Basic Cantonese phrases every traveller to Hong Kong needs to know

🔊: Mm goi
Jyutping: m4 goi1

This phrase is constantly meme-d for being the one phrase that all expats know, but hey, it’s a classic for a reason! Need to grab someone’s attention? Say “mm goi”. Tack it on before requests to sound more polite. This can also be used to express your thanks, so it really is an all-rounder that’s great to have in your arsenal.

🔊: Ho / Hai
Jyutping: hou2 / hai6

Both these words are used to express positive confirmation. The difference is that ‘ho’ is used like you would say “Sure!”, while ‘hai’ means more of “That’s right”. To sound more like a local, add the ending particle ‘ah’ to the end of your exclamation.

🔊: Jou sun
Jyutping: zou2 san4

Start your day on a good note and greet the people you meet with a cheery ‘jou sun’. Cantonese speakers don’t really greet each other with ‘good afternoon’ or ‘good night’ as it sounds very formal, but a ‘good morning’ is always appreciated.

🔊: Dor jeh
Jyutping: do1 ze6

But didn’t ‘mm goi’ already mean thank you, you say? Yes, thanks for paying attention! ‘Mm goi’ is used to thank people for their services, so you’d say it to waiters, cab drivers, cashiers, and the kind person who holds the door open for you. ‘Dor je’, on the other hand, expresses gratitude to someone who has given you a gift or done you a special favour.

🔊: Mm ho yi si
Jyutping: m4 hou2 ji3 si1

Much of Asian societal rules hinge on outward displays of politeness, and Hong Kong is no exception. Say “mm ho yi si” when you want to apologise for a minor fault or inconvenience, like if you’re holding up a queue or if you need someone to move so you can squeeze past them.

🔊: Ni gor / Goh gor
Jyutping: ni1 go3 / go2 go3

It’s always a good idea to know how to refer to objects. At the most basic level of Cantonese, you can just pair ‘ni gor’ or ‘goh gor’ with ‘mm goi’ in shops or restaurants to buy or indicate interest in whatever you’re pointing towards. Now go forth and shop.

🔊: Gei dor chin
Jyutping: gei2 do1 cin2

In a shopper’s paradise like Hong Kong, you can hardly get away without buying stuff, so being able to ask how much something costs is an absolute essential. Pair this phrase with the above terms for this and that (‘ni gor / goh gor gei dor chin?’ for ‘How much is this / that?’), and you’re good to go.

🔊: Peng di la
Jyutping: peng4 di1 laa1

If you plan to visit Hong Kong’s various street markets, then haggling is definitely needed. The one phrase you need to know is ‘peng di la!’, with a ‘mm goi’ in front or after if you want to sound more polite. Use it regardless of the price that’s quoted to you initially, even if you think it’s already reasonable.

🔊: Mai daan
Jyutping: maai4 daan1

Call out this phrase in local eateries to get the bill – but if you’re dining in an old-school cafe or open-air food stall, don’t be surprised if they leave the slip of paper on your table way before you even ask for it. Instead of raising your voice in a crowded restaurant, you can also just mime writing something in mid air and the waiters will get the message.

🔊: … hai bin dou
Jyutping: hai3 bin1 dou6

Simply add ‘hai bin dou’ behind a location to ask where something is. In our opinion, among all location markers, it’s most important to memorise ‘chi sor hai bin dou’ (where is the bathroom?).

🔊: Dim hui
Jyutping: dim2 heoi3

It’s pretty hard to get lost in this age of Google maps, but in case you do need to ask for directions, simply ask ‘dim hui’ followed by the place you’re looking for.

🔊: Ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa
Jyutping: ngo5 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2

Sometimes, you’ll come across a motor-mouthed Chinese auntie who will just talk at you in rapid-fire Cantonese and leave you questioning everything. Here’s where you can pull out this plea for them to hopefully switch to English or body language. The irony is if you manage to pull off this phrase with perfect enunciation, then you can pretty much speak Canto anyway.