I'd like something to eat.
我想食飯。
ngo5 soeng2 sik6 faan6
Say that you want to have a meal.
Listen & learn when to use it →From an English thought to a Cantonese phrase
Everyday Cantonese phrases
40 expressions for greetings, food, travel and life at home. Each has an English meaning, Jyutping and notes to help you use it naturally.
Browse all 40 phrases below.
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Let's have yum cha together tomorrow morning.
聽朝一齊飲茶。
ting1 ziu1 jat1 cai4 jam2 caa4
Invite someone to have tea and dim sum the next morning.
Listen & learn when to use it →Have you had breakfast?
你食咗早餐未？
nei5 sik6 zo2 zou2 caan1 mei6
Ask whether someone has already eaten breakfast.
Listen & learn when to use it →A cup of milk tea, please.
唔該，一杯奶茶。
m4 goi1 jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4
Order a cup of milk tea from a server.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'd like an iced milk tea.
我想飲凍奶茶。
ngo5 soeng2 jam2 dung3 naai5 caa4
Say that you want a cold milk tea.
Listen & learn when to use it →Less sugar, please.
唔該，少甜。
m4 goi1 siu2 tim4
Ask for a drink to be less sweet.
Listen & learn when to use it →No ice, please.
唔該，走冰。
m4 goi1 zau2 bing1
Ask for a cold drink without ice cubes.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'd like to get some takeaway food.
我想買外賣。
ngo5 soeng2 maai5 ngoi6 maai6
Say that you want food to take away.
Listen & learn when to use it →The bill, please.
唔該，埋單。
m4 goi1 maai4 daan1
Ask a server to bring or settle the bill after a meal.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm a little hungry.
我有啲肚餓。
ngo5 jau5 di1 tou5 ngo6
Tell someone that you are starting to feel hungry.
Listen & learn when to use it →Hello, long time no see!
你好，好耐冇見。
nei5 hou2 hou2 noi6 mou5 gin3
Greet someone you already know but have not seen for a while.
Listen & learn when to use it →Good morning!
早晨，你好。
zou2 san4 nei5 hou2
Greet someone in the morning.
Listen & learn when to use it →Thank you for your help.
多謝你嘅幫忙。
do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 bong1 mong4
Express appreciation for the help someone has given you.
Listen & learn when to use it →Excuse me, may I get past?
唔該，借借。
m4 goi1 ze3 ze3
Politely ask someone to make room for you to pass.
Listen & learn when to use it →Sorry I'm late.
對唔住，我遲到。
deoi3 m4 zyu6 ngo5 ci4 dou3
Apologise for arriving late.
Listen & learn when to use it →It's okay, take your time.
唔緊要，慢慢嚟。
m4 gan2 jiu3 maan6 maan2 lai4
Reassure someone that there is no need to rush.
Listen & learn when to use it →Bye, see you tomorrow!
拜拜，聽日見。
baai1 baai3 ting1 jat6 gin3
Say goodbye when you expect to meet again tomorrow.
Listen & learn when to use it →Let's have a meal together sometime.
得閒一齊食飯。
dak1 haan4 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6
Suggest meeting a friend for a meal when you are both free.
Listen & learn when to use it →What's your name?
你叫咩名？
nei5 giu3 me1 meng2
Ask another person their name.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm happy to meet you.
識到你好開心。
sik1 dou2 nei5 hou2 hoi1 sam1
Say that you are pleased to have met someone.
Listen & learn when to use it →Where is the MTR station?
地鐵站喺邊度？
dei6 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6
Ask where the metro station is.
Listen & learn when to use it →It's on the left.
喺左邊。
hai2 zo2 bin1
Tell someone that a place or object is to the left.
Listen & learn when to use it →It's on the right.
喺右邊。
hai2 jau6 bin1
Tell someone that a place or object is to the right.
Listen & learn when to use it →Keep going straight.
一路直行。
jat1 lou6 zik6 haang4
Tell someone to continue walking in the same direction.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'd like to take the bus.
我想搭巴士。
ngo5 soeng2 daap3 baa1 si2
Say that you want to travel by bus.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'd like to take a taxi.
我想搭的士。
ngo5 soeng2 daap3 dik1 si2
Say that you want to travel by taxi.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm getting off here.
我喺呢度落車。
ngo5 hai2 nei1 dou6 lok6 ce1
Tell a driver or companion where you want to get out.
Listen & learn when to use it →How long does it take to walk?
行路要幾耐？
haang4 lou6 jiu3 gei2 noi6
Ask how long a journey will take on foot.
Listen & learn when to use it →Excuse me, where is the toilet?
唔該，廁所喺邊度？
m4 goi1 ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6
Politely ask someone where the toilet is.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm lost.
我迷路喇。
ngo5 mai4 lou6 laa3
Let someone know you cannot find your way.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm home!
我返嚟喇。
ngo5 faan1 lai4 laa3
Let your family or housemates know you have arrived home.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'm going out for a bit.
我出街一陣。
ngo5 ceot1 gaai1 jat1 zan6
Tell people at home that you are going out briefly.
Listen & learn when to use it →I won't be home for dinner tonight.
今晚我唔返嚟食飯。
gam1 maan5 ngo5 m4 faan1 lai4 sik6 faan6
Let your family know in advance that you will eat elsewhere.
Listen & learn when to use it →Go ahead and eat; don't wait for me.
你食先，唔使等我。
nei5 sik6 sin1 m4 sai2 dang2 ngo5
Tell someone they can start eating before you arrive.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'd like to sleep a little longer.
我想瞓多陣。
ngo5 soeng2 fan3 do1 zan6
Say that you want more time to rest.
Listen & learn when to use it →It's time to get up.
夠鐘起身喇。
gau3 zung1 hei2 san1 laa3
Remind someone that it is time to get out of bed.
Listen & learn when to use it →I'll go and have a shower first.
我去沖涼先。
ngo5 heoi3 cung1 loeng4 sin1
Let your family or housemates know you are going to use the bathroom.
Listen & learn when to use it →Please keep your voice down; someone is sleeping.
唔該，細聲啲，有人瞓緊。
m4 goi1 sai3 seng1 di1 jau5 jan4 fan3 gan2
Ask people at home to lower their voices.
Listen & learn when to use it →Let's eat a bit earlier tonight.
我哋今晚早啲食。
ngo5 dei6 gam1 maan5 zou2 di1 sik6
Suggest an earlier meal with the people you live with.
Listen & learn when to use it →Remember to lock the door when you go out.
出門口記得鎖門。
ceot1 mun4 hau2 gei3 dak1 so2 mun4
Remind someone to lock up before leaving home.
Listen & learn when to use it →Learning Cantonese without Mandarin
Start with the English meaning, read the Cantonese and Jyutping, then open a phrase to hear its syllables and understand its use. The examples follow everyday Hong Kong Cantonese. English explanations are AI-assisted; see content sources and review information.
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