CANTONESE, OUT IN THE WORLD
Cantonese, in context.
A lot more to say.
Useful language, small cultural details and conversations worth having. Explore Cantonese one real situation at a time.
1–18 of 118 articles
Shopping in Hong Kong: prices, browsing and useful Cantonese
Learn Cantonese for browsing, asking prices, trying clothes and paying in Hong Kong, with clear distinctions between ordinary shops and bargaining.
Read the articleEating out in Hong Kong: Cantonese from table to bill
Follow a Cantonese restaurant conversation from finding a table to ordering, changing a drink, packing leftovers and asking for the bill.
Read the articleCantonese greetings and courtesy: what to say and when
Choose Cantonese greetings, thanks and apologies for everyday situations, with recorded examples and a clear distinction between warmth and sarcasm.
Read the articleEveryday Cantonese with friends and family
Use Cantonese to introduce yourself, catch up, show care and stay in touch, with phrases for arrivals, missing someone and thoughtful follow-ups.
Read the articleCantonese for directions and getting around Hong Kong
Ask for stations, exits, routes and directions in Cantonese, then practise checking the answer and making a considerate request on shared transport.
Read the articleWhen you do not understand: keep Cantonese conversation going
Learn how to ask for repetition, slower speech and a meaning in Cantonese, and distinguish hearing a sentence from understanding or agreeing with it.
Read the articleTalk about food in Cantonese: taste, hunger and being full
Describe food and appetite in Cantonese, from enjoying soup to wanting one more bite, and understand when food expressions are jokes or personal opinions.
Read the articleCantonese at work: meetings, messages and finishing the day
Use Cantonese to discuss meetings, private follow-ups and finishing work, while distinguishing a direct statement from a clear professional request.
Read the articleCantonese at home: requests, reminders and small problems
Talk about everyday tasks at home in Cantonese, with examples for putting a phone away, assembling furniture, fixing things and asking for help.
Read the articleCantonese for needing a break, a nap or some quiet
Express a need for rest in Cantonese and recognise the difference between taking a short break, postponing a task and asking someone to leave you alone.
Read the articleFeeling overwhelmed in Cantonese: listening and reassurance
Describe feeling overwhelmed in Cantonese and choose a response that acknowledges difficulty, offers attention or gives specific reassurance.
Read the articleCantonese for relationships and mixed signals
Talk about friendship, uncertain relationships and mixed signals in Cantonese, while separating a person’s stated intentions from a label or joke.
Read the articleFlirting and attraction in Cantonese: meaning and register
Understand Cantonese clips about attraction, the ick and shipping, and learn which phrases describe feelings, tease someone or speculate about a couple.
Read the articleCompliments and opinions in Cantonese: looks, style and taste
Give more specific Cantonese compliments and understand style-related clips, including why a change comparison can land differently from simple praise.
Read the articleMain characters and NPCs: internet personas in Cantonese
Decode Cantonese adaptations of main-character energy, NPC behaviour and side quests, and separate a playful persona from a claim about a real person.
Read the articleCantonese for gossip, seriousness and asking for evidence
Understand Cantonese lines about gossip, suspicious behaviour and evidence, and separate a lively reaction from a claim that information is true.
Read the articleLaughing, sarcasm and surprise in Cantonese
Understand Cantonese reaction clips by comparing literal wording, exaggeration and context, including why the same words can sound sincere or sarcastic.
Read the articleSet a boundary in Cantonese: clear requests and firm replies
Understand Cantonese boundary-setting clips and learn to distinguish a concrete request from a hint, a final decision or a playful warning.
Read the article