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.