . . construction from . . . to . . . (time)
sāam dím bun phrase half past three
39
wúih auxiliary verb will
(Continued )
5 (Continued)
What time are
we going to
see a movie?
yīyún noun hospital
taam verb to visit (a person)
yehmáahn time word at night
sāangyaht wúi noun birthday party
máahnfaahn noun dinner
gú verb to guess
guih adjective tired
jīkhāak adverb immediately
fāan verb to go back
chūng lèuhng verb–object construction to take a shower
fan gaau verb–object construction to sleep
mòhng adjective busy
sìhgaanbíu noun timetable
héi sān verb–object construction to wake up
jīhauh adverb afterwards
jóuchāan noun breakfast
tòuhsyūgún noun library
wán verb to find
géi determiner several
yìhn'gau noun research
verb to research
joi adverb again
Note these six useful phrases:
Dáng ngóh táiháh! Let me see!

gám . . . then . . .
Joi yeuk! Confirm again!
Hóu noih móuh gin! Long time no see!
Jeuigahn dím a? How are you recently?
Faaidī la, chìhdou la! Hurry up, we’ll be late!
Here are more leisure activities:
hāahngsāan dá yúhmòuhkàuh dá làahmkàuh dá gōuyíhfūkàuh

go hiking play badminton play basketball play golf
40 dá bīngbām bō tek jūkkàuh / jouh yùhgā gihnsān
play table tennis tek bō do yoga do fitness exercises/
play soccer workout
cháai dāanchē louhyìhng yàuhséui chìhmséui 5
ride bicycle go camping swim go diving What time are
we going to
waaht séui waaht syut làuhbīng diu yú see a movie?
go waterskiing go skiing go ice skating go fishing
tái syū tái wá'kehk tái dihnsih tēng yāmngohk
read books watch drama watch television listen to music
dá gēi yíng séung máaih yéh tái yíncheungwúi
play video games take photographs go shopping watch concerts
3 Learning points
3.1 Question word: géi dím (‘what time’)

Géi dím means ‘what time’ in Cantonese.
e.g., Néih géi dím héi sān a?

What time do you wake up?
Yìhgā géi dím a?

What time is it now?
The answer will be a clock time.
Ngóh luhk dím héi sān

I wake up at 6:00.
Here are some more examples of géi dím:
A Néih géi dím héi sān a?

What time do you wake up?
B Ngóh luhk dím héi sān.
I wake up at 6 o’clock.
A Néih géi dím sihk jóuchāan a?
What time do you have breakfast?
B Ngóh chāt dím yihsahp fān sihk jóuchāan.
I have breakfast at 7:20.
A Kàhmyaht, néih géi dím sihk máahnfaahn a?
Yesterday, what time did you have your dinner?
B Kàhmyaht, ngóh yehmáahn baat dím bun sihk máahnfaahn.
Yesterday, I had my dinner at half past eight.
A Pìhngsìh, néih géi dím fan gaau a?
Usually, what time do you sleep?
B Pìhngsìh, ngóh yehmáahn sahp dím bun fan gaau.
Usually, I sleep at half past ten at night.
41
5 Two systems can be used to talk about clock time.
What time are
we going to (1) X dím Y fān
see a movie? This system tells the precise time.
e.g., luhk dím yihsahpyih fān
6:22
gáu dím seisahp fān
9:40
sahpyāt dím lìhng sāam fān
11:03
(2) X dím Y (go jih)
One hour can be divided into twelve portions in Cantonese. Each potion refers
to five minutes. Therefore, yāt go jih in Cantonese means five minutes. Léuhng
go jih means ten minutes. Sāam go jih means fifteen minutes. And so on.
e.g., yāt dím sāam (go jih)
1:15
yāt dím sei (go jih)
1:20
yāt dím nǵh (go jih)
1:25
yāt dím bun
(lit. one o’clock half)
1:30
3.2 Question word: géi noih (‘how much time’)

Géi noih is used to ask how much time is spent in doing something. The time spent
is put between the verb–object construction.
e.g., Kéuih tái léuhng go jūngtàuh syū.

He/she reads books for 2 hours.
Ngóh múih yaht jouh bun go jūngtàuh wahnduhng.

I do sport for half an hour every day.
Note the examples of géi noih in the following conversation:
A Múih yaht, néih jouh géi noih wahnduhng a?

Every day, how much time do you spend in taking exercise?
B Múih yaht, ngóh jouh léuhng go jūngtàuh wahnduhng.
Every day, I take exercise for two hours.
A Yùhgwó (‘if’) néih fāan Gā'nàhdaaih, néih yiu chóh géi noih fēigēi a?
If you go back to Canada, how long do you need to fly (by plane)?
B Yùhgwó ngóh fāan Gā'nàhdaaih, ngóh yiu chóh sahpyih go jūngtàuh
fēigēi.
If I go back to Canada, I need to fly for twelve hours.
42
3.3 Conjunction: gójahnsìh (‘when, while’) 5
What time are
Gójahnsìh is a conjunction word in Cantonese that means ‘when’ or ‘while’. we going to
see a movie?
e.g., Ngóh dākhàahn gójahnsìh, ngóh jūngyi tái dihnsih.
When I am free, I like to watch television.
Ngóh tái dihnsih gójahnsìh, ngóh jūngyi sihk lìhngsihk (‘snacks’).

When I watch television, I like to eat snacks.
Sīngkèih yaht gójahnsìh, ngóh hái ūkkéi fan gaau.

When it is Sunday, I sleep at home.
Ngóh sahpbaat seui gójahnsìh, ngóh ge néuihpàhngyáuh béi nī go bīu ngóh.

When I was 18 years old, my girlfriend gave this watch to me.
3.4 Co-verb: tùhng (‘with’)

Tùhng means ‘be together with’ and is usually used with yātchàih (‘together’).
e.g., Ngóh tùhng ngóh ge màhmā yātchàih heui Yahtbún léuihhàhng.

I go travel to Japan with my mother.
Gāmmáahn ngóh m̀tùhng néih yātchàih sihk faahn. Ngóh yiu hōi wúi.
I cannot eat with you tonight. I need to have a meeting.
Note the use of tùhng in the following conversation:
A Tīngyaht, néih wúih tùhng bīn go yātchàih sihk faahn a?

Tomorrow, with whom do you want to dine?
B Ngóh séung tùhng Charlotte yātchàih heui sihk faahn.
I want to go to eat with Charlotte.
3.5 Verb suffix: -yùhn (‘finish’)

The verb suffix -yùhn is placed after a verb denote completion and serves to indicate
temporal relationships between clauses.
e.g., Ngóh sihkyùhn faahn jīhauh, ngóh séung heui tái hei.
After I have finished eating, I want to go to watch a movie.
Néih duhkyùhn daaihhohk jīhauh, néih séung jouh mātyéh a?

After you have finished university, what do you want to do?
43
What time are
we going to John’s schedule
see a movie?
Gāmyaht, John hóu mòhng, kéuih yiu jouh hóu dō yéh. Jīujóu luhk dím, kéuih
héi sān.
Gāmjīu luhk dím gáu dou chāt dím bun John jouh seisahpnǵh fānjūng wahn-
duhng, jīhauh heui sihk jóuchāan. Daahnhaih kéuih m̀séung jyú jóuchāan, gám
kéuih m̀ hái ūkkéi sihk jóuchāan la. Kéuih heui fuhgahn ge faaichāan dim sihk
yéh. Kéuih m̀hái ūkkéi sihk jóuchāan, kéuih m̀hóyíh sihk jóuchāan gójahnsìh tái
dihnsih la. Bātgwo, sihk jóuchāan gójahnsìh, John hóyíh séuhng móhng tái yéh.
Jīujóu chāt dím bun, kéuih jouh wahnduhng jīhauh, kéuih jīkhāak heui faaic-
hāan dim la.

exercise: 🎧
jung fā tai sōu ngonmō jouh fēisòuh tong sāam
sé jih jouh gāmouh sái wún sou deih tō deih
sái sāam dá màhjéuk dá gēi jūk kéi dá móhngkàuh
dá pàaihkàuh tek bō chìhm séui cháai dāanchē waaht syut
làuh bīng cheung kēi cháai diu yú tiu móuh
waahtbáan

Nī go sīngkèih yaht ngóh séung tùhng nèih yātchàih heui heiyún tái hei.
Ngóh séung tīngyaht ngaanjau yāt dím dá dihnwá béi ngóh màhmā.
Gāmyaht ngóh yàuh hahjau léuhng dím dou sāam dím hōi wúi.
Ngóh gāmyaht hōiyùhn wúi, ngóh yiu heui yīyún taam yāt go pàhngyáuh.
Kéuih nī go sīngkèih hóu mòhng, daahnhaih hah go láihbaai hóu dākhàahn.

44

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese: 5
What time are
Múih yaht, néih géi dím héi sān, géi dím sihk jóuchāan a? we going to
see a movie?
Néih dímyéung (‘how’) làih nī douh a? Yiu géi noih a?
Néih jī m̀jī yìhgā géi dím a?
Néih géi dím dou géi dím jouh wahnduhng a? Kàhmmáahn gáu dím bun, néih
jouh mātyéh a?
Néih daap fóchē gójahnsìh, néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?
Néih hōisām gójahnsìh, néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?

jīujóu
jeuigahn
. . . gójahnsìh . . .
yehmáahn
géi dím
yàuh . . . dou . . .

. . . jīkhāak . . .
45
5 . . . wán . . .
What time are
we going to

see a movie?
. . . jīhauh . . .
. . . géi noih . . .
5.5 Answer the questions using the information provided

A concert poster
Cantopop
yāmngohk wúi [concert]
Date: 28 February (Friday)
Time: 19:00–21:30
Location: Central Park
Fee: Free of charge
More information: www.cantopop.org
Géisìh yáuh Cantopop yāmngohk wúi a? géi dím a?
Hái bīn douh yáuh Cantopop yāmngohk wúi a?
Sái m̀sái chín a? Ngóh séung jīdou dōdī, ngóh tái mātyéh a?
A television schedule
Sunday Cantonese programme 7:30 am

Gwóngdūngwá jitmuhk 10:00 am
11:15 am
English programme 8:45 am
Yīngmàhn jitmuhk 12:30 pm
7:00 pm
Weekday Cantonese programme Mon~Sat 7:30 am
Gwóngdūngwá jitmuhk Thur~Fri 6:30 pm
46 English programme Mon~Sat 8:00 am
Yīngmàhn jitmuhk Mon~Wed 6:30 pm
Sīngkèih yaht, dihnsih géi dím yáuh Gwóngdūngwá jitmuhk a? Yīngmàhn nē? 5
What time are
we going to
Sīngkèih yāt dou nǵh, dihnsih yáuh móuh Gwóngdūngwá jitmuhk a? Géi dím see a movie?
yáuh a?
Pìhngsìh, ngóh yehmáahn dākhàahn, ngóh m̀góng Yīngmàhn, ngóh hóyíh géisìh
tái dihnsih a?
Ngóh tùhng ūkkéi yàhn sīngkèih sei séung tái Gwóngdūngwá jitmuhk, ngóh ge
sīnsāang 9:00am dou 9:00pm dākhàahn, ngóh sìhsìhdōu dākhàahn, ngóhdeih géi
dím hóyíh yātchàih tái dihnsih a?
Sīngkèih yaht ngóh hóyíh géi dím tái Yīngmàhn jitmuhk a?
47
LESSON 6
How much is this phone?
Nī go dihnwá géi dō chín a?
Activity: Talking about money terms.
Context: Charlotte and John go shopping. They ask the salesperson how much the
computers are. The computers are expensive, so they leave and go to eat instead.

John: Charlotte, gāmyaht ngóh Charlotte, I am going to a
heui sēungchèuhng máaih shopping mall to do some
yéh, néih heui m̀heui a? shopping, do you want to go?
Charlotte: Hóu a, ngóh heui. Okay, I’ll go.
(Hái sēungchèuhng) (In the shopping mall)
Charlotte: Nī go sēungchèuhng hóu dō In this shopping mall, there are
yàhn a! John, néih séung tái many people! John, what do you
mātyéh a? want to see?
John: Ngóh séung táiháh nī gāan I want to take a look at the
poutáu ge dihnnóuh. computers in this shop.
Ngóh yìhgā móuh dihnnóuh, I don’t have a computer now, so
sóyíh m̀haih géi fōngbihn. that’s not convenient.
Charlotte: Gám, ngóhdeih yahp heui lā. Then, let’s go inside. You look
Néih tái dihnnóuh, ngóh tái at computers, and I’ll look at the
dihnwá. mobile phones.
(Hái poutáu) (In the shop)
John: M̀ gōi, ngóh séung táiháh nī Excuse me, I want to take a look
bouh dihnnóuh. Chéng mahn at this computer. May I ask, how
48 nī bouh dihnnóuh géi dō chín a? much is this computer?
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-6
How much is
Sauhfoyùhn: Nī bouh dihnnóuh gáu chīn This computer costs nine this phone?
gáu baak gáusahpbaat mān. thousand, nine hundred and
ninety-eight dollars.
Nī bouh haih jeui sān ge This is the latest computer
dihnnóuh. Hóu dō yàhn model. Many people are buying
máaih. it.
John: Gáu chīn géi mān taai gwai Over nine thousand dollars is too
la. expensive.
Yáuh móuh luhk chīn mān Do you have any (around) six
jóyauh ge dihnnóuh a? thousand dollar computers?
Sauhfoyùhn: Yáuh, néih dáng dáng . . . Gó Yes, please wait . . . How about
bouh dím a? that one?
Gó bouh dihnnóuh luhk chīn That computer is six thousand,
gáu baak gáusahpgáu mān. nine hundred and ninety-nine
dollars.
Néih yìhgā máaih, ngóhdeih If you buy it now; I can give
hóyíh béi yāt fahn láihmaht you a gift.
néih.
Ngóhdeih yáuh hóu dō We have many different gifts.
m̀ tùhng ge láihmaht. Yáuh We have cups, pens, watches,
būi, yáuh bāt, yáuh bīu, yáuh and many things.
hóu dō yéh.
Néih jūngyi bīn bouh Which computer do you like?
dihnnóuh a? Nī bouh hóu Is this one good? How about
m̀ hóu a? Gó bouh nē? that one?
John: Ngóh táiháh sīn, m̀gōisaai I’ll take a look first, thank you
néih. very much.
Charlotte: Dímyéung a? Dī dihnnóuh How is it going? Are the
hóu m̀ hóu a? computers good?
John: Dī dihnnóuh taai gwai, tùhng The computers are too expensive,
sauhfoyùhn góng taai dō yéh. and the salesperson talks too much.
Ngóh m̀ haih géi mìhngbaahk. I don’t quite understand.
M̀ gányiu, ngóh chìhdī máaih. Never mind, I’ll buy it later.
Néih nē? Dī sáugéi dímyéung How about you? How are the
a? phones?
Charlotte: Géi hóu, daahnhaih ngóh Quite good, but I’ll take a look
táiháh sīn. Ngóh m̀máaih. first. I’m not buying.
John: Òh, gám, ngóhdeih yìhgā Okay, then, let’s go to eat
heui sihk yéh, hóu m̀hóu a? something now, is that okay?
Charlotte: Hóu a! Ngóh séung sihk Okay! I want to have a
honbóubāau, dāk m̀dāk a? hamburger, is that okay?
49
John: Móuh mahntàih. Hàahng lā. No problem. Let’s go.
6 2 Relevant phrases 🎧
How much is
this phone?
táiháh phrase to take a look
poutáu noun shop
nī gāan poutáu phrase this shop
dihnnóuh noun computer
gó bouh dihnnóuh phrase that computer
yìhgā time word now
sóyíh conjunction therefore
fōngbihn adjective convenient
yahp heui verb to enter
géi dō question word how many
géi dō chín question word how much money
chīn noun thousand
baak noun hundred
jeui sān phrase newest
dáng verb to wait
dáng dáng phrase wait for a while
m̀ tùhng adjective different
būi noun cup, glass
bāt noun pen
nī jī bāt phrase one pen
m̀ gōisaai phrase thank you very much
dímyéung question word how
gwai adjective expensive
sauhfoyùhn noun salesperson
mìhngbaahk verb to understand
chìhdī adverb later
sīn adverb first
honbóubāau noun hamburger
jóyauh adverb around, approximately

50 Chéng mahn . . . May I ask . . .
Hàahng lā! Let’s go!
Here are some more words for food and drinks: 6
How much is
ngàuhyuhk fótéui cháau gāiyihk sāammàhnjih jyūpá cháau faahn this phone?
mihn gāidáan chicken wing sandwich pork chop fried rice
beef noodle smashed egg
with ham
cháangjāp nìhngmūng ngàuhnáaih hùhng jáu baahk jáu hēungbān
orange juice séui milk red wine white wine champagne
lemon water
Also, note these electronic appliances:
dihnsih gēi kāpchàhn gēi láahnhei gēi sáiyī gēi gōnyī gēi
television set vaccum cleaner air conditioner washing clothes dryer
machine
syutgwaih mèihbō lòuh guhk lòuh gafē gēi fūngsin
refrigerator microwave oven oven coffee machine fan
chāusāp gēi gáaubuhn gēi fūngtúng dihn sōupáau hūnghei
dehumidifier blender hairdryer electric shaver chīngsān gēi
air purifier
3 Learning points
3.1 Large numbers
Above 10,000 yāt maahn, Cantonese speakers count in terms of maahn, not chīn.
Large numbers in Cantonese
10 100 1000 10000 10 0000 100 0000 1000 0000 10000 0000
sahp yāt baak yāt chīn yāt sahp yāt baak yāt chīn yāt yīk
maahn maahn maahn maahn
ten one one ten one one ten million one hundred
hundred thousand thousand hundred million million
thousand
e.g., Hēunggóng yáuh chāt baak maahn yàhn.

Hong Kong has seven million people.
Kéuih ge hohkhaauh yáuh gáu chīn baat baak lìhng chāt go yàhn.
His/her school has nine thousand, eight hundred and seven people.
51
6 3.2 Money terms
How much is
this phone? Cantonese phrases English gloss
mān dollar
hòuh ten cents
sīn one cent
In colloquial Cantonese, a simple way to read decimal numbers when talking about
money is Number go Number.
e.g., $3.1 sāam go yāt

three point one dollars
$2.9 léuhng go gáu

two point nine dollars
$8.5 baat go bun

eight and a half
Here are more examples:
Yāt jī bāt sahp mān, yāt chīn jī bāt yiu yāt maahn mān.
One pen costs ten dollars; one thousand pens cost ten thousand dollars.
Honbóubāau yiu yihsahpluhk go bun.

A hamburger costs $26.5.
3.3 Question word: géi dō (‘how many/how much’)

In Cantonese, the question word géi dō means ‘how many’ or ‘how much’.
e.g., Néih yáuh géi dō go sáugēi a?

How many cell phones do you have?
Nī go syūbāau géi dō chín a?

How much is this schoolbag?
Here are some more examples of questions:
A Néih yáuh géi dō bún Jūngmàhn syū a?

How many Chinese books do you have?
B Ngóh jíyáuh yāt bún Jūngmàhn syū. Ngóh séung máaih sān ge syū.
I only have one Chinese book. I want to buy a new book.
A Gó bún syū géi dō chín a?
How much is that book?
B Gó bún syū hóu gwai, yiu sei baak yāt sahp mān.
52 That book is expensive, it costs four hundred and ten dollars.
3.4 Verb–object constructions 6
How much is
Verb–object constructions function as verbs and are formed by the combination of a
this phone?
verb and an object. For example:
Verb Object Verb–object constructions

sihk faahn sihk faahn
to eat cooked rice eat
honbóubāau sihk honbóubāau
hamburger eat a hamburger
máaih yéh máaih yéh
to buy things do shopping
sáugēi máaih sáugēi
cell phones buy a cell phone
Here are more examples of verb–object constructions:
e.g., Ngóh heui chīukāp síhchèuhng máaih yéh.

I am going to the supermarket to buy things.
Tīngyaht, ngóh heui tái hei.

Tomorrow, I go see a movie.
Here are more examples of verb–objection constructions in the following conversation:
A Gāmyaht ngóh heui sēungchèuhng máaih láihmaht, néih heui m̀heui a?

Today I’m going to the shopping mall to buy a present; do you want to go?
B Ngóh m̀ heui la. Gāmyaht ngóh heui tái hei.
I’m not going. Today, I’m going to see a movie.
3.5 Question word: dímyéung/dím (‘how’)

Dímyéung or dím means ‘how’ in Cantonese.
Here’s another example of the use of dímyéung:
A Néih ge ūkkéi yàhn dímyéung a?

(lit. Your family how?)
How is your family?
B Kéuihdeih hóu hóu. Kéuihdeih hah go yuht heui Gā'nàhdaaih.
They are very good. They go to Canada next month.
A shopping day
Gāmyaht Charlotte tùhng John yātchàih heui sēungchèuhng máaih yéh.

Gāmyaht sēungchèuhng yáuh hóu dō yàhn. 53
John séung máaih dihnnóuh. Jeui sān ge dihnnóuh yiu gáu chīn gáu baak
gáusahpbaat mān. Dihnnóuh taai gwai. John táiháh sīn. Yìhgā m̀máaih.
Táiyùhn dihnóuh John tùhng Charlotte yātchàih heui sihk honbóubāau.
6 5 Exercises and practice
How much is
this phone? 5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation
exercise: 🎧
bō bó bo bòh bóh boh ngoi choi hón hóng
hot got dohk lohk jōu chòuh hōifong gwōngmòhng
lohkmohk Hēunggóng hotmohng choisām gūkhok

Nī gāan poutáu ge dihnnóuh hóu hóu, daahnhaih hóu gwai.
Ngóh séung máaih yāt go dihnwá, yānwaih ngóh ge dihnwá yáuh mahntàih.
Ngóh gāmyaht yiu máaih Singdaan láihmaht, néih tùhng ngóh yātchàih heui lā.
Kéuih jūngyi sihk honbóubāau, daahnhaih m̀jūngyi sihk pīsàh.
Nī bouh dihnnóuh haih jeui sān ge dihnnóuh, yiu gáu chīn luhk baak mān.

5.3 Below you have the answers to six questions. Write in the

relevant questions to match the answers provided:
Question:
Answer: Nī jek bīu yiu luhkchīn mān.

54
Question:
Answer: Ngóh yáuh yāt baak mān.

Question: 6
How much is
Answer: Nī bún syū haih Gwóngdūngwá syū. this phone?
Question:
Answer: Ngóh ge sān syūbāau hóu leng, dōu m̀haih hóu gwai.
Question:
Answer: Nī bouh dihnnóuh haih ngóh ge, gó bouh dihnnóuh haih ngóh ge bàhbā ge.
Question:
Answer: Gāmyaht, ngóh séung sihk honbóubāau.

géi dō
táiháh
yìhgā
mìhngbaahk
chìhdī
. . . jóyauh
55

6 dímyéung
How much is
this phone?

. . . sóyíh . . .
Chéng mahn . . .
fōngbihn
5.5 Choose at least five words from the list below to write
a short story:
láihmaht honbóubāau béi heui m̀ hóyíh
hah go sīngkèih sóyíh yānwaih dākhàahn hái
56
LESSON 7
What presents do you give to your friends?
Néih sung mātyéh béi pàhngyáuh a?
Activity: Giving presents to relatives and friends.
Context: John is going to visit a friend in hospital. He doesn’t know what kind of
present he should give his friend, so he asks Charlotte for her advice.

John: Charlotte, néih yáuh móuh Charlotte, do you have time?
sìhgaan a?
Ngóh yáuh yāt dī mahntàih, I have some questions I want to
ngóh séung mahn néih. ask you.
Charlotte: Hóu a, móuh mahntàih. Néih Okay, no problem. Please ask.
góng lā.
John: Ngóh yáuh yāt go pàhngyáuh. I have a friend. She is sick, and
Kéuih behngjó, yìhgā hái yīyún. now in the hospital.
Gāmyaht, ngóh wúih heui Today, I’m going to the hospital
yīyún taam kéuih, daahnhaih to visit her, but I don’t know
ngóh m̀ jīdou máaih mātyéh béi what to buy her.
kéuih.
Charlotte: Néih hóyíh sung sāanggwó béi You can give some fruit to that
gó go yàhn. person.
John: Haih m̀haih chyùhnbouh Are all kinds of fruit okay to
sāanggwó dōu hóyíh sung a? give?
(Continued )
57
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-7
7 (Continued)
What
presents do
you give to
your friends?
Charlotte: M̀ haih. Yáuh dī sāanggwó No. Some fruit we don’t give
ngóhdeih m̀ sung béi to sick people, for example,
behngyàhn, peiyùhwah sāigwā, watermelon, papaya.
muhkgwā.
John: Dímgáai nē? Gám, bīn dī Why? Well, what fruit can
sāanggwó hóyíh sung béi ngóh I give to my friend?
pàhngyáuh a?
Charlotte: Pìhngsìh, ngóh wúih sung hóu Usually, I’ll give delicious
sihk ge pìhnggwó waahkjé apples and oranges.
cháang.
John: Gám, yùhgwó ngóh séung Then, if I want to buy fresh
máaih sānsīn ge sāanggwó, fruit, is it better to go to the
ngóh haih m̀haih heui chīukāp supermarket?
síhchèuhng máaih hóudī a?
Charlotte: Néih hóyíh heui chīukāp You can go to the supermarket.
síhchèuhng.
Daahnhaih ngóh nám gāaisíh ge But I think the fruit in the wet
sāanggwó yáuhsìh wúih hóudī. market sometimes will be better.
Bātgwo chīukāp síhchèuhng However, the supermarket is
fōngbihn dī. more convenient.
John: Gám, heui Hēunggóng Well, going to Hong Kong
pàhngyáuh ūkkéi, pìhngsìh friends’ home, what do you give
néihdeih wúih sung mātyéh béi them usually?
kéuihdeih a?
Haih m̀haih yātdihng yiu sung Do we have to give them a
láihmaht a? present?
Charlotte: M̀ haih yātdihng yiu. Yáuh dī You don’t have to. Some people
yàhn dōu m̀sung. don’t give (presents).
Bātgwo ngóh nám sung hóudī. But I think it is better to give
something.
Néih hóyíh sung sāanggwó, You can give fruit, chocolates,
jyūgūlīk, kūkkèihbéng. cookies.
Yùhgwó kéuihdeih yám jáu, If they drink wine, you can also
néih dōu hóyíh sung yāt jēun give them a bottle of wine.
jáu béi kéuihdeih.
John: Jyūgūlīk! Hāhā, ngóh jeui Chocolates! Ha ha, I like giving
jūngyi sung jyūgūlīk. chocolates the most.
Hēunggóng ge jyūgūlīk gwai Are Hong Kong chocolates
m̀ gwai a? expensive?
58
What
Charlotte: Jyūgūlīk yáuh pèhng yáuh Chocolates can be cheap or presents do
gwai. expensive. you give to
your friends?
Pèhng ge yihsahp mān jóyauh The cheap ones cost around
yāt hahp, gwai ge géi baak mān twenty dollars per box; the
yāt hahp. expensive ones cost several
hundred for a box.
Bātgwo, ngóh pìhngsìh m̀wúih However, I usually won’t
máaih taai gwai ge láihmaht, buy too expensive presents,
yānwaih ngóh nám sung because I think giving
láihmaht haih néih ge sāmyi, presents should express your
m̀ haih yātdihng yiu gwai ge. feelings, they don’t have to be
expensive.
John: Néih góng dāk hóu āam. What you say is quite right.

yāt dī pronoun some
behngjó adjective being sick
sāanggwó noun fruit
chyùhnbouh phrase totally
yáuh dī . . . phrase some of . . .,
a little bit of . . .
behngyàhn noun patient
peiyùh(wah) phrase for example
sāigwā noun watermelon
muhkgwā noun papaya
dímgáai question word why
hóu sihk adjective good taste
pìhnggwó noun apple
waahkjé conjunction or
cháang noun orange
yùhgwó conjunction if
sānsīn adjective fresh
hóudī adjective better
gāaisíh noun wet market 59
(Continued )
7 (Continued)
What
presents do
you give to yáuhsìh adverb sometimes
your friends?
yātdihng adverb certainly
kūkkèihbéng noun cookie
yám jáu verb–object construction to drink wine
jáu noun wine
yāt jēun jáu phrase a bottle of wine
pèhng adjective cheap
sāmyi noun heartfelt feelings
Ngóh nám . . . I think that . . .

Néih góng dāk hóu āam! What you said is right!
Here are the names of various fruit:
bōlòh sidōbēléi léi tàihjí

pineapple strawberry pear grapes
sāiyáu hēungjīu mahtgwā làahmmúi
grapefruit banana melon blueberry
chēlèihjí nìhngmūng chēngníng ngàuhyàuh gwó
cherry lemon lime avocado
laihjī lùhngngáahn fólùhng gwó kèihyi gwó
lychee longan dragon fruit kiwi fruit
yéhmúi boulām mòuhfā gwó yihtchìhng gwó
wild berry plum fig passion fruit
tóu chí yèhjí yèuhngtóu
peach persimmon coconut star fruit
mōnggwó sehkláu làuhlìhn sāanjūk
mango pomegranate durian mangosteen
3 Learning points
3.1 Preposition: béi (‘to, for’)

Béi serves as a preposition in sung – object – béi – person. This sentence structure
60 means someone is ‘sending something to a person as a gift’. Sung literally means
‘sending as a gift’. Béi in this sentence structure functions as ‘to’.
e.g., Ngóh sung yāt gihn sāam béi ngóh màhmā. 7
I send a piece of clothes to my mother (as a gift). What
presents do
Jūnggwok yàhn m̀jūngyi sung jūng béi pàhngyáuh. you give to
your friends?
Chinese people do not like to send clocks as gift to their friends.
There are two more examples of the use of béi in the following conversation:
A Néih gāmnìhn sung mātyéh Sānnìhn láihmaht béi ūkkéi yàhn a?

What do you send to your family members as New Year’s gifts this year?
B Ngóh nám ngóh sung yāt jī bāt béi ngóh ge néui, sung yāt tìuh fu béi ngóh
sīnsāang.
I think I will send a pen to my daughter, send a pair of trousers to my husband.
Béi has the same function in another sentence structure, máaih – object – béi –
person, which means someone is ‘buying something for a person’. Máaih means ‘to
buy’. Béi in this sentence structure functions as ‘for’.
e.g., Ngóh máaih yāt bún Yīngmàhn syū béi ngóh ge néui.
I buy an English book for my daughter.
Kéuih sāangyaht, néih máaih mātyéh béi kéuih a?

On his/her birthday, what do you buy for him/her?
Here are two more examples of béi:
A Gāmnìhn Sānnìhn, ngóhdeih máaih m̀máaih láihmaht béi pàhngyáuh a?

This year’s New Year, do we buy gifts for friends?
B Ngóh m̀ séung máaih yéh béi kéuihdeih, daahnhaih yùhgwó néih séung
máaih, néih hóyíh máaih.
I don’t want to buy anything for them, but if you want to buy, you can buy.
3.2 Demonstratives: nī (‘this’), gó (‘that’)

Nī means ‘this’ and gó means ‘that’.
Demonstrative Classifier Noun English meaning

nī go yàhn this person
gó bún syū that book
nī dī dihnnóuh these computers
gó dī pìhnggwó those apples
e.g., Nī jī bāt yiu baat baak mān, hóu gwai. Gó jī bāt yiu baat mān.
This pen costs eight hundred dollars, very expensive. That pen costs eight dollars.
61
Nī dī pìhnggwó m̀haih hóu sānsīn. Gó dī pìhnggwó hóu sānsīn. Néih máaih
gó dī pìhnggwó lā.
These apples are not very fresh. Those apples are very fresh. You buy those.
7 Note the examples of nī and gó in the following conversation:
What
presents do
A Nī gāan poutáu yáuh hóu dō sēutsāam, néih jūngyi bīn gihn sāam a?
you give to This shop has many shirts, which one do you like?
your friends? B Ngóh jūngyi nī gihn sēutsāam, daahnhaih ngóh dōu jūngyi gó léuhng gihn
sāam. Gó dī sāam dōu hóu leng. Ngóh chyùhnbouh dōu séung máaih.
I like this shirt, but I also like those two shirts. Those shirts are all pretty.
I want to buy them all.
3.3 More use of ge
Besides a possessive marker, ge can also link adjectives and nouns when the noun is
modified by adjectives.
e.g., hóu gwai ge sáugēi
very expensive phone
hóu leng ge láihmaht

very pretty gift
Here are two more examples of the use of ge:
Ngóh ge pàhngyáuh yáuh yāt bouh hóu gwai ge dihnwá.

My friend has a very expensive phone.
Ngóh ge màhmā yáuh yāt go hóu pèhng ge, daahnhaih hóu hóu ge sáudói.
My mother has a very cheap but very nice handbag.
You can also see more examples in the following conversation:
A Néih jūngyi mātyéh láihmaht a?

What would you like as a present?
B Ngóh jūngyi m̀haih hóu gwai ge, daahnhaih hóu tái ge Seuihsih bīu.
I’d like an inexpensive but nice-looking Swiss watch.
A Néih jūng m̀jūngyi ngóh ge Seuihsih bīu a? Ngóh ge Seuihsih bīu hóu
pèhng, hóu hóu tái.
Do you like my Swiss watch? My Swiss watch is very cheap and very nice-looking.
B Ngóh m̀ jūngyi néih ge bīu. Néih ge bīu m̀haih hóu leng.
I don’t like your watch. Your watch is not very nice-looking.
Sending gifts to friends
John ge pàhngyáuh behngjó, yìhgā hái yīyún. John séung heui yīyún taam kéuih.
Kéuih m̀jī máaih mātyéh béi kéuih. Kéuih mahn Charlotte. Charlotte wah John
hóyíh béi sāanggwó kéuih, daahnhaih sāigwā, muhkgwā m̀hóu. Gwóngdūngwá
‘gwā’ haih ‘séi’, sóyíh m̀béi behngyàhn.
62 John dōu mahn Charlotte yùhgwó kéuih heui Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh ūkkéi,
hóyíh sung mātyéh béi pàhngyáuh. Charlotte wah hóyíh sung sāanggwó, kūkkèih-
béng, jyūgūlīk. Yùhgwó John ge pàhngyáuh hóyíh yám jáu, sung yāt jī jáu dōu hóu.
5 Exercises and practice 7
What
5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation presents do
exercise: 🎧
you give to
your friends?
jyū syú jyun syùhn nyúhn dyuhn gūn gun bun buhn
wuht muht hyut kyut syùhjái gunsyū làuhhyut

syùhnjái gūngjyú lóuhsyú
jyūyuhk chūng lèuhng jyūntàuh muhtyeuhk pundyuhn

syutyuhk yuhtleuhng kyùhntàuh sāngwuht gunchyūn

Ngóh gāmyaht yáuh sìhgaan, hóyíh tùhng néih yātchàih jouh wahnduhng.
Kéuih ge pàhngyáuh behngjó, yìhga hái yīyún.
Néih séung máaih sānsīn sāanggwó, néih hóyíh heui chīukāp síhchèuhng máaih.
Nī go chīukāp síhchèuhng hái deihtit jaahm pòhngbīn, hóu fōngbihn.
Yùhgwó néih jūngyi sihk jyūgūlīk, ngóh wúih máaih yāt hahp béi néih.


Yùhgwó néih ge pàhngyáuh behngjó, néih wúih jouh mātyéh a?
63
Néih ge pàhngyáuh sāangyaht, néih sung mātyéh béi kéuih a? Dímgáai a?
7 Yùhgwó néih heui chīukāp síhchèuhng, néih séung máaih mātyéh a?
What
presents do
you give to Ngóh ge pàhngyáuh nám sung láihmaht m̀haih yātdihng yiu gwai ge. Néih nám
your friends?
nē? Dímgáai a?
Néih ge pàhngyáuh sung yāt fahn sāangyaht láihmaht béi néih. Yìhgā néih dá
dihnwá béi kéuih dōjeh kéuih.

yáuhsìh
yáuh dī . . .
yātdihng
dímgáai
. . . peihyùh(wah) . . .
waahkjé
hóudī
64

ngóh nám . . . 7
What
presents do
you give to
yāt dī your friends?
yùhgwó . . .
a short story:
yáuh dī waahkjé ūkkéi geidāk poutáu
chyùhnbouh nám sung . . . béi. . . hóudī hóu tái
65
LESSON 8
What is your phone number?
Néih ge dihnwá houhmáh haih géi dō
houh a?
Activities: Leaving a message and making an appointment.
Context: Charlotte plans to go out with John, but the weather today is not good. So,
Charlotte leaves a voice message for John to change the time.

John: Ngóh yìhgā jouhgán yéh, I am now working and cannot
m̀ hóyíh tēng dihnwá. Chéng hái answer the phone. Please leave a
‘bīt’ yāt sēng jīhauh láuhyìhn. message after the ‘beep’.
Charlotte: Wái, John, ngóh tái dihnsih Hello, John, I am watching
sānmàhn wah gāmyaht hahjau the television news. It says
tīnmàhntòih wúih gwa baathouh that the observatory will hoist
fūngkàuh, juhng hónàhng wúih typhoon signal number eight
yáuh kwòhngfūng bouhyúh tīm. this afternoon, and there may
also be strong wind and a
rainstorm.
Sóyíh, ngóh nám ngóhdeih Therefore, I think it is very
gāmyaht hóu hónàhng likely that we cannot go visit
m̀ hóyíh heui chāamgūn Lihksí the History Museum today.
Bokmahtgún la.
Néih dākhàahn gójahnsìh When you have time, please call
dáfāan dihnwá béi ngóh lā. me back. Thanks.
M̀ gōi.
(Gwojó yātjahn, John dáfāan (After a while, John calls
66 dihnwá béi Charlotte.) Charlotte back.)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-8
What is
John: Wái, Charlotte, ngóh tēngjó néih Hello, Charlotte, I listened your phone
ge làuhyìhn la. Haih a, ngóh dōu to your message. Well, I also number?
āam'āam séung dá béi néih. wanted to call you just now.
Ngóh nám ngóhdeih gāmyaht I think it is safer if we don’t go
m̀ heui chāamgūn bokmahtgún to visit the museum today.
ōnchyùhndī.
Charlotte: Ngóh tùhngyi. Sānmàhn wah I agree. The news says the
nī chi ge tòihfūng hóu sāileih, typhoon this time is very strong
ginyíh daaihgā làuh hái ūkkéi and advises everyone to stay at
waahkjé kèihtā ōnchyùhn ge home or in another safe place.
deihfōng.
John: Móuh mahntàih. Ngóhdeih No problem. We can arrange
hóyíh joi yeuk sìhgaan heui another time to go to visit the
chāamgūn bokmahtgún. museum.
Charlotte: Haih. Néih hah go sīngkèih sāam Yes. Do you have time next
dāk m̀dākhàahn a? Wednesday?
John: Ngóh hah go sīngkèih sāam I need to submit a paper before
jīchìhn yiu gāau yāt fahn next Wednesday.
leuhnmán.
Yùhgwó ngóh sīngkèih sāam If I finish before Wednesday,
jīchìhn yùhnsìhng, ngóh jauh then I can go.
hóyíh heui.
Charlotte: Néih ge leuhnmán nàahn Is your paper difficult to write?
m̀ nàahn sé a?
Sái m̀sái ngóh bōng néih wán Do you need me to help you find
jīlíu? some materials?
John: M̀ sái la, m̀gōisaai néih. Ngóh No need, thank you very much.
chām̀dō yùhnsìhng la. I’ve almost finished (it).
Charlotte: Gám, jauh hóu la. Well, that’s good.
Ngóhdeih yeuk hah go sīngkèih We’ll make it next Wednesday.
sāam.
Yùhgwó néih sīngkèih sāam If you don’t have time on
m̀ dākhàahn, jauh dá dihnwá béi Wednesday, then call me. We
ngóh. Ngóhdeih joi yeuk sìhgaan can arrange another time then.
lā.
John: Hóu a, m̀gōi. Okay, thank you.
67
8 2 Relevant phrases 🎧
What is
your phone
number? Yale romanization Grammatical form/function English gloss
dihnwá houhmáh noun telephone number
‘bīt’ yāt sēng phrase a ‘beep’ sound
làuhyìhn noun voice message
sānmàhn noun news
tīnmàhntòih noun observatory
gwa baathouh fūngkàuh phrase hoist typhoon signal
number 8
juhng adverb still
hónàhng adverb possibly
kwòhngfūng phrase fierce wind
bouhyúh phrase heavy rain
. . . tīm sentence-final particle . . . too
emphasizing ‘more’, ‘also’
chāamgūn verb to visit (a place)
lihksí noun history
bokmahtgún noun museum
dáfāan dihnwá phrase call back
yātjahn(gāan) adverb in a moment
tēng verb to listen
tēngjó phrase heard
āam'āam adverb just recently, just now
dá béi néih phrase call you
ōnchyùhn adjective safe
ōnchyùhndī adjective safer
tùhngyi verb to agree
nī chi phrase this time
tòihfūng noun typhoon
sāileih adjective terribly good
ginyíh verb to suggest
daaihgā pronoun everyone
làuh hái ūkkéi phrase to stay home
kèihtā adjective other
68 deihfōng noun place
What is
jīchìhn adverb before your phone
number?
gāau verb to submit
yāt fahn leuhnmán noun one academic paper
yùhnsìhng verb to complete
jauh conjunction then
sé verb to write
bōng verb to help
jīlíu noun data
chām̀dō adverb almost
yeuk sìhgaan phrase make an appointment
Here are some useful phrases that you can use in daily conversation:
Wái! Hello! (on the phone)

Chéng mahn . . . hái m̀hái douh a? May I ask is . . . here or not?
gwojó yātjahn a moment later
Chéng néih góng daaihsēngdī. Please speak louder.
dá cho dihnwá dial the wrong number
Néih wán bīnwái a? Whom are you looking for?
dáng yātjahn(gāan) wait a minute
dihnwá m̀tūng cannot get through (on the phone)
Néih géi dō houh dihnwá a? What is your phone number?
M̀ gōisaai néih thank you very much
M̀ sái haakhei you are welcome
joi góng yātchi say it again
Néih sái m̀sái . . . a? Do you need . . . ?
Gám, jauh hóu la. It is good then.
Néih sihkjó faahn meih a? Have you eaten yet?
Here are some phrases used in weather forecast:
wān douh sāp douh chìuhsāp gōnchou

air temparture humidity humid weather dry weather
jeui gōu heiwān jeui dāi heiwān wānchā hūnghei wūyím
the highest the lowest temparture jísou
temparture temparture difference air pollution index
mèihyúh daaihyúh jaauhyúh símdihn
light rain heavy rain showers lightning
lèuihbouh hòhnláahn yìhmyiht huhk'yiht 69
thunder freezing (cold) burning (hot) extremely hot
8 jungsyú kwòhngfūng geuihfūng dūng fūng
What is heatstroke storm wind hurricane easterly breeze
your phone
number? daaih mouh yáuh yèuhnggwōng wòhnyúhn / jí’ngoihsin jísou
foggy sunny wānnyúhn UV index
warm
Also, note these natural disasters:
tòihfūng bouh fūng bouh yúh lùhng gyún fūng

typhoon storm rainstorm tornado
deihjan hói siu hùhng séui sāan nàih kīngse
earthquake tsunami flood landslides
hóhnjōi sāmlàhm daaihfó sāchàhn bouh fósān baaufaat
droughts forest fire dust storm volcanic eruptions
3 Learning points
3.1 Verb suffix: -gán (‘-ing’)

The verb suffix -gán indicates progressive action.
e.g., Ngóh yìhgā sihkgán faahn, ngóh chìhdī dá dihnwá béi néih.
I am eating now, call you later.
Néih yìhgā jouhgán mātyéh a?

What are you doing now?
Ngóh daapgán bāsí.

I am taking a bus.
3.2 Verb suffix: -jó

The verb suffix -jó is placed after a verb, as a verb suffix, and implies a past time
reference.
e.g., Kàhmyaht, ngóh heuijó chīukāp síhchèuhng máaih yéh.

Yesterday, I went to the supermarket to do shopping.
Néih heui Bākgīng gójahnsìh, (néih) heuijó bīn douh a? Sihkjó dī mātyéh a?
When you were in Beijing, where did you go? What have you eaten?
3.3 Conditional sentence: yùhgwó . . . (jauh) . . . (‘if . . .,

then . . .’)
70
Yùhgwó . . . (jauh) . . . construction means ‘if . . ., then . . .’.
e.g., Yùhgwó ngóh yáuh chín, ngóh (jauh) máaih yāt gāan hóu daaih ge ūk. 8
If I have money, I (then) buy a very big house. What is
your phone
Yùhgwó tīngyaht lohk yúh, ngóhdeih jauh m̀heui hàahng sāan. number?
If it rains tomorrow, then we do not go hiking.
Here are two more examples of yùhgwó:
A Yùhgwó néih heui léuihhàhng, néih séung heui bīn douh a?

If you go travel, where do you want to go?
B Yùhgwó ngóh heui léuihhàhng, ngóh séung heui Yidaaihleih.
If I go travel, I want to go to Italy.
3.4 Yes/no question: sái m̀ sái . . . a? (‘do you need . . . ?’)

Sái msái . . . a? is asking ‘do you need . . . ?’. Although it is a choice-type question
(X not-X question, introduced in Lesson 1), the positive answer is yiu (‘need’) and
the negative answer is m̀ sai (‘no need’).
e.g., Tīngyaht, néih sái m̀sái jyú faahn a?

Tomorrow, do you need to cook?
Tīngyaht, ngóh yiu jyú faahn.

Tomorrow, I need to cook.
Note the examples of a sái m̀sái question in the following conversation:
A Jyuh hái Hēunggóng, sái m̀sái jā chē a?

Living in Hong Kong, do you need to drive a car?
B Jyuh hái Hēunggóng hóu fōngbihn, m̀sái jā chē.
Living in Hong Kong is convenient; there is no need to drive a car.
Here’s another example of a sái m̀sái question:
A Nī gāan fóng hóu yiht. Ngóhdeih sái m̀sái hōi láahnghei a?

This room is very hot. Do we need to turn on the cooler?
B Yiu a, m̀gōi.
Yes, please.
Charlotte leaves a message for John
Charlotte yeukjó John yātchāih heui bokmahtgún, daahnhaih tīnhei m̀hóu.

Tīnmàhntòih wah wúih yáuh baathouh fūngkàuh tùhng kwòhngfūng bouhyúh.
Sóyíh kéuihdeih m̀hóyíh heui bokmahtgún. Kéuih séung dá dihnwá béi John.
John m̀dākhàahn tēng dihnwá. Charlotte hái dihnwá làuhyìhn béi John.
John dáfāan dihnwá béi Charlotte. John wah nī chi ge tòihfūng hóu sāileih, 71
làuh hái ūkkéi ōnchyùhndī. Kéuihdeih wúih joi yeuk sìhgaan yātchàih heui
bokmahtgún.
What is
your phone 5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation
exercise: 🎧
number?
syutgwaih chāu yàuhyīn gēi yāmhéung láahnghei kāpchàhn gēi

fūngtúng dihnchìh lòuh yàuhheigēi tōbáan fēksí gēi
fūngsin sáiwún gēi mèihbōlòuh dihnchìh dihnjai
nyúhnhei chāuheisin guhk lòuh chūngdihnbóu yìuhhunghei
chāusāp gēi sáiyī gēi gōnyī gēi mùihhei lòuh yíngyan gēi

Gāmyaht gwa baathouh fūngkàuh, ngóhdeih m̀hóyíh heui heiyún tái hei.
Hah go sīngkèih ngóh séung tùhng néih yātchàih heui bokmahtgún.
M̀ gōi néih dākhàahn gójahnsìh dá dihnwá béi ngóh.
Nī go sīngkèih ngóh hóu mòhng. Ngóh joi tùhng néih yeuk sìhgaan lā.
Gāmyaht ngóh yiu làuh hái ūkkéi sé ngóh ge leuhnmàhn.


Yùhgwó néih heui léuihhàhng, néih séung heui bīn douh a? Dímgáai a?
___________________________________________________________________
Yùhgwó néih yáuh chín, kéuih séung jouh mātyéh a?

72 ___________________________________________________________________
Yùhgwó yáuh kwòhngfūng bouhyúh, néih jauh wúih jouh mātyéh a?
___________________________________________________________________
Néih ge dihnwá houhmáh haih géi dō houh a? 8
What is
___________________________________________________________________ your phone
number?
Néih dá dihnwá béi pàhngyáuh, daahnhaih móuh yàhn tēng.
Chéng néih làuh háuseun.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

hónàhng

āam’āam

chāamgūn

jīchìhn

sái m̀sái . . .

yātjahn(gāan)

tùhngyi

kèihtā
73

8 . . . jauh . . .
What is
your phone
number?
yùhgwó . . ., jauh . . .

5.5 Choose at least five words below to make a

conversation:
léuihhàhng hónàhng jāchē yùhgwó . . . sānmàhn
jauh . . .
séung fōngbihn yātjahngāan ginyíh sái m̀sái . . . a?
Two persons A and B are talking on the phone.
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
74 B:
LESSON 9
What kind of dim sum do you like to eat?
Néih séung sihk mātyéh dímsām a?
Activities: Discussing Chinese food and ordering dim sum dishes in a restaurant.
Context: Charlotte is going to have dim sum with her friends. She asks them what
dim sum dishes they would like to eat.

Charlotte: Gāmyaht ngóh tùhng Today, I am going to have
néihdeih yātchàih yám chàh, dim sum with you, is that
hóu m̀ hóu a? okay?
Wayne: Hóu a, hóu a! Ngóh jeui Great! I like dim sum the
jūngyi yám chàh. most.
Hóyíh sihk chāsīu bāau lā, We can eat barbecue pork
chéungfán lā, juhng yáuh buns, steamed rice rolls, and
ngóh jeui jūngyi sihk ge I like shrimp dumplings the
hāgáau! most.
Charlotte: Néih jānhaih jūngyi sihk. You really like eating.
Yāt góng sihk ge yéh néih As soon as we talk about
jauh hōisām. eating, then you’re happy.
(Hái jáulàuh) (In a traditional Chinese
restaurant)
Jáulàuh fógei: Fūnyìhng gwōnglàhm. Welcome. Do you have a
Néihdeih yáuh móuh dehng reservation?
wái a?
Charlotte: Yáuh, sing Léih, sei go yàhn. Yes, my surname is Lee, four
people.
75
(Continued )
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-9
9 (Continued)
What kind of
dim sum do
you like to
eat?
Jáulàuh fógei: Dáng jahn. Hóu, nī bihn lā. Please wait. Good, please
Néihdeih yám mātyéh chàh come this way. What kind
a? of tea do would like to
drink?
Charlotte: Yáuh móuh yàhn m̀yám Is there anyone who doesn’t
póuléi a? drink pu’er tea?
John: Ngóh m̀ yám póuléi, ngóh I don’t drink pu’er. When
yám póuléi wúih fanm̀jeuhk I drink pu’er, I won’t sleep
tùhng m̀syūfuhk. and don’t feel well.
Charlotte: Gám, ngóhdeih yám Then, let’s drink jasmine.
hēungpín lā. M̀ gōi, yāt wùh Excuse me, one pot of
hēungpín, yāt wùh gwán jasmine and one pot of hot
séui. water.
Park Soo-young: Nī jēung haih mātyéh a? What’s this piece of paper?
Charlotte: Nī jēung haih dímsām jí. This is a dim sum menu.
Néih hóyíh hái seuhng bihn You can choose the dim sum
gáan néih jūngyi ge dímsām. you like from the list.
Néihdeih séung sihk mātyéh What do you want to eat?
a?
Wayne: Tēngginwah nī douh ge I heard that the barbecue pork
chāsīu bāau, náaihwòhng buns, steamed creamy custard
bāau tùhngmàaih síulùhng buns, and soup dumplings are
bāau hóu hóu sihk. very tasty.
Ngóh séung siháh, dāk m̀dāk I’d like to try them, is that
a? okay?
Park Soo-young: Dímgáai chyùhnbouh dōu Why all buns?
haih bāau a?
Giu dī kèihtā yéh lā. Let’s order other things.
Ngóh séung sihk hāgáau, I want to eat shrimp
sīumáai tùhng lòhbaahk gōu, dumplings, steamed
juhng yáuh fuhngjáau. dumplings with pork and
radish cake, and also chicken
feet.
Wayne: Yí! Fuhngjáau hóu Ugh! Chicken feet are
wahtdaht. disgusting.
Néih jihgéi yāt go sihk lā! You are on your own eat
those!
76
What kind of
Charlotte: Hóu hóu, gám, fuhngjáau yiu Okay, then, chicken feet, we dim sum do
yāt dihp. need one dish. you like to
eat?
Kèihtā dímsām múih yeuhng For the other dim sum, each
yiu léuhng lùhng lā. one need two baskets.
John, néih nē? Néih séung John, how about you? What
sihk mātyéh a? would you like to eat?
John: Ngóh móuhsówaih, mātyéh I’m easy, everything is fine.
dōu dāk.
Ngóh m̀ tóuhngoh. Daaihgā I’m not hungry. You can
kyutdihng lā. decide.
Charlotte, néih yáuh móuh Charlotte, do you have
séung sihk ge yéh a? anything you want to eat?
Charlotte: Yáuh móuh chéungfán a? Are there steamed rice
rolls?
Ngóh pàhngyáuh gaaisiuh nī My friends told me that the
douh ge chéungfán hóu hóu steamed rice rolls here are
sihk. Ngóh séung siháh. very delicious. I’d like to try
(them).
Wayne: Hóu a. Nī douh yáuh hā Good. There are shrimp
chéung, chāsīu chéung tùhng steamed rice rolls, barbecue
ngàuhyuhk chéung. pork rice rolls, and beef rice
rolls.
Néih séung yiu bīn yeuhng a? Which type do you want?
Charlotte: Hā chéung lā, m̀gōi. Shrimp steamed rice rolls,
please.
Wayne: Yáuh móuh gó dī hàahm ge, Is there a salty dim sum, deep
ja ge, léuih bihn yáuh yuhk fried with meat inside?
ge yéh a?
Ngóh m̀ geidāk gó dī dímsām I forget the name of this dim
giu mātyéh méng. sum.
Charlotte: Hàahm ge, ja ge, yáuh Salty, deep fried, meat inside.
yuhk ge. Haih m̀haih Are there mixed puffs with
hàahmséuigók a? pork?
Wayne: Haih a, haih a, Yes, there are mixed puffs
hàahmséuigók. with pork.
Ngóh hóu jūngyi. Ngóh dōu I like (those) very much.
séung sihk. I also want to eat (those).
(Continued )
77
9 (Continued)
What kind of
dim sum do
you like to
eat?
Charlotte: Hóu, léuhngdihp Good, two dishes of mixed
hàahmséuigók. puffs with pork.
Ngóhdeih hóuchíh yáuh hóu We seem to have a lot of dim
dō dímsām la. sum.
Sihkyùhn faahn jīhauh After we finish eating, we
juhng yáuh tìhmbán tùhng also have dessert and sweet
tòhngséui. soup.
Ngóhdeih giu nī dī sīn, m̀gau Let’s order these first, if
joi giu, hóu ma? not enough, we could order
again, okay?
Wayne: Hóu! That’s good!
Charlotte (to the M̀ gōi, giu yéh? Excuse me, can we order?
waiter):

yám chàh verb–object construction to have tea, to have Chinese
dim sum
chéungfán noun steamed rice roll
juhng yáuh adverb and also
jáulàuh / noun traditional Chinese
chàhlàuh restaurant
dehng wái verb–object construction to book a seat,
to make a reservation
dáng (yāt)jahn phrase to wait for a moment
nī bihn phrase this way
chàh noun tea
fanm̀jeuhk phrase cannot sleep
m̀ syūfuhk phrase not feeling well, not
comfortable
yāt wùh gwán séui phrase a pot of hot water
nī jēung phrase this sheet (of paper)
dímsām noun dim sum
dímsām jí noun dim sum selection paper
78 gáan verb to choose
What kind of
tēnggin(wah) / phrase I’ve heard that dim sum do
tēnggóng(wah) you like to
eat?
siháh phrase have a try
bāau noun bread, bun
giu verb to order (food)
kèihtā yéh phrase something else
Yí! interjection Gross!
wahtdaht adjective disgusting
néih jihgéi phrase yourself
yāt dihp phrase a dish (of food)
múih yeuhng phrase every type
léuhng lùhng phrase two cages (of food)
móuhsówaih phrase be indifferent,
it doesn’t matter
kyutdihng verb to decide
gaaisiuh verb to introduce
bīn yeuhng question word which type
hàahm adjective salty
yuhk noun meat
m̀ geidāk phrase cannot remember
hóuchíh phrase to look like, it seems
tìhmbán noun dessert
tòhngséui noun sweet soup
m̀ gau phrase not enough
fógei noun waiter, waitress
giu yéh verb–object construction to order food
Here are some useful phrases that you can use in restaurants:
Fūnyìhng gwōnglàhm! Welcome!

M̀ gōi giu yéh! Can we order food, please.
M̀ gōi gā séui! Please add water for the tea!
M̀ gōi, màaih dāan! Bill, please!
Ngóhdeih AA jai lā. Let’s go Dutch.
79
9 Here are the names of more dim sum dishes:
What kind of
dim sum do chāsīu bāau hāgáau sīumáai lòhbaahk gōu
you like to barbecue pork bun shrimp dumpling steamed dumpling radish cake
eat?
with pork
náaihwòhng bāau hā chéung chāsīu chéung ngàuhyuhk chéung
steamed creamy shrimp steamed rice barbecue pork rice beef rice roll
custard bun roll roll
síulùhng bāau fuhngjáau hàahmséuigók máhlāai gōu
soup dumpling chicken feet mixed puff with steamed sponge
pork cake
Here are the names of some Chinese dishes:
waahtdáan cháau baahkcheuk Màhpòh dauhfuh hàahmdáan jīng

hāyàhn choisām Ma po bean curd yuhkbéng
fried shrimp with boiled vegetables (spicy) steam mince pork
eggs with salty eggs
jīng yúh sīu yúhjyū chāsīu gūlōu yuhk
steamed fish roasted suckling pig Chinese babecue pork sweet and sour pork
mahttòhng gāiyihk cháu háaih sīu yúhgaap lóuhfó tōng
honey chicken fried crab roasted pigeon slow-cooked soup
wings
lóuhséui ngó galēi ngàuhnáahm ja jī gāi bōujái fàahn
brine goose curry beef brisket deep chicken claypot rice
Also note the names of various teas:
póuléi hēungpín sauhméi wūlúng

pu’er tea jasmine tea long-brow tea oolong tea
luhk chàh hùhng chàh gūkfā chàh séuisīn
green tea black tea chrysanthemum tea narcissus tea
3 Learning points
3.1 Construction: yāt . . . jauh . . . (‘once . . ., then . . .’)

In this structure, yāt means once, and jauh means then. The sentence subject should
be placed in front of yāt.
e.g., Ngóh yāt fāan ūkkéi jauh dá dihnwá béi néih.

Once I am back home, then (I’ll) call you.
80
Màhmā yāt dākhàahn jauh tái dihnsih.
Once Mother has time, then (she) watches TV.
Ngóh ge jái m̀jūngyi duhk syū. Kéuih yāt duhk syū jauh fan gaau. 9
My son does not like to study. Once he studies, then (he) falls asleep. What kind of
dim sum do
you like to
3.2 More use of tùhng and tùhngmàaih (‘with’) eat?
Tùhng or tùhngmàaih means ‘be together with’ and is usually used with yātchàih
(‘together’).
e.g., Ngóh tùhng ngóh ge màhmā yātchàih heui Yahtbún léuihhàhng.

I go travel to Japan with my mother.
Seuhng go sīngkèih ngóh tùhngmàaih pàhngyáuh yātchàih hàahng sāan.

Last week, I went hiking with my friends.
Gāmmáahn ngóh m̀tùhng néih yātchàih sihk faahn. Ngóh yiu hōi wúi.
Tonight, I cannot eat with you. I need to have a meeting.
Here are more examples of tùhng:
A Tīngyaht, néih wúih tùhng bīn go yātchàih heui Jīmsājéui a?

Tomorrow, with whom do you plan to go to Tsim Sha Tsui?
B Ngóh séung tùhngmàaih Charlotte yātchàih heui Jīmsājéui máaih sāam.
I want to go to Tsim Sha Tsui to buy clothes with Charlotte.
3.3 Relative clause: more use of ge to modify nouns

A relative clause in Cantonese is marked by ge and is placed before the noun being
modified.
e.g., Kéuih daai ge bīu hóu gwai.

The watch, which you wear, is very expensive.
Gó go jūngyi tái syū ge yàhn haih ngóh ge pàhngyáuh.

That person, who likes to read books, is my friend.
Nī go cheung gō hóu hóutēng ge yàhn haih bīn go a?

Who is this person, who sings very well?
A lunch gathering
Charlotte tùhng sāam go pàhngyáuh yātchàih yám chàh. Kéuihdeih yám

hēungpín, yānwaih John m̀hóyíh yám póuléih. Yùhgwó kéuih yám póuléih,
kéuih fanm̀jeuhk tùhng m̀syūfuhk. Wayne hóu jūngyi yám chàh. Kéuih jūngyi
sihk chāsīu bāau, chéungfán, hāgáau tùhng hàahmséuigók. Soo-young séung
sihk sīumáaih, lòhbaahk gōu tùhng fuhngjáau. John mātyéh dōu jūngyi sihk, 81
daahnhaih Wayne m̀jūngyi sihk fuhngjáau. Kéuihdeih yātchàih sihk dímsām
hóu hōisām. Sihkyùhn dímsām jīhauh kéuihdeih sihk tìhmbán.
What kind of
dim sum do 5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation
exercise: 🎧
you like to
eat?
jūk cháau mihn fán'gwó baahktòhng chēun'gyún

gōu
ngàuh yuhk tōng fán nohmáihgāi lìhnyùhng bāau jīmàh gyún
gāmchìhntóuh paau faahn máhtàih gōu sāangjīn bāau luhkdáusā
ngàuhpaakyihp jīn gáau máhlāai gōu maahntàuh hùhngdáusā
ngàuh gān wàhntān wuhtáu gōu hùhngjóu gōu jímáih louh

Ngóhdeih tīngyaht yātchàih yámchàh. Ngóh hóyíh dā dihnwá dehng wái.

Yùhgwó ngóhdeih heui yámchàh, ngóh jauh yātdihng wúih sihk hāgáau.

M̀ gōi néihdeih séung yiu léuhng lùhng chāsīu bāau tùhng yāt dihp chéungfán.

Ngóh pàhngyáuh m̀yám póuléi, yānwaih kéuih yám pōuléi fanm̀jeuhk.

Ngóhdeih yātjahngāan heui sihk tìhmbán, ngóh yìhgā m̀séung sihk taai dō.

Yùhgwó néih gaaisiuh yāt go yàhn béi ngóhdeih sīk, néih wúih gaaisiuh bīn go
a? Kéuih jūngyi jouh dī mātyéh a?
___________________________________________________________________
82
Néih jūng m̀jūngyi yám chàh a?
___________________________________________________________________
Néih séung sihk mātyéh dímsām a? 9
What kind of
___________________________________________________________________ dim sum do
you like to
Ngóh yāt dākhàahn, jauh heui léuihhàhng, néih nē? eat?
___________________________________________________________________
Yùhgwó néih hóu m̀syūfuhk, néih wúih dím jouh a?
___________________________________________________________________

dáng yātjahn

siháh

tùhngmàaih

hóuchíh

gaaisiuh

gau m̀gau

bīn yeuhng
83
9 m̀ geidāk
What kind of
dim sum do

you like to
eat?
tēng ginwah . . .

yāt . . . jauh . . .


a short story:
yāt . . . jauh . . . hàahm hóuchíh fógei dehng wái
múih chi m̀ syūfuhk tùhng . . . yātchàih jáulàuh juhng yáuh
84
LESSON 10
What do you do at Chinese New Year?
Jūngwok Sānnìhn néih jouh mātyéh a?
Activity: Discussing the Chinese New Year festival.
Context: Chinese New Year is coming. John calls Charlotte and asks her if she can
help him to buy some new clothes.

Charlotte: Néih dímgáai fātyìhn'gāan Why do you suddenly want
séung yíhm tàuhfaat tùhng to dye your hair and buy new
máaih sān sāam a? clothes?
John: Yānwaih jauhlàih gwonìhn la, It’s because Chinese New Year is
sóyíh ngóh séung jeuk lengdī. coming, so I want to look better.
Charlotte: Yùhnlòih haih gám. Haih a, I understand. It’s true, for
Jūnggwok yàhn jeui juhngyiu Chinese people the most
ge jityaht jauhhaih gwonìhn. important festival is the Lunar
New Year.
Jūnggwok yàhn wah Chinese people say, ‘New
‘Sānnìhn, sān heijeuhng’. year, new look’.
Yisī jauhhaih sān ge yāt The meaning is that in the new
nìhn néih wúih yáuh sān year you will have a new life
ge sāngwuht tùhng sān ge and a new image.
yìhngjeuhng.
Gihn sāam lengdī, néih wúih If your clothes are nicer, you’ll
hóuwahn dī. have better luck.
(Continued )
85
DOI: 10.4324/9781003083689-10
10 (Continued)
What do you
do at Chinese
New Year?
John: Ngóh geidāk yíhchìhn hái I remember in the past in
Tòhngyàhn gāai gin dóu Chinatown when I saw
Jūnggwok yàhn gwonìhn Chinese people celebrating
gójahnsìh, go go dōu wúih New Year at that time,
jeuk hùhng sīk ge sān sāam, everyone was wearing new red
dímgáai a? clothes; why (was that)?
Charlotte: Hùhng sīk hái Jūnggwok Red colour in Chinese culture
yàhn ge màhnfa léuih bihn has the meaning of happiness
yáuh hōisām tùhng hahngfūk and good fortune.
ge yisī.
Sóyíh Jūnggwok yàhn hóu Therefore, Chinese people like
jūngyi jeuk hùhng sīk ge to wear red clothes.
sāam.
John: Gám, tàuhfaat sái m̀sái dōu Then, do I need to dye my hair
yíhm hùhng sīk a? red?
Charlotte: M̀ sái, néih heui jín tàuhfaat, No need, you go to cut your
jíngchàih gōnjehng jauh hair, neat and clean is fine.
hóyíh la.
John: Gwonìhn ngóhdeih juhng For the Chinese New Year,
yáuh mātyéh yiu jéunbeih a? what do we need to prepare?
Charlotte: Néih yiu máaih dī fā fong hái You need to buy some flowers
ūkkéi, jōngsīkháh. to put at home, for decoration.
Juhng yáuh yiu máaih Also, you need to buy some
gwonìhn ge tòhnggwó tùhng New Year sweets and snacks.
lìhngsihk.
Yùhgwó pàhngyáuh heui néih If your friends go to your
ge ūkkéi taam néih, néih jauh flat to visit you, you can then
hóyíh chéng kéuihdeih sihk. invite them to eat (these sweets
and snacks).
John: Hái Hēunggóng gwonìhn What kind of special
wúih yáuh mātyéh dahkbiht celebrations will there be in
ge hingjūk wuhtduhng a? Hong Kong?
Charlotte: Gwonìhn gójahnsìh, During Chinese New Year,
Hēunggóng wúih yáuh yīnfā there will be a fireworks show
bíuyín. in Hong Kong.
Tùhnglòhwāan tùhng Causeway Bay and Mongkok
Wohnggok wúih yáuh fāsíh. will have flower markets.
Néih hóyíh heui hàahngháh. You can go for a walk.
Fāsíh maaih ge yéh yauh dō The flower markets have lots
yauh hóu wáan. Yáuh síusihk, (to see) and are fun. There are
86 juhng yáuh wuhngeuih. also snacks and toys (in the
flower markets).
What do you
John: Gwonìhn máaih yéh gwai Are things expensive during do at Chinese
m̀ gwai a? Chinese New Year? New Year?
Charlotte: Ngóh gokdāk m̀wúih hóu I don’t think they’ll be very

gwai. Yānwaih gwonìhn expensive. Because before
jīchìhn, daaih bouhfahn Chinese New Year most of
poutáu dóu wúih gáam ga. the shops are having sales.
John: Taai hóu la! Ngóh dáng m̀chit That’s great! I can’t wait.
la. Faaidī hàahng lā! Let’s go!

fātyìhn(gāan) adverb suddenly
yíhm tàuhfaat phrase to have hair dyeing
jauhlàih adverb soon
gwonìhn phrase Chinese New Year
jeuk verb to wear
juhngyiu adjective important
jityaht noun festival
jauhhaih adverb that is
wah verb to say
yisī noun meaning
sāngwuht noun life
yìhngjeuhng noun impression, image
hóuwahn adjective lucky
yíhchìhn adverb formerly, in the past
hùhng sīk noun red colour
màhnfa noun culture
yuhng verb to use
hahngfūk noun fortune, well-being
jín verb to cut (by scissors)
jíngchàih adjective neat
gōnjehng adjective clean
jéunbeih verb to prepare
87
noun preparation
(Continued )
10 (Continued)
What do you
do at Chinese
New Year? fā noun flower
fong verb to put
jōngsīk verb to decorate
noun decoration
tòhnggwó noun sweeties
lìhngsihk / noun snacks
síusihk
hingjūk verb to celebrate
wuhtduhng noun activity
yīnfā noun firework
bíuyín noun show, performance
verb to perform
(nìhnsīu) fāsíh noun flower market
maaih verb to sell
hóu wáan adjective interesting, fun
wuhngeuih noun toy
gokdāk verb to feel that . . .
daaih bouhfahn adverb the majority of
gáam ga noun sale, discount
verb to reduce the price
faai adjective fast, quick
Here are some useful phrases that you can use in daily conversation:
Sānnìhn, sān heijeuhng. New Year, new look.

Yùhnlòih haih gám! I see. You are right!
Ngóh chéng néih sihk faahn I treat you to a meal.
Taai hóu la! So good!
Ngóh dáng m̀chit la. I can’t wait!
Faaidī hàahng lā! Let’s go!
Note these lucky phrases that you can say to your friends during Lunar New Year:
sānnìhn jeunbouh sāntái gihnhōng maahnsih yùhyi gūnghéi faatchòih

progress in the New healthy and vigorous everything goes as prosperous New
Year New Year you hope Year
88 daaihgāt daaihleih yùhyi gātchèuhng hohkyihp jeunbouh lùhng máh
good luck and good good fortune in the excel at your studies jīngsàhn
fortune New Year be energetic as
dragons and horses
Here are some more colour terms: 10
What do you
cháang sīk wòhng sīk luhk sīk làahm sīk do at Chinese
orange colour yellow colour green colour blue colour New Year?
jí sīk chín luhk sīk sām làahm sīk fán hùhng sīk
purple colour light green deep blue pink colour
chàh sīk máih sīk (ga)fē sīk fūi sīk
tea colour rice colour coffee colour grey colour
baahk sīk hāak sīk gām sīk ngàhn sīk
white colour black colour golden colour silver colour
Note these Chinese festivals:
Chīngmìhng Jit Dyūnnǵh Jit Jūngchāu Jit Chùhngyèuhng Jit

Ching Ming Dragon Boat Mid-autumn Chung Yeung
Festival Festival Festival Festival
3 Learning points
3.1 Construction: yauh . . ., yauh . . . (‘both . . ., and . . .’)

Yauh . . ., yauh . . . is used when the sentence subject is modified by two or more
than two adjectives.
e.g., Nī dī pìhnggwó yauh tìhm yauh hóu sihk.

These apples are sweet and tasty.
Kéuih wah kéuih jūngyi tùhng yauh sihnlèuhng yauh sīmàhn ge yàhn jouh
pàhngyáuh.
He/she says that he/she likes to make friends with people who are kind and
polite.
3.2 Construction: yānwaih . . ., sóyíh . . . (‘because . . .,

therefore . . .’)
Yānwaih . . ., sóyíh . . . is used when explaining reasons in Cantonese. The structure
means ‘because . . ., therefore . . .’ in English.
e.g., Yānwaih hah go sīngkèih haih Singdaanjit, sóyíh ngóh hóu hōisām.
Because next week is Christmas, I am therefore very happy.
Here are more examples of yānwaih and sóyíh:
A Dímgáai néih hohk Gwóngdūngwá a?

Why do you learn Cantonese? 89
B Yānwaih ngóh jūngyi Hēunggóng, sóyíh ngóh hohk Gwóngdūngwá.
Because I like Hong Kong, I therefore learn Cantonese.
10 A Dímgáai néih jūngyi Hēunggóng a?
What do you Why do you like Hong Kong?
do at Chinese B Yānwaih ngóh yáuh hóu dō Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh, sóyíh yìhgā ngóh
New Year?
jūngyi Hēunggóng.
Because I have many Hong Kong friends, I therefore like Hong Kong now.
3.3 Comparative: -dī
When the suffix -dī goes after an adjective, it serves as a comparative suffix. Adjec-
tive -dī is similar to ‘adjective -er’ in English, as in ‘cheaper’ or ‘more beautiful’.
e.g., Nī go sáugēi hóu gwai, gó go pèhngdī.

This cell phone is very expensive, that one is cheaper.
Gāmyaht ngóh chéng sihk faahn, néih yiu sihk dōdī.

I am buying you a meal today; you should eat more.
Deuim̀ jyuh, ngóh m̀mìhngbaahk néih góng ge yéh, chéng néih góng
maahndī.
Sorry, I don’t understand what you said. Please speak slower.
Note more examples of the comparative dī in these two sentences:
A Dímyéung hóyíh góng hóudī Gwóngdūngwá a?

How can I speak better Cantonese?
B Néih yiu góng dōdī, tùhng tēng dōdī.
I need to speak more and listen more.
3.4 Definite article: Classifier – Noun (‘the . . .’)

Classifier – Noun construction is similar to ‘the noun’ in English.
e.g., Jek bīu hóu leng.

The watch is pretty.
Noun – Classifier – Noun constructions can also be used in Cantonese.
e.g., Néih jek bīu hóu leng.

The watch of yours is very beautiful.
Néih gin m̀ gin ngóh bouh dihnwá hái bīn douh a?

Do you see where the phone of mine is?
Here are more examples of the use of the classifier go and bún:
A Néih jī m̀jī kéuih go jèhjē gāmnìhn géi dō seui a?

Do you know how old the elder sister of him/her is this year?
B Tēngginwah, kéuih go jèhjē gāmnìhn sāamsahpyih seui.
I heard that the elder sister of him/her is 32 years old this year.
90
A Néih bún syū géi dō chín a? 10
How much is the book of yours? What do you
B Ngóh bún syū yātbaak sāamsahpsāam mān. do at Chinese
New Year?
The book of mine costs one hundred thirty-three dollars.
Chinese New Year holidays
Yānwaih jauhlàih Jūnggwok Sānnìhn, John séung jeuk lengdī, kéuih heui
máaih dī sān sāam. John yeuk Charlotte yātchàih heui máaih sāam. John wah
yíhchìhn kéuih hái Tòhngyàhn gāai, kéuih gindóu go go yàhn dōu jeuk hùhng
sīk ge sān sāam. Charlotte wah Sānnìhn haih Jūnggwok yàhn jeui juhngyiu ge
jityaht. Hái Jūnggwok màhnfa léuih bihn, hùhng sīk yáuh hōisām ge yisī. Sóyíh
Jūnggwok yàhn gokdāk gwonìhn jeuk hùhng sīk ge sān sāam, wúih hóuwahndī.
Charlotte wah gwonìhn yáuh hóu dō yéh yiu jéunbeih. Kéuih yiu máaih dī fā
fong hái ūkkéi, jōngsīkháh. Kéuih dōu yiu máaih dī tòhnggwó tùhng lìhngsihk
yānwaih yùhgwó pàhngyáuh heui kéuih ūkkéi taam kéuih, kéuih hóyíh chéng
pàhngyáuh sihk.
Hái Hēunggóng, Sānnìhn wúih yáuh yīnfā bíuyín. Tùhnglòhwāan tùhng
Wohnggok yáuh fāsíh. Kéuihdeih dōu gokdāk nī go jityaht yauh hóu wáan yauh
yáuh yisī.

exercise: 🎧
kàhnlihk láahn wānyàuh chōulóuh yihtchìhng
sāmdéi hóu sāmdéi chā sānchìuh lóuhtóu láahngdaahm
chūngmìhng chéun ngoihheung noihheung wuhtput
lóuhsaht gáauwaaht hōilóhng gūpīk jihsī
yihngjān kàuhkèih daaihdáam pacháu daaihfōng

Jauhlàih gwonìhn, ngóh séung heui sēungchèuhng máaih dī sān sāam.

Ngóh ge pàhngyáuh gāmyaht wúih làih ngóh ūkkéi taam ngóh.

91

10 Ngóh go mùihmúi hóu séung tái yīnfā bíuyín. Ngóh wúih tùhng kéuih yātchàih
What do you heui.
do at Chinese
New Year?
Gó gāan poutáu daaih gáam ga, dī yéh yauh pèhng yauh leng.
Ngóh hóu jūngyī Jūnggwok màhnfa, dahkbiht jūngyi Jūnggwok ge jityaht

màhnfa.

Néih sānnihn wúih jouh mātyéh a?
___________________________________________________________________
Néih ge bàhbā sāangyaht, néih dímyéung tùhng kéuih hingjūk a?
___________________________________________________________________
Jūnggwok yàhn gokdāk hùhng sīk haih hōisām tùhng hóuwahn.

Néih ge deihfōng nē? Mātyéh sīk haih hōisām tùhng hóuwahn a?
___________________________________________________________________
Néih hó m̀ hóyíh gaaisiuh yāt go néih jūngyi ge jityaht a?
___________________________________________________________________

sāngwuht
yānwaih . . ., . . .
92
. . . wah . . . 10
What do you
do at Chinese
New Year?

. . . yuhng . . .
fātyìhn(gāan)
daaih bouhfahn
Ngóh gokdāk . . .
jéunbeih
yauh . . . yauh . . .
yānwaih . . . sóyíh . . .
93
10 5.5 Choose at least five words from the list below to write
What do you a short story:
do at Chinese
New Year? jéunbeih jauhlàih gōnjehng hahngfūk màhnfa
yíhchìhn gokdāk yuhng hóu wáan gáam ga
94
APPENDIX 1
Glossary of linguistic terms
Adjective a class of words that describes and modify nouns.

Adverb a class of words that modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or sentences.
Affricate a speech sound made up of a stop followed immediately by a fricative.
Auxiliary verb a class of words used with a verb to express tense or mood.
Classifier a class of words that classifies nouns and reflects the conceptual classifi-
cation of nouns.
Comparative a form of adjective or adverb that express a higher degree of a
quality.
Conditional sentence describes a conditional situation in which ‘if’ one thing
happens, ‘then’ another thing will happen.
Conjunction a class of words that links phrases or clauses together.
Construction a group of words that forms a constituent of a sentence.
Co-verb a class of words that resembles a verb or co-operates with a verb, e.g., tùhng
(‘with’) in Cantonese.
Definite article used to refer to a specific thing. In English, this entails the use of
the, as in the book on the table.
Demonstrative used to point to something specific within a sentence, e.g., this, that,
these, those in English.
Determiner a word that specifies, identifies, or quantifies the noun or noun phrase
that follows it.
Fricative a consonant sound made by the friction of breath in a narrow opening,
producing a turbulent air flow.
Interjection a word or phrase used in exclamation expressing feeling or reaction.
Lateral approximant a consonant sound made by releasing air past the sides of the
tongue while making a block in the middle.
Nasal a consonant sound pronounced by the breath resonating in the nose.
Negation/Negative form a linguistic mechanism to express a negative state of
affairs. It indicates the absence rather than the presence of distinguishing
features.
Noun a class of words that names something, such as a person, place, thing, or idea. 95
Phrase a group of words forming a unit.
Appendix 1 Prefix an affix placed before the stem of a word.
Glossary Preposition a word used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction,
of linguistic
terms time, place, location, or spatial relationships.
Pronoun a word used as a substitution for a noun or noun phrase, e.g., he, she, it,
they in English.
Question word a word used to ask certain types of questions, e.g., what, who, why
in English.
Relative clause a dependent clause used to modify or give more information about
a noun.
Semi-vowel a speech sound that is phonetically similar to a vowel but functions as a
consonant in a syllable.
Sentence-final particle a word that occurs at the end of a sentence and does not
carry referential meaning.
Stop a consonant that is produced by stopping the airflow using the lips, teeth, or
palate, followed by a sudden release of air.
Superlative degree expresses the supreme or extreme form of an adjective.
Tag question turns a statement into a question and is often used for checking or
reconfirming information.
Verb a class of words that shows an action, occurrence, or state of being.
Verb suffix an affix that is placed after a verb and carries grammatical functions. In
Cantonese, -jó is put after a verb to show completion of an action and -gán is put
to show the action is ongoing.
Verb–object construction a combination of a verb and a noun to form a ‘word-
like unit’, e.g., fan gaau (‘to sleep’) in Cantonese.
Wh-question a question starting with what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose,
and why in English.
96
APPENDIX 2
English translation of questions
Lesson 1
Néih gwai sing a?

What is your surname?
Néih giujouh mātyéh méng a?

What is your name?
Néih haih bīn gwok yàhn a?

What country are you from?
Gā'nàhdaaih daaih m̀daaih a? Jūnggwok nē?

Is Canada big? How about China?
Néih haih m̀haih Yidaaihleih yàhn a?

Are you an Italian?
Néih pàhngyáuh haih m̀haih Sān'gabō yàhn a?

Is your friend a Singaporean?
Lesson 2
Néih yáuh géi dō go hóu pàhngyáuh a?

How many close friends do you have?
Kéuihdeih haih bīn douh yàhn a?

Where are they from?
Néih ge ūkkéi yáuh géi dō go yàhn a?

How many people are there in your family? 97
Appendix 2 Néih yáuh móuh Jūngmàhn syū a? Yáuh géi dō bún a?
English Do you have Chinese books? How many do you have?
translation of
questions
Néih pìhngsìh jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?
What do you usually like doing?
Lesson 3
Néih jyuh hái bīn douh a?

Where do you live?
Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn, yáuh móuh sēungchèuhng a?

Is there any shopping mall near your flat?
Néih ūkkéi fuhgahn, yáuh mātyéh a?

Near your flat, what kind of shops are there?
Deihtit jaahm hái bīn douh a?

Where is the subway station?
Néih jūng m̀jūngyi tái wájín a? Néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh?

Would you like to see an art exhibition? What do you like doing?
Lesson 4
Gāmyaht haih géi yuht géi houh, sīngkèih géi a? Tīngyaht nē?
What is the date today? How about tomorrow?

When is your birthday?
Néih sāangyaht, néih pàhngyáuh béi mātyéh néih a?

For your birthday, what did your friends give you?
Hah go sīngkèih yaht, néih séung jouh mātyéh a?

Next Sunday, what would you like to do?
Gāmnìhn Singdaanjit, néih séung jouh mātyéh a?

At Christmas this year, what would you like to do?
98
Lesson 5 Appendix 2
English
translation of
5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese: questions
Múih yaht, néih géi dím héi sān, géi dím sihk jóuchāan a?
Everyday, what time do you wake up, what time do you eat breakfast?
Néih dímyéung làih nī douh a? Yiu géi noih a?

How do you get here? How long does it take?
Néih jī m̀jī yìhgā géi dím a?

Do you know what time it is now?
Néih géi dím dou géi dím jouh wahnduhng a? Kàhmmáahn gáu dím bun,
néih jouh mātyéh a?
From what time to what time do you take exercise? Last night at half past nine,
what were you doing?
Néih daap fóchē gójahnsìh, néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?

When you take a train, what do you like doing?
Néih hōisām gójahnsìh, néih jūngyi jouh mātyéh a?

When you are happy, what do you like doing?
Lesson 6
5.3 Below you have the answers to six questions. Write in the relevant questions to
match the answers provided.
Answer: Nī jek bīu yiu luhkchīn mān.

This watch costs six thousand dollars.
Answer: Ngóh yáuh yāt baak mān.

I have one hundred dollars.
Answer: Nī bún syū haih Gwóngdūngwá syū.

This book is a Cantonese book.
Answer: Ngóh ge sān syūbāau hóu leng, dōu m̀haih hóu gwai.
My new school bag is beautiful and is also not very expensive.
Answer: Nī bouh dihnnóuh haih ngóh ge, gó bouh dihnnóuh haih ngóh ge
bàhbā ge.
This computer is mine; that computer is my father’s.
Answer: Gāmyaht, ngóh séung sihk honbóubāau. 99

Today, I’d like to have a hamburger.
Appendix 2 Lesson 7
English
translation of
questions 5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:
Yùhgwó néih ge pàhngyáuh behngjó, néih wúih jouh mātyéh a?

If your friend is sick, what will you do?
Néih ge pàhngyáuh sāangyaht, néih sung mātyéh béi kéuih a? Dímgáai a?

For your friend’s birthday, what present are you giving him/her? Why?
Yùhgwó néih heui chīukāp síhchèuhng, néih séung máaih mātyéh a?

If you go to a supermarket, what do you want to buy?
Ngóh ge pàhngyáuh nám sung láihmaht m̀haih yātdihng yiu gwai ge.
Néih nám nē? Dímgáai a?
My friend thinks that presents don’t have to be expensive. What do you think?
Why?
Néih ge pàhngyáuh sung yāt fahn sāangyaht láihmaht béi néih.

Yìhgā néih dá dihnwá béi kéuih dōjeh kéuih.
Your friend gave a birthday present to you.
Now you are calling him/her to thank him/her.
Lesson 8
Yùhgwó néih heui léuihhàhng, néih séung heui bīn douh a? Dímgáai a?
If you go travelling, where would you like to go? Why?
Yùhgwó néih yáuh chín, kéuih séung jouh mātyéh a?

If you have money, what would you like to do?
Yùhgwó yáuh kwòhngfūng bouhyúh, néih jauh wúih jouh mātyéh a?

If there is strong wind and a rainstorm, then what would you do?
Néih ge dihnwá houhmáh haih géi dō houh a?

What is your telephone number?
Néih dá dihnwá béi pàhngyáuh, daahnhaih móuh yàhn tēng.

Chéng néih làuh háuseun
You are calling your friend, but nobody answers the phone.
Please leave a message.
100
Lesson 9 Appendix 2
English
translation of
5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese: questions
Yùhgwó néih gaaisiuh yāt go yàhn béi ngóhdeih sīk, néih wúih gaaisiuh bīn
go a? Kéuih jūngyi jouh dī mātyéh a?
If you introduced a person to me, who would you introduce? What does he/she
like doing?
Néih jūng m̀jūngyi yám chàh a?

Do you like having Chinese dim sum?
Néih séung sihk mātyéh dímsām a?

What dim sum do you like?
Ngóh yāt dākhàahn, jauh heui léuihhàhng, néih nē?

Once I am free, then (I’ll) go travelling, how about you?
Yùhgwó néih hóu m̀syūfuhk, néih wúih dím jouh a?

If you get very sick, what would you do?
Lesson 10
Néih sānnihn wúih jouh mātyéh a?

What will you do during New Year?
Néih ge bàhbā sāangyaht, néih dímyéung tùhng kéuih hingjūk a?

For your father’s birthday, how do you celebrate with him?
Jūnggwok yàhn gokdāk hùhng sīk haih hōisām tùhng hóuwahn.

Néih ge deihfōng nē? Mātyéh sīk haih hōisām tùhng hóuwahn a?
Chinese people think that the colour red means happiness and good luck.
How about in your place? What colour means happiness and luck?
Néih hó m̀ hóyíh gaaisiuh yāt go néih jūngyi ge jityaht a?

Can you talk about a festival that you like?
101
APPENDIX 3
List of learning points
Word order of simple sentences Lesson 1

Yes/no questions Lesson 1
Verb: sing (‘surname’) Lesson 1
Adverbs modifying adjectives: hóu (‘very’), géi (‘quite’), m̀ haih Lesson 1
hóu (‘not very’), and m̀ haih géi (‘not quite’)
Numbers (’1~99’) Lesson 2
Classifiers Lesson 2
Sentence-final particle: . . . a? Lesson 2
Verbs: yáuh (‘to have’) and móuh (‘not to have’) Lesson 2
Wh-questions: mātyéh (‘what’) and géi dō (‘how many/how much’) Lesson 2
The use of yáuh to indicate location Lesson 3
Co-verb: hái (‘in/at/on’) Lesson 3
The use of ge Lesson 3
Time words: nìhn, yuht, yaht, sīngkèih (‘year, month, day, and Lesson 4
week’)
Question word: géisìh (‘when’) Lesson 4
Verb: béi (‘to give’) Lesson 4
Construction: dá dihnwá béi . . . (‘to phone someone’) Lesson 4
Tag question: . . . àh? (‘. . . isn’t it?’) Lesson 4
Question word: géi dím (‘what time’) Lesson 5
Question word: géi noih (‘how much time’) Lesson 5
Conjunction: gójahnsìh (‘when’) Lesson 5
Co-verb: tùhng (‘with’) Lesson 5
Verb suffix: -yùhn (‘finish’) Lesson 5
Large numbers Lesson 6
Money terms Lesson 6
Question word: géi dō (‘how many/how much’) Lesson 6
Verb–object construction Lesson 6
Question word: dímyéung/dím (‘how’) Lesson 6
Preposition: béi (‘to, for’) Lesson 7
Demonstratives: nī (‘this’), gó (‘that’) Lesson 7
More use of ge Lesson 7
Verb suffix: -gán (‘-ing’) Lesson 8
102 Verb suffix: -jó Lesson 8
Conditional sentence: yùhgwó . . . (jauh) . . . (‘if . . ., then . . .’) Lesson 8 Appendix 3
List of
Yes/no question: sái m̀sái . . . a? (‘do you need . . . ?’) Lesson 8
learning
Construction: yāt . . . jauh . . . (‘once . . ., then . . .’) Lesson 9 points
More use of tùhng and tùhngmàaih (‘with’) Lesson 9
Relative clause: more use of ge to modify nouns Lesson 9
Construction: yauh . . ., yauh . . . (‘both . . ., and . . .’) Lesson 10
Construction: yānwaih . . ., sóyíh . . . (‘because . . ., therefore . . .’) Lesson 10
Comparative: -dī Lesson 10
Definite article: Classifier + Noun (‘the . . .’) Lesson 10
103
APPENDIX 4
List of relevant phrases
Yale romanization Grammatical form/ English gloss Lesson

function
āam'āam adverb just recently, just now Lesson 8
. . . àh? sentence-final particle . . ., isn’t it? Lesson 4
for tag questions
baak noun hundred Lesson 6
baat number eight Lesson 2
bāau noun bread, bun Lesson 9
bāt noun pen Lesson 6
Bātgāsok personal name Picasso Lesson 3
bātgwo conjunction but Lesson 4
bātyùh phrase it is better Lesson 4
behngjó adjective being sick Lesson 7
behngyàhn noun patient Lesson 7
béi verb to give Lesson 4
bīn douh question word where Lesson 3
bīn gwok phrase which country Lesson 1
bīn yeuhng question word which type Lesson 9
bīn go question word who Lesson 2
bīn hòhng question word what profession Lesson 4
‘bīt’ yāt sēng phrase a ‘beep’ sound Lesson 8
bíuyín noun show, performance Lesson 10
verb to perform
bokmahtgún noun museum Lesson 8
bōng verb to help Lesson 8
bouhyúh phrase heavy rain Lesson 8
būi noun cup, glass Lesson 6
chāamgūn verb to visit (a place) Lesson 8
cháang noun orange Lesson 7
chāantēng noun café, restaurant, Lesson 3
including those serving
non-Chinese food
104
Appendix 4
Yale romanization Grammatical form/ English gloss Lesson List of
function relevant
phrases
chàh noun tea Lesson 9
chām̀dō adverb almost Lesson 8
chāt number seven Lesson 2
cheung gō verb–object to sing songs Lesson 2
construction
chéungfán noun steamed rice roll Lesson 9
chìhdī adverb later Lesson 6
chīn noun thousand Lesson 6
choi noun food, vegetables Lesson 2
chūng lèuhng verb–object to take a shower Lesson 5
construction
chyùhnbouh phrase totally Lesson 7
dá béi néih phrase call you Lesson 8
daahnhaih conjunction but, however Lesson 1
daaih adjective big, large Lesson 1
daaih bouhfahn adverb the majority of Lesson 10
daaihgā pronoun everyone Lesson 8
daaihhohksāang noun university student Lesson 2
daap / verb to travel by, to ride on Lesson 3
chóh (a vehicle)
dáfāan dihnwá phrase call back Lesson 8
dahkbiht adjective special Lesson 3
dākhàahn adjective have free time Lesson 4
dáng verb to wait Lesson 6
dáng dáng phrase wait for a while Lesson 6
dáng (yāt)jahn phrase a moment Lesson 9
dehng wái verb–object to book a seat Lesson 9
construction
deihfōng noun place Lesson 8
deihtit noun subway Lesson 3
dī determiner some Lesson 3
dihnnóuh noun computer Lesson 6
dihnwá noun telephone Lesson 4
dihnwá houhmáh noun telephone number Lesson 8
dímgáai question word why Lesson 7
dímsām noun dim sum Lesson 9
dímsām jí noun dim sum selection Lesson 9
paper
dímyéung question word how Lesson 6
dōu adverb too, also, either Lesson 1
duhk syū verb–object to study Lesson 2
construction
105
(Continued )
Appendix 4 (Continued)
List of
relevant Yale romanization Grammatical form/ English gloss Lesson
phrases function
fā noun flower Lesson 10
faai adjective fast, quick Lesson 10
fāan verb to go back Lesson 5
fāanké noun tomato Lesson 3
fan gaau verb–object to sleep Lesson 5
construction
fānjūng noun minute Lesson 5
fanm̀jeuhk phrase cannot sleep Lesson 9
fātyìhn(gāan) adverb suddenly Lesson 10
fógei noun waiter, waitress Lesson 9
fong verb to put Lesson 10
fōngbihn adjective convenient Lesson 6
fuhgahn adverb nearby Lesson 3
gāaisíh noun wet market Lesson 7
gaaisiuh verb to introduce Lesson 9
gaaklèih noun beside, next to Lesson 3
gáam ga noun sale, discount Lesson 10
verb to reduce the price
gáan verb to choose Lesson 9
gāau verb to submit Lesson 8
gāmnìhn time word this year Lesson 4
gāmyaht time word today Lesson 4
gánghaih adverb of course Lesson 3
gānjyuh verb to follow Lesson 3
géi adverb quite Lesson 1
géi determiner several Lesson 5
géi dím question word what time Lesson 5
géi dō question word how many Lesson 6
géi dō chín question word how much money Lesson 6
géi dō seui question word how old Lesson 4
géi noih question word how long Lesson 5
géisìh question word when Lesson 4
gindóu phrase can meet Lesson 4
gīngsèuhng adverb often Lesson 3
ginyíh verb to suggest Lesson 8
giu verb to order (food) Lesson 9
giu yéh verb–object to order food Lesson 9
construction
giujouh verb be named Lesson 1
go classifier piece of Lesson 2
gó douh adverb there Lesson 3
106 place word
Appendix 4
function relevant
phrases
góbouh dihnnóuh phrase that computer Lesson 6
gójahnsìh conjunction when, while Lesson 5
gokdāk . . . verb to feel that . . . Lesson 10
góng verb to speak Lesson 1
gōnjehng adjective clean Lesson 10
gōu adjective tall Lesson 2
gú verb to guess Lesson 5
guih adjective tired Lesson 5
gwa baathouh phrase hoist typhoon signal Lesson 8
fūngkàuh number 8
gwai adjective expensive Lesson 6
Gwóngdūngwá noun Cantonese Lesson 1
gwonìhn phrase Chinese New Year Lesson 10
hàahm adjective salty Lesson 9
hàahng louh verb–object to walk Lesson 3
construction
hah go láihbaai time word next week Lesson 4
hahjau time word afternoon Lesson 5
hahngfūk noun fortune, well-being Lesson 10
hái co-verb in, at, on Lesson 3
haih verb to be (‘am, is, are’) Lesson 1
héi sān verb–object to wake up Lesson 5
construction
heiyún noun cinema Lesson 5
heui verb to go Lesson 3
Hēunggóng noun Hong Kong Lesson 1
hingjūk verb to celebrate Lesson 10
hohksāang noun student Lesson 2
hōi wúi verb–object to have a meeting Lesson 5
construction
hōisām adjective happy Lesson 2
hónàhng adverb possibly Lesson 8
honbóubāau noun hamburger Lesson 6
hóu adjective good, well, fine, okay Lesson 1
adverb very
hóu dō adjective many Lesson 2
hóu sihk adjective good taste Lesson 7
hóu tái adjective interesting, Lesson 5
good-looking
hóu wáan adjective interesting, fun Lesson 10
hóuchíh phrase to look like, it seems Lesson 9
(Continued )
107
List of
phrases function
hóudī adjective better Lesson 7
hóuwahn adjective lucky Lesson 10
hóyíh auxiliary can Lesson 3
hùhng sīk noun red colour Lesson 10
jaahm noun station Lesson 3
jānhaih adverb really Lesson 3
jáu noun wine Lesson 7
jauh conjunction then Lesson 8
jauhhaih adverb that is Lesson 10
jauhlàih adverb soon Lesson 10
jáulàuh / chàhlàuh noun traditional Chinese Lesson 9
restaurant
jeui adverb indicating the most Lesson 2
superlative degree
jeui sān phrase newest Lesson 6
jeuigahn adverb recently Lesson 5
jeuk verb to wear Lesson 10
jéunbeih verb to prepare Lesson 10
noun preparation
jīchìhn adverb before Lesson 8
jīdou verb to understand, Lesson 3
to know
jīhauh adverb afterwards Lesson 5
jīkhāak adverb immediately Lesson 5
jīlíu noun data Lesson 8
jín verb to cut (by scissors) Lesson 10
jíngchàih adjective neat Lesson 10
jīsí noun cheese Lesson 3
jityaht noun festival Lesson 10
jīujóu time word morning Lesson 5
jíyáuh phrase only have Lesson 4
joi adverb again Lesson 5
jōngsīk verb to decorate Lesson 10
noun decoration
jóuchāan noun breakfast Lesson 5
jouh verb to do Lesson 2
jouh yéh verb–object to work Lesson 2
construction
jóyauh adverb around, approximately Lesson 6
juhng adverb still Lesson 8
juhng yáuh adverb and also Lesson 9
108
Appendix 4
function relevant
phrases
juhngyiu adjective important Lesson 10
jūngtàuh noun hour Lesson 5
jūngyi verb to like Lesson 2
jyú faahn verb–object to cook meal Lesson 2
construction
jyūgūlīk noun chocolate Lesson 4
jyuh hái verb to live in Lesson 3
kèihsaht adverb in fact Lesson 3
kèihtā adjective other Lesson 8
kèihtā yéh phrase something else Lesson 9
kéuih pronoun he, she, him, her, it Lesson 1
kéuihdeih pronoun they, them Lesson 1
kūkkèihbéng noun cookie Lesson 7
kwòhngfūng phrase fierce wind Lesson 8
kyutdihng verb to decide Lesson 9
làih verb to come Lesson 3
láihbaaiyāt time word Monday Lesson 4
láihmaht noun gift Lesson 4
làuh hái ūkkéi phrase to stay home Lesson 8
làuhyìhn noun voice message Lesson 8
lēk adjective smart Lesson 2
leng adjective beautiful, good-looking Lesson 1
léuhng number two (used with Lesson 2
classifiers)
léuhng go jūngtàuh phrase two hours Lesson 5
léuhng lùhng phrase two cages (of food) Lesson 9
léuihhàhng verb to travel Lesson 2
lihksí noun history Lesson 8
lìhngsihk noun snacks Lesson 10
síusihk
luhk number six Lesson 2
m̀ negative prefix for not Lesson 1
verbs and adjectives
máahnfaahn noun dinner Lesson 5
maaih verb to sell Lesson 10
máaih verb to buy Lesson 3
mahn verb to ask Lesson 4
màhnfa noun culture Lesson 10
mahntàih noun problem Lesson 4
mātyéh question word what Lesson 1
méng noun name Lesson 1
m̀ gau phrase not enough Lesson 9
109
(Continued )
List of
phrases function
m̀ geidāk phrase cannot remember Lesson 9
m̀ gōisaai phrase thank you very much Lesson 6
mìhngbaahk verb to understand Lesson 6
mòhng adjective busy Lesson 5
móuh verb not to have Lesson 2
móuhsówaih phrase be indifferent, Lesson 9
it doesn’t matter
m̀ syūfuhk phrase not feeling well, not Lesson 9
comfortable
m̀ tùhng adjective different Lesson 6
muhkgwā noun papaya Lesson 7
múih yaht phrase every day Lesson 4
múih yeuhng phrase every type Lesson 9
múihchi phrase every time Lesson 4
nàahmpàhngyáuh noun boyfriend Lesson 2
nàahn adjective difficult Lesson 2
nē? sentence-final particle how about? Lesson 1
néih pronoun you (singular) Lesson 1
néih jihgéi phrase yourself Lesson 9
néihdeih pronoun you (plural) Lesson 1
néuihpàhngyáuh noun girl friend Lesson 2
ngaan jau / time word noon Lesson 5
jūngnǵh
nǵh number five Lesson 2
ngóh pronoun I, me Lesson 1
ngóhdeih pronoun we, us Lesson 1
nī bihn phrase this way Lesson 9
nī chi phrase this time Lesson 8
nī douh adverb here Lesson 3
place word
nī gāan poutáu phrase this shop Lesson 6
nī jēung phrase this sheet (of paper) Lesson 9
nī jī bāt phrase one pen Lesson 6
(nìhnsīu) fāsíh noun flower market Lesson 10
Òh! interjection I see! Lesson 2
ōnchyùhn adjective safe Lesson 8
ōnchyùhndī adjective safer Lesson 8
pàhngyáuh noun friend Lesson 1
pèhng adjective cheap Lesson 7
peiyùh(wah) phrase for example Lesson 7
pìhnggwó noun apple Lesson 7
110
Appendix 4
function relevant
phrases
pìhngsìh adverb usually Lesson 2
pīsàh noun pizza Lesson 3
pòhngbīn noun next to Lesson 3
poutáu noun shop Lesson 6
sāam number three Lesson 2
sāam dím bun phrase half past three Lesson 5
sāanggwó noun fruit Lesson 7
sāangyaht noun birthday Lesson 4
sāangyaht wúi noun birthday party Lesson 5
sahpyih yuht time word December Lesson 4
sāigwā noun watermelon Lesson 7
sāileih adjective terribly good Lesson 8
sāmyi noun heartfelt feelings Lesson 7
sān adjective new Lesson 4
sāngwuht noun life Lesson 10
sānmàhn noun news Lesson 8
sānsīn adjective fresh Lesson 7
sáugēi noun mobile phone Lesson 4
sauhfoyùhn noun salesperson Lesson 6
sé verb to write Lesson 8
sei number four Lesson 2
seuhngjau time word morning Lesson 5
séung auxiliary verb would like to, want to Lesson 3
sēungchèuhng noun shopping mall Lesson 3
siháh phrase have a try Lesson 9
sìhgaan noun time Lesson 4
sìhgaanbíu noun timetable Lesson 5
sihk verb to eat Lesson 2
sihk faahn verb–object to eat meal Lesson 2
construction
sihk ngaahn verb–object to have lunch Lesson 5
construction
sīn adverb first Lesson 6
sing noun surname Lesson 1
verb
Singdaanjit noun Christmas Lesson 4
sīngkèih yaht time word Sunday Lesson 4
sīnsāang noun Mr Lesson 1
síubā noun mini bus Lesson 3
síujé noun Miss, lady Lesson 1
síusíu adverb a little Lesson 1
(Continued ) 111
List of
phrases function
sóyíh conjunction therefore Lesson 6
syūbāau noun schoolbag Lesson 4
taai adverb too Lesson 3
taaitáai noun Mrs Lesson 1
taam verb to visit (a person) Lesson 5
tái verb to see, to watch Lesson 3
tái syū verb–object to read books Lesson 2
construction
táiháh phrase to take a look Lesson 6
tēng verb to listen Lesson 8
tēng gō verb–object to listen to songs Lesson 2
construction
tēnggin(wah) / phrase I’ve heard that Lesson 9
tēnggóng(wah)
tēngjó phrase heard Lesson 8
tìhmbán noun dessert Lesson 9
. . . tīm sentence-final particle . . . too Lesson 8
emphasizing ‘more’,
‘also’
tīnmàhntòih noun observatory Lesson 8
tòhnggwó noun sweeties Lesson 10
tòhngséui noun sweet soup Lesson 9
tòihfūng noun typhoon Lesson 8
tòuhsyūgún noun library Lesson 5
tùhng conjunction and Lesson 3
tùhnghohk noun classmate Lesson 5
tùhngyi verb to agree Lesson 8
ūkkéi noun home, family Lesson 2
wá noun painting Lesson 3
Wa! interjection Wow! Lesson 2
waahkjé conjunction or Lesson 7
wáan verb to play Lesson 4
wah verb to say Lesson 10
wahnduhng noun sports Lesson 2
wahtdaht adjective disgusting Lesson 9
wájín noun art exhibition Lesson 3
wán verb to find Lesson 5
wuhngeuih noun toy Lesson 10
wuhtduhng noun activity Lesson 10
wúih auxiliary verb will Lesson 5
yàhn noun man, person Lesson 1
112
Appendix 4
function relevant
phrases
yahp heui verb to enter Lesson 6
yám chàh verb–object to have tea, to have Lesson 9
construction Chinese dim sum
yám jáu verb–object to drink wine Lesson 7
construction
yānwaih conjunction because Lesson 2
yāt number one Lesson 2
yāt dī pronoun some Lesson 7
yāt dihp phrase a dish (of food) Lesson 9
yāt fahn láihmaht phrase one gift Lesson 4
yāt fahn leuhnmán noun one academic paper Lesson 8
yāt hahp jyūgūlīk phrase a box of chocolate Lesson 4
yāt tou dihnyíng phrase one movie Lesson 5
yāt wùh gwán séui phrase a pot of hot water Lesson 9
yātchàih adverb together Lesson 4
yātdihng adverb certainly Lesson 7
yātjahn(gāan) adverb in a moment Lesson 8
yātjēun jáu phrase a bottle of wine Lesson 7
yáuh verb to have Lesson 2
yáuh dī . . . phrase some of . . ., Lesson 7
a little bit of . . .
yàuh . . . dou . . . construction from . . . to . . . (time) Lesson 5
yáuhsìh adverb sometimes Lesson 7
yéh noun things Lesson 3
yehmáahn time word at night Lesson 5
yeuk sìhgaan phrase make appointment Lesson 8
Yí! interjection Gross! Lesson 9
yih number two Lesson 2
yih adjective easy Lesson 2
yíhchìhn adverb formerly, in the past Lesson 10
yìhgā time word now Lesson 6
yíhgīng adverb already Lesson 2
yíhm tàuhfaat phrase to have hair dyeing Lesson 10
yìhn'gau noun research Lesson 5
verb to research
yìhngjeuhng noun impression, image Lesson 10
yīnfā noun firework Lesson 10
yīsāng noun medical doctor Lesson 2
yisī noun meaning Lesson 10
yiu verb to want, to need Lesson 4
yīyún noun hospital Lesson 5
(Continued )
113
List of
phrases function
yùhgwó conjunction if Lesson 7
yuhk noun meat Lesson 9
yúhn adjective far Lesson 3
yuhng verb to use Lesson 10
yùhnsìhng verb to complete Lesson 8
114

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MODERN CANTONESE BOOK 1

A note on the volumes vi

1 What is your name? – Néih giu mātyéh méng a? 1

Appendix 1 Glossary of linguistic terms 95

The majority of the Cantonese textbooks previously published have typically

Spoken Cantonese, written Cantonese,

The Yale system and Cantonese pronunciation

(1) an initial formed by a consonant or consonant cluster at the beginning of a

Initials in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

Table 2 Cantonese finals with examples

Finals in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

Finals in Yale International Example word Chinese English gloss

Table 3 Pitch contours of the six Cantonese tones

Table 4 Cantonese tones with examples

Cantonese tones High-level High- Mid-level Low- Low- Low-level

xii Yale romanization yī yí yi yìh yíh yih

• The diacritic tone-marks for high-level tones as in ā, rising tones as in á, as well

Activities: Greeting people and introducing yourself.

Cantonese text English gloss

Yale romanization Grammatical form/function English gloss

Jóusàhn! Good morning!

Here are some more country names:

Jūnggwok Hòhn'gwok Yahtbún Sān'gabō Fēileuhtbān

Here are some city names:

Bākgīng Seuhnghói Gwóngjāu Oumún Jyūhói

3.1 Word order of simple sentences

Simple sentence structure Negative form

e.g., Ngóh haih Yidaaihleih yàhn. Ngóh m̀haih Yīnggwok yàhn.

Here are some examples:

Noun – Adjective m̀ Adjective – a? Noun – haih m̀ haih – Noun – a?

3.3 Verb: sing (‘surname’)

e.g., Ngóh sing Léih, néih nē?

Ngóh sing Chàhn. Néih gwai sing?

3.4 Adverbs modifying adjectives: hóu (‘very’), géi (‘quite’),

Cantonese adverbs English gloss Example sentences

Jóusàhn, néihdeih hóu! Ngóh haih Charlotte.

5 Exercises and practice

5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation

mā má ma màh máh mah sān sāan gām gāam

sānsām gaiwaahk hàahng sāan taailáahng baatsahpbaat

5.2 Translate these sentences into English:

Néih pàhngyáuh m̀haih Gā'nàhdaaih yàhn.

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:

Néih haih m̀haih Yidaaihleih yàhn a?

Néih pàhngyáuh haih m̀haih Sān'gabō yàhn a?

5.4 Make sentences with given words or structures:

Activity: Asking for simple information.

Cantonese text English gloss

Yale romanization Grammatical form/function English gloss

Here are some more useful phrases:

M̀ hóu yisī! Sorry!

This is how you address your family members in Cantonese:

gòhgō / jèhjē / dàihdái / mùihmúi /

Here are the names of various jobs and professions:

chitgaisī chyùhsī faatyìhngsī fēigēisī gíngchaat

e.g., Néih tái m̀tái Jūngmàhn syū a?

Néih sihk mātyéh a?

Here are some more examples of the use of . . . a:

A Néih tái m̀tái Jūngmàhn syū a?

A note on the volumes vi

1 What is your name? – Néih giu mātyéh méng a? 1

Appendix 1 Glossary of linguistic terms 95

Table 2 Cantonese finals with examples

Table 3 Pitch contours of the six Cantonese tones

Table 4 Cantonese tones with examples

3.1 Word order of simple sentences

3.3 Verb: sing (‘surname’)

3.4 Adverbs modifying adjectives: hóu (‘very’), géi (‘quite’),

5 Exercises and practice

5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation

5.2 Translate these sentences into English:

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:

3.4 Verbs: yáuh (‘to have’) and móuh (‘not to have’)

3.5 Wh-questions: mātyéh (‘what’) and géi dō (‘how many/

5 Exercises and practice

5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation

5.2 Translate these sentences into English:

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:

5.5 Introduce your family and your friends:

3.1 The use of yáuh to indicate location

3.2 Co-verb: hái (‘in /at/on’)

5 Exercises and practice

5.1 Read the following words aloud in this pronunciation

5.2 Translate these sentences into English:

5.3 Answer the following questions in Cantonese:

5.5 Write a short passage about your neighbourhood:

3.1 Time words: nìhn, yuht, yaht, sīngkèih (‘year, month,

3.2 Question word: géisìh (‘when’)