3. Daily Expressions

1. 哈佬
   haa1 lou2 / haa1 lou3
   Hello.

2. 你好
   nei5 hou2
   Hello.
   It is more formal than 哈佬 haa1 lou2. It is usually used when you see someone for the first time in a formal context.

3. 大家好
   daai6 gaa1 hou2
   Hello, everyone.
   It is usually used when you speak to a group of people.

4. 喂
   wai3
   Hey.
   It is informal and less polite. It is usually said to friends only. It is also used when you bump into someone.

5. 喂？
   wai2?
   Hello?
   It is used when you pick up a phone call. Pay attention to the tone difference between 喂 wai2 and the last expression 喂 wai3.

6. 再見
   zoi3 gin3
   Goodbye.
   見 gin3 means ‘to meet’. It also appears in some of the expressions below.

7. 拜拜
   baai1 baai3
   Bye.
   It is less formal than 再見 zoi3 gin3.

8. 一陣見
   jat1 zan6 gin3 / jat1 zan2 gin3
   See you later.
   Notice that the use of this expression in Cantonese is different from that in English. In Cantonese, the expression is used only if you are actually going to see someone later the same day.

9. 下次見
   haa6 ci3 gin3
   See you next time.

10. 聽日見
    ting1 jat6 gin3
    See you tomorrow.

11. 走先喇
    zau2 sin1 laa3
    I got to go.
    走先 zaau2 sin1 means ‘to leave first’. It is used when you leave a place or a gathering. It is usually followed by one of the expressions above.

12. 早晨
    zou2 san4
    Good morning.

13. 午安
    ng5 on1
    Good afternoon.
    It is not often used in daily conversations. It is usually used by students to greet the teacher or by TV or radio hosts.

14. 晚安
    maan5 on1
    Good evening / Good night.
    It is not often used in daily conversations. It is usually used by TV or radio hosts. It can be used to greet or say goodbye to someone.

15. 早抖
    zou2 tau2
    Good night.
    早抖 zou2 tau2 means ‘to take rest early’. It is usually used between intimate people before sleep.

16. 對唔住
    deoi3 m4 zyu6
    Sorry.

17. Sorry
    Sorry / so1 li4
    Sorry.
    It is weaker than 對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6 and is usually used for something less serious. It is often said with the Cantonese pronunciation so1 li4.

18. 唔好意思
    m4 hou2 ji3 si1
    Sorry.
    It is weaker than 對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6 and is usually used for something less serious. See below for its second use.

19. 唔緊要
    m4 gan2 jiu3
    Never mind.
    Pay attention to the intonation. Say the last syllable 要 jiu3 longer and with a slightly higher pitch.

20. 唔該(晒)
    m4 goi1 (saai3)
    Thank you (so much).
    It is said to someone who has helped you do something or offered you some service (e.g., a waiter, waitress, cashier or taxi driver). 晒 saai3 means ‘so much’. It can be added or omitted.

21. 多謝(晒)
    do1 ze6 (saai3)
    Thank you (so much).
    It is said to someone who has given you a gift or praised you.

22. 唔使客氣
    m4 sai2 haak3 hei3
    No problem. / You’re welcome.

23. 喂
    wai3
    Hey.
    It is used usually when you want to draw attention from your friends.

24. 唔該……
    m4 goi1…
    Excuse me.
    It is usually used to draw attention from someone who will offer you service (e.g., a waiter, waitress or shop assistant). Remember not to add 晒 saai3 in this use. 唔該晒 m4 goi1 saai3 with 晒 saai3 always means ‘thank you’ instead of ‘excuse me’.

25. 唔好意思……
    m4 hou2 ji3 si1…
    Excuse me.
    It is used to draw attention from someone who you are unfamiliar with or subordinate to (e.g., your boss, supervisor, teacher). It is also used when someone blocks your way and you want to ask the person to let you through.

Hong Kong Cantonese speakers don’t often say ‘how are you?’ in greetings. It is usually said only when two people haven’t met each other for a long time.

26. 你最近點呀？
    nei5 zeoi3 gan6 dim2 aa3?
    How are you recently?

27. 幾好呀
    gei2 hou2 aa3
    Quite good.

28. 唔錯呀
    m4 co3 aa3
    Not bad.

29. 都係咁啦
    dou1 hai6 gam2 laa1
    Same old, same old.

30. 麻麻地啦
    maa4 maa2 dei2 laa1
    So-so. / Not that good.

Listen to this song. Find four expressions you have just learnt in the song.

係咁先啦 hai6 gam2 sin1 laa3
MC $oHo & KidNey ft. Kayan9896