Cantonese Expressions - 1 · 2006. 6. 30. · Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 10 2.4 The short form...

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Cantonese Cantonese Cantonese Cantonese ExpressionsExpressionsExpressionsExpressions ---- 1 1 1 1

Section 1 Vocab 3 Unit 1 1 to 10 3 Unit 2 10 to 100 5 Unit 3 Money 12 Unit 4 Months and weeks 15

Section 2 Different parts of speech 18 Unit 5 Modal particles 18 Unit 6 Measure Words 20 Unit 7 Nouns 24 Unit 8 Pronouns 27

Section 3 Deal with people 32 Unit 9 Greetings and thanks 32

Section 4 Shopping 39 Unit 10 Price and ordering 39 Unit 11 Take a look and try 43 Unit 12 Size and colour 47 Unit 13 Payment and Delivery 52 Unit 14 Bargaining 54

Section 5 Food 58 Unit 15 Food ordering 58 Unit 16 Drinks ordering 62

Section 6 Getting around 66 Unit 17 Kinds of transports 66 Unit 18 Taking transports 68 Unit 19 Asking for direction 71

The end of the book 72

Key: [h] hint There’s a hint for that question. [T#] Track number Sound track no. for the CD MW measure word it works like “piece of” PM modal particle it suggests tones of sentences

Vocab format: English Cantonese Chinese character Literal meanings Measure word

Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 2

CD sound track records:

1.1 1 to 10 [T1] 10.1 Asking price [T21]

1.2 Tens [T2] 10.2 Ordering [T22]

2.1 11 to 19 [T3] 11.1 Take a look [T23]

2.2 Full form for 21-99 [T4] 11.2 Can it be tried? [T24]

2.3 Short form for 21-99 [T5] 12.1 Size [T25]

2.4 The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6] 12.2 Colour [T26]

2.5 Extra [T7] 13.1 Delivery [T27]

3.1 Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8] 13.2 Credit card [T28]

3.2 Money telling [T-] 14.1 Bargaining expressions [T29]

4.1 Months [T9] 14.2 Discount [T30]

4.2 Weeks [T10] 15.1 Food ordering [T31]

5.1 Modal particles [T11] 16.1 Drinks ordering [T32]

6.1 When to use measure words [T12] 17.1 Kinds of transports [T33]

6.2 More Nouns and their MWs [T13] 17.2 Stations or stops [T34]

6.3 Measure word “dî” [T14] 18.1 Stop [T35]

7.1 Common nouns [T15] 18.2 Minibus [T36]

7.2 Articles - a, an, the [T16] 18.3 Taxi [T37]

8.1 Personal Pronouns [T17] 19.1 Where is the …? [T38]

8.2 Demonstrative Pronouns [T18]

8.3 Interrogative Pronouns [T19]

9.1 Greetings [T20]

9.2 Goodbye [T20]

9.3 Thanks [T20]

9.4 Requests [T20]

9.5 Apologies [T20]

CD sound track records for the fast version: Unit 1 T 39 Unit 11 T 49 Unit 2 T 40 Unit 12 T 50 Unit 3 T 41 Unit 13 T 51 Unit 4 T 42 Unit 14 T 52 Unit 5 T 43 Unit 15 T 53 Unit 6 T 44 Unit 16 T 54 Unit 7 T 45 Unit 17 T 55 Unit 8 T 46 Unit 18 T 56 Unit 9 T 47 Unit 19 T 57 Unit 10 T 48


Section 1 VocabVocabVocabVocab

Unit 1 1 to 10

1.1 1 to 10 [T1]

1.1.1) Vocab

1 yâyâyâyâtttt 一 2 yihyihyihyih 二 3 sâamsâamsâamsâam 三 4 seiseiseisei 四 5 çghçghçghçgh 五 6 luhkluhkluhkluhk 六 7 châtchâtchâtchât 七 8 baatbaatbaatbaat 八 9 gáugáugáugáu 九 10 sahpsahpsahpsahp 十 0 llllììììhnghnghnghng 零

1.1.2) Note 2 - When people say “two of something”, “léuhngléuhngléuhngléuhng” is used instead of “yihyihyihyih”.

4 - “Die” or “dead” sounds: “séiséiséiséi”, which sounds like “4: seiseiseisei”. Therefore Chinese don’t like the number of “4”

5 - It should be pronounced as “çghçghçghçgh” according to dictionaries. However most people

say “±h±h±h±h” instead and it is generally accepted.

1.1.3) Exercises

a) Practice

1) What is your telephone number? ______________________

2) How many family members do you have? _______________

3) How many days are there in a week ? _____________

4) How many people are here ? _____________


1.2 Tens [T2]

1.2.1) Expressions 10 sahpsahpsahpsahp 十 20 yih sahpyih sahpyih sahpyih sahp 二十 30 sâam sahpsâam sahpsâam sahpsâam sahp 三十 40 sei sahpsei sahpsei sahpsei sahp 四十 50 çgh sahpçgh sahpçgh sahpçgh sahp 五十 60 luhk sahpluhk sahpluhk sahpluhk sahp 六十 70 chât sahpchât sahpchât sahpchât sahp 七十 80 baat sahpbaat sahpbaat sahpbaat sahp 八十 90 gáu sahpgáu sahpgáu sahpgáu sahp 九十

1.2.2) Exercises

1) 20 _____________________

yihyihyihyih----sahpsahpsahpsahp二二二二二二二二 2) 60 _____________________

luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahpsahpsahpsahp六六六六二二二二 3) 90 _____________________

ggggááááuuuu----sahpsahpsahpsahp九九九九二二二二


Unit 2 10 to 100

2.1 11 to 19 [T3]

2.1.1) Vocab 11 sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât 十一 12 sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih 十二 13 sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam 十三 14 sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei 十四 15 sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh 十五 16 sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk 十六 17 sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât 十七 18 sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat 十八 19 sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu 十九

2.1.2) Exercises

a) Translation

1) 11 ____________________

sahp yât sahp yât sahp yât sahp yât 二二二二十十十十 2) 13 ____________________

sahp ssahp ssahp ssahp sââââan an an an 二二二二十十十十 3) 17 ____________________

sahp chât sahp chât sahp chât sahp chât 二二二二十十十十 b) Practice

4) How many months are there in a year? _____________

5) How many units are there in this book? _____________


2.2 Full form for 21-99 [T4]

2.2.1) Vocab English Original FormOriginal FormOriginal FormOriginal Form Short FormShort FormShort FormShort Form Chinese 20 yih sahpyih sahpyih sahpyih sahp 二十 21 yih sahp yâtyih sahp yâtyih sahp yâtyih sahp yât yah yâtyah yâtyah yâtyah yât 二十一 22 yih sahp yihyih sahp yihyih sahp yihyih sahp yih yah yihyah yihyah yihyah yih 二十二 23 yih sahp sâamyih sahp sâamyih sahp sâamyih sahp sâam yah sâamyah sâamyah sâamyah sâam 二十三 24 yih sahp seiyih sahp seiyih sahp seiyih sahp sei yah seiyah seiyah seiyah sei 二十四 25 yih sahp çghyih sahp çghyih sahp çghyih sahp çgh yah çghyah çghyah çghyah çgh 二十五 26 yih sahp luhkyih sahp luhkyih sahp luhkyih sahp luhk yah luhkyah luhkyah luhkyah luhk 二十六 27 yih sahp châtyih sahp châtyih sahp châtyih sahp chât yah châtyah châtyah châtyah chât 二十七 28 yih sahp baatyih sahp baatyih sahp baatyih sahp baat yah baatyah baatyah baatyah baat 二十八 29 yih sahp gáuyih sahp gáuyih sahp gáuyih sahp gáu yah gáuyah gáuyah gáuyah gáu 二十九

30 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahpsahpsahpsahp 三十 31 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât sâsâsâsâ----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 三十一 32 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih sâsâsâsâ----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 三十二 33 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam sâsâsâsâ----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 三十三 34 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei sâsâsâsâ----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 三十四 35 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh sâsâsâsâ----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 三十五 36 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk sâsâsâsâ----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 三十六 37 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât sâsâsâsâ----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 三十七 38 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat sâsâsâsâ----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 三十八 39 sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu sâsâsâsâ----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 三十九

40 seiseiseisei----sahpsahpsahpsahp 四十 41 seiseiseisei----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât seiseiseisei----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 四十一 42 seiseiseisei----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih seiseiseisei----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 四十二 43 seiseiseisei----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam seiseiseisei----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 四十三 44 seiseiseisei----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei seiseiseisei----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 四十四 45 seiseiseisei----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh seiseiseisei----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 四十五 46 seiseiseisei----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk seiseiseisei----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 四十六


47 seiseiseisei----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât seiseiseisei----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 四十七 48 seiseiseisei----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat seiseiseisei----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 四十八 49 seiseiseisei----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu seiseiseisei----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 四十九

50 çghçghçghçgh----sahpsahpsahpsahp 五十 51 çghçghçghçgh----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât çghçghçghçgh----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 五十一 52 çghçghçghçgh----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih çghçghçghçgh----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 五十二 53 çghçghçghçgh----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam çghçghçghçgh----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 五十三 54 çghçghçghçgh----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei çghçghçghçgh----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 五十四 55 çghçghçghçgh----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh çghçghçghçgh----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 五十五 56 çghçghçghçgh----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk çghçghçghçgh----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 五十六 57 çghçghçghçgh----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât çghçghçghçgh----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 五十七 58 çghçghçghçgh----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat çghçghçghçgh----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 五十八 59 çghçghçghçgh----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu çghçghçghçgh----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 五十九

60 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahpsahpsahpsahp 六十 61 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 六十一 62 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 六十二 63 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 六十三 64 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 六十四 65 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 六十五 66 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 六十六 67 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât lllluhkuhkuhkuhk----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 六十七 68 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 六十八 69 luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 六十九

70 châtchâtchâtchât----sahpsahpsahpsahp 七十 71 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât châtchâtchâtchât----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 七十一 72 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih châtchâtchâtchât----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 七十二 73 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam châtchâtchâtchât----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 七十三 74 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei châtchâtchâtchât----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 七十四 75 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh châtchâtchâtchât----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 七十五 76 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk châtchâtchâtchât----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 七十六 77 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât châtchâtchâtchât----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 七十七 78 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat châtchâtchâtchât----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 七十八


79 châtchâtchâtchât----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu châtchâtchâtchât----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 七十九

80 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahpsahpsahpsahp 八十 81 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât baatbaatbaatbaat----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 八十一 82 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih baatbaatbaatbaat----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 八十二 83 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam baatbaatbaatbaat----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 八十三 84 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei baatbaatbaatbaat----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 八十四 85 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh baatbaatbaatbaat----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 八十五 86 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk baatbaatbaatbaat----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 八十六 87 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât baatbaatbaatbaat----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 八十七 88 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp baatsahp baatsahp baatsahp baat baatbaatbaatbaat----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 八十八 89 baatbaatbaatbaat----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu baatbaatbaatbaat----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 八十九

90 gáugáugáugáu----sahpsahpsahpsahp 九十 91 gáugáugáugáu----sahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yâtsahp yât gáugáugáugáu----ah yâtah yâtah yâtah yât 九十一 92 gáugáugáugáu----sahp yihsahp yihsahp yihsahp yih gáugáugáugáu----ah yihah yihah yihah yih 九十二 93 gáugáugáugáu----sahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâamsahp sâam gáugáugáugáu----ah sâamah sâamah sâamah sâam 九十三 94 gáugáugáugáu----sahp seisahp seisahp seisahp sei gáugáugáugáu----ah seiah seiah seiah sei 九十四 95 gáugáugáugáu----sahp çghsahp çghsahp çghsahp çgh gáugáugáugáu----ah çghah çghah çghah çgh 九十五 96 gáugáugáugáu----sahp luhksahp luhksahp luhksahp luhk gáugáugáugáu----ah luhkah luhkah luhkah luhk 九十六 97 gáugáugáugáu----sahp châtsahp châtsahp châtsahp chât gáugáugáugáu----ah châtah châtah châtah chât 九十七 98 gáugáugáugáu----sahpsahpsahpsahp baat baat baat baat gáugáugáugáu----ah baatah baatah baatah baat 九十八 99 gáugáugáugáu----sahp gáusahp gáusahp gáusahp gáu gáugáugáugáu----ah gáuah gáuah gáuah gáu 九十九

2.2.2) Exercises

a) Translation

1) 25 ____________________

yihyihyihyih----sahp çgh sahp çgh sahp çgh sahp çgh 二二二二二二二二二二二二 2) 36 ____________________

sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahpsahpsahpsahp----luhkluhkluhkluhk十十十十二二二二六六六六 b) Practice

3) How many days are there in a January ? _____________

4) How many days are there in a April ? _____________


2.3 Short form for 21-99 [T5]

2.3.1) Note Most of the time, native speakers use the short form instead of the original full form, even though it is not much shorter, it makes the sounds smoother. For the short forms:

21-29: yihyihyihyih----sahpsahpsahpsahp is changed into yahyahyahyah

31-39: sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahpsahpsahpsahp is changed into sâ sâ sâ sâ----ahahahah

41-99: sahp sahp sahp sahp is changed into ah ah ah ah

2.3.2) Vocab Refer to the above table

2.3.3) Exercises

1) 66 ____________________

luhkluhkluhkluhk----ahahahah----luhkluhkluhkluhk 六六六六六六六六六六六六 2) 74 ____________________

chchchchââââtttt----ahahahah----sei sei sei sei 十十十十六六六六七七七七 3) 86 ____________________

baatbaatbaatbaat----ahahahah----luhk luhk luhk luhk 八八八八六六六六六六六六 4) 98 ____________________

gáugáugáugáu----ahahahah----baat baat baat baat 九九九九六六六六八八八八


2.4 The short form for 20, 30 etc [T6]

2.4.1) Note If talking about twenty, thirty etc, it’s too short to use the short form, so people still say the original form. However if people talk about twenty of something (20 units), thirty of something etc, people use the short form.

2.4.2) Expressions

dollar mânmânmânmân 蚊 $20 yahyahyahyah mânmânmânmân 廿蚊 $30 sâsâsâsâ----ah ah ah ah mânmânmânmân 三三蚊 $40 seiseiseisei----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 四三蚊 $50 çghçghçghçgh----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 五三蚊 $60 luhkluhkluhkluhk----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 六三蚊 $70 châtchâtchâtchât----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 七三蚊 $80 baatbaatbaatbaat----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 八三蚊 $90 gáugáugáugáu----ah mânah mânah mânah mân 九三蚊

2.4.3) Exercises

1) $20 ____________________

yah mân yah mân yah mân yah mân 廿廿廿廿廿廿廿廿 2) $40 ____________________

seiseiseisei----ah mânah mânah mânah mân七七七七六六六六廿廿廿廿 3) $50 ____________________

çghçghçghçgh----ah mânah mânah mânah mân二二二二六六六六廿廿廿廿


2.5 Extra [T7]

2.5.1) Vocab 10 sahpsahpsahpsahp 十 100 yyyyââââtttt baak baak baak baak 一一 1000 yyyyâââât cht cht cht chîîîînnnn 一一 10000 yyyyâââât maahnt maahnt maahnt maahn 一一

2.5.2) Note The “one: y y y yââââtttt” in “100: yyyyâââât baakt baakt baakt baak”, “1000: yyyyâââât cht cht cht chîîîînnnn” and “10000: yyyyâââât maahnt maahnt maahnt maahn” can’t be skipped.

2.5.3) Exercises

1) I have $200. [h] _____________________________________ [I: ngóh] / [have: yáuh]

ngngngngóóóóh yh yh yh yááááuhuhuhuh yih baak m yih baak m yih baak m yih baak mâââân n n n 我我我我我我我我二二二二我我我我廿廿廿廿 2) I have $1000. _________________________________________

ngngngngóóóóh yh yh yh yááááuh yuh yuh yuh yâââât cht cht cht chîîîîn mn mn mn mâââânnnn我我我我我我我我十十十十我我我我廿廿廿廿


Unit 3 Money

3.1 Coins and Banknotes in HK [T8]

3.1.1) Vocab

dime (value is 10 cents) hòuhhòuhhòuhhòuh----jíjíjíjí 毫毫 3.1.2) Expression

Coins in HK Coins in HK Coins in HK Coins in HK –––– Dimes Dimes Dimes Dimes

one dime (10 cents) yât hòuhyât hòuhyât hòuhyât hòuh----jjjjíííí 一毫毫 two dimes (20 cents) léuhng hòuhléuhng hòuhléuhng hòuhléuhng hòuh----jíjíjíjí 兩毫毫 five dimes (50 cents) çgh hòuhçgh hòuhçgh hòuhçgh hòuh----jíjíjíjí 五毫毫 Coins in HK Coins in HK Coins in HK Coins in HK ––––DollarsDollarsDollarsDollars

$1 yât mânyât mânyât mânyât mân 一蚊 $2 léuhng mânléuhng mânléuhng mânléuhng mân 兩蚊 $5 ççççgh mângh mângh mângh mân 五蚊 $10 sahp mânsahp mânsahp mânsahp mân 十蚊 Banknotes in HKBanknotes in HKBanknotes in HKBanknotes in HK

$10 sahp mânsahp mânsahp mânsahp mân 十蚊 $20 yihyihyihyih----sahp msahp msahp msahp mân / yahân / yahân / yahân / yah----mmmmâââânnnn 二十蚊 $50 çghçghçghçgh----sahp mân / sahp mân / sahp mân / sahp mân / ççççghghghgh----ah mah mah mah mâââânnnn 五十蚊 $100 yyyyââââtttt----baak mânbaak mânbaak mânbaak mân 一一蚊 $500 çghçghçghçgh----baak mânbaak mânbaak mânbaak mân 五一蚊 $1000 yyyyââââtttt----chchchchîîîîn mânn mânn mânn mân 一一蚊

3.1.3) Note “Dime” is the smallest value of coins used in Hong Kong. It’s value is equal to 10 cents.

When people say “two of something”, “léuhngléuhngléuhngléuhng” is used instead of “yihyihyihyih”. That’s why

two-dime coins are called ““““llllééééuhng huhng huhng huhng hòòòòuhuhuhuh----jjjjí”í”í”í”

3.1.4) Exercises

a) Coins in HK - Dimes

1) two dimes (20¢) _______________________ léuhng hòuhléuhng hòuhléuhng hòuhléuhng hòuh----jí jí jí jí 兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩


2) five dimes (50¢) _______________________ çgh hòuhçgh hòuhçgh hòuhçgh hòuh----jí jí jí jí 二二二二兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩

b) Coins in HK - Dollars

3) $2 _______________________

léuhng mléuhng mléuhng mléuhng mâââân n n n 兩兩兩兩廿廿廿廿 4) $10 _______________________

sahpsahpsahpsahp m m m mâââânnnn二二二二廿廿廿廿 c) Banknotes in HK

5) $20 _______________________

yihyihyihyih----sahp mân / yahsahp mân / yahsahp mân / yahsahp mân / yah----mmmmâââânnnn 二二二二二二二二廿廿廿廿 6) $100 __________________

yâtyâtyâtyât----baak mânbaak mânbaak mânbaak mân十十十十我我我我廿廿廿廿 7) $500 _______________________

çgh baak mânçgh baak mânçgh baak mânçgh baak mân 二二二二我我我我廿廿廿廿 8) $1000 _______________________

yât chîn mânyât chîn mânyât chîn mânyât chîn mân 十十十十我我我我廿廿廿廿

3.2 Money telling [T-]

3.2.1) Note Just add “dollar : mâmâmâmânnnn” after the numbers.

3.2.2) Exercises

a) Full form only

1) $8 _______________________

baat mân baat mân baat mân baat mân 八八八八廿廿廿廿 2) $12 _______________________

sahpsahpsahpsahp----yih mânyih mânyih mânyih mân二二二二二二二二廿廿廿廿 3) $18 ____________________

sahpsahpsahpsahp----baatbaatbaatbaat mân mân mân mân二二二二八八八八廿廿廿廿 b) Use full form

4) $37 _______________________


sâamsâamsâamsâam----sahpsahpsahpsahp chât mân chât mân chât mân chât mân十十十十二二二二十十十十廿廿廿廿 5) $49 ____________________

seiseiseisei----sahpsahpsahpsahp----gáu mângáu mângáu mângáu mân七七七七二二二二九九九九廿廿廿廿 6) $60 _______________________

luhkluhkluhkluhk----sahpsahpsahpsahp mân mân mân mân六六六六二二二二廿廿廿廿 7) $99 ____________________

gáugáugáugáu----sahp gáu mânsahp gáu mânsahp gáu mânsahp gáu mân九九九九二二二二九九九九廿廿廿廿 c) Use short form

8) $28 ____________________

yahyahyahyah----baat mbaat mbaat mbaat mân ân ân ân 廿廿廿廿八八八八廿廿廿廿 9) $36 ____________________

sâsâsâsâ----ah luhk mânah luhk mânah luhk mânah luhk mân十十十十六六六六六六六六廿廿廿廿 10) $42 ____________________

seiseiseisei----ahahahah----yih mânyih mânyih mânyih mân七七七七六六六六二二二二廿廿廿廿 11) $56 ____________________

ççççghghghgh----ahahahah----luhk mânluhk mânluhk mânluhk mân二二二二六六六六六六六六廿廿廿廿 12) $63 ____________________

luhkluhkluhkluhk----ahahahah----sâam mânsâam mânsâam mânsâam mân六六六六六六六六十十十十廿廿廿廿 13) $78 ____________________

châtchâtchâtchât----ahahahah----baat mânbaat mânbaat mânbaat mân十十十十六六六六八八八八廿廿廿廿 d) Practice

14) How much for an apple? ____________________________________

15) How much for a Chinese newspaper? _____________________________

16) How much for an English newspaper? ____________________________

17) How much for a hamburger ? _______________________________

18) How much for a pen ? ____________________________________

19) How much for a chair ? ____________________________________

20) How much for a table ? ____________________________________


Unit 4 Months and weeks

4.1 Months [T9]

4.1.1) Vocab month yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 月 January yâtyâtyâtyât----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 一月 1st month February yihyihyihyih----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 二月 2nd month March sâamsâamsâamsâam----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 三月 3rd month April seiseiseisei----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 四月 4th month May çghçghçghçgh----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 五月 5th month June luhkluhkluhkluhk----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 六月 6th month July châtchâtchâtchât----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 七月 7th month August baatbaatbaatbaat----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 八月 8th month September gáugáugáugáu----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 九月 9th month October sahpsahpsahpsahp----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 十月 10th month November sahpsahpsahpsahp----yâtyâtyâtyât----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 十一月 11th month December sahpsahpsahpsahp----yihyihyihyih----yuhtyuhtyuhtyuht 十二月 12th month

4.1.2) Exercises

a) Translation

1) October ______________________________________

sahpsahpsahpsahp----yuht yuht yuht yuht 二二二二十十十十 2) March ______________________________________

sâamsâamsâamsâam----yuht yuht yuht yuht 十十十十十十十十 3) July ______________________________________

châtchâtchâtchât----yuht yuht yuht yuht 十十十十十十十十 b) Practice

4) What month is this? __________________________________________

5) Christmas is in which month? ___________________________________

6) Easter is in which month? ______________________________________

7) In Hong Kong, which months are very hot? _________________________

8) In Hong Kong, which months are very cold? ________________________


4.2 Weeks [T10]

4.2.1) Note Both ““““láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai”””” and ““““sîngsîngsîngsîng----kèihkèihkèihkèih”””” means week and both are commonly used. ““““ssssîîîîngngngng----kèihkèihkèihkèih””””

is a bit more formal than ““““láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai””””

4.2.2) Vocab

láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai

week láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai 禮禮 week Monday láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai----yâtyâtyâtyât 禮禮一 1st day of the week Tuesday lllláiháiháiháih----baaibaaibaaibaai----yihyihyihyih 禮禮二 2nd day of the week Wednesday láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai----sâamsâamsâamsâam 禮禮三 3rd day of the week Thursday láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai----seiseiseisei 禮禮四 4th day of the week Friday lllláiháiháiháih----baaibaaibaaibaai----çghçghçghçgh 禮禮五 5th day of the week Saturday láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai----luhkluhkluhkluhk 禮禮六 6th day of the week Sunday láihláihláihláih----baaibaaibaaibaai----yahtyahtyahtyaht 禮禮禮 day of the week sîngsîngsîngsîng----kèihkèihkèihkèih

week ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih 星星 week Monday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----yyyyât ât ât ât 星星一 1st day of the week Tuesday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----yyyyih ih ih ih 星星二 2nd day of the week Wednesday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----ssssâam âam âam âam 星星三 3rd day of the week Thursday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----ssssei ei ei ei 星星四 4th day of the week Friday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----çghçghçghçgh 星星五 5th day of the week Saturday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----lllluhk uhk uhk uhk 星星六 6th day of the week Sunday ssssîngîngîngîng----kkkkèihèihèihèih----yyyyaht aht aht aht 星星禮 day of the week


4.2.3) Exercises

a) Translation

1) Monday ______________________________________

sîngsîngsîngsîng----kèihkèihkèihkèih----yât / láihyât / láihyât / láihyât / láih----baaibaaibaaibaai----yât yât yât yât 星星星星星星星星十十十十 / / / / 禮禮禮禮禮禮禮禮十十十十 2) Sunday ______________________________________

sîngsîngsîngsîng----kèihkèihkèihkèih----yaht / láihyaht / láihyaht / láihyaht / láih----baaibaaibaaibaai----yahtyahtyahtyaht星星星星星星星星星星星星 / / / / 禮禮禮禮禮禮禮禮星星星星 3) Saturday ______________________________________

sîngsîngsîngsîng----kèihkèihkèihkèih----luhk / láihluhk / láihluhk / láihluhk / láih----baaibaaibaaibaai----luhkluhkluhkluhk星星星星星星星星六六六六 / / / / 禮禮禮禮禮禮禮禮六六六六 b) Practice

4) What is this day of the week? _______________________________

5) What day is it tomorrow? ___________________________________

6) What day was it yesterday? _________________________________

7) Which day(s) are you off work each week? _____________________


Section 2 Different parts of speechDifferent parts of speechDifferent parts of speechDifferent parts of speech

Unit 5 Modal particles

5.1 Modal particles [T11]

5.1.1) Vocab PM (question) aaaa 三 PM (question) gagagaga 㗎 PM (polite request) ââââ 吖 PM (answer with pleased ending) ââââ 吖 PM (answer with finality tone) aakaakaakaak 呃 PM (for defining) gegegege 嘅

5.1.2) Note

a) General “PM, Particle Modal” stands for “Modal Particle”. It doesn’t carry literal meanings but just shows different modals or tones.

b) Skip it As modal particle don’t carry literal meanings, if you are not sure what modal particles you should use, you can just leave it. It won’t change the meanings of your sentences. It just sounds more plain and not so “colourful” as native Cantonese speakers do.

c) “aaaa” and “gagagaga”

When “aaaa” and “gagagaga” are used for questions, very often, they are interchangeable.

“aaaa” sounds more for “single event” questions while “gagagaga” sounds more for “general case” questions

5.1.3) Expressions

1) When do you deliver?

géigéigéigéi----ssssììììh sungh sungh sungh sung----fofofofo a? a? a? a? 幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾???? when deliver goods PM

2) Do you deliver?

sungsungsungsung ¬h ¬h ¬h ¬h sungsungsungsung----fo fo fo fo ga ? ga ? ga ? ga ? 幾幾幾幾送送送送幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾???? delivery not delivery goods PM?


3) May I try it? (Can it be tried?)

yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh dâk dâk dâk dâk si si si si a / a / a / a / ga?ga?ga?ga? 有有有有有有有有有有有有有有有有幾幾幾幾////???? have not have possibility to try PM?

People may say either “aaaa” or “gagagaga” here

4) One please

yât go âyât go âyât go âyât go â 一一一一一一一一吖吖吖吖 one piece PM

5) It’s fine!

hhhhóóóóuuuu â! â! â! â! 好好好好吖吖吖吖 fine PM

“â” is in high level, which sounds more energetic.

6) It’s fine!

hhhhóóóóu aaku aaku aaku aak 好好好好好好好好 fine PM

“aakaakaakaak” sounds “yep” in English

7) a hot one

yiht geyiht geyiht geyiht ge 熱熱熱熱嘅嘅嘅嘅 hot PM

5.1.4) Exercises

Add modal particles to the following sentences.

1) It’s fine = hhhhóóóóuuuu ________

2) One please = yyyyâââât got got got go ______________

3) When do you deliver? = ggggééééiiii----ssssììììh sungh sungh sungh sung----fofofofo ________?

4) Do you deliver? = sung sung sung sung ¬¬¬¬h sung foh sung foh sung foh sung fo ____________?


Unit 6 Measure Words

6.1 When to use measure words [T12]

6.1.1) Note A measure word (MW) is used before nouns for measuring purposes. It is like the function of “piece” in “a piece of paper. Different categories of objects may take different MWs. Usually it depends on the

category or shapes they belong to. While “gogogogo” is the most general MW, if you do not

know which MW has to be used, it is best to use “gogogogo” instead of just leaving it out. Although it maybe wrong, it’s easier for Hong Kong people to understand you. There are only a few nouns that don’t need measure words. Those nouns are somehow measurable by themselves, eg. years, days, nights, minutes, seconds, pages and lessons. Some books call measure words “noun classifiers”

6.1.2) Vocab this … nînînînî 呢 that … gógógógó apple ppppììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 蘋蘋 go go go go 個 person yàhnyàhnyàhnyàhn 人 go go go go 個 student hohkhohkhohkhohk----sâangsâangsâangsâang 學學 learn person go go go go 個 clothes/clothing sâamsâamsâamsâam 衫 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 T-shirt TTTT----sêutsêutsêutsêut T恤 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 trousers fufufufu 褲 ttttììììuh uh uh uh 條 dress kwàhnkwàhnkwàhnkwàhn 裙 ttttììììuh uh uh uh 條 pen bâtbâtbâtbât 筆 jjjjîîîî 支 coke hóhóhóhó----lohklohklohklohk 可可 jjjjîîîî 支 watch sáusáusáusáu----bîubîubîubîu 手手 hand watch jek jek jek jek 隻 have yyyyááááuhuhuhuh 有 don’t have mmmmóóóóuhuhuhuh 冇 do you have? yyyyááááuh muh muh muh móóóóuhuhuhuh 有冇


MW - people related things gogogogo 個 MW - clothes gihngihngihngihn 件 MW - long, thin objects tìuhtìuhtìuhtìuh 條 MW - cylindrical objects jîjîjîjî 支 MW - round objects jekjekjekjek 隻

6.1.3) Expressions Measure words are used after a number and for specific reference. For general referring, do not use measure words.

a) Use MW: After a number one person yât go yàhn yât go yàhn yât go yàhn yât go yàhn 一個人 one + piece of + person two people léuhng go yàhn léuhng go yàhn léuhng go yàhn léuhng go yàhn 兩個人 two + piece of + person three people sâam go yàhn sâam go yàhn sâam go yàhn sâam go yàhn 三個人 three + piece of + person one apple yât go yât go yât go yât go ppppììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 一個蘋蘋 one + piece of + apple two apple léuhng go léuhng go léuhng go léuhng go ppppììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 兩個蘋蘋 two + piece of + apple three apple sâam go sâam go sâam go sâam go ppppììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 三個蘋蘋 three + piece of + apple

b) Use MW: Specific reference

this apple nnnnîîîî gogogogo p p p pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 呢個蘋蘋 this + piece of + apple that apple ggggóóóó go p go p go p go pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 個蘋蘋 that + piece of + apple the apple go pgo pgo pgo pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 個蘋蘋 the piece of + apple this pen nnnnîîîî j j j jîîîî bbbbââââtttt 呢支筆 this + piece of + pen that pen ggggóóóó jjjjîîîî bbbbââââtttt 支筆 that + piece of + pen the pen jjjjîîîî b b b bââââtttt 支筆 the piece of + pen

c) Don’t use MW: general reference

1) Do you have a pen? / Do you have any pens?

yyyyááááuh muh muh muh móóóóuh buh buh buh bâââât a? t a? t a? t a? 有有有有有有有有有有有有幾幾幾幾???? have not have pen PM?

6.1.4) Exercises

1) 4 people ______________________________________

seiseiseisei----go yàhngo yàhngo yàhngo yàhn 七七七七四四四四四四四四 2) this person ______________________________________


nnnnîîîî----go yàhngo yàhngo yàhngo yàhn 呢呢呢呢四四四四四四四四 3) that person ______________________________________

ggggóóóó----go yàhngo yàhngo yàhngo yàhn 嗰嗰嗰嗰四四四四四四四四 6.2 More Nouns and their MWs [T13]

6.2.1) Expressions

people related nounspeople related nounspeople related nounspeople related nouns

MW gogogogo 個 a person yât go yàhnyât go yàhnyât go yàhnyât go yàhn 一個人 a student yât go hohkyât go hohkyât go hohkyât go hohk----sâangsâangsâangsâang 一個學學 clothesclothesclothesclothes

MW gihngihngihngihn 件 an item of clothing yât gihn sâamyât gihn sâamyât gihn sâamyât gihn sâam 一件衫 a T-shirt yât gihn Tyât gihn Tyât gihn Tyât gihn T----sêutsêutsêutsêut 一件 T恤 long, thin objectslong, thin objectslong, thin objectslong, thin objects

MW ttttììììuhuhuhuh 條 a pair of trousers yât tìuh fuyât tìuh fuyât tìuh fuyât tìuh fu 一條褲 a dress yât tìuh kwàhnyât tìuh kwàhnyât tìuh kwàhnyât tìuh kwàhn 一條裙 cylindricalcylindricalcylindricalcylindrical objects objects objects objects

MW jjjjîîîî 支 a pen yât jî bâtyât jî bâtyât jî bâtyât jî bât 一支筆 a coke (a bottle of sth.)

yât jî hóyât jî hóyât jî hóyât jî hó----lohklohklohklohk 一支可可 round objectsround objectsround objectsround objects

MW jekjekjekjek 隻 a watch yât jek sáuyât jek sáuyât jek sáuyât jek sáu----bîubîubîubîu 一隻手手 a CD yât jek CDyât jek CDyât jek CDyât jek CD 一隻 CD

6.2.2) Exercises

1) Two students ______________________________________

léuhngléuhngléuhngléuhng----go hohkgo hohkgo hohkgo hohk----sâang sâang sâang sâang 兩兩兩兩四四四四兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩 2) That T-shirt ______________________________________

gógógógó----gihn Tgihn Tgihn Tgihn T----sêut sêut sêut sêut 嗰嗰嗰嗰件件件件 TTTT


3) the watch ______________________________________

jek sáujek sáujek sáujek sáu----bîu bîu bîu bîu 隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻 4) One coke (in bottle shape) _____________________________

yâtyâtyâtyât----jî hójî hójî hójî hó----lohk lohk lohk lohk 十十十十一一一一一一一一一一一一 5) The pair of trousers costs $100 ________________________________

ttttììììuh fu yuh fu yuh fu yuh fu yââââtttt----baak mbaak mbaak mbaak mâââânnnn條條條條條條條條十十十十我我我我廿廿廿廿 6) I have two watches ______________________________________

ngngngngóóóóh yh yh yh yááááuh luh luh luh lééééuhng jek suhng jek suhng jek suhng jek sááááuuuu----bbbbîîîîuuuu我我我我我我我我兩兩兩兩隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻隻 7) Do you have any coke? ______________________________________

yyyyááááuh muh muh muh móóóóuh huh huh huh hóóóó----lohk a? lohk a? lohk a? lohk a? 我我我我有有有有一一一一一一一一六六六六????

6.3 Measure word “ddddîîîî” [T14]

6.3.1) Note “dîdîdîdî” is an universal measure word for plural (without stating specific number) and uncountable things (eg. water)

6.3.2) Expressions these pens nnnnîîîî d d d dîîîî bbbbââââtttt 呢筆 this + pieces of + pens those pens ggggóóóó ddddîîîî bbbbââââtttt 筆 that + pieces of + pens the pens ddddîîîî b b b bââââtttt 筆 the pieces of + pens this water nnnnîîîî d d d dî î î î ssssééééuiuiuiui 呢水 that water ggggó ó ó ó ddddî î î î ssssééééuiuiuiui 水 the water ddddîîîî s s s sééééuiuiuiui 水

6.3.3) Exercises

1) These people _________________________________________

nnnnîîîî d d d dîîîî y y y yààààhn hn hn hn 呢呢呢呢啲啲啲啲四四四四 2) Those people _________________________________________

ggggóóóó d d d dîîîî y y y yààààhn hn hn hn 嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲四四四四 3) The people _________________________________________

ddddîîîî y y y yààààhn hn hn hn 啲啲啲啲四四四四


Unit 7 Nouns

7.1 Common nouns [T15]

7.1.1) Vocab

a) Nouns of things

PeoplePeoplePeoplePeople

person yyyyààààhnhnhnhn 人 gogogogo 個 foreigner ngoihngoihngoihngoih----gwokgwokgwokgwok----yyyyààààhnhnhnhn 外外人 gogogogo 個 boy nnnnààààahmahmahmahm----jjjjááááiiii 男男 male kid go go go go 個 girl nnnnééééuihuihuihuih----jjjjááááiiii 女男 female kid gogogogo 個 kid saisaisaisai----mmmmâââânnnn----jjjjááááiiii 細蚊男 gogogogo 個 ThingsThingsThingsThings

book sysysysyûûûû 書 bbbbúúúún n n n 本 pen bbbbââââtttt 筆 jjjjîîîî 支 TV dihndihndihndihn----sihsihsihsih 電電 go go go go 個 telephone dihndihndihndihn----wwwwáááá 電電 go 個 sofa ssssôôôô----ffffáááá 梳梳 jjjjêêêêung ung ung ung 張 umbrella jjjjêêêê 遮 bbbbáááá 把 homework ggggûûûûngngngng----fofofofo 功功 fahn fahn fahn fahn 份 money chchchchíííínnnn 錢 ---- water ssssééééuiuiuiui 水 - Clothes etc.Clothes etc.Clothes etc.Clothes etc.

clothes ssssââââamamamam 衫 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 shoes hhhhààààaihaihaihaih 鞋 deui deui deui deui 對 shirt ssssêêêêutututut----ssssââââamamamam 恤衫 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 ring gaaigaaigaaigaai----jjjjíííí 戒毫 jek jek jek jek 隻 Food & DrinksFood & DrinksFood & DrinksFood & Drinks

apple ppppììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 蘋蘋 gogogogo 個 hamburger honhonhonhon----bbbbóóóóuuuu----bbbbââââauauauau 漢漢漢 go go go go 個 coke hhhhóóóó----lohklohklohklohk 可可


b) Abstract nouns

Cantonese GwGwGwGwóóóóngngngng----ddddûûûûngngngng----wwwwáááá 廣廣電 mistake chochochocho 錯 music yyyyââââmmmm----ngohkngohkngohkngohk 音可

c) Proper nouns Hong Kong HHHHêêêêungungungung----ggggóóóóngngngng 香香 Central JJJJûûûûngngngng----wwwwààààahnahnahnahn 中中 Hollywood Road HHHHòòòòhhhh----llllééééihihihih----wuht douhwuht douhwuht douhwuht douh 荷荷荷荷 Nathan Road NNNNèèèèihihihih----ddddêêêêun douhun douhun douhun douh 彌彌荷

7.1.2) Exercises

1) One umbrella _____________________________________

yyyyâââât bt bt bt báááá j j j jêêêê 十十十十一一一一一一一一 2) Two umbrellas _____________________________________

llllééééuhng buhng buhng buhng báááá j j j jêêêê 兩兩兩兩一一一一一一一一 3) This umbrella _____________________________________

nnnnîîîî b b b báááá j j j jêêêê呢呢呢呢一一一一一一一一 4) That umbrella _____________________________________

ggggóóóó b b b báááá j j j jêêêê嗰嗰嗰嗰一一一一一一一一 5) The umbrella _____________________________________

bbbbáááá j j j jêêêê一一一一一一一一 6) These umbrella _____________________________________

nnnnîîîî d d d dîîîî j j j jêêêê呢呢呢呢啲啲啲啲一一一一 7) Those umbrella _____________________________________

ggggóóóó d d d dîîîî j j j jêêêê嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲一一一一 8) The umbrellas _____________________________________

ddddîîîî j j j jêêêê啲啲啲啲一一一一 Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 26

7.2 Articles - a, an, the [T16]

7.2.1) Note There are no articles - a, an & the in Cantonese.

People say “one: yâtyâtyâtyât” for “a” or “an”. For definite referring – “the”, people use “measure word”.

Different category of things use different measure words, “gogogogo” is the most common measure word.

7.2.2) Vocab a student yyyyâââât go hohkt go hohkt go hohkt go hohk----ssssââââangangangang 一個學學 one + piece of + student an apple yyyyâââât go pt go pt go pt go pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 一個蘋蘋 one + piece of + apple the student go hohkgo hohkgo hohkgo hohk----ssssââââangangangang 個學學 the piece of + student the apple go pgo pgo pgo pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 個蘋蘋 the piece of + apple the students ddddîîîî hohk hohk hohk hohk----ssssââââangangangang 學學 the pieces of + student the apples ddddîîîî p p p pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó 蘋蘋 the pieces of + apple

7.2.3) Exercises

1) The apple costs $2. ________________________________

go pgo pgo pgo pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó l l l lééééuhng uhng uhng uhng mmmmâââânnnn四四四四個個個個個個個個兩兩兩兩廿廿廿廿 2) The apples cost $10. ________________________________

ddddîîîî p p p pììììhnghnghnghng----gwgwgwgwóóóó sahp m sahp m sahp m sahp mâââânnnn啲啲啲啲個個個個個個個個二二二二廿廿廿廿


Unit 8 Pronouns

8.1 Personal Pronouns [T17]

8.1.1) Vocab

a) Subjective and objective case

I / me ngóhngóhngóhngóh 我 you (singular) néihnéihnéihnéih 你 he, she, it / him, her kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih 佢 we / us ngóh deihngóh deihngóh deihngóh deih 我 you (plural) néih deihnéih deihnéih deihnéih deih 你 they / them kéuih deihkéuih deihkéuih deihkéuih deih 佢

b) Possessive adjective / Possessive pronoun

my / mine ngóhngóhngóhngóh ge ge ge ge 我嘅 your / yours néihnéihnéihnéih ge ge ge ge 你嘅 his, her, its / his, hers, its kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih ge ge ge ge 佢嘅 our / ours ngóhngóhngóhngóh----deihdeihdeihdeih ge ge ge ge 我嘅 your / yours nnnnéihéihéihéih----deihdeihdeihdeih ge ge ge ge 你嘅 their / theirs kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih----deihdeihdeihdeih ge ge ge ge 佢嘅 “ge”“ge”“ge”“ge” is usually replaced by corresponding measure word (MW) in possessive case

c) Reflexive pronoun

myself ngóhngóhngóhngóh jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 我我我 yourself néihnéihnéihnéih jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 你我我 himself, herself, itself kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 佢我我 ourselves ngóhngóhngóhngóh----deihdeihdeihdeih jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 我我我 yourselves néihnéihnéihnéih----deihdeihdeihdeih jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 你我我 themselves kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih----deihdeihdeihdeih jih jih jih jih----ggggééééiiii 佢我我

8.1.2) Exercises

a) Subjective and Objective case

1) I am Hong Kong people. [h] ________________ [be: haih]

ngóh haih Hêungngóh haih Hêungngóh haih Hêungngóh haih Hêung----ggggóng óng óng óng yyyyàhnàhnàhnàhn 我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我四四四四 Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 28

2) We are Hong Kong people _______________________

ngóhngóhngóhngóh----deih haih Hêungdeih haih Hêungdeih haih Hêungdeih haih Hêung----Góng YàhnGóng YàhnGóng YàhnGóng Yàhn我我我我哋哋哋哋我我我我我我我我我我我我四四四四 3) You (plural) are not Hong Kong people [h] ______________

[not be: ¬h-haih]

néihnéihnéihnéih----deihdeihdeihdeih ¬h ¬h ¬h ¬h----haih Hêunghaih Hêunghaih Hêunghaih Hêung----Góng YàhnGóng YàhnGóng YàhnGóng Yàhn你你你你你你你你我我我我我我我我我我我我四四四四 4) They are foreigners ________________

kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih----deih haih ngoihdeih haih ngoihdeih haih ngoihdeih haih ngoih----gwok yàhgwok yàhgwok yàhgwok yàhnnnn佢佢佢佢哋哋哋哋我我我我係係係係係係係係四四四四 5) A: Is he a student ?___________________________

B: No, he is not a student_____________________________

A: kéuih haih A: kéuih haih A: kéuih haih A: kéuih haih ¬¬¬¬h haih hohk sâang a? h haih hohk sâang a? h haih hohk sâang a? h haih hohk sâang a? 佢佢佢佢我我我我你你你你我我我我兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩六六六六???? B: B: B: B: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----haih. kéuih haih. kéuih haih. kéuih haih. kéuih ¬¬¬¬hhhh----haih hohkhaih hohkhaih hohkhaih hohk----sâang sâang sâang sâang 你你你你我我我我,,,,佢佢佢佢你你你你我我我我兩兩兩兩兩兩兩兩

b) Possessive

6) their pen(s) __________________________________

kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih----deih deih deih deih ge bge bge bge bâââât t t t 佢佢佢佢哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅筆筆筆筆 7) your (singular) pen(s) __________________________________

nnnnééééih ge bih ge bih ge bih ge bâââât t t t 你你你你嘅嘅嘅嘅筆筆筆筆 8) your (plural) pen(s) __________________________________

nnnnééééihihihih----deih ge bdeih ge bdeih ge bdeih ge bâââât t t t 你你你你哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅筆筆筆筆 9) our money __________________________________

ngóhngóhngóhngóh----deih deih deih deih gegegege chín chín chín chín 我我我我哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅哋嘅錢錢錢錢 c) Reflexive

10) You yourself made the mistake [h] ____________________ [make mistake: jouh-cho]

néih jihnéih jihnéih jihnéih jih----géi jouh chogéi jouh chogéi jouh chogéi jouh cho 你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你你 11) They themselves are careless [h] ____________________

[careless: ¬h síu-sâm]

kéuihkéuihkéuihkéuih----deih jihdeih jihdeih jihdeih jih----géi ¬h síugéi ¬h síugéi ¬h síugéi ¬h síu----sâmsâmsâmsâm 佢佢佢佢哋哋哋哋你你你你你你你你你你你你自自自自自自自自


8.2 Demonstrative Pronouns [T18]

8.2.1) Vocab this one nî go nî go nî go nî go 呢個 this piece that one gó go gó go gó go gó go 個 that piece these nî dînî dînî dînî dî 呢 this pieces those gó dîgó dîgó dîgó dî this pieces here nî douhnî douhnî douhnî douh 呢呢 this place there gó douhgó douhgó douhgó douh 呢 that place

8.2.2) Exercises

1) This is an apple ______________________________

nînînînî----go haih pìhnggo haih pìhnggo haih pìhnggo haih pìhng----gwó gwó gwó gwó 呢呢呢呢四四四四我我我我個個個個個個個個 2) That is an apple ______________________________

ggggóóóó----go haih pìhnggo haih pìhnggo haih pìhnggo haih pìhng----gwó gwó gwó gwó 嗰嗰嗰嗰四四四四我我我我個個個個個個個個 3) These are apples ______________________________

nînînînî----ddddî haih pìhngî haih pìhngî haih pìhngî haih pìhng----gwó gwó gwó gwó 呢呢呢呢啲啲啲啲我我我我個個個個個個個個 4) Those are apples______________________________

ggggóóóó----ddddî haih pìhngî haih pìhngî haih pìhngî haih pìhng----gwó gwó gwó gwó 嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲嗰啲我我我我個個個個個個個個 5) Here is Hong Kong_____________________________

nînînînî----douh haih Hêungdouh haih Hêungdouh haih Hêungdouh haih Hêung----GóngGóngGóngGóng 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢我我我我我我我我我我我我 6) I went there __________________________

ngóh heui góngóh heui góngóh heui góngóh heui gó----douhdouhdouhdouh 我我我我我我我我嗰嗰嗰嗰呢呢呢呢


8.3 Interrogative Pronouns [T19]

8.3.1) Vocab which … bînbînbînbîn 邊 who bîn gobîn gobîn gobîn go which person 邊個 which bîn go bîn go bîn go bîn go which piece 邊個 where bîn douhbîn douhbîn douhbîn douh which place 邊呢 how …(quantity) géigéigéigéi 幾 how many géi dô géi dô géi dô géi dô how many 幾幾 how long géi noihgéi noihgéi noihgéi noih how many + duration 幾幾 when géi sìhgéi sìhgéi sìhgéi sìh how many + time 幾幾 what time géigéigéigéi dím dím dím dím how many + o’clock 幾幾 why dím gáaidím gáaidím gáaidím gáai how to + explain 幾點 what mât yéhmât yéhmât yéhmât yéh what stuff 乜 what mêmêmêmê (a short form) 咩

8.3.2) Exercises

a) Translation

1) Who are you? [you are who?] ____________________

néih haih bînnéih haih bînnéih haih bînnéih haih bîn----go a?go a?go a?go a? 你你你你我我我我你你你你四四四四六六六六???? 2) Which is better ? [h]_______________________

[better: hóu-dî]

bînbînbînbîn----go hóugo hóugo hóugo hóu----dî a?dî a?dî a?dî a? 你你你你四四四四邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲六六六六???? 3) Where do you live? [you live in where?] [h]______________

[live: jyuh, in: hái]

néih néih néih néih jyuh hjyuh hjyuh hjyuh hááááiiii bîn bîn bîn bîn----douhdouhdouhdouh a?a?a?a? 你你你你你你你你喺喺喺喺你你你你呢呢呢呢六六六六???? 4) How many people ? ____________________________

géigéigéigéi----dô yàhn a?dô yàhn a?dô yàhn a?dô yàhn a? 幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾四四四四六六六六???? 5) When will you go ? [you when go?] _____________________

nnnnééééih ih ih ih géigéigéigéi----ssssììììhhhh heuiheuiheuiheui a? a? a? a? 你你你你幾幾幾幾你你你你我我我我六六六六????


6) Why did you go? [you why go?] ____________________________

nnnnééééih dih dih dih díííímmmm----ggggááááaiaiaiai heuiheuiheuiheui a? a? a? a?

7) What is it? [this is what?] ______________________

nînînînî----go haih mâtgo haih mâtgo haih mâtgo haih mât----yéh a? yéh a? yéh a? yéh a?

b) Dialogue

8) A: Who is better? ___________________________

B: He is better_____________________________

A: bînA: bînA: bînA: bîn----go hóugo hóugo hóugo hóu----dî a? dî a? dî a? dî a? 你你你你四四四四邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲六六六六???? B: kB: kB: kB: kééééuih hóuuih hóuuih hóuuih hóu----dî dî dî dî 佢佢佢佢邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲

9) A: How many people? ___________________________

B: 4 ___________________________

A: géiA: géiA: géiA: géi----dô yàhn a? dô yàhn a? dô yàhn a? dô yàhn a? 幾幾幾幾幾幾幾幾四四四四六六六六???? B: seiB: seiB: seiB: sei----go go go go 七七七七四四四四

10) A: Where are they going? ___________________________

B: They are going to Central___________________________

A: kéuihA: kéuihA: kéuihA: kéuih----deih heui bîndeih heui bîndeih heui bîndeih heui bîn----douh a? douh a? douh a? douh a? 佢佢佢佢哋哋哋哋我我我我你你你你呢呢呢呢六六六六???? B: kéuihB: kéuihB: kéuihB: kéuih----deih heui Jûngdeih heui Jûngdeih heui Jûngdeih heui Jûng----Wàahn Wàahn Wàahn Wàahn 佢佢佢佢哋哋哋哋我我我我去去去去去去去去

11) A: Which pen is cheaper? ___________________________

B: This pen is cheaper _____________________________

A: bînA: bînA: bînA: bîn----jî bât pèhngjî bât pèhngjî bât pèhngjî bât pèhng----dî a? dî a? dî a? dî a? 你你你你一一一一筆筆筆筆邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲六六六六???? B: nîB: nîB: nîB: nî----jî bât pèhngjî bât pèhngjî bât pèhngjî bât pèhng----dî dî dî dî 呢呢呢呢一一一一筆筆筆筆邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲

12) A: Which piece of clothing is better? ___________________________

B: That piece of clothing is better_____________________________

A: bînA: bînA: bînA: bîn----gihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóu----dî a? dî a? dî a? dî a? 你你你你你你你你件件件件邊邊邊邊邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲六六六六???? B: góB: góB: góB: gó----gihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóugihn sâam hóu----dî dî dî dî 嗰嗰嗰嗰件件件件邊邊邊邊邊邊邊邊啲啲啲啲


Section 3 Deal with people Deal with people Deal with people Deal with people

Unit 9 Greetings and thanks

9.1 Greetings [T20]

9.1.1) Expressions Good morning jjjjóóóóuuuu----ssssààààhnhnhnhn 早早 early morning nice to meet you nnnnééééih hih hih hih hóóóóuuuu 你你 you good I wish you well nnnnééééih hih hih hih hóóóóuuuu 你你 you good

9.1.2) Note

a) Good morning: jóuGood morning: jóuGood morning: jóuGood morning: jóu----sàhnsàhnsàhnsàhn Ordinarily, Cantonese do not say good afternoon and good evening to each others. Only telephone operators and TV or radio presenters do.

Moreover, people can only say “good night: jóu táujóu táujóu táujóu táu” right just before going to bed.

Therefore usually they can only say jóu táujóu táujóu táujóu táu to their family members.

If someone says “jóu táu lâjóu táu lâjóu táu lâjóu táu lâ” (where “lâlâlâlâ” is a modal particle for persuading request) to another person during the daytime, he means the addressee bothers him and asks him to

go away. This is because the literal meaning for “jóu táujóu táujóu táujóu táu” is “early rest” but not “good night.”

b) I wish you well: néih hóuI wish you well: néih hóuI wish you well: néih hóuI wish you well: néih hóu

“I wish you well: nnnnééééih hih hih hih hóóóóuuuu” is rather formal. People use it when first meeting a new friend; the usage is then the same as ‘nice to meet you’.

You can also use néih hóunéih hóunéih hóunéih hóu to greet your friends that you already know . But it’s not be for old friends and teenage people, supposing that greeting them should be in a casual way; saying Hi, Hey or Hello are much more common. The usage is the same as that in English and quite often people will nod their heads a little bit the same that English speakers do. These are also common casual greetings when people first meet a new friend in casual situations. You can also use néih hóu to greet your friends that you already known . But it must not be for old friends and teenage people supposing that greeting them should be in a casual way; saying Hi, Hey or Hello are much more common.

If someone says néih hóunéih hóunéih hóunéih hóu to you, you should also say néih hóunéih hóunéih hóunéih hóu back to him,

c) People dPeople dPeople dPeople don’ton’ton’ton’t say say say say ““““how are you?how are you?how are you?how are you?””””

Native Hong Kong Cantonese do not say “How are you: néih hóu manéih hóu manéih hóu manéih hóu ma?” to each others as English speakers and Mandarin speakers do in daily greetings


9.1.3) Exercises

What do you say in the following situation?

1) You want to greet someone at 9:00 am. _________________

jóu sàhnjóu sàhnjóu sàhnjóu sàhn

2) You meet your friend on the street at 3:00 pm and want to greet him in a most common way that a Cantonese will do. ______________________

Hi / Hey / HelloHi / Hey / HelloHi / Hey / HelloHi / Hey / Hello

3) You meet someone for the first time and want to greet in a more formal way.

néih hóunéih hóunéih hóunéih hóu

4) Someone say “néih hóu” to you, what do you answer then? ____________

néih hóunéih hóunéih hóunéih hóu

9.2 Goodbye [T20]

9.2.1) Expressions bye bbbbââââaiaiaiai----baaibaaibaaibaai 禮禮 see you joi ginjoi ginjoi ginjoi gin 再再 again + see

9.2.2) Note “joijoijoijoi----gingingingin” is more formal and less common than “bbbbââââaiaiaiai----baaibaaibaaibaai”.

9.3 Thanks [T20]

9.3.1) Expressions thanks for help /service ¬¬¬¬hhhh----ggggôôôôiiii 唔唔 not + should thanks for a gift ddddôôôô----jehjehjehjeh 幾多 many thanks don’t mention it ¬¬¬¬hhhh----ssssááááiiii 唔唔 no need don’t mention it ¬¬¬¬hhhh----ssssáááái haaki haaki haaki haak----heiheiheihei 唔唔唔唔 no need + so polite don’t mention it ¬¬¬¬hhhh----hhhhóóóóu haaku haaku haaku haak----heiheiheihei 唔你唔唔 don’t + so polite

9.3.2) Note

a) Thanks for help: ¬hThanks for help: ¬hThanks for help: ¬hThanks for help: ¬h----gôigôigôigôi

The literal meanings of “¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi” is “I shouldn’t trouble you”. For e.g., you can say it when someone opens the door for you or he helps you to hold the lift. Also, you can say this to people of shops or restaurants as you get services from them.


b) Thanks for aThanks for aThanks for aThanks for a gift: dô gift: dô gift: dô gift: dô----jehjehjehjeh

“dôdôdôdô----jehjehjehjeh” is a common saying for a sales person to their customers. But if you are the

customer, do not say “dô jehdô jehdô jehdô jeh” , instead you should say “¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi” as in above.

You can also say “dô“dô“dô“dô----jeh”jeh”jeh”jeh” when someone gives you complimentcomplimentcomplimentcomplimentssss or congratulationscongratulationscongratulationscongratulations

c) You’re welcome: ¬hYou’re welcome: ¬hYou’re welcome: ¬hYou’re welcome: ¬h----sáisáisáisái

The usage for “¬h¬h¬h¬h----sáisáisáisái” is similar to “you’re welcome / don’t mention it / it’s nothing”. Cantonese do not say ‘you are welcome’, instead they say ‘need not be so polite’. It’s a general applicable reply whenever people say thanks (for help or gifts) to you

9.3.3) Exercises

What do you say in the following situations?

1) Someone opens the door for you. ____________________________

¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôigôigôigôi你你你你唔唔唔唔 2) Your friend gives you a birthday present. ______________________

dôdôdôdô----jehjehjehjeh幾幾幾幾多多多多 3) You are a customer and want to say thanks to the sales person. _____

¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôigôigôigôi你你你你唔唔唔唔 4) You are a sales person and want to say thanks to your customer for buying

things from your shop. ______________________________

dôdôdôdô----jehjehjehjeh幾幾幾幾多多多多 5) You are a sales person, you drop a pen, a customer helps you to pick it up.

What do you say to him/her? ____________________________

¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôigôigôigôi你你你你唔唔唔唔 6) Someone thanks you for your help. What do you say to that person then?

¬h sái ¬h sái ¬h sái ¬h sái 你你你你唔唔唔唔/ ¬h sái haak/ ¬h sái haak/ ¬h sái haak/ ¬h sái haak----hei hei hei hei 你你你你唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔/ ¬h hóu haak/ ¬h hóu haak/ ¬h hóu haak/ ¬h hóu haak----heiheiheihei你你你你邊邊邊邊唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔


9.4 Requests [T20]

9.4.1) Vocab please ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi 唔唔 wait a moment ddddááááng dng dng dng dáááángngngng 等等 borrow jejejeje 借

wash room ssssááááiiii----ssssááááu gu gu gu gââââanananan 洗手間 wash + hand + partition telephone dihndihndihndihn----wwwwáááá 電電 electric + talk

no problem mmmmóóóóuh uh uh uh

mahnmahnmahnmahn----ttttààààihihihih

冇冇題 no + problem feel free for it / help yourself

chchchchèèèèuihuihuihuih----bbbbíííínnnn 隨隨 casual

9.4.2) Expressions

RequestRequestRequestRequest

please ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi 唔唔 please wait a moment ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi d d d dááááng dng dng dng dáááángngngng 唔唔等等 please make way for me ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi je je je je je je je je 唔唔借借 may I use the telephone? ¬¬¬¬hhhh----ggggôôôôi je go dihni je go dihni je go dihni je go dihn----wwwwáááá 唔唔借個電電 may I use the wash room? ¬¬¬¬hhhh----ggggôôôôi je go si je go si je go si je go sááááiiii----ssssááááu gu gu gu gââââanananan 唔唔借個洗手間 AnswerAnswerAnswerAnswer

okay ddddââââkkkk 得吖 no problem mmmmóóóóuh mahnuh mahnuh mahnuh mahn----ttttààààihihihih 冇冇題 feel free to use it chchchchèèèèuihuihuihuih----bbbbíííínnnn 隨隨

9.4.3) Note - Request

a) ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôigôigôigôi

“¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi” has two meanings, one means ‘thanks for service’ and the second one is used in request, means ‘please’. In English, people say “Excuse me” when they start to ask strangers questions. However


quite often, Cantonese say “please: ¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi” instead.

b) ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôi dáng dánggôi dáng dánggôi dáng dánggôi dáng dáng When Cantonese repeat the verbs, it means the actions last for a short while.

c) ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôi (je je)gôi (je je)gôi (je je)gôi (je je) Here means “borrow” the way from others. However very often, it is skipped if it is obvious, such as when people try to get off public transport

d) ¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôi jegôi jegôi jegôi je gogogogo dihndihndihndihn----wáwáwáwá Quite often, people just make it a request statement instead of making it a question of “May I…”

9.4.4) Note - Answer

a) chèuih bínchèuih bínchèuih bínchèuih bín The literal meanings is “casual”. It means you ask people feel free to use it. It is used to answer a request where someone wants to use something of yours e.g. washroom, telephone or borrow something from you e.g. pen

b) okayokayokayokay You can answer this as most Hong Kong peole know it and even people don’t know English do also know this word.

9.4.5) Exercises

1) Excuse me (You try to get off the MTR) ___________________

¬¬¬¬hhhh----ggggôi (je je) ôi (je je) ôi (je je) ôi (je je) 你你你你唔唔唔唔((((借借借借借借借借)))) 2) A: Please wait _______________________

B: No problem ______________________________

A: Thanks ______________________________

B: You are welcome. ______________________________

A: A: A: A: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôi dáng dánggôi dáng dánggôi dáng dánggôi dáng dáng你你你你唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔 B: móuh mahnB: móuh mahnB: móuh mahnB: móuh mahn----tàihtàihtàihtàih有有有有冇冇冇冇冇冇冇冇 A: A: A: A: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôigôigôigôi你你你你唔唔唔唔 B: B: B: B: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----sái (haaksái (haaksái (haaksái (haak----hei) hei) hei) hei) 你你你你唔唔唔唔((((唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔))))

3) X: May I use the toilet? (Please borrow the toilet) _________________

Y: Sure (feel free to use it) _____________________

¬h¬h¬h¬h----gôi je go sáigôi je go sáigôi je go sáigôi je go sái----sáu gâansáu gâansáu gâansáu gâan

chèuihchèuihchèuihchèuih----bínbínbínbín


9.5 Apologies [T20]

9.5.1) Expressions

SorrySorrySorrySorry

excuse me / sorry ¬h¬h¬h¬h hóu yihóu yihóu yihóu yi----sisisisi 唔你唔唔 not good meanings sorry deui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuh 對唔對 AnswerAnswerAnswerAnswer

never mind ¬¬¬¬h gh gh gh gáááánnnn----yiuyiuyiuyiu 唔唔唔 not + important no problem mmmmóóóóuh muh muh muh mahnahnahnahn----tàtàtàtàihihihih 冇冇題 no + problem

9.5.2) Note

a) ¬¬¬¬hhhh----hhhhóóóóu yiu yiu yiu yi----sisisisi The literal meanings of it is: “has a meaning of embarrassing”. People use it when they find sorry for inconvenience caused.

b) deui deui deui deui ¬¬¬¬h jyuhh jyuhh jyuhh jyuh Cantonese say it when they really make a fault or a mistake and sounds they make the apologies more seriously.

In daily life, people say “¬¬¬¬hhhh----hhhhóóóóu yiu yiu yiu yi----sisisisi” more than “deui deui deui deui ¬¬¬¬h jyuhh jyuhh jyuhh jyuh”. Anyway, quite often, they are interchangeable.

c) Answer to apologies Cantonese do not say “don’t worry” when someone apologize to them.

Besides, quite often, people say “¬¬¬¬h gh gh gh gáááánnnn----yiu, myiu, myiu, myiu, móóóóuh mahnuh mahnuh mahnuh mahn----tàihtàihtàihtàih” together.


9.5.3) Exercises

a) Questions

What do you say in the following situations?

1) You sneeze in the library and you want to say “excuse me” to others____

¬¬¬¬hhhh----hóu yihóu yihóu yihóu yi----sisisisi你你你你邊邊邊邊唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔 2) You caused your friend lose $10,000. _____________________________

deui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuhdeui ¬h jyuh對對對對你你你你你你你你 3) When you chat with your friend and you have to pick up the phone______

¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si你你你你邊邊邊邊唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔 4) Someone asks you where a MTR station is but you don’t know. ________

¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si¬h hóu yi si你你你你邊邊邊邊唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔


Section 4 Shopping Shopping Shopping Shopping

Unit 10 Price and ordering

10.1 Asking price [T21]

10.1.1) Vocab

GeneralGeneralGeneralGeneral

this one nnnnîîîî gogogogo 呢個 this piece that one ggggóóóó gogogogo 個 that piece how much ggggééééi chi chi chi chíííínnnn 幾錢 how (much) + money ClothesClothesClothesClothes

clothes ssssââââamamamam 衫 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 T-shirt ttttîîîî----ssssêêêêutututut T恤 gihn gihn gihn gihn 件 trousers fufufufu 褲 ttttììììuh uh uh uh 條 dress kwkwkwkwààààhnhnhnhn 裙 ttttììììuh uh uh uh 條 OthersOthersOthersOthers

pen bbbbââââtttt 筆 jjjjîîîî 支 table ttttóóóóiiii 枱 jjjjêêêêung ung ung ung 張

10.1.2) Expressions

a) How much?

1) How much is this one?

nî gonî gonî gonî go géi géi géi géi----chín chín chín chín a ?a ?a ?a ? 呢呢呢呢一一一一幾幾幾幾呢呢呢呢幾幾幾幾???? 2) How much is this piece of clothing ?

nnnnî gihnî gihnî gihnî gihn sâamsâamsâamsâam géi géi géi géi----chín chín chín chín a ?a ?a ?a ? 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢幾幾幾幾呢呢呢呢幾幾幾幾???? 3) How much for this pair of pants ?

nî tìuh funî tìuh funî tìuh funî tìuh fu géi géi géi géi----chínchínchínchín a ? a ? a ? a ? 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢幾幾幾幾呢呢呢呢幾幾幾幾???? Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 40

b) This is…

4) This is $70

nî go nî go nî go nî go châtchâtchâtchât----sahp mânsahp mânsahp mânsahp mân 呢呢呢呢一一一一呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢 5) This dress is $230

nî tìuh kwàhnnî tìuh kwàhnnî tìuh kwàhnnî tìuh kwàhn yihyihyihyih----baak sbaak sbaak sbaak sââââamamamam----sahp msahp msahp msahp mâââânnnn 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢 10.1.3) Note

a) Clothes

Cantonese has the word “sâam”“sâam”“sâam”“sâam” which is used to refer to clothing which is worn on the top.

For example, shirts, T-shirts and overcoats are kinds of “sâam” “sâam” “sâam” “sâam”. “sâamsâamsâamsâam” is a common word in Cantonese

b) Measure words (MW)

In “nnnnîîîî----gogogogo”, the MW have to be changed when referring to different nouns. If the noun is

not known, the MW of “go”“go”“go”“go” is used.

c) How much?

For “how much”, the full form should be “géi dô chín”“géi dô chín”“géi dô chín”“géi dô chín”, literally means “how much

money”. But most of the time, people skip the “dô”“dô”“dô”“dô” and so just say ““““ggggééééi chi chi chi chíííínnnn””””.

d) Modal particle

“a”“a”“a”“a” in ““““ggggééééiiii----chchchchíííín a?n a?n a?n a?”””” is a question modal particle. Some people may skip the “a”“a”“a”“a”.

However using “a”“a”“a”“a” can make the tone milder and more polite. Most people do say “a”“a”“a”“a” here.

10.1.4) Exercises

1) How much is this one? _______________________________

ñiñiñiñi----go géigo géigo géigo géi----chín a?chín a?chín a?chín a? 呢呢呢呢四四四四幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? 2) How much is this table?________________________________

nînînînî----jêungjêungjêungjêung----tói géitói géitói géitói géi----chín a?chín a?chín a?chín a? 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢枱枱枱枱幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? 3) How much is this T-shirt ? ________________________________

nî gihn tînî gihn tînî gihn tînî gihn tî----sêut géisêut géisêut géisêut géi----chín a ?chín a ?chín a ?chín a ? 呢呢呢呢件件件件 TTTT恤恤恤恤幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? 4) This pen cost $24. ________________________________

nî jî bât nî jî bât nî jî bât nî jî bât yahyahyahyah----sei msei msei msei mâââân n n n 呢呢呢呢一一一一筆筆筆筆廿廿廿廿七七七七廿廿廿廿 5) This table is $300. ________________________________

nînînînî----jêungjêungjêungjêung----tói tói tói tói ssssââââamamamam----baak mbaak mbaak mbaak mâââânnnn 呢呢呢呢呢呢呢呢枱枱枱枱十十十十我我我我廿廿廿廿


10.2 Ordering [T22]

10.2.1) Expressions

1) One please

¬h gôi ¬h gôi ¬h gôi ¬h gôi yât go yât go yât go yât go 送送送送唔唔唔唔一一一一一一一一吖吖吖吖 2) One please (refer to clothes)

¬h gôi yât¬h gôi yât¬h gôi yât¬h gôi yât gihn gihn gihn gihn 送送送送唔唔唔唔一一一一呢呢呢呢吖吖吖吖 3) Two please (refer to clothes)

¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôi léuhnggôi léuhnggôi léuhnggôi léuhng gihn gihn gihn gihn 送送送送唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔呢呢呢呢吖吖吖吖 4) Two please (refer to pants or dresses)

¬h gôi léuhng tìuh ¬h gôi léuhng tìuh ¬h gôi léuhng tìuh ¬h gôi léuhng tìuh 送送送送唔唔唔唔唔唔唔唔呢呢呢呢吖吖吖吖 5) Three please (refer to pens)

¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôi sâam jîgôi sâam jîgôi sâam jîgôi sâam jî 送送送送唔唔唔唔呢呢呢呢唔唔唔唔吖吖吖吖 10.2.2) Note

a) Habits in ordering things People seldom say something like “please give me one” or “May I have this one”. They say it much shorter and direct no matter if in shops or restaurants. Quite often, as the object that one is going to buy is understood, people skip the object but they still have to say the measure words. (MWs are always used after numbers)

When people make requests to someone, they usually put “¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôigôigôigôi” at the beginning of a sentence. It sounds more polite than putting it at the end.

However in shopping, it’s okay to put “please: “¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi¬h gôi” at the beginning or at the end.


10.2.3) Exercises

1) A: How much for this one ? __________________________________

B: This one is $60__________________________________

A: One please__________________________________

B: Thanks for $60__________________________________

A: nîA: nîA: nîA: nî----go géigo géigo géigo géi----chín a? chín a? chín a? chín a? 呢呢呢呢四四四四幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? B: nîB: nîB: nîB: nî----go luhkgo luhkgo luhkgo luhk----sahp mânsahp mânsahp mânsahp mân呢呢呢呢四四四四六六六六二二二二廿廿廿廿 A: A: A: A: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yât----go â go â go â go â 你你你你唔唔唔唔十十十十四四四四 B: dôB: dôB: dôB: dô----jeh luhkjeh luhkjeh luhkjeh luhk----sahp mân sahp mân sahp mân sahp mân 幾幾幾幾多多多多六六六六二二二二廿廿廿廿

2) A: How much is this T-shirt? ______________________

B: $70______________________

A: One please. ______________________

A: nî gihn tîA: nî gihn tîA: nî gihn tîA: nî gihn tî----sêut géisêut géisêut géisêut géi----chín a?chín a?chín a?chín a? 呢呢呢呢件件件件 TTTT恤恤恤恤幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? B: châtB: châtB: châtB: chât----sahp mânsahp mânsahp mânsahp mân 十十十十二二二二廿廿廿廿 A: ¬hA: ¬hA: ¬hA: ¬h----gôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yât----gihn âgihn âgihn âgihn â你你你你唔唔唔唔十十十十件件件件

3) A: How much for this pair of pants? _________________________

B: $125 __________________________________________

A: One please _______________________________________

A: nîA: nîA: nîA: nî----tìuhtìuhtìuhtìuh----fu géifu géifu géifu géi----chín a?chín a?chín a?chín a? 呢呢呢呢條條條條條條條條幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? B: yâtB: yâtB: yâtB: yât----baak yihbaak yihbaak yihbaak yih----sahpsahpsahpsahp----çgh mân çgh mân çgh mân çgh mân 十十十十我我我我二二二二二二二二二二二二廿廿廿廿 A: ¬hA: ¬hA: ¬hA: ¬h----gôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yât----tìuh âtìuh âtìuh âtìuh â. . . . 你你你你唔唔唔唔十十十十條條條條


Unit 11 Take a look and try

11.1 Take a look [T23]

11.1.1) Vocab want ssssééééungungungung 想 look ttttááááiiii 睇 take a look táitáitáitái----táitáitáitái 睇睇 take a look táitáitáitái----háhháhháhháh 睇吓 (a while) hhhhááááhhhh 吓

11.1.2) Expressions

1) Take a look at this one

tái tái nî gotái tái nî gotái tái nî gotái tái nî go 睇睇睇睇睇睇睇睇呢呢呢呢一一一一 / / / / tái tái tái tái hhhhááááhhhh nî go nî go nî go nî go 睇睇睇睇睇睇睇睇呢呢呢呢一一一一

2) I want to take a look at this please.

¬¬¬¬hhhh----goî goî goî goî ngóh séung tái tái nî gongóh séung tái tái nî gongóh séung tái tái nî gongóh séung tái tái nî go 送送送送唔唔唔唔,,,,我我我我我我我我睇睇睇睇睇睇睇睇呢呢呢呢一一一一 11.1.3) Note

In Cantonese, “séungséungséungséung: want” is not a verb, it’s only an auxiliary verb. Therefore “séungséungséungséung” is followed by a verb instead of a noun.

“want: séungséungséungséung” is not used in ordering, it only shows the intention of doing something.

11.1.4) Exercises

1) A: How much for this pair of trousers ? _____________________________

B: $200 __________________________________

A: I want to take a look please ________________________________

B: No problem _________________________________

……

A: One please __________________________________

A: A: A: A: nînînînî----tìuh futìuh futìuh futìuh fu géigéigéigéi----chínchínchínchín a ?a ?a ?a ? 呢呢呢呢條條條條條條條條幾幾幾幾錢錢錢錢六六六六???? B: yihB: yihB: yihB: yih----baak mân baak mân baak mân baak mân 二二二二我我我我廿廿廿廿 A: ngóh séung tái tái A: ngóh séung tái tái A: ngóh séung tái tái A: ngóh séung tái tái 我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我 B: móuh mahn tàih B: móuh mahn tàih B: móuh mahn tàih B: móuh mahn tàih 有有有有冇冇冇冇冇冇冇冇 ……………………


A: A: A: A: ¬¬¬¬hhhh----gôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yâtgôi yât----tìuh â tìuh â tìuh â tìuh â 你你你你唔唔唔唔十十十十條條條條

11.2 Can it be tried? [T24]

11.2.1) Vocab have yyyyááááuhuhuhuh 有 don’t have mmmmóóóóuhuhuhuh 冇 Is there any possibility to … yyyyááááuh muh muh muh móóóóuh duh duh duh dââââkkkk 有冇得 try sisisisi 試

11.2.2) Expressions

1) May I / Can I …?

yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh dâkdâkdâkdâk ………… 有有有有有有有有有有有有 have not have possibility

2) May I try it? (Can it be tried?)

yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh yáuh móuh dâk dâk dâk dâk si si si si ga? ga? ga? ga? 有有有有有有有有有有有有有有有有???? have not have possibility to try PM?

3) Yes, you can

yáuh dâk yáuh dâk yáuh dâk yáuh dâk sisisisi 有有有有有有有有有有有有 have possibility to try

4) No, you can’t

móuh dâk móuh dâk móuh dâk móuh dâk si si si si 有有有有有有有有有有有有 no possibility to try

Cantonese Expressions - 1 · 2006. 6. 30. · Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 10 2.4 The short form...

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Transcript of Cantonese Expressions - 1 · 2006. 6. 30. · Cantonese Expressions - 1 Page 10 2.4 The short form...