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Phrasebook

Basic Cantonese phrases for Hong Kong

The handful of phrases that make a Hong Kong trip warmer, tastier and easier, each with Jyutping so you can actually say them.

Start with these five: 你好 (nei5 hou2, hello), 唑該 (m4 goi1, thanks/excuse me), 多謝 (do1 ze6, thank you), 幾多錢 (gei2 do1 cin2, how much), and 好好食 (hou2 hou2 sik6, delicious).

Greetings & politeness

你好

nei⁵ hou²

Hello

The all-purpose greeting.

早晨

zou² san⁴

Good morning

Used before noon.

唑該

m⁴ goi¹

Excuse me / please / thanks

For service or a small favour.

多謝

do¹ ze⁶

Thank you

For a gift or something bigger.

Eating

好好食

hou² hou² sik⁶

Really delicious

The compliment every cook wants.

唑該圳單

m⁴ goi¹ maai⁴ daan¹

The bill, please

Catch the waiter's eye and say this.

我想要呣個

ngo⁵ soeng² jiu³ ni¹ go³

I'd like this one

Point and say it, works anywhere.

凄 / 熱

dung³ / jit⁶

Iced / hot

Essential for ordering drinks.

Shopping & getting around

幾多錢

gei² do¹ cin²

How much is it?

Your most-used market phrase.

平喩啦

peng⁴ di¹ laa¹

A bit cheaper, please

The one bargaining phrase you need.

去遂度

heoi³ bin¹ dou⁶

Where to? / where is...

Useful in taxis and on foot.

唑該借借

m⁴ goi¹ ze³ ze³

Excuse me (let me through)

On a packed MTR or street.

When you're stuck

對唑住

deoi³ m⁴ zyu⁶

Sorry

A sincere apology.

聽唑明

teng¹ m⁴ ming⁴

I don't understand

Said with a smile, it invites patience.

你識唑識詖英文

nei⁵ sik¹ m⁴ sik¹ gong² jing¹ man²

Do you speak English?

A polite fallback.

One pronunciation tip

The tone matters as much as the sounds. The same syllable said with the wrong pitch can be a different word, so it's worth hearing these spoken rather than reading them off the page. That's the whole idea behind Hou²Hou².

Want these to actually stick? The app drills them with audio and tone practice. Join the free beta →

What's the one phrase I should know?

唑該 (m4 goi1). It covers 'excuse me', 'please', and 'thank you' for service, you'll use it constantly.

Is 唑該 or 多謝 the right 'thank you'?

Both, for different things. 唑該 (m4 goi1) thanks someone for service or a small favour; 多謝 (do1 ze6) thanks someone for a gift or something more substantial.

Will locals mind my tones being off?

Not at all. Hong Kongers are famously encouraging when visitors try. A few words with a smile go a long way.

Do I need Cantonese as a tourist?

English works in many tourist spots, but a handful of Cantonese phrases unlocks markets, taxis and local eateries, and earns real warmth.