New Year & Setting Goal

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.

J: 咦[yi4/yi2]？呀[a3]Dummy, 乜[mat1]咁[gam3]啱[ngaam1]呀[a3]？

D: 噢[o1]！呀[a3]John! 無[mou4]見[gin3]一[yat1]排[paai4]，你[nei5]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]好[hou2]咗[jo2]咁[gam3]多[do1]嘅[ge3]？

J: 多[do1]謝[je6]晒[saai3]！我[ngo5]新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]2021年[nin4]嘅[ge3]目[muk6]標[biu1]係[hai6]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]。

D: 嘩[wa1]！祝[juk1]你[nei5]成[sing4]功[gung1]啦[la1]！

J: 多[do1]謝[je6]！我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]全[chyun4]力[lik6]以[yi5]赴[fu6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！

D: 係[hai6]丫[a1]！你[nei5]唔[m4]好[hou2]半[bun3]途[tou4]而[yi4]廢[fai3]啊[a1]！咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]就[jau6]會[wui5]失[sat1]敗[baai6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！ J: 我[ngo5]唔[m4]記[gei3]得[dak1]咗[jo2]，咩[me1]係[hai6]失[sat1]敗[baai6]啊[a1]？

D: 失[sat1]敗[baai6]乃[naai5]成[sing4]功[gung1]之[ji1]母[mou5]。失[sat1]敗[baai6]就[jau6]即[jik1]係[hai6]成[sing4]功[gung1]個[go3]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]囉[lo1]！

J: 我[ngo5]聽[teng1]唔[m4]明[ming4]。

D: 即[jik1]係[hai6]你[nei5]要[yiu3]有[yau5]失[sat1]敗[baai6]過[gwo3]，先[sin1]至[ji3]可[ho2]以[yi5]成[sing4]長[jeung2]，同[tung4]埋[maai4]成[sing4]功[gung1]囉[lo1]！ 如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3]嘅[ge3]話[wa6]。

J: 哦[ngo4], 我[ngo5]明[ming4]啦[la1]! 咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]有[yau5]咩[me1]攪[gaau2]呀[a3]？你[nei5]好[hou2]似[chi5]有[yau5]啲[di1]頹[teui4]喎[wo3]！

D: 係[hai6]呀[a3]！人[yan4]人[yan4]都[dou1]係[hai6]啦[la1]而[yi4]家[ga1]疫[yik6]情[ching4]咁[gam3/gam2]嚴[yim4]重[jung6]⋯⋯日[yat6]日[yat6]都[dou1]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]Hea。

J: 係[hai6]囉[lo1]。我[ngo5]都[dou1]係[hai6]。唯[wai4]有[yau5]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]學[hok6]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]囉[lo1]。

D: 係[hai6]呀[a3]！好[hou2]啊[a1]！新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]，新[san1]開[hoi1]始[chi2]。睇[tai2]嚟[lai4]你[nei5]好[hou2]有[yau5]決[kyut3]心[sam1]噃[bo3]！

J: 我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]決[kyut3]定[ding6]咗[jo2]一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！

D: 加[ga1]油[yau2]呀[a3]！但[daan6]係[hai6]唔[m4]好[hou2]太[taai3]chur喎[wo3]！

J: 好[hou2]啦[la1]，下[ha6]次[chi3]再[joi3]傾[king1]。我[ngo5]老[lou5]婆[po4]上[seung5]堂[tong4]嗰[go2]度[dou6]應[ying1]該[goi1]完[yun4]咗[jo2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]。

D: 咁[gam3/gam2]得[dak1]閒[haan4]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]啦[la1]！雖[seui1]然[yin4]都[dou1]唔[m4]知[ji1]幾[gei2]時[si4]可[ho2]以[yi5]同[tung4]呢[ni1]個[go3]冠[gun1/gun3]狀[jong6]病[beng6]毒[duk6]講[gong2]拜[baai1]拜[baai3]。

J: 一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]遲[chi4]啲[di1]！

D: Ok! 拜[baai1]拜[baai3]！

J: OH? Dummy, the timing is so right?

D: Oh! John! Haven’t seen you in a while, your Cantonese has gotten so much better?

J: Thank you so much! My new year 2021’s goal is to learn my Cantonese well. D: Wow! I wish you success!

J: Thank you! I am already trying my best!

D: Yes! Do not give up halfway! In that case, you will fail 失[sat1]敗[baai6]!

J: I forgot, what is 失[sat1]敗[baai6] again?

D: 失[sat1]敗[baai6] failure 乃[naai5]成[sing4]功[gung1]之[ji1]母[mou5]。失[sat1]敗[baai6] failure is the mother of success!

J: I am not understanding.

D: that means, you have to fail to grow and succeed! If it’s in the case where you persist and not give up!

J: Oh! Got it. So what are you doing in the new year? You look a little defeated! D: yea.. Everyone is like that, The pandemic is so serious now… Just wasting my time every day at home.

J: Yea me too. The only way is to stay at home and learn Cantonese.

D: Yea! Great! New year, new beginnings. Looks to me you have a lot of determination.

J: I have already decided that I must learn my Cantonese well.

D: Add oil! Keep going! But don’t be too intense!

J: OK! Chat next time! My wife’s lesson should be over.

D: So when you are free let’s go for Dim Sum, Yum Cha. Even though we don’t know when we can say bye to this coronavirus.

J: Must grab Dim Sum later on!

D: Ok! Bye bye!

J: 咦[yi4/yi2]？呀[a3]Dummy, 乜[mat1]咁[gam3]啱[ngaam1]呀[a3]？

D: 噢[o1]！呀[a3]John! 無[mou4]見[gin3]一[yat1]排[paai4]，你[nei5]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]好[hou2]咗[jo2]咁[gam3]多[do1]嘅[ge3]？

J: OH? Dummy, the timing is so right?

D: Oh! John! Haven’t seen you in a while, your Cantonese has gotten so much better?

At the Beginning, John said 乜[mat1]咁[gam3]啱[ngaam1]呀[a3], 啱[ngaam1] means right or correct or accurate. So 乜[mat1]咁[gam3]啱[ngaam1]呀[a3] literally mean what so right? But really it means the timing is so right that he bumped into Dummy. So then Dummy said 無[mou4]見[gin3]一[yat1]排[paai4], haven’t seen you in a while, 一[yat1]排[paai4] means a while. Another term for a while is 一[yat1]輪[leun4] literally means one round. So instead Dummy could have said 無[mou4]見[gin3]一[yat1]輪[leun4]. However for a shorter and briefer while, you will use 一[yat1]陣[jan6] instead. So if someone were to say to you, 無[mou4]見[gin3]一[yat1]陣[jan6], that means they haven’t seen you in a short while.

The next sentence Dummy said was 你[nei5]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]好[hou2]咗[jo2]咁[gam3]多[do1]嘅[ge3]？meaning your Cantonese has gotten so much better? It sounds strange in English because it doesn’t really seem like a question, here Dummy used the emotion sound 嘅 (Dummy PY: Ge). the 嘅 (Dummy PY: Ge) sound can be used to pose a question or a rhetorical question. So here Dummy is asking how come John’s Cantonese has gotten so much better.

J: 多[do1]謝[je6]晒[saai3]！我[ngo5]新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]2021年[nin4]嘅[ge3]目[muk6]標[biu1]係[hai6]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]。

D: 嘩[wa1]！祝[juk1]你[nei5]成[sing4]功[gung1]啦[la1]！ J: 多[do1]謝[je6]！我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]全[chyun4]力[lik6]以[yi5]赴[fu6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！

Then John said, 多[do1]謝[je6]晒[saai3]！Thank you very much! He then said his 新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4] new year, then he gave more information, 2021 年[nin4] year of 2021, his goal 目[muk6]標[biu1] (don’t remember this term? You can go back to my last episode for review) is to 學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2] learn my Cantonese well.

Then Dummy said 嘩[wa1]！Wow! 祝[juk1]你[nei5]成[sing4]功[gung1] Wishing you success. 祝[juk1] means wish. So for example, if you want to wish someone happy birthday, then you will say 祝[juk1]你[nei5]生[saang1]日[yat6]快[faai3]樂[lok6]. To say for example, this might come in handy during the pandemic, wishing people safety and health, you can say for wishing you health, 祝[juk1]你[nei5]身[san1]體[tai2]健[gin6]康[hong1], 身[san1]體[tai2] means body, 健[gin6]康[hong1] means healthy, literally saying wishing you body healthy. and for wishing you safety, 祝[juk1]你[nei5]出[cheut1]入[yap6]平[ping4]安[on1]。出[cheut1]入[yap6] means out and in, meaning going outdoors and coming indoors, 平[ping4]安[on1] means safety and peace. So basically you are wishing the person, whenever they are leaving the house and coming home, you are hoping they are safe.

John then thanked Dummy again, he added saying 我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]全[chyun4]力[lik6]以[yi5]赴[fu6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！I already am trying my best. 已[yi5]經[ging1] means already. 全[chyun4]力[lik6]以[yi5]赴[fu6] means trying one’s best like I explained last episode.

D: 係[hai6]丫[a1]！你[nei5]唔[m4]好[hou2]半[bun3]途[tou4]而[yi4]廢[fai3]啊[a1]！咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]就[jau6]會[wui5]失[sat1]敗[baai6]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！ J: 我[ngo5]唔[m4]記[gei3]得[dak1]咗[jo2]，咩[me1]係[hai6]失[sat1]敗[baai6]啊[a1]？

Then Dummy said, yes! 你[nei5]唔[m4]好[hou2]半[bun3]途[tou4]而[yi4]廢[fai3]啊[a1]！you should not give up halfway, otherwise you will fail 失[sat1]敗[baai6]. 半[bun3]途[tou4]而[yi4]廢[fai3] means giving up halfway also mentioned in my last episode. Unfortunately John doesn’t remember what 失[sat1]敗[baai6] failing means. 咩[me1]係[hai6]失[sat1]敗[baai6]啊[a1]？咩[me1]係[hai6] = what is You can use the same structure to ask about a term that you forgot as well.

D: 失[sat1]敗[baai6]乃[naai5]成[sing4]功[gung1]之[ji1]母[mou5]。失[sat1]敗[baai6]就[jau6]即[jik1]係[hai6]成[sing4]功[gung1]個[go3]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]囉[lo1]！

Dummy said a phrase失[sat1]敗[baai6]乃[naai5]成[sing4]功[gung1]之[ji1]母[mou5]。 I am guessing many of you don’t know it, or have heard it but don’t understand it. Then Dummy, me, gave the literal translation, which is literally what is phrase is saying, 失[sat1]敗[baai6] failure is the mother of 成[sing4]功[gung1] success. Can you guess what it means? John couldn’t. So. J: 我[ngo5]聽[teng1]唔[m4]明[ming4]。

D: 即[jik1]係[hai6]你[nei5]要[yiu3]有[yau5]失[sat1]敗[baai6]過[gwo3]，先[sin1]至[ji3]可[ho2]以[yi5]成[sing4]長[jeung2]，同[tung4]埋[maai4]成[sing4]功[gung1]囉[lo1]！ 如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3]嘅[ge3]話[wa6]。

So John said he cannot understand. So Dummy explained further, saying 即[jik1]係[hai6], that means, 你[nei5]要[yiu3]有[yau5] you need to have, 失[sat1]敗[baai6]過[gwo3] failed, 失[sat1]敗[baai6] is to fail, and 過[gwo3] is the past tense indicator here, 失[sat1]敗[baai6]過[gwo3] means failed. Then she continued, 先[sin1]至[ji3]可[ho2]以[yi5]成[sing4]長[jeung2]. 先[sin1]至[ji3] means before something happens, literal translation is “first until”, but really it means before something something will happen, so this is a linking word.

For example,

you need to close the door before you can lock it.

In half Cantonese half English way, see if it helps you understand how to use 先[sin1]至[ji3] better.

You need to close the door, 先[sin1]至[ji3] can lock it.

Now in Cantonese,

你[nei5]要[yiu3]閂[saan1]門[mun4], 先[sin1]至[ji3]可[ho2]以[yi5]鎖[so2]門[mun4]。

As you notice, the second you in the you need to close the door before you can lock it sentence is omitted in the Cantonese sentence, that is because you 你[nei5] is already implied in that sentence, because clearly the person was talking to you addressing you directly for the entire sentence. So Dummy here is saying you need to first fail, before you 可[ho2]以[yi5]成[sing4]長[jeung2] can grow. 成[sing4]長[jeung2] means to grow or as a noun growth. She wasn’t done though, she continued, 同[tung4]埋[maai4]成[sing4]功[gung1]囉[lo1]！and succeed! Then she said 如[yu4]果[gwo2] meaning if, indicating this is a conditional sentence. She said 如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3]嘅[ge3]話[wa6]。堅[gin1]持[chi4] I mentioned in the last episode it mean persist or insist, 又[yau6] means also or again, 放[fong3]棄[hei3] means to give up, so 唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3] means to not give up. 嘅[ge3]話[wa6] is sort of similar to “let’s say” in English, also a hypothetical. So here, because she already said 如[yu4]果[gwo2] meaning if, 嘅[ge3]話[wa6] meaning let’s say is sort of redundant. If you were to say 如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3] or 你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3]嘅[ge3]話[wa6] they both mean “if you persist and not give up” same as what Dummy said 如[yu4]果[gwo2]你[nei5]堅[gin1]持[chi4]又[yau6]唔[m4]放[fong3]棄[hei3]嘅[ge3]話[wa6]。

J: 哦[ngo4], 我[ngo5]明[ming4]啦[la1]! 咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]有[yau5]咩[me1]攪[gaau2]呀[a3]？你[nei5]好[hou2]似[chi5]有[yau5]啲[di1]頹[teui4]喎[wo3]！

So then John acknowledged Dummy using the emotion sound 哦[ngo4], the 哦[ngo4] sound is used to acknowledge, here it means like “oh I see.” 我[ngo5]明[ming4]啦[la1]! I understand. So he started a new topic, 咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]有[yau5]咩[me1]攪[gaau2]呀[a3]？咁[gam3/gam2] means so then, 有[yau5]咩[me1]攪[gaau2]呀[a3]？means what is there to do? It has the same meaning as 有[yau5]咩[me1]做[jou6]呀[a3]？Or 有[yau5]咩[me1]整[jing2]呀[a3]？same thing what is there to do? But 有[yau5]咩[me1]攪[gaau2]呀[a3]？is more casual. The word 攪[gaau2] actually means to stir, but nowadays modern day casual meaning it means to do or to make. Then John said, 你[nei5]好[hou2]似[chi5]有[yau5]啲[di1]頹[teui4]喎[wo3]！you seem a little defeated! 好[hou2]似[chi5] means looks like. You can use 好[hou2]似[chi5] looks like in this context saying,

you seem to be say happy,

你[nei5]好[hou2]似[chi5]好[hou2]開[hoi1]心[sam1].

That’s when you can use 好[hou2]似[chi5] looks like. But 好[hou2]似[chi5] can also mean object A and object B are similar, or person A & person B are similar, you can say for example,

You and your mother are similar.

你[nei5]同[tung4]你[nei5]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]好[hou2]似[chi5]。

Got it? And you can also use 好[hou2]似[chi5] to say object A and object B, or person A & person B look alike, for example,

You and your mother look alike!

你[nei5]同[tung4]你[nei5]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]好[hou2]似[chi5]樣[yeung6/yeung2]。

樣[yeung6/yeung2] means appearance or face. So 好[hou2]似[chi5]樣[yeung6/yeung2] together means similar in appearance. 頹[teui4] like I explained last episode, it’s the slang term for looking defeated. 有[yau5]啲[di1]頹[teui4] literal translation is have some defeat, but it really means a little defeated. You can say for example,

a little unhappy,

有[yau5]啲[di1]唔[m4]開[hoi1]心[sam1]

A little angry,

有[yau5]啲[di1]嬲[nau1]

D: 係[hai6]呀[a3]！人[yan4]人[yan4]都[dou1]係[hai6]啦[la1]而[yi4]家[ga1]疫[yik6]情[ching4]咁[gam3/gam2]嚴[yim4]重[jung6]⋯⋯日[yat6]日[yat6]都[dou1]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]Hea。

Then Dummy agreed, she said 人[yan4]人[yan4]都[dou1]係[hai6]啦[la1]. 人[yan4]人[yan4] means everyone, usually when you double up a noun or a unit classifier, it means every something of that particular word, so here literally she is saying everyone is also. Then she said, 而[yi4]家[ga1]疫[yik6]情[ching4]咁[gam3/gam2]嚴[yim4]重[jung6]⋯⋯而[yi4]家[ga1] meaning now, 疫[yik6]情[ching4] you probably will want to jot this down so you can talk to other people about Covid 19, 疫[yik6]情[ching4] means the pandemic or the epidemic, we use the same word to describe pandemic and epidemic because 疫[yik6] by itself means disease, for example for any kind of vaccine, in Cantonese it is 疫[yik6]苗[miu4], 苗[miu4] by itself means small young plants, like the sprouts. So basically if we have to interpret vaccine in Cantonese character by character, it means it is a disease sprout, which is a pretty good description of what a vaccine is right. Of course I am not a Dr or a nurse, but my knowledge in biology isn’t half bad. If I am giving you misinformation, I apologize in advance and I will question the entire Hong Kong education system as a whole, as well question my entire life. But essentially I think the Cantonese name 疫[yik6]苗[miu4]is fitting because vaccines are basically an injection of small doses of weakened or inactive viruses so then your body can adjust and know how to deal with it when you are exposed to that certain virus later on.

So just like a sprout, they are trying to plant it in the body first, so then later on when you are exposed to that virus, you already have a tree or a well formed plant to fight off that virus. So 疫[yik6]苗[miu4] is Vaccine. If you cannot recall that word out of the blue, for a lack of a better word, you can simply say 打[da2]針[jam1], meaning to have an injection. 打[da2] means to hit, and 針[jam1] means needle. 打[da2]針[jam1], to have an injection

Sorry for blabbering on, so 疫[yik6]情[ching4] pandemic or epidemic because like I said 疫[yik6] by itself means disease, and 情[ching4]is short for 情[ching4]況[fong3], meaning situation. So 疫[yik6]情[ching4] put together means the situation of the disease. Therefore, it isn’t specifically pointing at whether it is an epidemic or pandemic, it is only referring to the situation with the disease. You can use 疫[yik6]情[ching4] with any kind of major diseases, not specific to COVID, like swine flu, H1N1 and what not, even a very serious flu. Dummy said 疫[yik6]情[ching4]咁[gam3/gam2]嚴[yim4]重[jung6]⋯⋯嚴[yim4]重[jung6] means serious. 嚴[yim4] by itself it means serious, severe or grave, 重[jung6] means heavy. So you can understand it as heavily severe, heavily serious, meaning very serious. Dummy then said 日[yat6]日[yat6]都[dou1]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]Hea。日[yat6]日[yat6] means everyday, again just to repeat usually when you double up a noun or a unit classifier, it means every something of that particular word, so here literally she is saying everyday. 留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2] stay at home. This might be a good one to know as well. 留[lau4] means to stay, 喺[hai2] is the preposition here meaning in, on, at, 屋[uk1]企[kei2] I am hoping you should know this word, meaning home.

So to say

stay at school

留[lau4]喺[hai2]學[hok6]校[haau6]

Stay at the company

留[lau4]喺[hai2]公[gung1]司[si1]

And hea, like I mentioned last episode means to waste time away, or not really doing anything in particular.

J: 係[hai6]囉[lo1]。我[ngo5]都[dou1]係[hai6]。唯[wai4]有[yau5]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]學[hok6]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]囉[lo1]。

D: 係[hai6]呀[a3]！好[hou2]啊[a1]！新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]，新[san1]開[hoi1]始[chi2]。睇[tai2]嚟[lai4]你[nei5]好[hou2]有[yau5]決[kyut3]心[sam1]噃[bo3]！

John agreed and said he is also the same. Then he said 唯[wai4]有[yau5]留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]學[hok6]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]囉[lo1]。唯[wai4]有[yau5] means only, or literally only have. For example,

Only you treat me so kindly.

唯[wai4]有[yau5]你[nei5]對[deui3]我[ngo5]好[hou2]。

留[lau4]喺[hai2]屋[uk1]企[kei2]學[hok6]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2] I believe you should now understand, stay at home and learn Cantonese. Dummy agreed then encouraged him by saying, 新[san1]一[yat1]年[nin4]，新[san1]開[hoi1]始[chi2]。meaning new year, new beginning. Then she continued saying, 睇[tai2]嚟[lai4]你[nei5]好[hou2]有[yau5]決[kyut3]心[sam1]噃[bo3]！睇[tai2]嚟[lai4] literally means as seeing, but here it means looks like, or seems like. And then she said 你[nei5]好[hou2]有[yau5]決[kyut3]心[sam1]噃[bo3]！literally means you very have determination, meaning you have a lot of determination. She ended with a 噃 (Dummy PY: Ball) sound. The 噃 (Dummy PY: Ball) sound is used when you want to warn someone something, to advise or urge people to do something, or to show confirmation of their statement. And here it is used to show confirmation suggesting that he really has determination.

J: 我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]決[kyut3]定[ding6]咗[jo2]一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！

D: 加[ga1]油[yau2]呀[a3]！但[daan6]係[hai6]唔[m4]好[hou2]太[taai3]chur喎[wo3]！

Then John reassured her by saying, 我[ngo5]已[yi5]經[ging1]決[kyut3]定[ding6]咗[jo2]一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！ 已[yi5]經[ging1] like I mentioned earlier means already. 決[kyut3]定[ding6] from last episode means to decide. 咗[jo2] is the past tense indicator here, 決[kyut3]定[ding6]咗[jo2] means decided. 一[yat1]定[ding6] was in many of my episodes on conversations, 一[yat1]定[ding6] means must. And then the rest you should understand now 要[yiu3]學[hok6]好[hou2]我[ngo5]啲[di1]廣[gwong2]東[dung1]話[wa2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]！need to learn my Cantonese well! Dummy encouraged him by saying 加[ga1]油[yau2]呀[a3]！literal translation is add oil, but it really means keep going, basically saying adding oil or fuel for you so you have the energy to keep going. She continued by saying 但[daan6]係[hai6]唔[m4]好[hou2]太[taai3]chur喎[wo3]！但[daan6]係[hai6] is a linking word meaning but or however. 唔[m4]好[hou2] meaning do not, 太[taai3] means too, like too much, too many or overboard kind of meaning. So she is saying, but do not be overly chur. Chur from the last episode, is a Hong Kong slang term meaning intense.

J: 好[hou2]啦[la1]，唔[m4]同[tung4]你[nei5]講[gong2]咁[gam3]耐[noi6]啦[la1]。我[ngo5]老[lou5]婆[po4]上[seung5]堂[tong4]嗰[go2]度[dou6]應[ying1]該[goi1]完[yun4]咗[jo2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]。

So John was wrapping up the conversation by saying 下[ha6]次[chi3]再[joi3]傾[king1]。下[ha6]次[chi3] means next time, 再[joi3] means again, and 傾[king1] is short for 傾[king1]計[gai2], meaning to talk or to chat. Then he gave a reason, 我[ngo5]老[lou5]婆[po4]上[seung5]堂[tong4]嗰[go2]度[dou6]應[ying1]該[goi1]完[yun4]咗[jo2]㗎[ga3]啦[la1]。老[lou5]婆[po4] means wife, for husband you will say 老[lou5]公[gung1]. 上[seung5]堂[tong4] means having a lesson or class. So John said 上[seung5]堂[tong4]嗰[go2]度[dou6] meaning over there at where she has her lesson or class, 嗰[go2]度[dou6] means there. 應[ying1]該[goi1] means should. 完[yun4] is short for 完[yun4]結[git3] from last episode meaning to finish or over. Again 咗[jo2] is the past tense indicator, meaning the -ed. So 完[yun4]咗[jo2] means finished.

D: 咁[gam3/gam2]得[dak1]閒[haan4]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]啦[la1]！雖[seui1]然[yin4]都[dou1]唔[m4]知[ji1]幾[gei2]時[si4]可[ho2]以[yi5]同[tung4]呢[ni1]個[go3]冠[gun1/gun3]狀[jong6]病[beng6]毒[duk6]講[gong2]拜[baai1]拜[baai3]。

J: 一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]遲[chi4]啲[di1]！

D: Ok! 拜[baai1]拜[baai3]！

Then Dummy said 得[dak1]閒[haan4]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]啦[la1]！飲[yam2]茶[cha4] literally means drinking tea. But actually it means to have dim sum or go to the Chinese restaurant for food when everyone is free. This is something to say when you say bye, a polite meaningless saying really. Because even though they say this line for grabbing food later, they are not really making concrete plans. As well, even when they are saying to go for Dim Sum, it’s not actually Dim Sum specifically that they meant. Really 得[dak1]閒[haan4]飲[yam2]茶[cha4] is basically just the code for saying we have to meet again later. Then Dummy said 雖[seui1]然[yin4]都[dou1]唔[m4]知[ji1]幾[gei2]時[si4]可[ho2]以[yi5]同[tung4]呢[ni1]個[go3]冠[gun1/gun3]狀[jong6]病[beng6]毒[duk6]講[gong2]拜[baai1]拜[baai3]。 雖[seui1]然[yin4] means although or even though, a linking word. 唔[m4]知[ji1] means do not know. 幾[gei2]時[si4] means when, 可[ho2]以[yi5] means can. 同[tung4]呢[ni1]個[go3]冠[gun1/gun3]狀[jong6]病[beng6]毒[duk6], with this coronavirus. About a year ago, I had an episode out on Covid 19, at the time it was not named Covid at the time. 冠[gun1/gun3]狀[jong6]病[beng6]毒[duk6] is coronavirus, not specific any any strains, just coronavirus in general. And to say novel coronavirus, the terminology is 新[san1]冠[gun1/gun3]病[beng6]毒[duk6], 新[san1] means new, so novel, 冠[gun1/gun3] means a crown, because the virus is in sort of a crown shape, so thats why even in English it is corona because it’s latin for the word crown. 病[beng6]毒[duk6] means virus. 病[beng6] by itself means disease or illness, 毒[duk6] by itself means poison, so don’t split the characters up cause they mean very different things, 病[beng6]毒[duk6] means virus.

講[gong2]拜[baai1]拜[baai3] is from last week, meaning say bye bye. Do you remember what the other more proper term is for also farewell, saying bye? Then John acknowledged by saying 一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]飲[yam2]茶[cha4]遲[chi4]啲[di1]！一[yat1]定[ding6] again means must. 飲[yam2]茶[cha4] again means to get Dim Sum or food at the Chinese restaurant. 遲[chi4]啲[di1] means later on. 遲[chi4] means late, 啲[di1] when following an adjective, it becomes the -er the comparative. So 遲[chi4]啲[di1] means later.