In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:

• The Adverb 再 zoi3 II (‘and then’)
• The Verbs 知 zi1 and 知道 zi1 dou3 (‘to know’)
• Making and Respond to Offers
• Clauses in the Subject Position
• Vocabulary List
• Vocabulary: Public Transport
• Vocabulary: Subway Lines in Hong Kong
• Vocabulary: Bus, Minibus and Light Rail Routes in Hong Kong

In Grammar and Vocabulary 24.13, we learned that the adverb 再 zoi3 means ‘again’. In Grammar and Vocabulary 39.6, we learned that 再 zoi3 can also add the meaning of ‘further’ to a sentence.

The adverb 再 zoi3 can also mean ‘and then’. We can use 再 zoi3 to indicate that two actions happen in successive order. We put 再 zoi3 between the two actions.

The verbs 知 zi1 and 知道 zi1 dou3 mean ‘to know’ in the sense of ‘to have information’. We use 知 zi1 or 知道 zi1 dou3 to indicate that we know some information. We put the information after 知 zi1 or 知道 zi1 dou3.

To negate 知 zi1 or 知道 zi1 dou3, we put 唔 m4 before 知 zi1 or 知道 zi1 dou3.

We can use the X-not-X construction to form 知唔知 zi1 m4 zi1 or 知唔知道 zi1 m4 zi1 dou3, which mean ‘Do you know …?’. We put a question after 知唔知 zi1 m4 zi1 or 知唔知道 zi1 m4 zi1 dou3.

For positive answers, we can provide the information we know directly.

For negative answers, we can give a short answer, or say 我都唔知呀 ngo5 dou1 m4 zi1 aa3 or 我都唔知道呀 ngo5 dou1 m4 zi1 dou3 aa3 (‘I don’t know either’).

We, as kind people (you are, right?!), often offer our help to other people. Therefore, it is important to know how to make an offer. In the previous lessons, we have learned different methods to do so. Let’s review them.

To accept an offer, we can say 好呀 hou2 aa3 (‘Good’).

To decline an offer, we can say 唔使喇 m4 sai2 laa3 (‘You don’t need to’). We usually add that we will handle the task on our own.

We can put a clause in the subject position of a sentence. In the following examples, the subject is a clause that describes an action. The subject is then followed by a predicative adjective that comments on the action.

To mean ‘to take a type of public transport’, we say 坐 co5 (‘to take’) or 搭 daap3 (‘to take’) and then the type of public transport.

We can use the verb 揸車 zaa1 ce1 (‘to drive’, literally ‘to drive + car’) to mean that we drive on our own instead of taking public transport.

We use the classifier 架 gaa3 with a vehicle.

For cars, we can also use the classifier 部 bou6.

We can use the classifier 班 baan1 to refer to a scheduled departure of public transport.

Here are the places where we can take public transport:

In the past, Hong Kong had two railway companies: Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) and Mass Transit Railway (MTR). The two companies ran different rail lines. People would refer to the line run by the KCR, which has become the East Rail Line now, as 火車 fo2 ce1 (‘train’) and the lines run by the MTR as 地鐵 dei6 tit3 (‘subway’). The two companies have merged into one later. Nowadays, some people use 地鐵 dei6 tit3 to refer to everything, but some old people (like the author) still use 火車 fo2 ce1 to refer to the East Rail Line.

We will learn how to read a bus, minibus or light rail route in Hong Kong below.

If the route has one digit, we read the digit and then add the classifier 號 hou6 (‘number’).

Note that for the number 2, we say 二 ji6 instead of 兩 loeng5 in this context.

If the route ends with a letter, we read the letter after 號 hou6. We can optionally omit 號 hou6.

If the route has two digits, we read the digits like normal numbers and then add the classifier 號 hou6.

If the route ends with a letter, we read the letter after 號 hou6. We can optionally omit 號 hou6. Alternatively, we can read the digits one by one and then the letter without adding 號 hou6 in between.

If the route has three digits, we read the digits one by one and then can optionally add 號 hou6.

If the route ends with a letter, we usually read the digits one by one and then the letter without adding 號 hou6.

If you’re curious about how bus routes are numbered in Hong Kong, you can check out this Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_bus_route_numbering

All light rail routes have three digits. We read the digits one by one and then can optionally add the word 線 sin3 (‘line’).

Some routes end with the English letter P. We can still optionally add 線.

In the Communication section, you will learn:

• Asking for Transport Directions