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.
73–90 of 118 articles
Ask for help with a household problem in Cantonese
Practise Cantonese for a household problem: identify the object, explain what is not working, ask someone to look and agree on a next step.
Read the articleHousehold reminders in Cantonese: remind, check and follow up
Learn the difference between a Cantonese reminder, a question about whether a task is done and a stronger repeated command in a home conversation.
Read the articleRecover from an awkward moment in Cantonese
Practise Cantonese for a moment when your mind goes blank, you lose your point or you want to stop sharing and return to the earlier topic.
Read the articleSignal a serious conversation in Cantonese
Learn the Cantonese difference between saying you are serious, asking whether someone is joking and asking for time to finish your point.
Read the articleCantonese yes-or-no questions: 有冇, 係咪 and 可唔可以
Choose a Cantonese question pattern for availability, confirmation or permission, then practise the matching answers with everyday examples.
Read the articleWho, what and why in Cantonese: build questions from real exchanges
Learn where Cantonese question words belong, distinguish a request for information from a challenge, and practise changing the missing detail.
Read the article唔, 冇 and 未: choose the Cantonese negative you mean
Compare not doing, not having and not yet in Cantonese with short examples, replies and a practice task that goes beyond English tense labels.
Read the article咗 and 緊 in Cantonese: an event viewed as done or in progress
Understand 咗 and 緊 through short Cantonese scenes, compare aspect with time, and practise describing an action without an English tense formula.
Read the article㗎, 喎 and 啫: listen to what Cantonese endings do in context
Compare 㗎 gaa3, 喎 wo3 and 啫 ze1 in real short lines, without treating sentence endings as fixed English words or automatic politeness markers.
Read the article啦 and 喇 in Cantonese: suggestions and a changing situation
Compare laa1 and laa3 through short Cantonese requests and updates. Learn their different roles without treating either as a universal polite ending.
Read the articleWhat does 吓 or 下 add to a Cantonese action?
Explore haa5 in 睇吓, 傾吓 and other short Cantonese actions, with spelling notes, limits and a practical exercise for building requests.
Read the article先 in Cantonese: first, for now and not until
Follow the order of events in Cantonese sentences with 先 sin1, including short requests, temporary arrangements and a useful contrast about timing.
Read the articleCan it be done? 得 and 唔 in Cantonese result phrases
Compare achieving a result, being unable to manage it and not being allowed to act, with Cantonese examples that keep different kinds of can apart.
Read the articleSo cold you shiver: 到 in Cantonese degree and result descriptions
See how 到 dou3 connects an action or description to its extent or result, with Cantonese examples for cold, hunger, laughter and exaggerated praise.
Read the articleCantonese classifiers: 個, 件, 啖 and 筆 in everyday phrases
Learn Cantonese classifiers through a person, a thing done, a mouthful and a sum of money, then practise recognising the unit each phrase uses.
Read the articleThis, that and these in Cantonese: 呢, 嗰 and 啲
Track what 呢個, 嗰個, 呢啲 and 嗰啲 refer to, with Cantonese examples that distinguish one visible thing from several things or earlier ideas.
Read the article畀 in Cantonese: giving, letting and being affected
Follow the roles around 畀 bei2 in Cantonese: who gives, who is allowed to act, and who is affected in a passive sentence.
Read the article知, 識 and 明白: knowing a fact, a person or the meaning
Choose between 知, 識 and 明白 in Cantonese using everyday contrasts about information, familiarity, skills and understanding a message.
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