Hong Kong Cantonese Learning

This post is all about haircuts in Cantonese, including how to talk about what kind of haircut you are getting at the salon in general; how you like it cut; different haircut styles; some more complicated hairstyles like cornrow etc; and hair products; hair textures.

This post we will go through vocabs on outdoor activities. Enjoy!

This post we will go through vocabs on indoor activities. Enjoy!

This post we will be going through some practices of the linking words 又...又... ALSO... ALSO... 越...越... THE MORE... THE MORE.... structures. hope you will find this helpful.

This post we will be going through some vocab on nature. You will learn words about general nature scenery, disasters, and some idioms.

We will be doing some practices on the structure of the 咗/ 完 Yes and no questions in past tense. For the next couple of months and you will also get to do some practice in this episode on the questions. Part 3 will be published first week of next month.

In this post, I will interpret one of the stories that I wrote. Disclaimer: This story is set at an unknown location. This story is purely fictitious and if anyone runs into a similar situation, it is simply a coincidence. This story involves the paranormal and Chinese superstitions. If you don’t feel comfortable, please enjoy my other posts.

This post you will find a list of vocab on jobs and occupation. Pretty long list but do email me if I missed anything, I will add it back.

This post, I will introduce some colours to you, basic colours, a mix of colours, more complicated colours and how to systematically approach colours in Cantonese.

Hi! We will be doing some practices on the different structures of the Yes and no questions in past tense for the next couple of months and you will also get to do some practice in this post on the (have/ not have) questions.

This episode, I am wrapping up the topic on emotion sounds. I will talk about Triple-character emotion sound: 㗎啦噃/ 㗎囉噃, 㗎啦喎, 㗎喇吓 and 㗎啦喂 Multiple-character emotion sound: 㗎啦吓嘩 and 㗎啦囉噃 We will move onto linking words on the 4th week of each month. Stay tuned! Be back on April 5th Monday!

In this post, you will find a list of vocab relating to basic personal information. This episode is paired with next week's conversation post.

In this post, you will find out different ways to ask for clarifications, to express you don't understand or that you understand, to ask for repeats, and to request for people to speak up and slow down or quicken their speech.

This post will be on double-character emotion sounds, 呀[a3]嘛[ma1/ma4], 嘅[ge3]喳[ja1], 嘅[ge3]啫[je1/jek1], 啦[la1]喂[wai3], 啦[la1]咩[me1] and 呢[ni1]可[ho2] as ending emotion sounds.

In this post, a list of vocab will be provided on body & health. You will hear common casual Hong Kong Cantonese words and the formal Chinese words, as well you will find out what classifiers pair with these words. Enjoy!

In this post, 榴[lau4]槤[lin4] Durian and 威[wai1]哥[go1] Brother Way came to my home to visit me during the Chinese New Year, you will hear some activities we do for Chinese New Year, some names of the decorations and food. Hopefully you will find this episode helpful, if not able to say or use these terms covered in this episode, as least you can understand what people are saying when you do go visit during Chinese New Year!

In this post, I will recap a little on Chinese New Year mentioned in the last 2 posts on Chinese New Year (published last year). Then I will introduce a couple of new Chinese New Year lucky sayings, as well then I will tell you the folklore story about how the Chinese Zodiac came about. Next week, there will be a conversation on people visiting friends and family during Chinese New Year. Excited, stay tuned.

This year we have leveled up and now we will begin to explore double-character emotion sounds. This post will be on 㗎喇 (Dummy PY: Ga la), 喳嘛 (Dummy PY: Ja Ma), 囉噃 (Dummy PY: Lo Bor), 囉喎 (Dummy PY: Lo Wor) and 吓嘩(Dummy PY: Ha wah) as ending emotion sounds.

In this post, I have prepared a conversation on new year and setting goal. This post is paired with the last post's vocab also about new year and setting goals. In this conversation, Dummy’s old friend John who is a Cantonese learner bumped into Dummy in the new year 2021. You will hear John talk about his goals and you will hear Dummy give him encouraging words.

This post, I will share a couple of vocab with you about the new year and setting goals, perseverance and giving up, succeeding and failing, as well as two 4-character idioms and some slang terms. Hopefully you will find them helpful.

Welcome to 2021!

To begin the year, we are going back to the Cantonese basics, the pronouns (I, you, he/she/it, we, they), the possessive forms (my, your, his/ her/its, our, their) as well as the unit classifiers.

Exercises is linked in post.

This post is on vocabs on kitchen appliances/ tool and cooking ingredients/ methods. Hopefully you will be able to have some vocab to talk about food and cooking this holiday :) Happy learning!

In this post, there is a conversation between a Cantonese speaking management officer and a Cantonese speaking resident. The resident was complained by someone regarding her garbage situation at home. I will analyze the conversation as well explaining the emotion sounds in the conversation.

Happy Holidays & Happy new year!

This post is a continued post about Cantonese single-character emotion sounds that end sentences, what do they mean and how to use them.

This post is a continued post about Cantonese single-character emotion sounds that end sentences, what do they mean and how to use them.

This post is about the 4 character idiom 知恩圖報 (know your favours and attempt to repay them), the background story of how the 4 character idiom came about, how to use it, and what it means.

This post is a continued post about Cantonese single-character emotion sounds that begin sentences & ends sentences, what do they mean and how to use them.

This post is about Cantonese emotion sounds that begin sentences, what do they mean and how to use them.

This post includes a conversation between a Cantonese learner and a furniture store keeper. Learn a couple of Furniture words and how you can inquire about deals and promotions.

Learn a couple of tongue twisters today to enhance your Cantonese fluency and clarity, exercise those tongue muscles. Let's see if you get as tongue tied as I do. :)

This post explores the different usages and meanings of 咗 (Dummy PY: Jaw), 完 (Dummy PY: Yuen) and 晒 (Dummy PY: Sai), 過 (Dummy PY: Gwoh); and how they are applied to form Basic past, present perfect, "Future past tense" sentences.

In this post, I am going to talk about the grammatical structure of forming present tense sentences as well as present continuous tense. As well, some keywords you might here to indicate the present and routine.

In this post, I am going to talk about some reasons why the Cantonese speaking person would suddenly switch to English when you are speaking Cantonese. Is it you, or is it them? What can you do?

This post, I will summarize a lot of what we have talked about. already, eg. greeting, thank you, sorry, excuse me, how to say you don't understand, getting info and ordering food, etc. Reality check, do you think you know these phrases to travel in Hong Kong?

This post, I will tell you a couple of stories about 中秋節(Dummy PY: Chong Chow Jeet) Mid Autumn Festival and its origins. I hope you enjoy this festival and get to spend some time with your family and friends!

This post, you will find various different ways of saying yes in Cantonese so you won't confuse the Cantonese speaker!

In this post, you will learn 19 different ways to say thank you in Cantonese, and how you will have to respond like a native. Enjoy!

In this post, you will learn some commonly used terms for going to see the doctor. You will find a madeup scenario of a senior going to the hospital. The patient will be screened for Covid at the triage. The patient then gets to see the doctor. Happy learning. :)

In this post, I will share some of the origins of the ghost festival孟蘭節(Dummy PY: Yu Larn Jeet) or 鬼節 (Dummy PY: G-why/ Gwai Jeet). Will be talking about some rituals we do for this festival, and some haunted places in Hong Kong and a personal Hong Kong ghost story.

This post focuses on how to ask the what, who, where, why, which and how questions in Cantonese. I hope you will find this useful and start truly conversing with other Cantonese learners and speakers

In this post, I am going to talk about buying groceries at the wet market 街市 (Dummy PY: Guy See) in Hong Kong. Hope this helps you!

In this post, I am going to talk about Auxiliary verbs in Cantonese (Need to/ Willing to/ Dare to). I have created some exercises, feel free to practice.

In this post, I am going to talk about linking words in Cantonese (if...then.../because...so...). I have created some exercises, feel free to practice.

In this post, I am going to talk about linking words in Cantonese (and & but). I have created some exercises, feel free to practice.

In this post, I am going to talk about some learning techniques from "Learning how to learn: powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects" by Dr. Barbara Oakley & Dr. Terry Sejnowski provided by McMaster University and the University of California San Diego. These techniques are not exclusive to learning Cantonese but it might be very helpful in your journey of language learning. Hope you will find some golden nuggets.

In this post, I will talk more on ordering dim sums, the traditional ways vs the modern ways. At the end, I will have a scenario of someone ordering at a dim sum restaurant. Enjoy :)

In this post I will be talking about how to order food from a more casual Cantonese restaurant - 茶餐廳 Tea cafe. I will be talking about some dishes and their names. Enjoy!

What do we do during Dragon Boat Festival and why we do them?

In this post, I will be talking about how to introduce yourself - What is your name? Where are you from? What languages do you speak? & a little discussion on whether Cantonese is a language.

In this post, I will be sharing some stories about fathers. At the end I will let you know a couple of sweet things you can say to your dad in Hong Kong Cantonese. Enjoy :)

This lesson is what is going on in Hong Kong - The national security bill, and popular places for Hong Kongers to move to.

This lesson is on different seasons, weather and included 2 poems for you to enjoy.

This post will be about the different Cantonese romanization systems as well as some suggestions when pronouncing words.

Perhaps this year, for once, you can say happy mother's day to your mother in your mother tongue :P! Couple of things you can say to your mother on mother's day.

This post is on some movies for Cantonese learning that I recommend and some tips and technique for when you are watching and learning.

Can't get the right tones? The problem isn't your mouth, it is your ears. Find out more here.

How do you call your siblings, parents, kids in Hong Kongese? Find out here!

Establishing Cantonese good habits that guide you into the success of life.

All about emotions. Story on emotion.

Learn a few grocery terms in Hong Kongese. Get ready to stockpile!

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend” - Theophrastus. In this episode I will focus on talking about how to use the numbers you have learn to tell time. What is the secret to Cantonese time telling?

Learning your 1,2,3 is as easy as a,b,c.

All about love. Learn how to confess love in Hong Kongese, what to give on Valentine's day!

Know more than just saying Hello and Hi! How do you engage in polite and meaningless conversations in Hong Kongese?

I will talk about some important dates in the Chinese New Year, some lucky sayings, and some foods to eat during Chinese New Year. Enjoy!

The general rule of thumb when using auxiliary verbs!