Questions

Cantonese Lesson 9 (Questions and Misunderstanding)

Duration: 30 mins

This 9th lesson teaches an important aspect in Cantonese which is the interrogative form also called questions. In addition, there is a list of vocabulary terms about misunderstanding and finally some commonly used phrases. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Cantonese Classes.

Questions

Being able to ask questions is what makes us curious beings, which in turns broadens our knowledge. It is no different when it comes to learning Cantonese. You will always be asking questions, and the following are some tools to help you in that quest.

The following are the 5 Ws + "how" commonly used adverbs to express the interrogative form. Most likely, whenever a question needs to be asked, one of them should be used. The table contains 3 columns (English, Cantonese, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.

Interrogative Form in Cantonese

Questions Cantonese Audio
How?點樣
dim2 joeng6 
What?咩話?
me1 waa6 ?
When?幾時
gei2 si4 
Where?邊度?
bin1 dou6 ?
Who?邊個
bin1 go3 
Why?點解
dim2 gaai2 

Now we will try to implement the adverbs above into full Cantonese sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.

Cantonese Questions in a Sentence

Can I come?我可唔可以嚟?
ngo5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 lai4 ?
Can I help you?我有咩可以幫你?
ngo5 jau5 me1 ho2 ji5 bong1 nei5 ?
Can you help me?你可唔可以幫我?
nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 ?
Do you know her?你識唔識佢?
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 keoi5 ?
Do you speak English?你識唔識講英文?
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 jing1 man4 ?
How difficult is it?有幾難?
jau5 gei2 naan4 ?
How far is this?有幾遠?
jau5 gei2 jyun5 ?
How much is this?呢個幾多錢?
ne1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 ?
How would you like to pay?你想點樣俾錢?
nei5 soeng2 dim2 joeng6 bei2 cin2 ?
What is this called?呢個叫咩?
ne1 go3 giu3 me1 ?
What is your name?你叫咩名?
nei5 giu3 me1 ming4 ?
What time is it?而家幾點?
ji4 gaa1 gei2 dim2 ?
When can we meet?我哋可以幾時見面?
ngo5 dei2 ho2 ji5 gei2 si4 gin3 min6 ?
Where do you live?你住喺邊度?
nei5 zyu6 hai2 bin1 dou6 ?
Who is knocking at the door?邊個喺度敲門?
bin1 go3 hai2 dou6 haau1 mun4 ?
Why is it expensive?點解呢個咁貴?
dim2 gaai2 ne1 go3 gam3 gwai3 ?

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact me using the Cantonese contact form on the header above.

Vocabulary List about Misunderstanding

There are times when you will not understand what a person said in Cantonese, or simply that you want them to repeat a word. The following are 24 expressions used to clear misunderstandings. Very essential to any conversation!

Misunderstanding in Cantonese

Misunderstanding Cantonese Audio
Can you repeat?可唔可以講多次?
ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gong2 do1 ci3 ?
Can you speak slowly?可唔可以講慢啲
ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gong2 maan6 di1 
Did you understand what I said?你明唔明我講咩?
nei5 ming4 m4 ming4 ngo5 gong2 me1 ?
Don't worry!唔駛擔心
m4 sai2 daam1 sam1 
Excuse me? (i.e. I beg your pardon?)唔好意思
m4 hou2 ji3 si1 
How do you say "OK" in French?法文 OK 點樣講?
faat3 man4  OK  dim2 joeng6 gong2 ?
I don't know!我唔知
ngo5 m4 zi1 
I don't understand!我唔明
ngo5 m4 ming4 
I need to practice my French我要練習講法文
ngo5 jiu3 lin6 zaap6 gong2 faat3 man4 
Is that right?啱唔啱?
ngaam1 m4 ngaam1 ?
Is that wrong?係咪唔啱?
hai6 mi1 m4 ngaam1 ?
Mistake錯誤
co3 ng6 
My French is bad我啲法文好差
ngo5 di1 faat3 man4 hou2 caa1 
No problem!冇問題
mou5 man6 tai4 
Quickly好快
hou2 faai3 
Slowly慢慢
maan6 maan6 
Sorry (to apologize)對唔住
deoi3 m4 zyu6 
To speak講嘢
gong2 je5 
What does that word mean in English?嗰個字英文點解?
go2 go3 zi6 jing1 man4 dim2 gaai2 ?
What is this?呢樣係咩嘢?
ne1 joeng6 hai6 me1 je5 ?
What should I say?我應該講咩?
ngo5 jing3 goi1 gong2 me1 ?
What?咩嘢?
me1 je5 ?
What's that called in French?呢樣嘢法文點講?
ne1 joeng6 je5 faat3 man4 dim2 gong2 ?
Write it down please!唔該寫低
m4 goi1 se2 dai1 

Daily Conversation in Cantonese

Finally, a list of some common phrases that you might come across from time to time. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Cantonese Phrases page. Enjoy!

Common Expressions in Cantonese

English Cantonese Audio
This呢樣/個
ne1 joeng6 /go3 
That嗰樣/個
go2 joeng6 /go3 
Here呢度
ne1 dou6 
There嗰度
go2 dou6 
In The Morning朝早
ciu4 zou2 
In the evening傍晚
bong6 maan5 
At Night夜晚
je6 maan5 
Really!真嘅!
zan1 ge3 !
Look!睇吓!
tai2 haak3 !
Hurry up!快啲!
faai3 di1 !

Fun Facts

Language Quote: The oldest written language was believed to be written in about 4500 BC.

Congratulations! You finished your 9th lesson in Cantonese about questions, and misunderstanding. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Cantonese Lesson 10. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Cantonese homepage.