Cantonese Life 1 (Elementary Cantonese)

Cantonese Life 1 is designed for beginners in Cantonese. You will learn basic Cantonese for different contexts of your daily life. The book begins with an introduction to Cantonese pronunciation and Chinese characters. It then moves on to the following topics:

Introducing yourself
Hanging out with friends
Going to restaurants, markets and clothing shops
Asking for directions
Taking public transport

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Unit / Lesson	Communicative Functions	Language / Culture
Cantonese Pronunciation Guide		Pronunciation Cantonese sounds (initials, finals and tones) The Romanization system Jyutping
Chinese Character Guide		Characters Basic strokes Character components Radicals Structure of Chinese characters Punctuation Culture Written Cantonese
Unit 0 開始 hoi1 ci2 Getting Started	Classroom language Greetings Apologizing Thanking someone Drawing someone’s attention	Grammar Word order Word classes Vocabulary Numbers I (0-10; ordinal numbers) Pronunciation Pronunciation variations Culture Special meaning of numbers
Unit 1 認識你（一） jing6 sik1 nei5 (jat1) Getting to know you (1)
Lesson 1 你叫咩名呀？ nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3? What is your name?	Saying someone’s name Identifying someone by name	Grammar Personal pronouns The verb 係 hai6 (‘to be’) Verb conjugation Introduction to sentence particles The sentence particle 呀 aa3 I (question) The sentence particle 呢 ne1 (‘how about’) Vocabulary Personal names Pronunciation Applying rising intonation to questions Culture Common names in Hong Kong
Lesson 2 呢個人係邊個嚟㗎？ ni1 go3 jan4 hai6 bin1 go3 lai4 gaa3? Who is this person?	Identifying someone by relationship	Grammar Introduction to classifiers Indicating quantity 二 ji6 (‘two’) and 兩 loeng5 (‘two’) Possessive constructions I Demonstrative constructions I The sentence particle 嚟 lai4 (assertion) The sentence particle 嘅 ge3 (assertion) Comparison between 嚟 lai4 and 嘅 ge3 The question word 邊個 bin1 go3 (‘who’) I Vocabulary People I
Lesson 3 你平時鍾意做咩㗎？ nei5 ping4 si4 zung1 ji3 zou6 me1 gaa3? What do you usually like doing?	Talking about hobbies	Grammar Introduction to adverbs The adverb 都 dou1 I (‘too’ or ‘also’) The conjunctions 同 tung4 (‘and’) and 同埋 tung4 maai4 (‘and’) The sentence particle 啦 laa1 (listing) The question word 咩 me1 (‘what’) The sentence particle 呀 aa3 II (emphasis) Verb phrases in the subject or object Position Vocabulary Hobbies I
Lesson 4 你鍾唔鍾意行山㗎？ nei5 zung1 m4 zung1 ji3 haang4 saan1 gaa3? Do you like hiking?	Talking about likes and dislikes Talking about abilities	Grammar Types of verbs The adverb 唔 m4 (‘not’) Preference verbs and degree Words Yes-no questions: the X-not-X construction I The sentence particle 呀 aa3 III (softening the Tone) The modal verb 識 sik1 (‘to know how to’) The adverb 仲 / 重 zung6 I (‘in addition’) Vocabulary Hobbies II
Lessons 5 Unit Review (Available later)
🔔 Starting from Unit 2, the sections “Grammar and Vocabulary” and “Communication” of each lesson will be made available first. The other sections will be added later.
Unit 2 認識你（二） jing6 sik1 nei5 (ji6) Getting to know you (2)
Lesson 6 你做緊嘢定讀緊書㗎？ nei5 zou6 gan2 je5 ding6 duk6 gan2 syu1 gaa3? Are you working or studying?	Talking about work or study	Grammar Indefinite noun phrases I Introduction to aspect particles Separable verbs Verb-object compounds The aspect particle 緊 gan2 (progressive) The conjunction 定 ding6 / 定係 ding6 hai6 (‘or’) The expression 咁 gam2 (‘then’) The adverb 仲 zung6 II (‘still’) Vocabulary Occupations Subjects
Lesson 7 你喺邊度返工㗎？ nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 faan1 gung1 gaa3? Where do you go to work?	Talking about the location of work or study Talking about company or school names	Grammar Introduction to prepositions The preposition 喺 hai2 / 响 hoeng2 I (‘in, on, at’) The question word 邊度 bin1 dou6 (‘where’) The question word 邊 bin1 (‘which’) Placement of question words in wh-questions Vocabulary Common places in Hong Kong Public universities in Hong Kong
🔔 The lessons below are previews. Audio is not available yet.
Lesson 8 你喺邊度嚟㗎？ nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 lai4 gaa3? Where do you come from?	Talking About Where Someone Comes From Talking About the Purpose for Visiting a Place
Lesson 9 你識咩語言㗎？ nei5 sik1 me1 jyu5 jin4 gaa3? What languages do you speak?	Talking About Languages
Lessons 10 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 3 認識你（三） jing6 sik1 nei5 (saam1) Getting to know you (3)
Lesson 11 你同邊個一齊住㗎？ nei5 tung4 bin1 go3 jat1 cai4 zyu6 gaa3? Where do you live with?	Talking About Home Talking About Family
Lesson 12 你幾時生日㗎？ nei5 gei2 si4 saang1 jat6 gaa3? When is your birthday?	Talking About Age Talking About Birthdays
Lesson 13 你結咗婚未㗎？ nei5 git3 zo2 fan1 mei6 gaa3? Have you gotten married yet?	Talking About Marital Status Talking About Romantic Relationships
Lesson 14 你哋有冇仔女㗎？ nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 zai2 neoi2 gaa3? Do you have children?	Talking About Children Talking About Pets
Lessons 15 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 4 約人（一） joek3 jan4 (jat1) Arranging to meet with someone (1)
Lesson 16 不如我哋下個星期一齊打波吖。 bat1 jyu4 ngo5 dei6 haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 jat1 cai4 daa2 bo1 aa1. Why don’t we play basketball together next week?	Inviting Someone to a Gathering
Lesson 17 你幾時得呀？ nei5 gei2 si4 dak1 aa3? When are you available?	Deciding on the Date for a Gathering
Lesson 18 你想食咩呀？ nei5 soeng2 sik6 me1 aa3? What do you want to eat?	Deciding on the Type of Cuisine for a Meal
Lesson 19 你想去邊度食呀？ nei5 soeng2 heoi3 bin1 dou6 sik6 aa3? Where do you want to go to eat?	Deciding on the Location for a Gathering
Lessons 20 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 5 約人（二） joek3 jan4 (ji6) Arranging to meet with someone (2)
Lesson 21 你想去邊間餐廳食呀？ nei5 soeng2 heoi3 bin1 gaan1 caan1 teng1 sik6 aa3? Which restaurant do you want to go to eat at?	Deciding on the Restaurant for a Meal
Lesson 22 我哋食幾多點好呀？ ngo5 dei6 sik6 gei2 do1 dim2 hou2 aa3? What time should we eat?	Deciding on the Time for a Meal Deciding on the Meeting Point and Time
Lesson 23 我哋下個星期會一齊食飯呀，你去唔去呀？ ngo5 dei6 haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 wui5 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6 aa3, nei5 heoi3 m4 heoi3 aa3? We will have a meal together next week. Do you want to go?	Suggesting Inviting Other People to a Gathering Inviting Other People to a Gathering
Lesson 24 唔該我想book位嘅。 m4 goi1 ngo5 soeng2 buk1 wai2 ge3. I want to book seats, please.	Booking a Table
Lessons 25 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 6 食飯（一） sik6 faan6 (jat1) Having a meal (1)
Lesson 26 請問有冇book位嘅？ cing2 man6 jau5 mou5 buk1 wai2 ge2? May I ask if you have booked seats?	Getting a Table at the Restaurant
Lesson 27 不如叫涼瓜炒蛋吖。 bat1 jyu4 giu3 loeng4 gwaa1 caau2 daan2 aa1. Why don’t we order Scrambled Eggs with Bitter Melon?	Deciding on the Food for a Meal
Lesson 28 唔該幫我哋落單吖。 m4 goi1 bong1 ngo5 dei6 lok6 daan1 aa1. Please place an order for us.	Ordering Food I
Lesson 29 一個C餐吖唔該。 jat1 go3 C caan1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Set C, please.	Ordering Food II
Lessons 30 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 7 食飯（二） sik6 faan6 (ji6) Having a meal (2)
Lesson 31 C餐係邊個㗎？ C caan1 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3? Who is Set C for?	Being Served the Food Getting Help at a Restaurant I
Lesson 32 唔該可唔可以俾多一對筷子我哋呀？ m4 goi1 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 do1 jat1 deoi3 faai3 zi2 ngo5 dei6 aa3? Can you give one more pair of chopsticks to us, please?	Getting Help at a Restaurant II
Lesson 33 你哋覺得個炒飯點呀？ nei5 dei6 gok3 dak1 go3 caau2 faan6 dim2 aa3? What do you think about the fried rice?	Talking About Food Finishing a Meal
Lesson 34 埋單吖唔該。 maai4 daan1 aa1 m4 goi1. I want to pay the bill, please.	Paying the Bill
Lessons 35 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 8 出街 ceot1 gaai1 Going out
Lesson 36 你返嚟嗰陣，可唔可以去街市買啲叉燒呀？ nei5 faan1 lai4 go2 zan6, ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 heoi3 gaai1 si5 maai5 di1 caa1 siu1 aa3? When you come back, can you go to the wet market to buy some char siu?	Asking Someone to Run Errands
Lesson 37 呢度附近邊度有糖水舖呀？ ni1 dou6 fu6 gan6 bin1 dou6 jau5 tong4 seoi2 pou2 aa3? Where are the sweet soup shops near here?	Finding a Place on the Street I
Lesson 38 請問超級市場喺幾多樓呀？ cing2 man6 ciu1 kap1 si5 coeng4 hai2 gei2 do1 lau2 aa3? May I ask what floor the supermarket is on?	Finding a Place in a Shopping Mall
Lesson 39 我應該點行呀？ ngo5 jing1 goi1 dim2 haang4 aa3? How should I walk?	Finding a Place on the Street II
Lessons 40 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 9 買餸 maai5 sung3 Buying ingredients
Lesson 41 你今晚諗住煮啲咩呀？ nei5 gam1 maan5 nam2 zyu6 zyu2 di1 me1 aa3? What do you plan to cook tonight?	Talking About Cooking Dinner
Lesson 42 菜心幾錢斤呀？ coi3 sam1 gei2 cin2 gan1 aa3? How much is one catty of choy sum?	Buying Vegetables and Fruits
Lesson 43 如果用嚟蒸排骨嘅話，應該買邊個位呀？ jyu4 gwo2 jung6 lai4 zing1 paai4 gwat1 ge3 waa2, jing1 goi1 maai5 bin1 go3 wai2 aa3? If I use it to steam pork ribs, which part should I buy?	Buying Meat
Lesson 44 蟶子可以點煮呀？ sing3 zi2 ho2 ji5 dim2 zyu2 aa3? How can I cook razor clams?	Buying Fish and Seafood
Lessons 45 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 10 搭車 daap3 ce1 Taking transport
Lesson 46 你知唔知道可以坐咩車去呀？ nei5 zi1 m4 zi1 dou3 ho2 ji5 zo6 me1 ce1 heoi3 aa3? Do you know what public transport I can take to go there?	Asking for Transport Directions
Lesson 47 坐地鐵去好唔好呀？ co5 dei6 tit3 heoi3 hou2 m4 hou2 aa3? Is taking subway to go there good?	Deciding on Transport Arrangements
Lesson 48 請問紅館喺邊個出口呀？ cing2 man6 hung4 gun2 hai2 bin1 go3 ceot1 hau2 aa3? May I ask which exit the Hong Kong Coliseum is at?	Topping Up the Octopus Card Taking the Subway
Lesson 49 請問呢架巴士經唔經維園㗎？ cing2 man6 ni1 gaa3 baa1 si2 ging1 m4 ging1 wai4 jyun2 gaa3? May I know if this bus passes through Victoria Park?	Taking the Bus Taking the Minibus Taking a Taxi
Lessons 50 Unit Review (Available later)
Unit 11 買衫 maai5 saam1 Buying clothes
Lesson 51 你想買啲咩呀？ nei5 soeng2 maai5 di1 me1 aa3? What do you want to buy?	Talking About Shopping Plans Entering a Store
Lesson 52 我着開中碼嘅。 ngo5 zoek3 hoi1 zung1 maa5 ge3. I usually wear medium size.	Trying on Clothes
Lesson 53 你覺得邊件好啲呀？ nei5 gok3 dak1 bin1 gin6 hou2 di1 aa3? Which one do you think is better?	Talking About Clothes
Lesson 54 而家有冇折呀？ ji4 gaa1 jau5 mou5 zit3 aa3? Are there discounts now?	Asking About Prices and Discounts Checking Out at a Store 💸
Lessons 55 Unit Review (Available later)
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Cantonese Life 1 (Elementary Cantonese)

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