Cantoneseclass 101 Absolutely Beginner Lesson 3

Question 1

m4 goi1 (sai3)

Answer 1

Thank you (very much), please, can also mean excuse me (asking for directions, and excuse me (moving through crowds) -both of these don’t use sai3

Question 2

Goi1

Answer 2

Should

Question 3

M4 hai6

Answer 3

No

Question 4

Goi1

Answer 4

Should

Question 5

Nei5 hai6 m4 hei6_____

Answer 5

Aren’t you _____(insert name)?

Question 6

M4 hou2 ji3 si3

Answer 6

Oh, sorry (pretty casual, like when you step on someone’s foot)

Question 7

Sik6

Answer 7

To eat

Question 8

Hok6 (k is almost a stop, barely hinted at

Answer 8

To learn

Question 9

Zou6

Answer 9

To do

Question 10

M4 gan2 jiu3

Answer 10

It doesn’t matter

Question 11

Gwong2 dung1 waa2

Answer 11

Cantonese

Question 12

M4 goi1, Ci3 so2 hei6 bin1

Answer 12

Excuse me, where is the toilet?
(Toilet -ci3 so2; where- bin1)

Question 13

M4 goi1 sai3

Answer 13

Thank you very much! (Casual)

Question 14

Do1 ze6

Answer 14

Thank you (formal)

Question 15

Ji3 si3

Answer 15

Meaning

Question 16

Deoi3 m4 zyu6

Answer 16

Stronger more formal apology (like if you do something really wrong. It’s like saying “I apologize, instead of sorry” )

Question 17

hai6 m4 hai6

Answer 17

This is a way to ask a question, similar to saying are?

Question 18

Zou6 m4 zou6
Sik6 m4 sik6

Answer 18

Are you doing/do you do?
Are you eating/do you want to eat?

Question 19

M4 hok6

Answer 19

Not to learn

Question 20

Hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2

Answer 20

Learn Cantonese

Question 21

Nei5 (Lei5)

Answer 21

You (have heard it pronounced both ways so far)