Cantonese (basics)

how are you

nei5 hou2 maa3

again

zoi3 + verb (e.g. zoi3 heoi3 leoi5 hang4)

another

ling1 jat1

N+

gei2

(e.g. sap6 gei2 = 13+)

long time no see

hou2 noi6 m5 gin3

quite good

gei2 hou2 aa3

so-so / not that great

maa4 maa2 dei2

what's your name?

nei5 giu3 me1 meng2

see you next time

haa6 ci3 gin3

excuse me

m4 ho2 ji3 si1

nevermind

m4 gan2 jiu3

you're welcome

m4 sai2 haak3 hei3

we

ngo5 dei6

you (plural)

nei5 dei6

they

keoi5 dei6

at / in / on (location / time)

hai2

is / am / are (identity / what it is)

hai6

same as usual

dou1 hai6 gam2 laa1

congratulations

gung1 hei2 saai3

song

go1

mine

ngo5 ge3

yours

nei5 ge3

his/hers

keoi5 ge3

that (far)

go2

this (near)

nei1

these

nei1 di1 or nei1 (classifier)

those

go2 di1 or go2 (classifier)

-ed (to finish)

jyun4

learn

hok6

how long

gei2 noi6

everyday

mui5 jat6

so/therefore

so2 ji3

because

jan1 wai6

or

waak6 ze2

food

je5 sik6

drink

je5 jam6

have or no?

jau mou

go back / return to

faan1

need

jiu3

restroom

caan3 heng3

want (+ noun)

jiu3

toilet

ci3 so4

washroom

saai sau gang

to know (a noun / action)

sik1

concert

jin2 coeng3 wui2 (concert is also ok)

turn off

sik1

pregnant

jau2 zou2

can (asking permission implied)

dak1

can

ho2 ji5

period cramp

"M" tung3

chopsticks

faai3 zi2

spoon

ci4 gaan1

knife

baa2 dou1

fork

caa1

more

do1 di1

less

siu2 di1

faster

faai3 di1

slower

maan6 di1

bigger

daai6 di1

smaller

sai3 di1

more difficult

naan4 di1

easier

ji6 di1

too ___

taai3

but

daan5 hai6

and then

gan1 zyu6

bad/poor

caa1

Go straight

zik6 haang4

Turn left

zyun3 zo2

Turn right

zyun3 jau6

U-turn

u-turn / diu6 tau4

stop

ting4

near

kan5

beef

ngau4 juk6

pork

zyu1 juk6

chicken

gai1 juk6

lamb

joeng4 juk6

fish

jyu2

meeting

wui6 ji5

to wear (accessory)

daai3

to take off (something you’re wearing)

ceoi4

to wear

zoek3

to lift / pick up

ling1 hei2

to put down

fong3 dai1

to plug in / insert

caap3

to unplug

mang1

clothes / top

saam1

pants

fu3

shoes

haai4

socks

mat6

hat

mou6

glasses

ngaan5 gang2

earrings

ji5 waan1

ring

gaai3 zi2

necklace

sau2 lin2

bag / purse

doi2

sweet

tim4