A FREE CANTONESE STARTING POINT
Learn Cantonese, one useful phrase at a time.
New to Cantonese? Start with words you can actually use. Every phrase here has Traditional Chinese, Jyutping pronunciation, an English meaning, and a recording from the Canto School app.
EVERYDAY SITUATIONS
What would you like to say?
These guides explain when a phrase fits, then lead you to its recording and pronunciation.
EVERYDAY CANTONESECantonese greetings and polite phrases for beginnersLearn how to say hello, good morning, goodbye, thank you, excuse me, and sorry in Cantonese, with Jyutping and recorded pronunciation.EVERYDAY CANTONESEMeet people in Cantonese: beginner conversationsAsk someone's name, say you are glad to meet them, and keep a friendly Cantonese conversation going.EVERYDAY CANTONESEOrder food and drinks in CantoneseBeginner Cantonese for cafés and restaurants: order a drink, ask for the bill, and understand common staff questions with audio and Jyutping.EVERYDAY CANTONESECantonese for prices, payments, and shoppingAsk a price, check an item, and handle simple payment questions in Cantonese, with useful recorded phrases rather than isolated number drills.EVERYDAY CANTONESEAsk for directions in CantoneseFind a station or bus stop, ask which way to go, and recognise simple Cantonese directions with recorded audio and Jyutping.EVERYDAY CANTONESEWhat to say when you do not understand CantoneseUseful Cantonese phrases for asking someone to repeat, slow down, or explain a word, with recorded examples and Jyutping.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
The basics, made clear.
A little context on Cantonese sounds and written forms helps each new phrase stick.
FOUNDATIONSHow to read Jyutping for Cantonese pronunciationA beginner's guide to Cantonese Jyutping: read letters and tone numbers beside Traditional Chinese, then use recorded examples to hear each phrase.FOUNDATIONSCantonese tones for beginnersLearn what Cantonese tone numbers mean in Jyutping and practise hearing the tone pattern of familiar phrases with recordings.FOUNDATIONSMake your first useful Cantonese sentencesBuild beginner Cantonese sentences from complete, recorded examples: ask for an item, ask whether it is available, and make a polite request.
A QUICK FIRST LOOK
Six places to begin.
THE PHRASE LIBRARY
Explore every phrase.
Choose a phrase to hear its recording and see where to use it. The library grows as we review and publish more of the app’s recordings.
Greetings & courtesy
9 phrasesPeople & everyday life
15 phraseswhat's your name?nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3你叫咩名呀？nice to meet youhou2 hoi1 sam1 sik1 dou2 nei5好開心識到你my familyngo5 uk1 kei2 jan4我屋企人how have you been lately?nei5 zeoi3 gan6 dim2 aa3你最近點呀nothing specialmou5 me1 dak6 bit6冇咩特別let's go togetherjat1 cai4 heoi3 aa1一齊去吖see you tomorrowting1 jat6 gin3聽日見I am very tiredngo5 hou2 gui6我好攰very happyhou2 hoi1 sam1好開心it is hot todaygam1 jat6 hou2 jit6今日好熱it is raininglok6 jyu5 laa3落雨喇I am busy todayngo5 gam1 jat6 hou2 mong4我今日好忙Have you arrived yet?nei5 dou3 zo2 mei6 aa3你到咗未呀？I’m almost therengo5 zau6 dou3 laa3我就到喇I will reply to you laterngo5 ci4 di1 fuk1 nei5我遲啲覆你
Food & drink
16 phrasesbill pleasem4 goi1 maai4 daan1唔該埋單excuse me, I'd like an iced milk team4 goi1 ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 dung3 naai5 caa4唔該，我想要一杯凍奶茶I'd like a hot coffeengo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 jit6 gaa3 fe1我想要一杯熱咖啡less sweetsiu2 tim4少甜no icezau2 bing1走冰what would you like to drink?jam2 me1 aa3飲咩呀？iced or hot?dung3 ding6 jit6 aa3凍定熱呀？do you have pineapple buns with butter?jau5 mou5 bo1 lo4 jau4 aa3有冇菠蘿油呀？eat here or take away?hai2 dou6 sik6 ding6 ling1 zau2喺度食定拎走？How many people?gei2 do1 wai2 aa3幾多位呀？A table for two, pleaseloeng5 wai2 m4 goi1兩位，唔該What do you recommend?jau5 me1 teoi1 gaai3 aa3有咩推介呀？Is this spicy?ni1 go3 laat6 m4 laat6 gaa3呢個辣唔辣㗎？This is sold outni1 go3 maai6 saai3 laa3呢個賣晒喇Then I’ll have char siu ricegam2 ngo5 jiu3 caa1 siu1 faan6咁我要叉燒飯could you pack this to go?ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 daa2 baau1 aa3可唔可以打包呀？
Numbers, time & shopping
13 phraseshow much is this?ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2呢個幾多錢？what time is it now?ji4 gaa1 gei2 dim2而家幾點can it be cheaper?peng4 di1 dak1 m4 dak1平啲得唔得I want to buy thisngo5 soeng2 maai5 ni1 go3我想買呢個do you have a small size?jau5 mou5 sai3 maa5有冇細碼can I try it?ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 si3 haa5可唔可以試吓can I pay with Octopus?ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 jung6 baat3 daat6 tung1可唔可以用八達通？Cash or credit card?jin6 gam1 ding6 seon3 jung6 kaat1現金定信用卡？I’ll pay cashngo5 bei2 jin6 gam1我畀現金Do you need a receipt?jiu3 m4 jiu3 sau1 geoi3 aa3要唔要收據呀？What time are you free?nei5 gei2 dim2 dak1 haan4 aa3你幾點得閒呀？Do you need a bag?jiu3 m4 jiu3 doi2 aa3要唔要袋呀？No bag, thanksm4 sai2 doi2 m4 goi1唔使袋，唔該
Directions & transport
12 phraseswhere is it?hai2 bin1 dou6喺邊度turn leftzo2 zyun2左轉turn rightjau6 zyun2右轉go straightzik6 haang4直行excuse me, where is the MTR station?m4 goi1 dei6 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3唔該，地鐵站喺邊度呀？which exit?bin1 go3 ceot1 hau2 aa3邊個出口呀？where is the bus stop?baa1 si2 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6巴士站喺邊度which line do I take to Central?heoi3 zung1 waan4 daap3 bin1 tiu4 sin3去中環搭邊條線？Does this bus go to Mong Kok?ni1 gaa3 baa1 si2 heoi3 m4 heoi3 wong6 gok3 aa3呢架巴士去唔去旺角呀？Excuse me, where’s the platform?cing2 man6 jyut6 toi4 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3請問月台喺邊度呀？I am lostngo5 dong6 sat1 lou6我蕩失路where is the restroom?sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6洗手間喺邊度
When you need help
8 phrasesI understandngo5 ming4 baak6我明白I do not understandngo5 m4 ming4我唔明do you speak English?nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 jing1 man4你識唔識英文can you say it again?ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gong2 do1 ci3 aa3可唔可以講多次呀？can you speak a little more slowly?ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gong2 maan6 di1 aa3可唔可以講慢啲呀？what does this mean?ni1 go3 hai6 me1 ji3 si1呢個係咩意思？please helpbong1 bong1 sau2幫幫手I can’t hear you clearlyngo5 teng1 m4 cing1 co2 aa3我聽唔清楚呀