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一個C餐吖唔該。
jat1 go3 C caan1 aa1 m4 goi1.
jat1 go3 C caan1 aa1 m4 goi1.
Listen and Speak
Step 1
Listen to a conversation. A speaker will order food. Circle the items the speaker has ordered.
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| B |
Step 2
Listen to the conversation again. Read the script while listening. Check your answers.
| A | 落咗單未呀？ lok6 zo2 daan1 mei6 aa3? Have you placed an order yet? |
| B | 未呀。 mei6 aa3. Not yet. |
| A | 食乜嘢呀？ sik6 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you eat? |
| B | 一個早餐，要腸仔同沙嗲牛肉，跟通粉吖唔該。 jat1 go3 zou2 caan1, jiu3 coeng2 zai2 tung4 saa3 de1 ngau4 juk6, gan1 tung1 fan2 aa1 m4 goi1. One Special Set. I want sausage and satay beef, served with macaroni, please. |
| A | 飲乜嘢呀？ jam2 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you drink? |
| B | 一杯凍奶茶吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 dung3 naai5 caa4 aa1 m4 goi1. A cup of iced milk tea, please. |
- 跟 gan1 = to be served with
Step 3
Listen and repeat.
Step 4
Replace the highlighted words in the script with the food and drink on the menu to make your conversations.
Grammar and Vocabulary
In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:
- The Verbal Particle 好 hou2 (‘finished’)
- The Verbal Particle 得 dak1 (Possibility)
- Topics II
- Vocabulary List
- Vocabulary: Meal Sets in Cha Chaan Teng
- Vocabulary: Noodles
- Vocabulary: Sauces
- Vocabulary: Drinks in Cha Chaan Teng
- Vocabulary: Special Requirements
29.1 The Verbal Particle 好 hou2 (‘finished’)
The word 好 hou2 means ‘good’ as an adjective. We can also use 好 hou2 as a verbal particle to mean ‘finished’. We usually use 好 hou2 with a task that has a clear expected outcome (e.g., choosing the food we want to order). 好 hou2 indicates that we have completed the task well with a favorable outcome and are ready for the following task or activity (e.g., calling the server to place an order).
我揀好。
ngo5 gaan2 hou2.
I have finished choosing.
Since 好 hou2 indicates a task has been completed, we usually use the sentence particle 喇 laa3 at the same time (See Grammar and vocabulary 13.6).
我揀好喇。
ngo5 gaan2 hou2 laa3.
I have already finished choosing.
To indicate a task has not been completed with a favorable outcome yet, we can add the adverb 未 mei6 (‘not yet’) before the verb for the task. Since the task has not been completed yet, we don’t use 喇 laa3.
我未揀好。
ngo5 mei6 gaan2 hou2.
I haven’t finished choosing yet.
We can use the adverb 未 mei6 (‘yet’) with 好 hou2 to form yes-no questions that asks whether a task has been completed with a favorable outcome yet. We put 未 mei6 after 好 hou2 instead of before the verb. If there is an object after the verb, we put 未 mei6 after it. For separable verbs, we put 未 mei6 after the whole verb. As a rule of thumb, we usually put 未 mei6 at the end of the question or before the sentence particle, if any.
To answer the question, we can give a short answer or a long answer.
We form a short answer by omitting the subject and the object in the long answer. For separate verbs, we usually keep the first syllable (the verb part) and omit the other syllables (the object part). For a negative short answer, we can also simply say 未呀 mei6 aa3 (‘not yet’).
好 hou2 may look similar to the aspect particle 咗 zo2, which can also indicate a task has been completed. However, when we use 好 hou2, we additionally indicate the task has been completed well with a favorable outcome, making it ready for the next task or activity.
我揀咗喇。
ngo5 gaan2 zo2 laa3.
I have already chosen.
我揀好喇。
ngo5 gaan2 hou2 laa3.
I have already finished choosing [well with a favorable outcome].
The first sentence with 咗 zo2 only indicates that the task of choosing has been completed. The second sentence with 好 hou2 additionally indicates that the task has been completed well with a favorable outcome.
The meaning of the two sentences above may look similar to each other. However, in some other situations, the meaning can differ significantly when a different particle is used. We will see more examples in later books.
29.2 The Verbal Particle 得 dak1 (Possibility)
We can use the verbal particle 得 dak1 to indicate that it is possible to do an activity. In the context of this lesson, we will use 得 dak1 to indicate that we are ready to do an activity.
我落得單。
ngo5 lok6 dak1 daan1.
I can place an order.
Since the state has changed from not ready to ready in this context, we usually use the sentence particle 喇 laa3 at the same time (See Grammar and vocabulary 13.6).
我落得單喇。
ngo5 lok6 dak1 daan1 laa3.
I can place an order already.
To indicate that we are not ready yet, we can add the adverb 未 mei6 (‘not yet’) before the verb for the activity. Since the state has not changed yet, we don’t use 喇 laa3.
我未落得單。
ngo5 mei6 lok6 dak1 daan1.
I can’t place an order yet.
We can use the adverb 未 mei6 (‘yet’) with 得 dak1 to form yes-no questions that asks whether someone is ready to do an activity yet. We put 未 mei6 after 得 dak1 instead of before the verb. If there is an object after the verb, we put 未 mei6 after it. For separable verbs, we put 未 mei6 after the whole verb. As a rule of thumb, we usually put 未 mei6 at the end of the question or before the sentence particle, if any.
To answer the question, we can give a short answer or a long answer.
We form a short answer by omitting the subject and the object in the long answer. For separate verbs, we usually keep the first syllable (the verb part) and omit the other syllables (the object part). For a negative short answer, we can also simply say 未呀 mei6 aa3 (‘not yet’).
29.3 Topics II
In Grammar and Vocabulary 28.6, we learned that a topic appears at the beginning of a sentence and sets the theme of the sentence which we will use to interpret the rest of the sentence. We also learned that the object of a sentence is sometimes moved to the beginning of the sentence and becomes the topic of the sentence.
The topic doesn’t need to be the object of a sentence. It can simply be a noun phrase that we add at the beginning of the sentence to set the theme of the sentence.
The noun phrase 湯 tong1 (‘soup’) appears at the beginning of the sentence and signals that the question is about soup. The noun phrase C餐 C caan1 (‘Set C’) appears at the beginning of the sentence and signals that the question is about Set C.29.4 Vocabulary List
29.5 Vocabulary: Meal Sets in Cha Chaan Teng
Watch the following clip to see if you can recognize the set names!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK2iDKIgf18
Visit this website if you want to see the Cantonese subtitles:
https://www.cantoneselearning.com/video/Mcdull/Today's-Lunch
29.6 Vocabulary: Noodles
The names in brackets below are contracted names. They are usually used in a food name (e.g., 星洲炒米 sing1 zau1 caau2 mai5 ‘Singapore-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli’).
The last three types of noodles usually appear in cart noodle shops, but not cha chaan teng.
29.7 Vocabulary: Sauces
29.8 Vocabulary: Drinks in Cha Chaan Teng
When we order drinks, we usually add 熱 jit6 (‘hot’) or 凍 dung3 (‘iced’ or ‘cold’) before a drink name.
熱 + 檸茶
jit6 + ning2 caa4
hot + lemon tea
凍 + 奶茶
dung3 + naai5 caa4
iced + milk tea
The names in brackets below are contracted names. We usually use these contracted names when we order.
29.9 Vocabulary: Special Requirements
We can add special requirements after the food name or drink name.
星洲炒米 + 走蝦
sing1 zau1 caau2 mai5 + zau2 haa1
Singapore-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli + without shrimp
凍檸茶 + 少甜
dung3 ning2 caa4 + siu2 tim4
iced lemon tea + less sugar
We can add multiple special requirements.
凍檸茶 + 少甜 + 少冰
dung3 ning2 caa4 + siu2 tim4 + siu2 bing1
iced lemon tea + less sugar + less ice
Beginning with 走 zau2 (‘without’)
Beginning with 多 do1 (‘more’)
Beginning with 少 siu2 (‘less’)
Others
Communication
In the Communication section, you will learn:
- Ordering Food II
Ordering Food II
In restaurants like cha chaan teng, we don’t usually choose and order food together with other people. Instead, each of us will choose and order our own food individually. Before calling the server, we usually ask if everyone is ready to order.
Route A: Yes
Route B: No
- We can replace 叫 giu3 (‘to order’) with 嗌 aai3 (‘to order’).
Route A: Yes
Route B: No
When everyone is ready to order the food, we can get the server’s attention by saying:
Sometimes the server will ask if we have ordered food. If we haven’t, they will take our order.
Route A: Yes
Route B: No
If we need more time to choose the food, we can answer:
When the server takes an order, they will usually start with the food. To speed up the ordering process, we are often expected to provide all the necessary information ourselves so that the server doesn’t need to ask any further questions. Therefore, if you need to choose something for your meal set, try to indicate all your choices in one go!
- We usually use the verb 轉 zyun3 (‘to change to’) instead of 跟 gan1 (‘to be served with’) if we need to pay extra for a choice.
The server will usually ask us in turn if we have more than one person.
After taking order for the food, the server will continue with the drinks.
- 飲 jam2 (‘to drink’) is a verb. 嘢飲 je5 jam2 (‘drink’) is a noun.
The server will usually ask us in turn if we have more than one person.
If we order the same drink as the last person, we can say:
- We need to add 係 hai6 (‘to be’) after 都 dou1 (‘too’) if the sentence doesn’t have a verb.
We can simply increase the quantity of that drink too.
If you order a drink different from the last person, we can order it as usual.
If we are charged additionally for the drink, the server will usually say this instead:
We can make special requirements in our order. Here are some common ones:
Here are some common additional questions the server may ask:
To order takeaway food, we can say this after entering the restaurant:
For fast food shops, we usually order food at the counter near the entrance. The server will sometimes ask if we want to dine in or take out.
To speed up the ordering process, we can indicate whether we want to dine in or take out in one go.
Culture
In cha chaan teng, the servers are often used to doing everything fast. They usually expect you to order your food immediately after entering the restaurant, especially during peak hours. Also, they tend to speak in shorter sentences, as if they want to say as few words as possible! Sometimes they may sound less polite, but it’s simply the culture. Don’t feel disrespected!
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete the descriptions.
1.
We can use the verbal particle ________ to indicate that we have completed a task well with a favorable outcome.
2.
We can use the verbal particle ________ to indicate that it is possible to do an activity.
Exercise 2
Listen to A and complete B. Then, listen to the recordings to check your answers. Finally, repeat after the recordings.
Example 1
| A | 你揀好未呀？ nei5 gaan2 hou2 mei6 aa3? Have you finished choosing yet? |
| B | (✔️) 我揀好喇。 ngo5 gaan2 hou2 laa3. I have already finished choosing. |
Example 2
| A | 你揀好未呀？ nei5 gaan2 hou2 mei6 aa3? Have you finished choosing yet? |
| B | (❌) 等一陣，我仲未揀好呀。 dang2 jat1 zan6, ngo5 zung6 mei6 gaan2 hou2 aa3. Wait a moment. I still haven’t finished choosing yet. |
1.
| A | ________ |
| B | (✔️) ________ |
2.
| A | ________ |
| B | (❌) ________ |
3.
| A | ________ |
| B | (✔️) ________ |
4.
| A | ________ |
| B | (❌) ________ |
5.
| A | ________ |
| B | (✔️) ________ |
Exercise 3
Listen to A and complete B. Then, listen to the recordings to check your answers. Finally, repeat after the recordings.
Example
| A | 奶茶要熱定凍呀？ naai5 caa4 jiu3 jit6 ding6 dung3 aa3? For the milk tea, do you want it hot or iced? |
| B | 要熱吖唔該。 jiu3 jit6 aa1 m4 goi1. Hot, please. 要凍吖唔該。 jiu3 dung3 aa1 m4 goi1. Iced, please. ⭐ Try to give all possible answers. |
1.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
2.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
3.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
4.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
5.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
6.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
7.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
8.
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ ________ |
Exercise 4
Follow the examples to complete the conversations. Then, listen to the recordings to check your answers. Finally, repeat after the recordings.
Example
咖喱牛腩飯 (➕飯)
gaa3 lei1 ngau4 naam5 faan6 (➕ faan6)
| A | 食乜嘢呀？ sik6 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you eat? |
| B | 一個咖喱牛腩飯多飯吖唔該。 jat1 go3 gaa3 lei1 ngau4 naam5 faan6 do1 faan6 aa1 m4 goi1. One Curry Beef Brisket Rice with more rice, please. |
1.
粟米肉粒飯 (➖飯)
suk1 mai5 juk6 nap1 faan6 (➖ faan6)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
2.
檸檬茶 (凍、➖甜)
ning4 mung1 caa4 (dung3, ➖ tim4)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
3.
C餐 (意粉、洋蔥汁)
C caan1 (ji3 fan2, joeng4 cung1 zap1)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
4.
咖啡 (凍、➕冰)
gaa3 fe1 (dung3, ➕ bing1)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
5.
特餐 (腸仔、沙嗲牛肉、公仔麵)
dak6 caan1 (coeng2 zai2, saa3 de1 ngau4 juk6, gung1 zai2 min6)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
6.
廈門炒米 (❌蝦)
haa6 mun4 caau2 mai5 (❌ haa1)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
7.
三號餐 (薯條)
saam1 hou6 caan1 (syu4 tiu2)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
8.
奶茶 (熱)
naai5 caa4 (jit6)
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
Activities
Activity 1
Listen to three conversations. The speakers will order food. Write down the items they have ordered. You can listen to the menu once before listening to the conversations.
Conversation 1
| A | ________ |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A |
Conversation 2
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| B | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| B | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| B |
Conversation 3
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
| C | ________ |
| A | |
| B | |
| C | |
A few moments later… | |
| C | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| B | |
| C | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| A | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| B | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| B | |
| C | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| C |
Transcripts with Translation
Conversation 1
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 叫咗嘢未呀？ giu3 zo2 je5 mei6 aa3? Have you ordered things yet? |
| A | 未呀。 mei6 aa3. Not yet. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 食乜嘢呀？ sik6 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you eat? |
| A | 一個快餐，要雞扒同火腿，跟意粉吖唔該。 jat1 go3 faai3 caan1, jiu3 gai1 paa2 tung4 fo2 teoi2, gan1 ji3 fan2 aa1 m4 goi1. One Fast Set. I want chicken steak and ham, served with spaghetti, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 要乜嘢汁呀？ jiu3 mat1 je5 zap1 aa3? What sauce do you want? |
| A | 要洋蔥汁吖唔該。 jiu3 joeng4 cung1 zap1 aa1 m4 goi1. Onion Sauce, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 飲乜嘢呀？ jam2 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you drink? |
| A | 一杯凍鴛鴦多冰吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 dung3 jyun1 joeng1 do1 bing1 aa1 m4 goi1. One iced yuen yeung, with more ice, please. |
Conversation 2
| A | 你叫得嘢未呀？ nei5 giu3 dak1 je5 mei6 aa3? Can you order things yet? |
| B | 我叫得喇。 ngo5 giu3 dak1 laa3. I can order things already. |
| A | 唔該落單吖。 m4 goi1 lok6 daan1 aa1. Please place an order. [= Please place an order for us.] |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 要乜嘢呀？ jiu3 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you want? |
| A | 一個星洲炒米走蝦吖唔該。 jat1 go3 sing1 zau1 caau2 mai5 zau2 haa1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Singapore-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli without shrimp, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 你呢？ nei5 ne1? How about you? |
| B | 一個豆腐火腩飯少飯吖唔該。 jat1 go3 dau6 fu6 fo2 naam5 faan6 siu2 faan6 aa1 m4 goi1. One Tofu and Braised Pork Belly Rice with less rice, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 湯要中湯定西湯呀？ tong1 jiu3 zung1 tong1 ding6 sai1 tong1 aa3? For the soup, do you want Chinese soup or Western soup? |
| A | 一個中湯吖唔該。 jat1 go3 zung1 tong1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Chinese soup, please. |
| B | 一個西湯吖唔該。 jat1 go3 sai1 tong1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Western soup, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 嘢飲要乜嘢呀？ je5 jam2 jiu3 mat1 je5 aa3? For the drinks, what do you want? |
| A | 一杯熱檸茶吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 jit6 ning2 caa4 aa1 m4 goi1. One hot lemon tea, please. |
| B | 一杯凍啡少甜少冰吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 dung3 fe1 siu2 tim4 siu2 bing1 aa1 m4 goi1. One iced coffee with less sugar and less ice, please. |
Conversation 3
| A | 你哋揀好未呀？ nei5 dei6 gaan2 hou2 mei6 aa3? Have you finished choosing yet? |
| B | 我揀好喇。 ngo5 gaan2 hou2 laa3. I have already finished choosing. |
| C | 等一陣，我仲未諗好呀。 dang2 jat1 zan6, ngo5 zung6 mei6 nam2 hou2 aa3. Wait a moment. I still haven’t finished thinking yet. |
A few moments later… | |
| C | 我都諗好喇。 ngo5 dou1 nam2 hou2 laa3. I have already finished thinking too. |
| A | 唔該寫嘢吖。 m4 goi1 se2 je5 aa1. Please write things. [= Please take an order for us.] |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 食乜嘢呀？ sik6 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you eat? |
| A | 一個下午茶餐，要一號餐吖唔該。 jat1 go3 haa6 ng5 caa4 caan1, jiu3 jat1 hou6 caan1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Afternoon Tea Set. I want Set Number 1, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 炸雞髀配薯條定沙律呀？ zaa3 gai1 bei2 pui3 syu4 tiu2 ding6 saa1 leot2 aa3? For the fried chicken leg quarter, do you want it matched with French fries or salad? |
| A | 配薯條吖唔該。 pui3 syu4 tiu2 aa1 m4 goi1. French fries, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 你哋呢？ nei5 dei6 ne1? How about you? |
| B | 都係下午茶餐，四號餐，要油占多吖唔該。 dou1 hai6 haa6 ng5 caa4 caan1, sei3 hou6 caan1, jiu3 jau4 zim1 do1 aa1 m4 goi1. One Afternoon Tea Set too. Set Number 4. I want Butter and Jam Toast, please. |
| C | 我要一個常餐，要餐肉同五香肉丁，轉出前一丁，多士烘底吖唔該。 ngo5 jiu3 jat1 go3 soeng4 caan1, jiu3 caan1 juk6 tung4 ng5 hoeng1 juk6 ding1, zyun3 ceot1 cin4 jat1 ding1, do1 si2 hong3 dai2 aa1 m4 goi1. I want one All Day Set. I want luncheon meat and spiced pork cubes. Change to Demae Ramen. For the toast, toasted bread, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 飲乜嘢呀？ jam2 mat1 je5 aa3? What do you drink? |
| A | 一杯紅豆冰吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 hung4 dau2 bing1 aa1 m4 goi1. One red bean ice, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 紅豆冰加五蚊喎。 hung4 dau2 bing1 gaa1 ng5 man1 wo3. For red bean ice, add $5. |
| A | OK呀。 ou1 kei1 aa3. Okay. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 你哋呢？ nei5 dei6 ne1? How about you? |
| B | 一杯呵瀝吖唔該。 jat1 bui1 ho1 lik1 aa1 m4 goi1. One cup of Horlicks, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 呵瀝要熱定凍呀？ ho1 lik1 jiu3 jit6 ding6 dung3 aa3? For the Horlicks, do you want it hot or iced? |
| B | 要凍吖唔該。 jiu3 dung3 aa1 m4 goi1. Iced, please. |
| C | 有冇菜蜜呀？ jau5 mou5 coi3 mat6 aa3? Is there watercress with honey? |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 有呀。 jau5 aa3. Yes. |
| C | 噉一杯凍菜蜜吖唔該。 gam2 jat1 bui1 dung3 coi3 mat6 aa1 m4 goi1. One cup of iced watercress with honey then, please. |
Activity 2
Form a group of four. Make four conversations. In each conversation, one member will be the restaurant server, and the other members will be the guests. Play the role of the server in turn. The guests will draw a role card that specifies the requirements for their food and drink. Look at the menu from Activity 1 in this lesson and find suitable items.
Role Cards
Activity 3
Form a pair. Make two conversations. In each conversation, one of you will be the restaurant server, and one of you will be the guest. Swap your roles after the first conversation. The guest will order takeout. Look at the menu from Activity 1 in this lesson.
Activity 4
Form a circle. In turn, each of you will say a food or drink item found in cha chaan teng (with any special requirements you want to add!). Before saying your item, you need to repeat all the items mentioned already. If you make a mistake, you will be out of the game. The last person remaining will win.