Print or Export
C餐係邊個㗎？
C caan1 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
C caan1 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Listen and Speak
Step 1
Listen to a conversation. The server will serve the food and drinks. What have the guests ordered? Complete the table.
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客 haak3 | |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客 haak3 |
Step 2
Listen to the conversation again. Read the script while listening. Check your answers.
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 小心呀吓，凍檸茶、熱奶茶。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, dung3 ning2 caa4, jit6 naai5 caa4. Be careful. Iced lemon tea and hot milk tea. |
| 客 haak3 | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 小心呀吓，熱狗配薯條係邊個嘅？ siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, jit6 gau2 pui3 syu4 tiu2 hai6 bin1 go3 ge2? Be careful. Hot Dog with French Fries is whose? [= Who is Hot Dog with French Fries for?] |
| 客 haak3 | 佢嘅，炸雞髀配沙律係我嘅，唔該晒。 keoi5 ge3, zaa3 gai1 bei2 pui3 saa1 leot2 hai6 ngo5 ge3, m4 goi1 saai3. His or hers. Fried Chicken Leg Quarter with Salad is mine. Thank you so much. |
Step 3
Listen and repeat.
Step 4
Replace the highlighted words in the script with the food and drinks below to make your conversations.
Grammar and Vocabulary
In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:
- Possessive Pronouns
- Definite Noun Phrases
- Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases I
- The Modal Verb 要 jiu3 (‘to need to’) II
- The Preposition 同 tung4 II (‘for’)
- Emphasizing Something with 係 hai6 (‘to be’)
- Vocabulary List
31.1 Possessive Pronouns
In Grammar and Vocabulary 2.4, we learned to use the possessive marker 嘅 ge3, which is similar to the apostrophe s (’s) in English, to form possessive constructions.
In English, words like mine, yours and theirs are possessive pronouns. To form possessive pronouns in Cantonese, we add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after the corresponding personal pronouns.
We can also add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after a personal name to mean ‘Sarah’s, etc.’.
Sarah嘅
Sarah ge3
Sarah’s
In Cantonese, possessive pronouns usually appear in the following two sentence structures:
The first sentence structure is a sentence with the verb 係 hai6 (‘to be’). The possessive pronoun will be the subject complement.
The second sentence structure is a sentence that has a predicate without verbs (See Grammar and Vocabulary 12.4). The possessive pronoun will be the predicate on its own.
We sometimes add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 after 嘅 ge3. When we do so, we usually contract 嘅 ge3 and 呀 aa3 to 㗎 gaa3 (嘅 ge3 + 呀 aa3 = 㗎 gaa3).
凍檸茶係我㗎。
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 ngo5 gaa3.
Iced lemon tea is mine.
The question words 邊個 bin1 go3 and 邊位 bin1 wai2 mean ‘who’. 邊位 bin1 wai2 is more formal and is used to show respect or being polite to the people we refer to. To ask ‘whose’, we add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after 邊個 bin1 go3 or 邊位 bin1 wai2 and say 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 or 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3. We can use 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 and 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3 in the two sentence structures above. We put them at the position of the possessive pronoun.
We can optionally add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 to the questions. We usually contract 嘅 ge3 and 呀 aa3 to 㗎 gaa3 (嘅 ge3 + 呀 aa3 = 㗎 gaa3).
凍檸茶係邊個㗎？
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
凍檸茶邊個㗎？
dung3 ning2 caa4 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
We can also optionally apply rising intonation to the questions. When rising intonation is applied, 嘅 ge3 becomes 嘅 ge2 (嘅 ge3 + Rising intonation = 嘅 ge2).
凍檸茶係邊個嘅？
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 bin1 go3 ge2?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
凍檸茶邊個嘅？
dung3 ning2 caa4 bin1 go3 ge2?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
Note that we can either add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 or apply rising intonation to a question, but we don’t do both at the same time.
31.2 Definite Noun Phrases
We use definite noun phrases to refer to specific people or things (i.e. when we have specific people or things in mind). For example, it can be a specific plate on our table. To form a definite noun phrase, we add a classifier before a noun. This is similar to noun phrases with the definite article the in English (e.g., the plate).
We can put a definite noun phrase after the verb (as an object or a subject complement) or before the verb (as a subject or a topic) in a sentence.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
隻碟 zek3 dip2 (‘the plate’) refers to the specific plate which the speaker wants to collect. It is the object of the sentence.
個甜品仲未嚟呀 。
go3 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The dessert still hasn’t come yet.
個甜品 go3 tim4 ban2 (‘the dessert’) refers to the specific dessert which the speaker has ordered. It is the subject of the sentence.
For plural or uncountable nouns, we can use the classifier 啲 di1.
我收一收啲碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plates.
啲碟 di1 dip2 (‘the plates’) refers to the specific plates which the speaker wants to collect.
啲甜品仲未嚟呀 。
di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The desserts still haven’t come yet.
啲甜品 di1 tim4 ban2 (‘the desserts’) refers to the specific desserts which the speaker has ordered.
31.3 Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases I
Let’s review definite and indefinite noun phrases together.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 31.2, we learned to form a definite noun phrase by adding a classifier before a noun.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
啲甜品仲未嚟呀 。
di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The desserts still haven’t come yet.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 27.1, we learned to form an indefinite noun phrase by adding the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and a classifier before a noun.
不如叫一隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 jat1 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫一啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 jat1 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We learned that we can omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We also learned that we don’t omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears before a verb (as a subject or a topic). Otherwise, the noun phrase will become definite.
一個套餐有兩個餸。
jat1 go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
A set meal has two dishes.
個套餐有兩個餸。
go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
The set meal has two dishes.
As you may have noticed, when a noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement) and only has the classifier and the noun, it can be a definite noun phrase or an indefinite noun phrase. We can usually decide whether it is definite or indefinite based on the meaning of the sentence.
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
The noun phrase 隻雞 zek3 gai1 appears after the verb 叫 giu3. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 雞 gai1. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be an indefinite noun phrase that doesn’t refer to a specific chicken.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
The noun phrase 隻碟 zek3 dip2 appears after the verb 收 sau1. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 碟 dip2. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be a definite noun phrase that refers to a specific plate on the table.
We will see some tricker examples in the next lesson.
The table below summarizes what we have learned:
Note that this also applies to sentences without verbs (e.g., sentences with predicative adjectives). We will see some examples in later lessons.
31.4 The Modal Verb 要 jiu3 (‘to need to’) II
In Grammar and Vocabulary 23.4, we learned that the modal verb 要 jiu3 means ‘to need to’. We use it to indicate we need to do an activity. We put a verb after 要 jiu3.
我哋要加水。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2.
We need to add water.
[= We need to refill the cups.]
Unlike other verbs, if we want to mean ‘to not need to’, we don’t simply add the adverb 唔 m4 (‘not’) before 要 jiu3 and say 唔要 m4 jiu3. Instead, we use the modal verb 唔使 m4 sai2 (‘to not need to’).
我哋唔使加水。
ngo5 dei6 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2.
We don’t need to add water.
⚠️ Note that we don’t use 使 sai2 to mean ‘to need to’. We only use 使 sai2 when 唔 m4 will appear at the same time. To mean ‘to need to’, we will use 要 jiu3 instead.
❌ 我哋使加水。
ngo5 dei6 sai2 gaa1 seoi2.
✔️ 我哋要加水。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2.
We need to add water.
To form yes-no questions, we can use the X-not-X construction with either 要 jiu3 or 使 sai2, but we use 使 sai2 more often.
你哋要唔要加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 jiu3 m4 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
你哋使唔使加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
We can contract 使唔使 sai2 m4 sai2 to 使咪 sai2 mai2.
你哋使咪加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 sai2 mai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
To answer the question, we can give a long answer or a short answer. We give a short answer more often. Notice we use the sentence particle 喇 laa3 in the negative answers because we are indicating a rejection (See Grammar and Vocabulary 16.5).
If someone is offering us help and we want to give a positive answer, we usually say 好呀 hou2 aa3 (‘good’) and then the expression 唔該 m4 goi1 (‘thank you’).
| A: | 你哋使唔使加水嘅？ nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2? Do you need to add water? |
| B: | 好呀，唔該。 hou2 aa3, m4 goi1. Good. [= Yes.] Thank you. |
For negative answers, we can add the expression 唔該 m4 goi1 (‘thank you’) to sound more friendly.
| A: | 你哋使唔使加水嘅？ nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2? Do you need to add water? |
| B: | 唔使喇，唔該。 m4 sai2 laa3, m4 goi1. No. Thank you. |
The table below summarizes the use of 要 jiu3 and 使 sai2:
31.5 The Preposition 同 tung4 II (‘for’)
In Grammar and Vocabulary 11.2, we learned that the preposition 同 tung4 means ‘with’.
The preposition 同 tung4 can also mean ‘for’ (as in I will refill the cups for you). When an action is done to help someone, we can use 同 tung4 to indicate who receives the help. We put a person after 同 tung4 to form a prepositional phrase.
We put the prepositional phrase before the verb we want to modify.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 24.1, we also learned to use the preposition 幫 bong1 (‘for’) to indicate who receives the help. 同 tung4 and 幫 bong1 are similar in this use, but 幫 bong1 usually conveys a clearer sense of help, as 幫 bong1 means ‘to help’ when used as a verb.
我同你哋加一加水呀吓。
ngo5 tung4 nei5 dei6 gaa1 jat1 gaa1 seoi2 aa3 haa2.
I will add water for you.
我幫你哋加一加水呀吓。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 gaa1 jat1 gaa1 seoi2 aa3 haa2.
I will add water for you.
The second sentence conveys a clearer sense of help than the first one.
31.6 Emphasizing Something with 係 hai6 (‘to be’)
We can add the verb 係 hai6 (‘to be’) before a verb phrase to emphasize something. For example, when the food is served but it is incorrect, we can use 係 hai6 to emphasize what is correct (what we actually want).
我係要B餐呀。
ngo5 hai6 jiu3 B caan1 aa3.
What I want is Set B.
係 hai6 is added before the verb phrase 要B餐 jiu3 B caan1 (‘to want Set B’) to emphasize that Set B is actually wanted.
We can also use 唔係 m4 hai6 (唔 m4 ‘not’ + 係 hai6 ‘to be’) to emphasize what is incorrect (what we don’t actually want).
我唔係要D餐呀。
ngo5 m4 hai6 jiu3 D caan1 aa3.
What I want is not Set D.
唔係 m4 hai6 is added before the verb phrase 要D餐 jiu3 D caan1 (‘to want Set D’) to emphasize that Set D is not actually wanted.
We often use 係 hai6 and 唔係 m4 hai6 together to emphasize what is correct and what is incorrect at the same time.
我係要B餐，唔係要D餐呀。
ngo5 hai6 jiu3 B caan1, m4 hai6 jiu3 D caan1 aa3.
What I want is Set B. What I want is not Set D.
31.7 Vocabulary List
Communication
In the Communication section, you will learn:
- Being Served the Food
- Getting Help at a Restaurant I
Being Served the Food
When the food is served at the restaurant, the server will sometimes remind us to be careful.
The server will sometimes say the dish name too.
In restaurants like cha chaan teng, we usually order our own food individually. The server will sometimes ask which person the food or drink is for.
- 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 / 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3 (‘whose’) + 呀 aa3 (Sentence particle for questions) = 邊個㗎 bin1 go3 gaa3 / 邊位㗎 bin1 wai2 gaa3
If we are not sure what the food or drink is, we can ask:
- We can replace the classifier 碟 dip6 (‘plate’) with other classifiers, such as 碗 wun2 (‘bowl’) and 杯 bui1 (‘cup’). We can also use the classifier 個 go3 if we’re not sure about the classifier.
If more than one person has ordered the same food or drink, but one person has special requirements, we can ask the staff which one is made with those special requirements.
If incorrect food is served, we can say:
Sometimes multiple plates, bowls or cups are served at once. If we’re not sure which one is ours, we can ask:
- We can replace the classifier 杯 bui1 (‘cup’) with other classifiers, such as 碟 dip6 (‘plate’) and 碗 wun2 (‘bowl’).
- 我嘅 ngo5 ge3 (mine) + 呀 aa3 (Sentence particle for questions) = 我㗎 ngo5 gaa3
If we’re not sure about what an ingredient inside a dish is, we can ask:
- We use 哦 o5 to respond when we finally know something we didn’t know before. Remember to say it longer. Otherwise, you may sound unfriendly.
We can also specify the type of food or drink in our questions.
- We can replace 肉 juk6 with other type food or drinks, such as 魚 jyu2 (‘fish’), 菜 coi3 (‘vegetable’), 麵 min6 (‘noodles’), 湯 tong1 (‘soup’) and 茶 caa4 (‘tea’).
If we want to take a picture of the food or drink before eating, we say:
During celebratory meals, we will sometimes drink a toast before eating.
Getting Help at a Restaurant I
During a meal, we may need help from the server, or the server may offer to help. We will learn about some common types of help below.
Adding water
If we want to add water to our cups or teapots, we can say:
- Notice we don’t usually use 吖 in a sentence with the modal verb 要 jiu3 or 想 soeng2 even if we are making a request.
If the server sees that our cups are almost empty, they may ask if we need to add water.
Removing plates
If we have finished some dishes and want to remove the plates from the table, we can say:
If the server sees that we have finished some dishes, they may ask if we still need the plates.
- 要 jiu3 is used as a verb (‘to want’) instead of a modal verb (‘to need to’) here. 呢碟嘢 ni1 dip6 je5 is the object of 要 jiu3. It is moved to the beginning of the sentence and becomes the topic of the sentence.
- To indicate that something is no longer needed, we usually say 唔要喇 m4 jiu3 laa3 instead of 唔使喇 m4 sai2 laa3.
Changing bowls or plates
If we want to change our bowls or plates, we can say:
If the server sees that our bowls or plates are too messy, they may ask if we need to change them.
Serving desserts
When we are ready to have the desserts, we can say:
If the server sees that we have finished the main dishes, they may ask if we want the desserts to be served.
Following up on dishes
If a dish still hasn’t arrived after a long wait, we can ask the server to follow up.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete the descriptions.
1.
To form possessive pronouns, we add the possessive marker ________ after the personal pronouns.
2.
To form a definite noun phrase, we add ________ before a noun.
3.
The modal verb ________ means ‘to need to’. The modal verb ________ means ‘to not need to’.
4.
The prepositions ________ and ________ mean ‘for’ (as in I will refill the cups for you). ________ usually conveys a clearer sense of help.
5.
We can add the verb ________ before a verb phrase to emphasize something.
Exercise 2
Listen to A and complete B. Then, listen to the recordings to check your answers. Finally, repeat after the recordings.
Example
| A | 小心呀吓，D餐。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, D caan1. Be careful. Set D. ⭐ A will serve the food or drink incorrectly. |
| B | (B餐 B caan1) 我係要B餐，唔係要D餐呀。 ngo5 hai6 jiu3 B caan1, m4 hai6 jiu3 D caan1 aa3. What I want is Set B. What I want is not Set D. ⭐ The food or drink in the brackets is what B actually wants. |
1.
| A | ________ |
| B | (凍檸茶 dung3 ning2 caa4) ________ |
2.
| A | ________ |
| B | (炸雞髀配沙律 zaa3 gai1 bei2 pui3 saa1 leot2) ________ |
3.
| A | ________ |
| B | (凍檸水 dung3 ning2 seoi2) ________ |
4.
| A | ________ |
| B | (凍啡走甜 dung3 fe1 zau2 tim4) ________ |
5.
| A | ________ |
| B | (C餐跟意粉 C caan1 gan1 ji3 fan2) ________ |
Exercise 3
Follow the example to complete the conversations. Then, listen to the recordings to check your answers. Finally, repeat after the recordings.
Example
羊肉 joeng4 juk6
| A | 呢啲係乜嘢肉嚟㗎？ ni1 di1 hai6 mat1 je5 juk6 lai4 gaa3? What meat is this? |
| B | 呢啲係羊肉嚟嘅。 ni1 di1 hai6 joeng4 juk6 lai4 ge3. This is lamb. |
1.
九肚魚 gau2 tou5 jyu2
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
2.
通菜 tung1 coi3
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
3.
鵝肉 ngo2 juk6
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
4.
油麵 jau4 min6
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
5.
白飯魚 baak6 faan6 jyu2
| A | ________ |
| B | ________ |
Activities
Activity 1
Listen to three conversations. The server will serve the food and drinks. What have the guests ordered? Complete the tables.
Conversation 1
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| B | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| C | |
| A | |
| D |
Conversation 2
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| B | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| C | |
| A | |
| C | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| C |
Conversation 3 (⚠️ Explicit)
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| C | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| C | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| B | |
| A | |
| B | |
| C | |
A few moments later… | |
| A | |
| C | |
| B |
Transcripts with Translation
Conversation 1
| A | 小心呀吓，熱奶茶、兩杯凍檸茶。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, jit6 naai5 caa4, loeng5 bui1 dung3 ning2 caa4. Be careful. Hot milk tea, two cups of iced lemon tea. |
| B | 凍檸茶邊杯係少甜㗎？ dung3 ning2 caa4 bin1 bui1 hai6 siu2 tim4 gaa3? For the lemon tea, which cup is with less sugar? |
| A | 呢杯係走甜嘅。 ni1 bui1 hai6 zau2 tim4 ge3. This cup is without sugar. |
| B | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | A餐跟飯係邊個㗎？ A caan1 gan1 faan6 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3? Set A served with rice is whose? [= Who is Set A served with rice for?] |
| B | A餐跟飯係我嘅，唔該。 A caan1 gan1 faan6 hai6 ngo5 ge3, m4 goi1. Set A served with rice is mine. Thank you. |
| A | A餐跟意粉呢？ A caan1 gan1 ji3 fan2 ne1? How about Set A served with spaghetti? |
| C | 我嘅，唔該。 ngo5 ge3, m4 goi1. Mine. Thank you. |
| A | E餐跟意粉。 E caan1 gan1 ji3 fan2. Set E served with spaghetti. |
| D | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Conversation 2
| A | 睇熱呀吓，熱呵瀝、熱華田、熱鴛鴦。 tai2 jit6 aa3 haa2, jit6 ho1 lik1, jit6 waa4 tin4, jit6 jyun1 joeng1. Be careful of hot things. Hot Horlicks, hot Ovaltine and hot yuen yeung. |
| B | 邊杯係華田嚟㗎？ bin1 bui1 hai6 waa4 tin4 lai4 gaa3? Which cup is Ovaltine? |
| A | 呢杯係華田嚟嘅，呢杯係鴛鴦嚟嘅。 ni1 bui1 hai6 waa4 tin4 lai4 ge3, ni1 bui1 hai6 jyun1 joeng1 lai4 ge3. This cup is Ovaltine. This cup is yuen yeung. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 睇熱呀吓。 tai2 jit6 aa3 haa2. Be careful of hot things. |
| B | 呢碟係乜嘢嚟㗎？ ni1 dip6 hai6 mat1 je5 lai4 gaa3? What is this plate? |
| A | 呢碟係星洲炒米嚟嘅。 ni1 dip6 hai6 sing1 zau1 caau2 mai5 lai4 ge3. This plate is Singapore-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli. |
| B | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 睇熱呀吓，廈門炒米、乾炒牛河。 tai2 jit6 aa3 haa2, haa6 mun4 caau2 mai5, gon1 caau2 ngau4 ho2. Be careful of hot things. Amoy-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli and Stir‑Fried Hor Fun [flat rice noodles] with Beef. |
| C | 廈門炒米我叫咗走蝦嘅。 haa6 mun4 caau2 mai5 ngo5 giu3 zo2 zau2 haa1 ge3. For Amoy-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli, I have ordered it without shrimp. |
| A | 唔好意思，我同你換一換吖。 m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 tung4 nei5 wun6 jat1 wun6 aa1. Sorry. Let me change it for you. |
| C | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 睇熱呀吓，廈門炒米走蝦。 tai2 jit6 aa3 haa2, haa6 mun4 caau2 mai5 zau2 haa1. Be careful of hot things. Amoy-Style Fried Rice Vermicelli without shrimp. |
| C | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Conversation 3 (⚠️ Explicit)
| A | 小心呀吓，紅豆冰、凍啡少甜。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, hung4 dau2 bing1, dung3 fe1 siu2 tim4. Be careful. Red bean ice and iced coffee with less sugar. |
| B | 我係要走甜，唔係要少甜呀。 ngo5 hai6 jiu3 zau2 tim4, m4 hai6 jiu3 siu2 tim4 aa3. What I want is without sugar. What I want is not less sugar. |
| A | 唔好意思，我同你換一換吖。 m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 tung4 nei5 wun6 jat1 wun6 aa1. Sorry. Let me change it for you. |
| C | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 小心呀吓，凍啡走甜。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, dung3 fe1 zau2 tim4. Be careful. Iced coffee without sugar. |
| C | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 小心呀吓，炸雞髀配薯條、餐蛋治。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, zaa3 gai1 bei2 pui3 syu4 tiu2, caan1 daan2 zi6. Be careful. Fried Chicken Leg Quarter with French Fries, and Luncheon Meat and Egg Sandwich. |
| B | 我係要腿蛋治，唔係要餐蛋治呀。屌，又錯，有冇搞錯呀！你係咪黐撚線㗎？ ngo5 hai6 jiu3 teoi2 daan2 zi6, m4 hai6 jiu3 caan1 daan2 zi6 aa3. diu2, jau6 co3, jau5 mou5 gaau2 co3 aa3! nei5 hai6 mai6 ci1 lan2 sin3 gaa3? What I want is Ham and Egg Sandwich. What I want is not Luncheon Meat and Egg Sandwich. Fuck. Wrong again. What the hell? Are you fucking insane? |
| A | 唔好意思，唔好意思，我同你換一換吖，請等一陣。 m4 hou2 ji3 si1, m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 tung4 nei5 wun6 jat1 wun6 aa1, cing2 dang2 jat1 zan6. Sorry. Sorry. Let me change it for you. Please wait a moment. |
| B | 質！ zat1! Tsk! [Interjection to show annoyance] |
| C | 唔該晒，唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3, m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. |
A few moments later… | |
| A | 小心呀吓，腿蛋治，唔好意思。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2, teoi2 daan2 zi6, m4 hou2 ji3 si1. Be careful. Ham and Egg Sandwich. Sorry. |
| C | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
| B | 質，都唔知你有冇帶個腦返工㗎，屌！ zat1, dou1 m4 zi1 nei5 jau5 mou5 daai3 go3 nou5 faan1 gung1 gaa3, diu2! Tsk! I don’t know if you have brought your brain to go to work. Fuck! |
- We can call B 西客 sai1 haak3 (‘shitty customer’).
Activity 2
Listen to five conversations. In each conversation, the guest will get help from the server, or the server will offer help. Match the correct type of help to each conversation.
| A. | 加水 gaa1 seoi2 |
| B. | 收嘢 sau1 je5 |
| C. | 換碗 wun6 wun2 |
| D. | 上炒飯 soeng5 caau2 faan6 |
| E. | 追甜品 zeoi1 tim4 ban2 |
Conversation 1
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 |
Conversation 2
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 |
Conversation 3
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 |
Conversation 4
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 |
Conversation 5
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 |
Transcripts with Translation
Conversation 1
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該同我換一換隻碗吖。 m4 goi1 tung4 ngo5 wun6 jat1 wun6 zek3 wun2 aa1. Please change the bowl for me. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 好呀，請等一陣。 hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 jat1 zan6. Good. [= Sure.] Please wait a moment. |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 小心呀吓。 siu2 sam1 aa3 haa2. Be careful. |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Conversation 2
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 使唔使幫你哋收一收啲嘢嘅？ sai2 m4 sai2 bong1 nei5 dei6 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 je5 ge2? Do I need to collect the things for you? |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 好呀，唔該。 hou2 aa3, m4 goi1. Good. [= Yes.] Thank you. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 請問呢碟嘢仲要唔要嘅？ cing2 man6 ni1 dip6 je5 zung6 jiu3 m4 jiu3 ge2? May I ask if you still want this plate of things [food]? |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔要喇，唔該。 m4 jiu3 laa3, m4 goi1. We don’t want it already. Thank you. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 呢碟呢？ ni1 dip6 ne1? How about this plate? |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 呢碟仲要㗎，唔該。 ni1 dip6 zung6 jiu3 gaa3, m4 goi1. We still want this plate. Thank you. |
Conversation 3
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該同我哋加一加水吖。 m4 goi1 tung4 ngo5 dei6 gaa1 jat1 gaa1 seoi2 aa1. Please add water [= refill the cups or teapots] for us. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 好呀，請等一陣。 hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 jat1 zan6. Good. [= Sure.] Please wait a moment. |
A few moments later… | |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 睇熱呀吓。 tai2 jit6 aa3 haa2. Be careful of hot things. |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Conversation 4
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 啲甜品仲未嚟呀，唔該幫我哋追一追吖。 di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3, m4 goi1 bong1 ngo5 dei6 zeoi1 jat1 zeoi1 aa1. The desserts still haven’t come yet. Please chase them for us. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 唔好意思，我幫你哋跟一跟吖。 m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 gan1 jat1 gan1 aa1. Sorry. Let me follow up on them for you. |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Conversation 5
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該上得個炒飯喇。 m4 goi1 soeng5 dak1 go3 caau2 faan6 laa3. You can serve the fried rice already, please. |
| 職員 zik1 jyun4 | 好呀，請等一陣。 hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 jat1 zan6. Good. [= Sure.] Please wait a moment. |
| 客人 haak3 jan4 | 唔該晒。 m4 goi1 saai3. Thank you so much. |
Activity 3
Form a pair. Get a set of role cards. There are 5 role cards in total. In each round, first play rock paper scissors (猜包剪揼 caai1 baau1 zin2 dap6). The winner will draw a role card. Make a short conversation based on the instructions on the role card. Start a new round until all the role cards are used.
- 包剪揼 baau1 zin2 dap6 = Expression for playing rock paper scissors in Cantonese (‘paper + scissors + rock’)
- 贏 jeng4 = to win
- 輸 syu1 = to lose
- 客人 haak3 jan4 = guest
- 職員 zik1 jyun4 = staff
- 叫 giu3 + Person + Task = to ask someone to do something
- 問 man6 + Person + Thing = to ask someone something
- 回應 wui4 jing3 + Person = to respond to someone
Role Cards