Learning Cantonese: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Cantonese course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Cantonese is like
Cantonese is a tonal language: the same syllable at a different pitch means a different word, so tone is essential — there are six. Verbs don't change for person or tense: 我食 ngo5 sik6 can mean "I eat" or "I ate". Word order is subject–verb–object (你好 = you good). Chinese characters are the writing system, here in the traditional Hong Kong form. Nouns are counted with measure words (一杯 jat1 bui1 = one cup), and little end particles such as 呀 (aa3) soften a sentence or mark a question.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Cantonese is built on tone. Say the same syllable at six different pitches and you get six different words. Nail the tones and locals will understand you even with an accent.
- tone 1 — high and level, like a held note, as in 詩 si1 = poem.
- tone 2 — rises from the middle, like a question, as in 史 si2 = history.
- tone 3 — mid, level and even, as in 試 si3 = to try.
- tone 4 — falls from low, a grumbling fall, as in 時 si4 = time.
- tone 5 — rises from low, a slow rise, as in 市 si5 = market.
- tone 6 — low, level and flat, as in 是 si6 = yes.
- ng — the nasal ng at the start, like "sing", as in 五 ng5 = five.
- p · t · k — aspirated p/t/k like English "pin", plus the stopped finals -p/-t/-k said short and clipped, as in 茶 caa4 = tea · 八 baat3 = eight · 六 luk6 = six.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Cantonese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nei5 hou2 | Hello |
| 早晨 | zou2 san4 | Good morning |
| 再見 | zoi3 gin3 | Goodbye |
| 唔該 | m4 goi1 | Please / excuse me / thanks |
| 多謝 | do1 ze6 | Thank you |
| 對唔住 | deoi3 m4 zyu6 | Sorry |
| 係 | hai6 | Yes |
| 唔該晒 | m4 goi1 saai3 | Thanks a lot |
| 一 | jat1 | 1 |
| 二 | ji6 | 2 |
| 三 | saam1 | 3 |
| 四 | sei3 | 4 |
| 五 | ng5 | 5 |
| 六 | luk6 | 6 |
| 十 | sap6 | 10 |
| 水 | seoi2 | water |
| 飯 | faan6 | rice |
| 茶 | caa4 | tea |
| 咖啡 | gaa3 fe1 | coffee |
| 奶茶 | naai5 caa4 | milk tea |
| 飲 | jam2 | to drink |
| 邊度 | bin1 dou6 | Where? |
| 左邊 | zo2 bin1 | to the left |
| 右邊 | jau6 bin1 | to the right |
| 直行 | zik6 haang4 | go straight |
| 地鐵站 | dei6 tit3 zaam6 | MTR station |
| 幾多錢 | gei2 do1 cin2 | How much? |
| 好貴 | hou2 gwai3 | too expensive |
| 我要呢個 | ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3 | I'll take this |
| 救命呀 | gau3 meng6 aa3 | Help! |
How the Cantonese course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — 你好 · 唔該 · 多謝 · 對唔住
- Numbers 1–10 — 一 二 三 · 幾多錢 · 蚊
- I want" — 我想要 — 我想要 · 一杯 · 詞序
- Food & drink — 水 · 飯 · 茶 · 咖啡 · 好食
- Getting around — 邊度 · 左邊 · 右邊 · 直行
- Questions & "is it?" — 幾多 · 邊個 · 幾時 · 係唔係
- Family & people — 屋企人 · 爸爸 · 媽媽 · 朋友
- Time, days & weather — 今日 · 聽日 · 幾點 · 天氣
- Small talk & introducing yourself — 我叫 · 你叫咩名 · 幸會
- Health & emergency — 救命呀 · 醫院 · 幫我 · 我唔明
- Describing things — 好 · 大 · 細 · 太貴
- Tying it together — a capstone outing
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: 你好 · 唔該 · 多謝 · 對唔住
The first word you'll ever use: 你好 — hello. It's said "nei5 hou2". Say it out loud.
- 你好 (nei5 hou2) — hello
- 早晨 (zou2 san4) — good morning
- 再見 (zoi3 gin3) — goodbye
- 你哋好 (nei5 dei6 hou2) — hello (to a group)
To say “Hello” in Cantonese: 你好 (nei5 hou2). Built from 你好 = hello.
To say please, to get attention, or to thank someone for a service, use 唔該 (m4 goi1).
- 唔該 (m4 goi1) — please / excuse me / thanks
- 多謝 (do1 ze6) — thank you (for a gift)
- 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) — sorry
To say “Please / excuse me” in Cantonese: 唔該 (m4 goi1). Built from 唔該 = please / excuse me.
To say “Hello, thank you” in Cantonese: 你好，唔該 (nei5 hou2, m4 goi1). Built from 你好 = hello; 唔該 = thanks (for a service).
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: 一 二 三 · 幾多錢 · 蚊
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: 一 二 三.
- 一 (jat1) — 1
- 二 (ji6) — 2
- 三 (saam1) — 3
- 四 (sei3) — 4
- 五 (ng5) — 5
- 六 (luk6) — 6
- 七 (cat1) — 7
- 八 (baat3) — 8
- 九 (gau2) — 9
- 十 (sap6) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Cantonese: 兩杯咖啡，唔該 (loeng5 bui1 gaa3 fe1, m4 goi1). Built from 兩 = two (before a measure word); 杯 = cup; 咖啡 = coffee; 唔該 = please.
To ask the price: 幾多錢 (gei2 do1 cin2) — how much?
To say “How much is it?” in Cantonese: 幾多錢呀？ (gei2 do1 cin2 aa3). Built from 幾多錢 = how much money; 呀 = question particle.
To say “It's five dollars” in Cantonese: 五蚊 (ng5 man1). Built from 五 = five; 蚊 = dollar (HK).
I want" — 我想要
Key pieces: 我想要 · 一杯 · 詞序
The magic phrase to order anything: 我想要 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3) — I want.
- 我想要 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3) — I want
- 我想 (ngo5 soeng2) — I would like to
- 要 (jiu3) — to want
- 唔該，我想要... (m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 jiu3...) — excuse me, I'd like...
To say “I want water” in Cantonese: 我想要水 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 seoi2). Built from 我想要 = I want; 水 = water.
Add 一 plus a measure word to count things: 一杯 (jat1 bui1) = one cup.
To say “I'd like a cup of tea” in Cantonese: 我想要一杯茶 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 caa4). Built from 我想要 = I want; 一杯 = one cup; 茶 = tea.
To say “Excuse me, I want one coffee” in Cantonese: 唔該，我想要一杯咖啡 (m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 gaa3 fe1). Built from 唔該 = excuse me; 我想要 = I want; 一杯 = one cup; 咖啡 = coffee.
Food & drink
Key pieces: 水 · 飯 · 茶 · 咖啡 · 好食
Eating out? Key words: 水 (water), 飯 (rice), 茶 (tea).
- 水 (seoi2) — water
- 飯 (faan6) — rice
- 茶 (caa4) — tea Memory hook: ≈ English tea.
- 咖啡 (gaa3 fe1) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- 奶茶 (naai5 caa4) — milk tea
To say “Water and tea, please” in Cantonese: 水同埋茶，唔該 (seoi2 tung4 maai4 caa4, m4 goi1). Built from 水 = water; 同埋 = and; 茶 = tea; 唔該 = please.
好食 (hou2 sik6) = delicious. Say it and every cook in Hong Kong lights up.
To say “It's delicious!” in Cantonese: 好食！ (hou2 sik6!). Built from 好 = good; 食 = eat; 好食 = delicious.
To say “I want an iced coffee” in Cantonese: 我想要一杯凍咖啡 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 dung3 gaa3 fe1). Built from 我想要 = I want; 一杯 = one cup; 凍 = iced; 咖啡 = coffee.
Getting around
Key pieces: 邊度 · 左邊 · 右邊 · 直行
The most useful question anywhere: 邊度 (bin1 dou6) — where?
- 邊度 (bin1 dou6) — where
- 左邊 (zo2 bin1) — left
- 右邊 (jau6 bin1) — right
- 直行 (zik6 haang4) — go straight
- 地鐵站 (dei6 tit3 zaam6) — MTR / metro station Memory hook: ≈ MTR.
To say “Where is the MTR station?” in Cantonese: 地鐵站喺邊度？ (dei6 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6). Built from 地鐵站 = MTR station; 喺 = at; 邊度 = where.
To say “Go straight, then turn right” in Cantonese: 直行，然後轉右 (zik6 haang4, jin4 hau6 zyun3 jau6). Built from 直行 = go straight; 然後 = then; 轉右 = turn right.
To ask where the bathroom is: 廁所喺邊度？
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Cantonese: 廁所喺邊度？ (ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6). Built from 廁所 = bathroom; 喺邊度 = where is.
Questions & "is it?"
Key pieces: 幾多 · 邊個 · 幾時 · 係唔係
Ask how much or how many: 幾多 (gei2 do1).
- 幾多錢 (gei2 do1 cin2) — how much?
- 幾時 (gei2 si4) — when?
- 邊個 (bin1 go3) — who?
- 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) — how?
- 係唔係 (hai6 m4 hai6) — is it? / right?
To say “Is this the bus stop?” in Cantonese: 呢個係唔係巴士站？ (ni1 go3 hai6 m4 hai6 baa1 si2 zaam6). Built from 呢個 = this; 係唔係 = is it?; 巴士站 = bus stop.
To say you don't know: 唔知 (m4 zi1).
To say “I don't know” in Cantonese: 唔知 (m4 zi1). Built from 唔 = not; 知 = know.
To say “How much is this?” in Cantonese: 呢個幾多錢？ (ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2). Built from 呢個 = this; 幾多錢 = how much.
Family & people
Key pieces: 屋企人 · 爸爸 · 媽媽 · 朋友
Family: 屋企人 (uk1 kei2 jan4) = family. Take your time with it.
- 屋企人 (uk1 kei2 jan4) — family
- 爸爸 (baa4 baa1) — father
- 媽媽 (maa4 maa1) — mother
- 哥哥 (go4 go1) — older brother
- 家姐 (gaa1 ze1) — older sister
- 朋友 (pang4 jau5) — friend
To say “This is my friend” in Cantonese: 呢個係我朋友 (ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 pang4 jau5). Built from 呢個 = this; 係 = is; 我 = my; 朋友 = friend.
To say "I have": 我有 (ngo5 jau5).
To say “I have a family” in Cantonese: 我有屋企人 (ngo5 jau5 uk1 kei2 jan4). Built from 我有 = I have; 屋企人 = family.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: 今日 · 聽日 · 幾點 · 天氣
Today is 今日 (gam1 jat6), tomorrow is 聽日 (ting1 jat6).
- 今日 (gam1 jat6) — today
- 聽日 (ting1 jat6) — tomorrow
- 而家 (ji4 gaa1) — now
- 幾點 (gei2 dim2) — what time?
- 天氣 (tin1 hei3) — weather
To say “See you tomorrow” in Cantonese: 聽日見 (ting1 jat6 gin3). Built from 聽日 = tomorrow; 見 = see.
Ask about the weather: 今日天氣點呀？ — how's the weather today?
- 好熱 (hou2 jit6) — hot
- 好凍 (hou2 dung3) — cold
- 落雨 (lok6 jyu5) — raining
To say “It's raining” in Cantonese: 落雨 (lok6 jyu5). Built from 落 = fall; 雨 = rain; 落雨 = raining.
Small talk & introducing yourself
Key pieces: 我叫 · 你叫咩名 · 幸會
Introduce yourself: 我叫 (ngo5 giu3) — my name is.
To say “My name is Alex” in Cantonese: 我叫 Alex (ngo5 giu3 Alex). Built from 我叫 = my name is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: 你叫咩名？ (nei5 giu3 me1 meng2?)
To say “What's your name?” in Cantonese: 你叫咩名？ (nei5 giu3 me1 meng2). Built from 你叫 = you're called; 咩 = what; 名 = name.
Pleased to meet you: 幸會 (hang6 wui6).
To say “My name is Alex, pleased to meet you” in Cantonese: 我叫 Alex。幸會。 (ngo5 giu3 Alex; hang6 wui6). Built from 我叫 = my name is; Alex = your name; 幸會 = pleased to meet you.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: 救命呀 · 醫院 · 幫我 · 我唔明
The most important word if you need help: 救命 (gau3 meng6) — help, save me!
- 救命呀 (gau3 meng6 aa3) — help!
- 醫院 (ji1 jyun2) — hospital
- 警察 (ging2 caat3) — police
- 幫我 (bong1 ngo5) — help me
- 我唔明 (ngo5 m4 ming4) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Cantonese: 救命呀！ (gau3 meng6 aa3!). Built from 救命 = save [my] life; 呀 = emphasis particle.
To say you're unwell: 我唔舒服 (ngo5 m4 syu1 fuk6).
To say “I feel unwell” in Cantonese: 我唔舒服 (ngo5 m4 syu1 fuk6). Built from 我 = I; 唔 = not; 舒服 = comfortable/well.
To say “I don't understand” in Cantonese: 我唔明 (ngo5 m4 ming4). Built from 我 = I; 唔 = not; 明 = understand.
Describing things
Key pieces: 好 · 大 · 細 · 太貴
Adjectives are easy: 好 (good/very), 大 (big), 細 (small).
- 好 (hou2) — good / very
- 大 (daai6) — big
- 細 (sai3) — small
- 靚 (leng3) — pretty
- 貴 (gwai3) — expensive
- 平 (peng4) — cheap
To say “Very big” in Cantonese: 好大 (hou2 daai6). Built from 好 = very; 大 = big.
To say "too expensive": 太貴 (taai3 gwai3).
To say “It's too expensive” in Cantonese: 太貴啦 (taai3 gwai3 laa3). Built from 太 = too; 貴 = expensive; 啦 = particle.
To say “This is very good” in Cantonese: 呢個好好 (ni1 go3 hou2 hou2). Built from 呢個 = this; 好好 = very good.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone outing
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello!” in Cantonese: 你好！ (nei5 hou2!). Built from 你好 = hello.
To say “I want a cup of tea, please” in Cantonese: 我想要一杯茶，唔該 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 caa4, m4 goi1). Built from 我想要 = I want; 一杯 = one cup; 茶 = tea; 唔該 = please.
To say “Where is the MTR station?” in Cantonese: 地鐵站喺邊度？ (dei6 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6). Built from 地鐵站 = MTR station; 喺邊度 = where is.
To say “How much is it?” in Cantonese: 幾多錢呀？ (gei2 do1 cin2 aa3). Built from 幾多錢 = how much; 呀 = question particle.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- 你哋好 (nei5 dei6 hou2): to a group.
- 多謝 (do1 ze6): for a gift.
Culture and etiquette
The 24-hour city
Hong Kong is dense, vertical and always in motion: skyscrapers, street markets and the harbour. Locals move fast and eat late — dinner at 8pm is normal.
Dim sum is a ritual
Yum cha literally means "drink tea". You share small steamed or fried plates — har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao — around a big table with endless tea. The trolleys keep coming.
The MTR is the way
Hong Kong's metro is clean, fast and brilliantly signposted in English. With an Octopus card in hand it's the easiest city on earth to get around — stations even tell you which exit to take.
Tea culture & milk tea
Hong Kong-style milk tea (奶茶) is bold and silky, brewed with a sock-like cloth filter. Tea water comes with almost every meal, and tea is the heart of yum cha — hence "drink tea".
The six tones
Cantonese has six tones: the same syllable pitched differently becomes a completely different word. Tones feel natural to natives, so they'll happily slow down while you find the right pitch.
A living language
Cantonese is the everyday language of Hong Kong and the Guangdong region, distinct from Mandarin. Locals love it when visitors try — even a perfect 你好 breaks the ice.
Example dialogues
At a cha chaan teng
You: 唔該，一杯凍奶茶。 (m4 goi1, jat1 bui1 dung3 naai5 caa4) — Excuse me, an iced milk tea, please.
Waiter: 好，即刻嚟。要唔要菠蘿油？ (hou2, zik1 hak1 lai4. jiu3 m4 jiu3 bo1 lo4 jau4) — Sure, coming right up. Would you like a pineapple bun with butter?
You: 好呀，一個菠蘿油。 (hou2 aa3, jat1 go3 bo1 lo4 jau4) — Yes, one pineapple bun with butter.
You: 買單，唔該。 (maai5 daan1, m4 goi1) — The bill, please.
Waiter: 多謝晒！一共廿四蚊。 (do1 ze6 saai3! jat1 gung6 jaa6 sei3 man1) — Thanks! That's twenty-four dollars.
On the MTR
You: 唔該，我哋去旺角點去呀？ (m4 goi1, ngo5 dei6 heoi3 wong6 gok3 dim2 heoi3 aa3) — Excuse me, how do we get to Mong Kok?
Staff: 你坐荃灣綫，喺旺角站落車就得。 (nei5 co5 cyun4 waan1 sin3, hai2 wong6 gok3 zaam6 lok6 ce1 zau6 dak1) — Take the Tsuen Wan line and get off at Mong Kok station.
You: 幾多錢一張飛？ (gei2 do1 cin2 jat1 zoeng1 fei1) — How much is one ticket?
Staff: 八蚊。下一班車三分鐘之後嚟。 (baat3 man1. haa6 jat1 baan1 ce1 saam1 fan1 zung1 zi1 hau6 lai4) — Eight dollars. The next train comes in three minutes.
At a restaurant
Waiter: 唔該，幾位呀？ (m4 goi1, gei2 wai2 aa3) — Excuse me, how many people?
You: 兩位，唔該。 (loeng5 wai2, m4 goi1) — Two people, please.
Waiter: 呢度係餐牌。 (ni1 dou6 hai6 caan1 paai4) — Here's the menu.
You: 唔該，我想要一碟炒飯同埋一杯茶。 (m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 dip6 caau2 faan6 tung4 maai4 jat1 bui1 caa4) — Excuse me, I'd like a plate of fried rice and a cup of tea.
Waiter: 好，即刻到你。 (hou2, zik1 hak1 dou3 nei5) — Sure, right away.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.