After booking the flights, securing the hotel reservation, and finally getting to planning your weekend itinerary, you can begin practising your basic Cantonese to impress when you visit our wonderful city.
We recommend you bookmark this guide for hard practice on the pronunciation and remembering key phrases when travelling around Hong Kong and visiting restaurants here.
Essential Cantonese phrases for your trip to Hong Kong
Hello
nei5 hou2 你好 (pronounced nay hoe)
It pays to be nice and, when you are in Hong Kong, a hello to a stranger, a waiter, or a store clerk goes a long way to make your trip and their day more pleasant!
Good morning
zou2 san4 早晨 (pronounced joe saan)
Brighten someone’s day and yours with a good morning. Cantonese speakers typically exchange this phrase to one another before 12PM; after, a simple hello can be shared.
Thank you
m4 goi1 唔該 (pronounced mm goy)
When you are exiting a taxi, thanking someone for a small favour, or helping you find directions, this is the informal yet polite way of expressing gratitude.
Thank you very much
m4 goi1 saai3 唔該晒 (pronounced mm goy sai)
When you want to go above and beyond and express acknowledgement for someone’s help beyond expectation, say this to recognise someone’s hard work.
How much is this?
ni1 go3 gei2 cin2 呢個幾錢 (pronounced nee goh gay cheen)
This is a polite way to ask how much a product or thing costs. Typically, you can use this phrase at a market stall or at a streetside stir-fry restaurant called dai pai dong where price tags are not concrete or on the menu.
Octopus
baat3 daat6 tung1 八達通 (pronounced baht daht tong)
No, you are not bringing a live shellfish to Hong Kong on your visit, the city’s travel and multipurpose debit card-like card is called an Octopus! It can be used to get you around the MTR, tram, and bus system and at local restaurants.
Where is the bathroom?
ngo5 soeng2 man6 ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 我想問廁所喺邊？ (pronounced ngo sung man see saw hai been)
When you are scrambling to find the bathroom in a restaurant, use this phrase and prepare to squiggle through an alley. Sometimes Hong Kong’s bathrooms are located in the most random of spots.
Do you speak English?
nei6 sik1 m4 sik1 gong1 ying1 man4 你識唔識講英文？ (pronounced nay sick mm sick gong ying man)
Hong Kong is a multilingual city with English spoken in most parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Memorise this phrase when you visit a cha chaan teng, a Hong Kong-style cafe, to ensure you get what you are hungry for!
Do you have any recommendations?
nei5 jau5mou5 teoi1gaai3 你有冇推介？ (pronounced nay yau mow toy gaai)
When visiting a Cantonese restaurant, put your trust in the waiters or chef by asking them this question. They’ll be able to cater to your wishes to be wowed with flavours
I would like to order…
ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 我想要 (pronounced ngo sung you)
If you do not read Chinese and find a picture menu at a restaurant, you can use this phrase to order a plate of food and pointing at an image on your phone or menu.
I would like a bottle of beer
ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 zi1 be1 zau2 我想要一支啤酒 (pronounced ngo sung you yat zee beh zow)
After a long day hitting the concrete and exploring Hong Kong by foot, this phrase will come very useful to you when arriving at a restaurant for dinner.
I would like a cup of tea
ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 caa4 我想要一杯茶 (pronounced ngo sung you yat boy chaa)
Similarly, if you don’t fancy a refreshing pint of beer, you can whip out this phrase to ask if they can serve you tea, a staple in restaurant dining in Hong Kong.
Is this Halal?
ni1 go3 hai6 m4 hai6 cing1 zan1 sik6 ban2 呢個係唔係清真食品？ (pronounced nee goh hi mm hi ching zahn sick ban)
As Hong Kong sees more Halal restaurants opening in the city, this is an important phrase to use to ensure that you or any Muslim visitor is eating safely on your visit.
Can I have the bill?
maai4 daan1 m4 goi1 埋單，唔該！ (pronounced my dan mm goy)
When you are finished with your meal and would like the bill, flag a waiter in the restaurant and say this phrase to receive the bill at your table or pay up front at the counter.
I am allergic to peanuts
ngo5 deoi3 faa1 sang1 man5 gam2 我對花生敏感 (pronounced ngo doy fah sang man gam)
For those travelling to Hong Kong with allergies, you can show a waiter or say this to prevent your meal from coming into contact with peanuts.
I am vegetarian
ngo5 hai6 sou3 sik6 ze2 我係素食者 (pronounced ngo hi sow sick zeh)
Hong Kong has plenty of vegetarian restaurants to cater for visitors who refrain from eating meat and fish products. Make sure to vet the restaurant before in case they use lard or other meat products as a cooking oil.
How do I go to this place
cing2 man6 ngo5 dim2 joeng2 heoi3 ni1 dou6 請問我點樣去呢度 (pronounced ching man ngo dim yung hoy nee doh)
If you are lost and yearning for directions, this phrase will help you find your way to a spot in Hong Kong with assistance from our brilliant transportation network. When in doubt, resort to Google Maps!
