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Hong Kong · Cantonese Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    你好
    Hello “nei hou”
  2. 2
    唔該
    Thank you / Excuse me (for a favor or service, or to get attention) “m goi”
  3. 3
    多謝
    Thank you (for a gift or kindness) “do je”
  4. 4
    唔緊要
    It's okay / You're welcome “m gan yiu”
  5. 5
    對唔住
    I'm sorry “deui m jyu”
  6. 6
    早晨
    Good morning “jou san”
  7. 7
    拜拜
    Bye-bye “baai baai”
Local etiquette
  • Distinguish 唔該 (m goi) from 多謝 (do je): use m goi for a service or favor, and do je when you receive a gift or kindness.
  • Cantonese is the everyday language in Hong Kong. A few words of Cantonese are far more appreciated than Mandarin.
  • Signs and menus use Traditional Chinese characters, which look different from Simplified ones.

Basics

  1. 1
    係 / 唔係
    Yes / No “hai / m hai”
  2. 2
    我唔識講廣東話
    I don't speak Cantonese “ngo m sik gong gwong dung wa”
  3. 3
    你識唔識講英文？
    Do you speak English? “nei sik m sik gong ying man?”
  4. 4
    唔該講慢啲
    Please speak slowly “m goi gong maan di”
  5. 5
    呢個係乜嘢？
    What is this? “ni go hai mat ye?”
  6. 6
    可唔可以影相？
    May I take a photo? “ho m ho yi ying seung?”
  7. 7
    唔該幫我
    Please help me “m goi bong ngo”
  8. 8
    廁所喺邊度？
    Where is the restroom? “chi so hai bin dou?”
Local etiquette
  • Hong Kongers move fast. Keep ordering and paying quick and to the point.
  • In temples and some shops, ask "ho m ho yi ying seung?" before taking photos.

Shopping

  1. 1
    幾多錢？
    How much is it? “gei do chin?”
  2. 2
    可唔可以平啲？
    Can you make it cheaper? (markets and street stalls) “ho m ho yi peng di?”
  3. 3
    可唔可以刷卡？
    Can I pay by card? “ho m ho yi chaat kaat?”
  4. 4
    我睇下先
    I'm just looking, thanks “ngo tai ha sin”
  5. 5
    有冇袋？
    Do you have a bag? (often charged) “yau mou doi?”
  6. 6
    呢個唔該
    I'll take this one, please “ni go m goi”
Local etiquette
  • Bargaining is fine at street markets like Mong Kok and Stanley, but department stores and chains have fixed prices.
  • Plastic bags are charged by law (an environmental levy), so bring your own bag.
  • Street stalls and older shops are often cash-only (Hong Kong dollars), so carry small notes.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    唔該埋單
    The bill, please “m goi maai daan”
  2. 2
    幾多位？（一位）
    How many people? (— One person) “gei do wai? (yat wai)”
  3. 3
    唔該畀張餐牌
    The menu, please “m goi bei jeung chaan paai”
  4. 4
    有冇英文餐牌？
    Do you have an English menu? “yau mou ying man chaan paai?”
  5. 5
    落單
    I'd like to order “lok daan”
  6. 6
    唔該一盅兩件
    A pot of tea and some dim sum, please (yum cha) “m goi yat jung leung gin”
  7. 7
    唔該加水
    More hot water for the tea, please “m goi ga seui”
  8. 8
    呢度食定拎走？（拎走）
    For here or takeaway? (— Takeaway) “ni dou sik ding ling jau? (ling jau)”
  9. 9
    唔該畀多對筷子
    One more pair of chopsticks, please “m goi bei do deui faai ji”
Local etiquette
  • At yum cha, pour tea for others first. To say thanks, tap two fingers gently on the table.
  • Table-sharing is normal. At busy dim sum houses and cha chaan tengs, expect to share a table with strangers.
  • Leaving the teapot lid ajar is the signal for "please refill the hot water."
  • Tipping isn't strictly required, but restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill.

Getting around

  1. 1
    八達通
    Octopus card (must-have prepaid card for transit and shops) “baat daat tung”
  2. 2
    港鐵站喺邊度？
    Where is the MTR station? “gong tit jaam hai bin dou?”
  3. 3
    去邊度上車？
    Where do I get on? “heui bin dou seung che?”
  4. 4
    麻煩去呢個地址
    To this address, please (taxi) “ma faan heui ni go dei ji”
  5. 5
    有落！
    Stop, I'm getting off! (shout on a minibus or double-decker) “yau lok!”
  6. 6
    去機場點搭車？
    How do I get to the airport? “heui gei cheung dim daap che?”
  7. 7
    邊度有天星小輪？
    Where can I catch the Star Ferry? “bin dou yau tin sing siu leun?”
Local etiquette
  • One Octopus (八達通) card covers the MTR, buses, trams, ferries, and even convenience-store payments — get one first thing.
  • Stand on the right of the escalator and leave the left clear for people walking.
  • On minibuses and double-deckers, shout "yau lok!" to be let off at your stop.
  • Eating or drinking on the MTR is fined — finish food outside the platform gates.

Hotel

  1. 1
    我訂咗房
    I have a reservation “ngo deng jo fong”
  2. 2
    我想入住
    I'd like to check in “ngo seung yap jyu”
  3. 3
    幾點退房？
    What time is check-out? “gei dim teui fong?”
  4. 4
    可唔可以寄存行李？
    Can I store my luggage? “ho m ho yi gei chyun hang lei?”
  5. 5
    Wi-Fi密碼係乜嘢？
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “wai fai mat ma hai mat ye?”
Local etiquette
  • Hong Kong hotel rooms tend to be small, so there may be little space to open a large suitcase.
  • A credit-card deposit (pre-authorization) is commonly taken at check-in.

Emergency

  1. 1
    救命！
    Help! “gau meng!”
  2. 2
    唔該叫警察
    Please call the police “m goi giu ging chaat”
  3. 3
    唔該叫白車
    Please call an ambulance “m goi giu baak che”
  4. 4
    醫院喺邊度？
    Where is a hospital? “yi yun hai bin dou?”
  5. 5
    我唔舒服
    I don't feel well “ngo m syu fuk”
  6. 6
    我唔見咗護照
    I lost my passport “ngo m gin jo wu jiu”
Local etiquette
  • The single emergency number is 999 (police, fire, and ambulance). You can report in English.
  • An ambulance is commonly called 白車 (baak che, "white car") in Hong Kong.
  • If you lose your passport, contact your consulate and get a police report.