300 useful words Flashcards
Based on https://funwithlanguages.tumblr.com/post/105572981908/you-can-say-a-surprising-amount-with-300-words
1
Q
To be
A
係 hai6, 喺 hai2
2
Q
There is
A
有 jau5
3
Q
To have
A
有 jau5
Neg. 冇 mou5
4
Q
To do
A
做 zou6
5
Q
To go
A
去 heoi3
6
Q
To want
A
要 jiu3
想 soeng2 (with a verb)
7
Q
Can
A
可以 ho2 ji5 (allowed to) 識 sik1 (know how to) 會wui5 (know how to, be able to) 得 dak1 (allowed to) 得倒 dak1 dou2 (same as 得 dak1, negative 唔倒 m4 dou2)
8
Q
To need
A
需要 seoi1 jiu3
要 jiu3
Negative 唔駛 m4 sai2
9
Q
To think
A
諗 nam2, lam2
10
Q
To know
A
知(道) zi1 dou3
識 sik1 (know how to)
11
Q
To say
A
講 gong2
話 waa6
12
Q
To like
A
鍾意 zung1 ji3
中意 zung1 ji3
13
Q
To speak
A
講 gong2
識講 sik1 gong2 (know how to speak [a language])
14
Q
To learn
A
學 hok6
15
Q
To understand
A
明白 ming4 baak6
16
Q
And
A
同 tung4
17
Q
That (I think that)
A
Does not exist
18
Q
Or
A
定係 ding6 hai6 (in questions giving a choice)
或者 waak6 ze2 (in disjunctive statements)
19
Q
But
A
但係 daan6 hai6
不過 bat1 gwo3
20
Q
Because
A
因為 jan1 wai6
21
Q
Although
A
雖說 seoi1 syut3
22
Q
So (therefore)
A
噉 gam2
23
Q
If
A
如果 jyu4 gwo2
24
Q
Of
A
嘅 ge3
25
To
去 heoi3
26
From
由 jau4
27
In
在 zoi6
| 喺 hai2
28
At (a place)
喺 hai2
29
At (a time)
喺 hai2
30
With
同 tung4
31
About
關於 gwaan1 jyu1
32
Like (similar to)
噉 gam2
33
For
為 wai6
34
Before
之前 zi1 cin4
35
After
之後 zi1 hau6
36
During
之際 zi1 zai3
37
Who?
邊個 bin1 go3
38
What?
乜野 mat1 je5
| 咩嘢 me1 je5
39
Where?
邊度 bin1 dou6
40
When?
幾時 gei2 si4 (colloq. si2)
41
Why?
點解 dim2 gaai2
42
How?
點樣 dim2 joeng6 (colloq. joeng2)
43
How much?
幾多 gei2 do1
44
Which?
邊 bin1
45
A lot
好多 hou2 do1
46
A little
少少siu2 siu2
47
Well (adverb)
好 hou2
48
Badly
壞 waai6
49
Only
只係 zi2 hai6
50
Also
都 dou1
| 又 jau6
51
Very
好 hou2
52
Too (e.g. too tall)
太 taai3
53
Too much
太多 taai3 do1
54
So (e.g. so tall)
咁多 gam3 do1
55
More
過 gwo3 (placed after the adjective)
56
Less
Use a negative construction of 過 gwo3 'more'
57
As...as... (e.g. as tall as)
Positive:
[subject] 同 [object] 一樣咁 [adjective]
... tung4 ... jat1 joeng6 gam3 ...
Negative (not as...as...):
冇… 一樣咁 mou5 ... jat1 joeng6 gam3
58
Most
最 [adjective] ... 嘞
zeoi3 ... lak3
嘞 lak3 goes to the end of the clause
59
Least
Use a negative construction of 最 ... 嘞 zeoi3 ... lak3 'most
60
Better
好過 hou2 gwo3
61
Best
最好嘞 zeoi3 hou2 lak3
62
Worse
壞過 waai6 gwo3
63
Worst
最壞嘞 zeoi3 waai6 lak3
64
Now
而家 ji4 gaa1
65
Then
當時 dong1 si4
In the construction 'if...then...' use 就 zau6
66
Here
呢度 ni1 dou6
67
There
嗰度 go2 dou6
68
Maybe
話唔定 waa6 m4 ding6
69
Always
成日 seng4 jat6
70
Usually
通常 tung1 soeng4
71
Often
周不時 zau1 bat1 si4
72
Sometimes
有時 jau5 si4
73
Never
從未 cung4 mei6
74
Today
今日 gam1 jat6
75
Yesterday
琴日 kam4 jat6
76
Tomorrow
聽日 ting1 jat6
77
Soon
就快 zau6 faai3
78
Almost
差唔多 caa1 m4 do1 (similar)
| 就嚟 zau6 lei4 (soon)
79
Already
已經 ji5 ging1
80
Still
重係 zung6 hai6
81
Even
連 … 都 lin4 ... dou1
| 甚至 sam6 zi3
82
Enough (adverb)
夠 gau3
83
Articles (the, a)
Do not exist, although classifiers may be used. The generic classifier is 個 go3
84
This
呢 ni1
85
That
嗰 go2
86
Good
好 hou2
87
Bad
壞 waai6
88
All
都 dou1
Classifier reduplication may also be used.
89
Some
啲 di1
90
No
唔喺 m4 hai2
91
Any
任何 jam6 ho4
92
Many
多 do1
93
Few
少 siu2
94
Other
其他 kei4 taa1
95
Same
一樣 jat1 joeng6
96
Different
唔同 m4 tung4
97
Enough (adjective)
夠 gau3
98
One
一 jat1
99
Two
兩 loeng5 (with a noun, technically 'a couple of')
| 二 ji6 (number)
100
A few
幾 gei2
101
First
第一 dai6 jat1 (with a noun)
| 先 sin1
102
Next
下一個 haa6 jat1 go3
103
Last (past)
舊年 gau6 nin4 (colloq. nin2) (last year)
上個月 soeng6 go3 jyut6 (last month)
噙晚 kam4 maan5 (last night)
104
Last (final)
最後 zeoi3 hau6
105
Easy
容易 jung4 ji6
106
Hard/difficult
辛苦 san1 fu2
107
Early
早 zou2
108
Late
遲 ci4
109
Important
緊要 gan2 jiu3
110
Interesting
有趣 jau5 ceoi3
111
Fun
好玩 hou2 waan4 (colloq. waan2)
112
Boring
腌悶 jim1 mun6
113
Beautiful
靚 leng3
114
Big
大 daai6
115
Small
細 sai3
116
Happy
開心 hoi1 sam1
117
Sad
難過 naan4 gwo3
118
Busy
忙 mong4
119
Excited
興奮 hing1 fan5
120
Tired
癐 gui6
121
Ready
準備 zeon2 bei6
122
Favourite
最愛 zeoi3 oi3
123
New
新 san1
124
Right (correct)
啱 ngaam1
125
Wrong
錯 co1
126
True
真 zan1
127
I
我 ngo5
128
You (singular)
你 nei5
129
She
佢 keoi5
130
He
佢 keoi5
131
It, they (singular)
佢 keoi5
Used only for people and animals. For objects, specify the noun or drop the pronoun.
132
We
我哋 ngo5 dei6
133
You (plural)
你哋 nei5 dei6
134
They (plural)
佢哋 keoi5 dei6
135
Everything
乜都 mat1 dou1
136
Something
嘢 je5
137
Nothing
冇嘢 mou5 je5
138
Everyone
大家 daai6 ga1
139
Someone
有人 jau5 jan4
140
No one
冇人 mou5 jan4
141
Cantonese language
廣東話 gwong2 dung1 waa6 (colloq. waa2)
| 廣州話 gwong2 zau1 waa6 (colloq. waa2)
142
English language
英文 jing1 man4 (colloq. man4, man2)
143
Thing
嘢 je5
144
Person
人 jan4
145
Place
地方 dei6 fong1
146
Time (as in 'a long time')
時間 si4 gaan3, si4 gaan1
147
Time (as in 'three times')
次 ci3
148
Friend
朋友 pang4 jau5
149
Woman
女人 neoi5 jan4
150
Man
男人 naam4 jan4
151
Money
錢 cin4
152
Country
國家 gwok3 ga1
153
China, Hong Kong
China:
中國 zung1 gwok3
中華人民共和國 zung1 waa4 jan4 man4 gung6 wo4 gwok3
Hong Kong:
香港 hoeng1 gong2
154
United Kingdom, England
英國 jing1 gwok3
Used for both.
英格蘭 jing1 gaak3 laan4
英倫 jing1 leon4
England only.
155
City
城市 sing4 si5
156
Language
語言 jyu5 jin4
157
Word
字 zi6
158
Food
食物 sik6 mat6
159
House
屋 uk1
160
Shop, store
舖頭 pou3 tau4 (colloq. tau2)
161
Office
寫字樓 se2 zi6 lau4
162
Company
公司 gung1 si1
163
Manager
經理 ging1 lei5
164
Coworker
同事 tung4 si6
165
Job
工 gung1
166
Work (as in “I have a lot of work to do”)
工作 gung1 jok3
167
Problem
問題 man6 tai4
168
Question
問題 man6 tai4
169
Idea
主意 zyu2 ji3
170
Life
生命 sang1 ming6
171
World
世界 sai3 gaai3
172
Day
日 jat6
173
Year
年 nin4
174
Week
禮拜 lai5 baai3
175
Month
月jut6
176
Hour
小時 siu2 si4
177
Mother
媽媽 maa1 maa1
| 老母 lou5 mou5
178
Father
爸爸 baa5 baa1
| 老豆 lou5 dau6
179
Parent
親 can1
| 父母 fu6 mou5
180
Daughter
女 neoi5
181
Son
仔 zai2
182
Child
細路 sai3 lou6
| 仔女 zai2 neoi5 (sons and daughters)
183
Wife
老婆 lou5 po4
184
Husband
老公 lou5 gung1
185
Girlfriend
女朋友 neoi5 pang4 jau5
186
Boyfriend
男朋友 naam4 pang4 jau5
187
To work (person working)
工作 gung1 zok3
188
To work, to function
功能 gung1 nang4
189
To see
見 gin3
190
To use
用 jung6
191
Should
應份 jing1 fan6
192
To believe
信 seon3
193
To practice
練習 lin6 zaap6
194
To seem
睇嚟 tai2 lei5
195
To come
嚟 lei5
196
To leave
離開 lei5 hoi1
197
To return
返 faan1
198
To give
畀 bei2
199
To take
攞 bei2
200
To bring
拎 ning1
| 帶 daai3
201
To look for
搜 sau2
| 搵 wan2
202
To get, to obtain
得到 dak1 dou3
203
To receive
收倒 sau1 dou2
| 收到 sau1 dou2
204
To buy
買 maai5
205
To try
試 si3
206
To start
開始 hoi1 ci2
207
To stop (doing something)
停(止) ting4 (zi2)
208
To finish
殺攤 saat3 taan1
209
To continue
繼續 gai3 zuk6
210
To wake up
醒 seng2
211
To get up
起身 hei2 san1
212
To eat
食 sik6
213
To eat breakfast
食早餐 sik6 zou2 caan1
214
To eat lunch
食午餐 sik6 ng5 caan1
215
To eat dinner
食晚餐 sik6 maan5 caan1
216
To happen
發生 faat3 sang1
217
To feel
覺得 gok3 dak1 (also means 'to think')
218
To create
做 zou6
| 造 zou6
219
To cause
令 ling6
220
To meet (for the first time)
相見 seong1 gin3
221
To meet (bump into)
見 gin3
| 會 wui5
222
To meet (arranged)
見 gin3
| 會 wui5
223
To ask (a question)
問 man6
224
To ask (request)
請求 cing2 kau4
225
To wonder
懷疑 waai4 ji4
226
To reply
回覆 wui4 fuk1
227
To mean
意味着 ji3 mei6 zeok6 (to signify)
| 係意思 hai6 ji3 si1
228
To read
睇(書) tai2 syu1
229
To write
寫 se2
230
To listen
聽 teng1
| 留心聽 lau4 sam1 teng1
231
To hear
聽 teng1
232
To remember
記得 gei3 dak1
233
To forget
忘記 mong4 gei3
234
To choose
選擇 syun2 zaak6
235
To decide
決定 kyut3 ding6
236
To be born
誕生 daan3 saang1
| 出世 ceot1 sai3
237
To die
死 sei2
238
To kill
殺 saat3
239
To live
住 zyu6 (reside)
| 生存 saang1 cyun4
240
To stay
留低 lau4 dai1 (remain behind)
241
To change
改(變) goi2 (bin3)
242
To help
幫…手 bong1 ... sau2
| 幫助 bong1 zo6
243
To send
發 faat3
244
To study
讀書 duk6 syu1
| 學習 hok6 zaap6
245
To improve
改進 goi2 zeon3
246
To hope
希望 hei1 mong6
247
To care
着緊 zoekk6 gan2
248
Hello
你好 nei5 hou2
249
Goodbye
再見 zoi3 gin3
250
Thank you
唔該 m4 goi1
| 有心 jau5 sam1
251
You're welcome
唔使 m4 sai2
252
Excuse me (to get someone’s attention)
請問 ceng2 man6
| 唔該 m4 goi1
253
Sorry
對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6
254
It's fine (in response to an apology)
唔緊要 m4 gan2 jiu3
255
Please
唔該 m4 goi1
256
Yes
係 hai6
257
No
唔係 m4 hai6
258
Okay
得 dak1
259
My name is...
我個名係 ngo5 go3 ming4 hai6 ...
| 我叫 ngo5 giu3 ...
260
What is your name?
你叫咩名？ nei5 giu3 me1 ming4
261
Nice to meet you
好高興見到你 hou2 gou1 hing3 gin3 dou3 nei5
262
How are you?
你最近點？ nei5 zeoi3 gan6 dim2
點呀？ dim2 aa3
263
I’m doing well, how about you?
好好，有心。你呢？hou2 hou2, jau5 sam1, nei5 ne1
264
Sorry? / What? (if you didn’t hear something)
乜野？ mat1 je5
265
How do you say ... (in Cantonese)?
... 用（粵語）點講？
| ... jung6 (jyut6 jyu5) dim2 gon2
266
What does ... mean?
... 係咩意思
| ... hai6 me1 ji3 si1
267
I don't understand
我唔明(白) ngo5 m4 ming4 (baak6)
268
Could you repeat that?
你可唔可以重複一次 nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 cung4 fuk1 jat1 ci3
269
Could you speak more slowly, please?
你可唔可以講慢啲 nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gong2 maan6 dit1
270
Well (as in “well, I think…”)
好呀 hou2 aa1
271
Really?
真係？zan1 hai6
272
I guess that
我估 ngo5 gu2
273
It's hot (weather)
今日好熱 gam1 jat6 hou2 jit6
274
It's cold (weather)
今日好冷 gam1 jat6 hou2 laang5
275
Student
學生 hok6 saang1
276
To attend class
上課 soeng5 fo3
277
Class
課 fo3
