Essential Cantonese Chinese Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Cantonese words and phrases you need
to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... There are 6 tones: ā indicates a high (and level) tone á indicates a rising tone a indicates a mid (and level) tone à indicates a low falling tone á indicates a low rising tone a indicates a low (and level) tone ü indicates a u sound with narrowed lips eu indicates the er sound as in per (œ) o indicates o as in dot (ɔ) ou indicates o as in dote The word for you is colloquially pronounced láy but older people may pronounce it náy. Many words beginning with an L may start with n eg. léui-yán or néui-yán in more formal speech. The word for not is colloquially pronounced ǹg but older people may pronounce it `m.
	Hāa-lóu. Hāy. Láy hóu? Hello. Joy-gin. Goodbye. Láy sīk ǹg sīk Yīng-mán aa? Do you speak English? Ngó ǹg mìng. I don't understand. Yāt-dī. A little. Hai. Ǹg hai. Yes. No. Gáy-dō chín? How much is it? Taai gwai laa. Ōu-kāy. Too expensive. OK. Ǹg gōy. Please. Dō je (láy). Thank you (very much).
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions. The Top 20 ...
	Láy giu māt-yé méng aa? What is your name? Ngó giu ... My name is ... Láy gáy hó ā maa? How are you? Gáy hó. Láy lē? Fine. And you? ... hái bīn-do? Where is ...? Chi-só hái bīn-dou? Làam-yán/Léui-yán Where is the toilet? Men/Women Deui-ǹg-jü. Ǹg gōy. Sorry. Excuse me. Móu-man-tài. No problem. Ngó yiu ... I want ... Ngó ǹg yiu ... I don't want ...
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around. The Top 30 ...
	Láy hai bīn-dou yàn? Where are you from? Ngó hai há Ngòu-daai-lay-aa.* I am from Australia. Ǹg gōy màai-dāan. The bill, please. Ngó dong-sāk-lou. I am lost. Tìng! Dáng! Stop! Wait! Lāy-dou, gó-dou. Here, there. Dīk-sí. Jáu-dim. Fāy-gāy-chèung. Chē-jaam. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Ngó jūng-yi ... I like ... Ngó ǹg jūng-yi ... I don't like ... yāt, yi, sāam, say, ńg. one, two , three, four, five. luk, chāt, baat, gáu, sap. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Máy-gwok - America Gāa-lāa-daai - Canada Yīng-gwok - England Ngoy-yí-làan - Ireland Sān-sāi-làan - New Zealand
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies. Useful extras ...
	Gōn-būi! Yám sing! Cheers! hó / waai good / bad daai / sai big / small kán / yǘn near / far síu dī / dō dī less / more joy lài yāt-go / gau another / enough Ngó hai sik jāai ge. I am vegetarian. Ngó ǹg sik yuk. I don't eat meat. ... gāi. ... chicken. ... yǘ. ... fish. Ngó deui gwó-yàn go-mán. I am allergic to nuts. ... fāa-sāng ... ... peanuts. ... yǘ ... ... fish. ... hóy-sīn ... ... seafood. ... gāi-dáan ... ... eggs.