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cantobestie
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You're not ready to visit Hong Kong if you don't know these 🇭🇰

Must-know Cantonese phrases for your Hong Kong trip — the ones you'll actually use, every day, from landing to asking for the bill.

The Big Idea

Nine phrases, one confident trip 🧳

Two of these — 唔該 and 多謝 — sound similar and both get translated as "thank you," but they are NOT interchangeable. Pay close attention to Groups 2 and 3 below.

Group 1

Greetings — simpler than English 👋

Cantonese doesn't really have separate words for "good afternoon" or "good evening" the way English does. You mostly just need these two.

Phrase 1 GOOD MORNING
早晨。
Good morning.
Use it: only in the morning, roughly until lunchtime — there's no equivalent for "good afternoon/evening"
Phrase 2 HELLO, ANYTIME
哈佬。
Hello.
Use it: a borrowed word from English "hello" — works any time of day, your safe default outside the morning
Group 2

唔該 — the single most useful word 🙏

If you only learn one Cantonese word before your trip, make it this one. 唔該 (m4 goi1) covers "excuse me," "please," and "thanks for the service" all at once — restaurants, taxis, shops, hotels, all of it.

Phrase 3 THE ALL-PURPOSE SERVICE WORD
唔該。
Excuse me / please (asking for service).
Use it: whenever you want a server's attention, are asking for something, or need to say "excuse me" to get past someone

📍 See it in three real situations

我要呢個，唔該。 ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3, m4 goi1. → I'll have this, please. (ordering / pointing at something)
唔該，俾杯水我呀。 m4 goi1, bei2 bui1 seoi2 ngo5 aa3. → Excuse me, can I get a cup of water? (asking a server)
唔該借借。 m4 goi1 ze3 ze3. → Excuse me, coming through. (squeezing past someone)
Group 3

多謝 — thank you the RIGHT way 🎁

Here's the mix-up almost every learner makes: 唔該 and 多謝 both get translated as "thank you" — but they're used in different situations.

Phrase 4 THANK YOU (FOR SOMETHING GIVEN)
多謝。
Thank you.
Use it: when someone GIVES you something — a gift, a compliment, a personal favor. 唔該 is for service/requests; 多謝 is for things you receive

💬 Also used for compliments

你好靚仔喎。 nei5 hou2 leng3 zai2 wo3. → You're so handsome! (said to a guy — reply with 多謝)
你好靚女喎。 nei5 hou2 leng3 neoi5 wo3. → You're so pretty! (said to a woman — reply with 多謝)

💡 Bonus tip — want faster service?

Try calling the waiter 靚仔 (leng3 zai2, "handsome guy") or the waitress 靚女 (leng3 neoi5, "pretty girl"). It's just a common, friendly way to get staff's attention in Hong Kong — not flirting, promise. 🤭

Group 4

Shopping & prices 💰

Markets and small shops in Hong Kong are often open to a little gentle haggling — these two phrases are all you need.

Phrase 5 ASKING THE PRICE
呢個幾多錢呀？
How much is this?
Use it: the standard way to ask a price — point at the item as you say it
Phrase 6 GENTLE HAGGLING
平啲得唔得呀？
Can it be cheaper?
Use it: a soft, polite way to ask for a discount — works best at markets and small shops, not chain stores
Group 5

At the restaurant 🍜

From complimenting the food to closing out the bill — the three phrases that carry a whole meal.

Phrase 7 COMPLIMENTING THE FOOD
好好味呀！
It's delicious!
Use it: a genuine, enthusiastic compliment — doubling 好好 makes it feel more heartfelt than a plain 好味
Phrase 8 ASKING FOR THE BILL
唔該，埋單。
Excuse me, bill please.
Use it: the standard way to close out a meal — 埋單 literally means "settle the bill"
Phrase 9 FINDING THE BATHROOM
唔該，洗手間喺邊度呀？
Excuse me, where's the bathroom?
Use it: useful everywhere, not just restaurants — malls, MTR stations, and hotels too
Practice

Test your trip-readiness 🎯

Eight quick questions covering all 9 phrases above. Tap an answer for instant feedback. 加油 (gaa1 jau4)!

Score: 0 / 0 answered
🎁 You did it!

Grab the printable PDF of all 9 phrases — perfect for keeping on your phone for the trip.

Download the free PDF ↓

🔒 Finish the quiz above to unlock the free PDF download of all 9 phrases.

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