Cantonese Beginner Lesson 1 Notes

Course Introduction

• The course, Cantonese Beginner Lesson 1 (儒東話 初階一 第一課 GWONG2 DUNG1 WAA2 CO1 GAAI1 JAT1 DAI6 JAT1 FO3), is led by instructor Sandra Chan.

• The primary focus of this initial lesson encompasses self-introductions (自我介紹 ZI6 NGO5 GAAI3 SIU6) and classroom vocabulary/phrases (課室用語 JUNG6 JYU5 & ZI6 NG_O 5 GAAI3 SIU6).

Self-Introduction (ZI6 NGO5 GAAI3 SIU6)

• Standard Introduction Phrases

  • Hello, everyone: 大家好 (Daai6 gaa1 hou2).

  • My name is… / I am called…: 我叫… (Ngo5 giu3…).

  • My English name is…: 英文名係… (Jing1 man4 meng2 hai6…).

  • I am…: 我係… (Ngo5 hai6…).

• Example Construction

  • 我叫 Ling，英文名係 Sandra (Ngo5 giu3 Ling, jing1 man4 meng2 hai6 Sandra): I am called Ling, my English name is Sandra.

• Inquiring About Names

  • What is your name?: 你叫乛嘢名呀？ (Nei5 giu3 mat1 je5 meng2 aa3?). This literally translates to "You (are) called what name?"

Basic Greetings (MAN6 HAU6)

• Common Daily Greetings

  • Hello: 你好 (Nei5 hou2), or simply using English loanwords like "Hi" or "Hello" (哈囉 haa1 lo3).

  • Good morning: 早晨 (Zou2 san4).

  • Good afternoon: 午安 (Ng5 on1).

  • Good evening: 晚上好 (Maan5 soeng6 hou2).

  • Note on Usage: In general, residents of Hong Kong rarely use formal greetings like "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" in casual conversation. These are typically reserved for professional settings, such as television presenters or telephone operators.

• Casual Inquiries and Phrases

  • How's your day?: 你今日點呀? (Nei5 gam1 jat6 dim2 aa3?).

  • How's it going? / Recently…: 最近點呀? (Zeoi3 gan6 dim2 aa3?).

  • What's up?: 點呀? (Dim2 aa3?).

  • Long time no see: 好耐冇見 (Hou2 noi6 mou5 gin3).

  • Hey!: 喂! (wai3!).

  • Nice to meet you: 好骸興認識你 (Hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5).

  • It's nice to see you again: 好開心再見到你 (Hou2 hoi1 sam1 zoi3 gin3 dou2 nei5).

• Status Inquiries and Responses

  • How are you? (Formal): 你好嗎？ (Nei5 hou2 maa3?).

  • I am very good, and you? (Formal): 我好好, 你呢？ (Ngo5 hou2 hou2, nei5 ne1?).

  • How have you been? (Oral/Casual): 呢排點呀？ (Ni1 paai4 dim2 aa3?).

  • Not bad, how about you? (Oral/Casual): 唔錯呀，你又點呀？ (M4 co3 aa3, nei5 jau6 dim2 aa3?).

• Farewells

  • Goodbye: 拜拜 (Baai1 baai3).

  • See you: 再見 (Zoi3 gin3).

  • See you then: 到時見 (Dou3 si4 gin3).

  • See you next week: 下星期見 (Haa6 sing1 kei4 gin3) or 下個禮拜見 (Haa6 go3 lai5 baai3 gin3).

Language Focus: Pronouns and "Verb to Be"

• The Verb "To Be" (係 hai6)

  • The Cantonese word 係 (hai6) serves as the equivalent for the English "am," "are," and "is."

• Subject Pronouns

  • I / Me: 我 (ngo5).

  • You: 你 (nei5).

  • He / She / It: 佢 (keoi5).

  • We / Us: 我哋 (ngo5 dei6).

  • You (plural): 你哋 (nei5 dei6).

  • They / Them: 佢哋 (keoi5 dei6).

Apologies and Responses (DOU6 HIP3 KAP6 WUI4 DAAP3)

• Excuse Me / Sorry (唔好意思 M4 hou2 ji3 si3)

  • Used for minor mistakes (e.g., being a few minutes late).

  • Used for minor inconveniences caused by uncontrollable mistakes (e.g., accidentally stepping on someone's foot).

  • Used even when it is not technically your fault (e.g., a salesperson informing a customer that an item is out of stock).

• Sorry (對唔住 Deoi3 m4 zyu6)

  • This carries a more serious tone than "m4 hou2 ji3 si3."

• Response

  • Never mind / No problem: 唔緊要 (M4 gan2 jiu3).

Requests and Gratitude (GAM2 ZE6 KAP6 WUI4 DAAP3)

• Please (唔該 M4 goi1)

  • Can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.

  • Example: 唔該借借 (M4 goi1 ze3 ze3) — "Excuse me, please make way for me."

  • Literal meaning of "ze3" is "to borrow." To borrow way from others.

  • In Cantonese, repeating a verb (like "ze3 ze3") indicates that the action lasts only for a short duration. The "ze3 ze3" is often skipped in obvious contexts, such as exiting public transport.

• Thank You

  • For help or a service: 唔該 (M4 goi1).

  • For a gift, appreciation, or congratulations: 多謝 (Do1 ze6).

  • Emphatic version: 多謝曬 (Do1 ze6 saai3) or 唔該曬 (M4 goi1 saai3).

  • Usage Note: Salespeople often say "do1 ze6" to customers. Customers should respond with "m4 goi1" rather than "do1 ze6."

• Response

  • You are welcome: 唔洗客氣 (M4 sai2 haak3 hei3).

Classroom Phrases (FO3 SAT1 JUNG6 JYU5)

• Class Management

  • It’s time to start class: 上堂勒 (Soeng5 tong4 laak3).

  • It’s time to end class: 而家落堂勒 (Ji4 gaa1 lok6 tong4 laak3).

• Comprehension Checks

  • Do you understand?: 你明唔明呀？ (Nei5 ming4 m4 ming4 aa3?).

  • I understand: 我明 (Ngo5 ming4).

  • I don’t understand: 我唔明 (Ngo5 m4 ming4).

  • A little: 少少 (Siu2 siu2).

• Inquiries

  • Does anyone have any questions?: 有冇人有問題呀？ (Jau5 mou5 jan4 jau5 man6 tai4 aa3?).

  • Any questions?: 有冇問題呀？ (Jau5 mou5 man6 tai4 aa3?).

  • I have questions: 我有問題 (Ngo5 jau5 man6 tai4).

  • I don’t have any questions: 我冇問題 (Ngo5 mou5 man6 tai4).

• Readiness and Verification

  • Is it okay?: 得唔得呀？ (Dak1 m4 dak1 aa3?) or O唔okay呀？ (O m4 okay aa3?).

  • Are you ready?: 你得未呀？ (Nei5 dak1 mei6 aa3?).

  • I am ready: 我得啦 (Ngo5 dak1 laa1).

  • Not yet: 未得 (Mei6 dak1).

  • Is that right?: 係唔係咁呀？ (Hai6 m4 hai6 gam2 aa4?) or 唔唔唔呀？ (唔唔唔呀 Ngaam1 m4 ngaam1 aa3?).

  • Yes: 係 (Hai6).

  • No: 唔係 (M4 hai6).

  • Right: 唔 (唔 Ngaam1).

  • Not right: 唔唔 (唔唔 M4 ngaam1).

• Action Instructions

  • Please read together: 一齊讀一次 (Jat6 cai4 duk6 jat1 ci3).

  • Read after me: 跟我讀一次 (Gan1 ngo5 duk6 jat1 ci3).

  • Please ask me three questions: 唔該問我三個問題 (M4 goi1 man6 ngo5 saam1 go3 man6 tai4).

  • Please repeat one more time: 唔該再請多一次 (M4 goi1 zoi3 gong2 do1 jat1 ci3).

  • Please write it down: 唔該寫低佢 (M4 goi1 se2 dai1 keoi5).

  • Please listen: 唔該聲住 (M4 goi1 teng1 zyu6).

  • Please look: 唔該睇吓 (M4 goi1 tai2 haa5).

• Language Translation Queries

  • How do you say "XXX" in Cantonese?: "XXX" 廣東話點請呀？ ("XXX" gwong2 dung1 waa2 dim2 gong2 aa3?).

  • How do you say "XXX" in English?: "XXX" 英文點請呀？ ("XXX" jing1 man2 dim2 gong2 aa3?).

Key Vocabulary (CI4 WU16)

• Verbs

  • Listen: 聽 (teng1).

  • Say/Speak: 請 (gong2).

  • Read: 讀 (duk6).

  • Write: 寫 (se2).

  • Look/Watch: 睇 (tai2).

• General Nouns

  • Questions: 問題 (Man6 tai4).

  • English: 英文 (Jing1 man2).

  • Cantonese: 廣東話 (Gwong2 dung1 waa2).

  • Homework: 功課 (Gung1 fo3).

  • Next Week: 下個禮拜 (Haa6 go3 lai5 baai3) or 下個星期 (Haa6 go3 sing1 kei4).

  • Student: 學生 (Hok6 saang1).

  • Teacher: 老師 (Lou5 si1).

Numbers (SOU3 ZI6)

• Basic Numbers $1-10$

  • $1$: 一 (jat1)

  • $2$: 二 (ji6)

  • $3$: 三 (saam1)

  • $4$: 四 (sei3)

  • $5$: 五 (ng5)

  • $6$: 六 (luk6)

  • $7$: 七 (cat1)

  • $8$: 八 (baat3)

  • $9$: 九 (gau2)

  • $10$: 十 (sap6)

• Higher Multiples and Terms

  • $20$: 二十 (ji6 sap6)

  • $30$: 三十 (saam1 sap6)

  • $40$: 四十 (sei3 sap6)

  • $50$: 五十 (ng5 sap6)

  • $60$: 六十 (luk6 sap6)

  • $70$: 七十 (cat1 sap6)

  • $80$: 八十 (baat3 sap6)

  • $90$: 九十 (gau2 sap6)

  • $100$: 一百 (jat1 baak3)

  • $1000$: 一千 (jat1 cin1)

  • $10,000$: 一萬 (jat1 maan6)