帝國

First Verbs

1. be - 係 haih, 喺 hái (to be in/at/on)

2. there is - 有 yóuh (neg.=冇 móuh)

3. have - 有 yóuh (neg.=冇 móuh)

4. do - 做 jouh

5. go - 去 heui

6. want - 要 yiu, 想 séung (with a verb)

7. can - 可以 hó yíh (allowed to), 識 sīk (literally means “know how to,” but can be used to mean “can”), 會 wúih (have the ability to, know how to), -得 dāk (can mean either), -得倒 dākdóu (same as -得 dāk, neg.=-唔倒 m̀hdóu)

8. need - 需要 sēui yiu, 要 yiu (neg.=唔駛 m̀hsái)

9. think - 諗 nám

10. know - 知(道) jī (dou), 識 sīk (“know how to”)

11. say - 講 góng, 話 wah

12. like - 鍾意 jūng yi, 中意 jūng yi

13. speak - 講 góng, 識講 sīk góng (a language)

14. learn - 學 hohk

15. understand - 明白 mìhng baahk

Conjunctions

1. that (as in “I think that…” or “the woman that…”) - not a thing

2. and - 同 tùhng

3. or - 定係 dihng haih

4. but - 但係 daahn haih

5. because - 因為 yān waih

6. though - 雖說 sēui syut

7. so (meaning “therefore”; e.g. “I wanted it, so I bought it”) - 噉 gám

8. if - 如果 yùh gwó

Prepositions

1. of - 嘅 ge

2. to - 去 héui

3. from - 由 yàuh

4. in - 在 joih, 喺 hái

5. at (a place) - 喺 hái

6. at (a time) - 喺 hái

7. with - 同 tùhng

8. about - 關於 gwāan yū

9. like (meaning “similar to”) - 噉 gám

10. for - 為 wàih

11. before (also as a conjunction) - 之前 jī chìh

12. after (also as a conjunction) - 之後 jī hauh

13. during - 之際 jī jai

Question Words

1. who - 邊個 bīn go

2. what - 乜野 māt yéh

3. where - 邊度 bīn douh

4. when - 幾時 géi sìh

5. why - 點解 dím gáai

6. how - 點樣 dím yéung

7. how much - 幾多 géi dō

8. which - 邊 bīn

Adverbs

1. a lot - 好多 hóu dō

2. a little - 少少 síu síu

3. well - 好 hóu

4. badly - 壞 waaih

5. only - 只係 jí haih

6. also - 都 dōu, 又 yauh

7. very - 好 hóu

8. too (as in “too tall”) - 太 taai

9. too much - 太多 taai dō

10. so (as in “so tall”) - 咁 gam

11. so much - 咁多 gam dō

12. more - 過 gwo (put after the adjective: 我高過你 ngóh gōu gwo néih=I am taller than you)

13. less - not really a thing, negative version of the 過 gwo construction

14. as … as … (e.g. “as tall as”) - Positive: 同...一樣咁 tùhng...yāt yeuhng gam (e.g. 我同你一樣咁高 ngóh tùhng néih yāt yeuhng gam gōu=I am as tall as you), Negative: 冇...一樣咁 móuh...yāt yeuhng gam (e.g. 我冇你一樣咁高 ngóh móuh néih yāt yeuhng gam gōu=I am not as tall as you)

15. most - 最...嘞 jeui...lak (e.g. 最高嘞 jeui gōu lak=tallest, the 嘞 lak goes at the end of the sentence)

16. least - not really a thing, negative version of the 最...嘞 jeui...lak construction

17. better - 好過 hóu gwo

18. best - 最好嘞 jeui hóu lak

19. worse - 壞過 waaih gwo

20. worst - 最壞嘞 jeui waaih lak

21. now - 而家 yìh gā

22. then - 當時 dōng sìh, 就 jauh (when in the construction “if..., then...”)

23. here - 呢度 nī douh

24. there - 嗰度 gó douh

25. maybe - 話唔定 wah m̀h dihng

26. always - 成日 sèhng yaht

27. usually - 通常 tūng sèuhng

28. often - 周不時 jāu bāt sìh

29. sometimes - 有時 yáuh sìh

30. never - 從未 chùhng meih

31. today - 今日 gām yaht

32. yesterday - 琴日 kàhm yaht

33. tomorrow - 聽日 tīng yaht

34. soon - 就快 jauh faai

35. almost - 差唔多 chā m̀h dō (similar), 就嚟 jauh lèih (soon)

36. already - 已經 yíh gīng

37. still - 重係 juhng haih

38. even - 連...都 lìhn...dōu, 甚至 sahm ji

39. enough - 夠 gau

Adjectives

1. the, a (technically articles) - not a thing, but using just a classifier could make it definite in a way

2. this - 呢 nī

3. that - 嗰 gó

4. good - 好 hóu

5. bad - 壞 waaih

6. all - 都 dōu

7. some - 啲 dī

8. no - 唔喺 m̀h hái

9. any - 任何 yahm hòh

10. many - 多 dō

11. few - 少 síu

12. most - 最 jeui

13. other - 其他 kèih tā

14. same - 一樣 yāt yeuhng

15. different - 唔同 m̀h tùhng

16. enough - 夠 gau

17. one - 一 yāt

18. two - 兩 léuhng (with a noun, “a pair of”), 二 yih (the number two)

19. a few - 幾 géi

20. first - 第一 daih yāt (with a noun), 先 sīn (first this, then that)

21. next - 下一個 hah yāt go

22. last (meaning “past”, e.g. “last Friday”) - 舊年 gauh nín, 上個月 seuhng go yuht (last month), 噙晚 kàhm máahn (last night)

23. last (meaning “final”) - 最後 jeui hauh

24. easy - 容易 yùhng yih

25. hard - 辛苦 sān fú (not easy), 硬 ngaahng (not soft)

26. early - 早 jóu

27. late - 遲 chìh

28. important - 緊要 gán yiu

29. interesting - 有趣 yáuh cheui

30. fun - 好玩 hóu wàahn

31. boring - 腌悶 yīm muhn

32. beautiful - 靚 leng

33. big - 大 daaih

34. small - 細 sai

35. happy - 開心 hōi sām

36. sad - 難過 nàahn gwo

37. busy - 忙 mòhng

38. excited - 興奮 hīng fáhn

39. tired - 癐 guih

40. ready - 準備 jéun beih

41. favorite - 最愛 jeui oi

42. new - 新 sān

43. right (meaning “correct”) - 啱 ngāam

44. wrong - 錯 cho

45. true - 真 jān

Pronouns

1. I - 我 ngóh

2. you 你 néih

3. she - 佢 kéuih

4. he - 佢 kéuih

5. it - 佢 kéuih

6. we - 我哋 ngóh deih

7. you (plural) - 你哋 néih deih

8. they - 佢哋 kéuih deih

Nouns

1. everything - 乜都 māt dōu

2. something - 嘢 yéh

3. nothing - 冇嘢 móuh yéh

4. everyone - 大家 daaih gā

5. someone - 有人 yáuh yàhn

6. no one - 冇人 móuh yàhn

7. Cantonese - 廣州話 gwóng jāu wah, 廣東話 gwóng dūng wah, 粵語 yuht yúh (Yue Chinese, which Cantonese is technically a dialect of)

8. English - 英文 yīng màhn

9. thing - 嘢 yéh

10. person - 人 yàhn

11. place - 地方 deih fōng

12. time (as in “a long time”) - 時間 sìh gaan

13. time (as in “I did it 3 times”) - 次 chi

14. friend - 朋友 pàhng yáuh

15. woman - 女人 néuih yàhn

16. man - 男人 nàahm yàhn

17. money - 錢 chìhn

18. country - 國家 gwok gā

19.   China - 中國 jūng gwok, 中華人民共和國 jūng wàh yàhn màhn guhng wòh gwok (PRC)

20. U.S.A. - 美國 méih gwok

21. city - 城市 sìhng síh

22. language - 語言 yúh yìhn

23. word - 字 jih

24. food - 食物 sihk maht

25. house - 屋 ūk

26. store - 舖頭 pou tàuh

27. office - 寫字樓 sé jih làuh

28. company - 公司 gūng sī

29. manager - 經理 gīng léih

30. coworker - 同事 tùhng sih

31. job - 工 gūng

32. work (as in “I have a lot of work to do”) - 工作 gūng jok

33. problem - 問題 mahn tàih

34. question - 問題 mahn tàih

35. idea - 主意 jyú yi

36. life - 生命 sāng mihng

37. world - 世界 sai gaai

38. day - 日 yaht

39. year - 年 nìhn

40. week - 禮拜 láih baai

41. month - 月 yuht

42. hour - 小時 síu sìh

43. mother - 媽媽 màh mā, 老母 lóuh móuh

44. father - 爸爸 bàh bā, 老豆 lóuh dauh

45. parent - 親 chān, 父母 fuh móuh (more in the sense of “parents”)

46. daughter - 女 néuih

47. son - 仔 jái

48. child - 細路 sai louh, 仔女 jái néuih (“sons and daughter, children”)

49. wife - 老婆 lóuh pòh

50. husband - 老公 lóuh gūng

51. girlfriend - 女朋友 néuih pàhng yáuh

52. boyfriend - 男朋友 nàahm pàhng yáuh

More Verbs

1. work (as in a person working) - 工作 gūng jok

2. work (meaning “to function”, e.g. “the TV works”) - 功能 gūng nàhng

3. see - 見 gin

4. use - 用 yuhng

5. should - 應份 yīng fahn

6. believe - 信 seun

7. practice - 練習 lihn jaahp

8. seem - 睇嚟 tái lèih

9. come - 嚟 lèih

10. leave - 離開 lèih hōi

11. return - 返 fāan

12. give - 畀 béi

13. take - 攞 ló

14. bring - 拎 nīng, 帶 daai

15. look for - 搜 sáu, 搵 wán

16. find - 探 taam, 搵 wán

17. get (meaning “obtain”) - 得到 dāk dou

18. receive - 收倒 sāu dóu, 收到 sāu dóu

19. buy - 買 máaih

20. try - 試 si

21. start - 開始 hōi chí

22. stop (doing something) - 停(止) tìhng (jí)

23. finish - 殺攤 saat tāan

24. continue - 繼續 gai juhk

25. wake up - 醒 séng

26. get up - 起身 héi sān

27. eat - 食 sihk

28. eat breakfast - 食早餐 sihk jóu chāan

29. eat lunch - 食午餐 sihk ńgh chāan, 食晏 sihk aan

30. eat dinner - 食晚餐 sihk máahn chāan

31. happen - 發生 faat sāng

32. feel - 覺得 gok dāk (also means “to think”)

33. create (aka “make”) - 做 jouh, 造 jouh

34. cause (aka “make”) - 令 lihng

35. meet (meeting someone for the first time) - 相見 sēung gin

36. meet (meaning “to bump into”) - 見 gin, 會 wuíh

37. meet (an arranged meeting) - 見 gin, 會 wuíh

38. ask (a question) - 問 mahn

39. ask for (aka “request”) - 請求 chíng kàuh

40. wonder - 懷疑 wàaih yìh

41. reply - 回覆 wuìh fūk

42. mean - 意味着 yi meih jeuhk (signify), 係意思 haih yi sī

43. read - 睇(書) tái (syū)

44. write - 寫 sé

45. listen - 聽 tēng, 留心聽 làuh sām tēng

46. hear - 聽 tēng

47. remember - 記得 gei dāk

48. forget - 忘記 mòhng gei

49. choose - 選擇 syún jaahk

50. decide - 決定 kyut dihng

51. be born - 誕生 daan sāang, 出世 chēut sai

52. die - 死 séi

53. kill - 殺 saat

54. live - 住 jyuh (reside in a place), 生存 sāang chyùhn

55. stay - 留低 làuh dāi (remain behind)

56. change - 改(變) gói (bin)

57. help - 幫...手 bōng...sáu (lend a hand), 幫助 bōng joh

58. send - 發 faat

59. study - 讀書 duhk syū, 學習 hohk jaahp

60. improve - 改進 gói jeun

61. hope - 希望 hēi mohng

62. care - 着緊 jeuhk gán

Phrases

1. hello - 你好 néih hóu

2. goodbye - 再見 joi gin

3. thank you - 唔該 m̀h gōi

4. you’re welcome - 唔使 m̀h sái

5. excuse me (to get someone’s attention) - 請問 chéng mahn, 唔該 m̀h gōi

6. sorry - 對唔住 deui m̀h jyuh

7. it’s fine (response to an apology) - 唔緊要 m̀h gán yiu

8. please - 唔該 m̀h gōi

9. yes - 係 haih

10. no - 唔係 m̀h haih

11. okay - 得 dāk

12. My name is - 我個名係 ngóh go mìhng haih

13. What’s your name? - 你叫咩名？ néih giu mē mìhng

14. Nice to meet you. - 好高興見到你 hóu gōu hing gin dou néih

15. How are you? - 你最近點？ néih jeui gahn dím

16. I’m doing well, how about you? - 好好，有心。你呢？ hóu hóu, yáuh sām. néih nē?

17. Sorry? / What? (if you didn’t hear something) - 乜野？ māt yéh?

18. How do you say ______ (in Cantonese)? - ______ 用（粵語）點講？ ______ yuhng (yuht yúh) dím góng?

19. What does ______ mean? - ______係咩意思？ ______ haih mē yi sī

20. I don’t understand. - 我唔明（白）ngóh m̀h mìhng (baahk)

21. Could you repeat that? - 你可唔可以重複一次 néih hó m̀h hó yíh chùhng fūk yāt chi

22. Could you speak more slowly, please? - 你可唔可以講慢啲 néih hó m̀h hó yíh góng maahn dīt

23. Well (as in “well, I think…”) - 好呀 hóu ā

24. Really? - 真係？ jān haih?

25. I guess that - 我估 ngóh gú

26. It’s hot. (talking about the weather) - 今日好熱 gām yaht hóu yiht (Today it’s hot)

27. It’s cold. (talking about the weather) - 今日好冷 gām yaht hóu láahng (Today it’s cold)

助詞 johchìh (particles):

錯 cho - incorrect or wrong action (ex.: 行錯 hàahngcho - walk the wrong way, walk wrong)

得 dāk (1) - adjective following the verb becomes an adverb, “in such a way that” (ex.: 畀得快 béidāk faai - give quickly, give in such a way that it is quick)

得 dāk (2) - the action is possible, “can,” “able to” (ex.: 寫得 sédāk - able to write, can write)

得倒 dākdóu - “able to,” alternative to just 得 dāk (ex.: 用得倒 yuhngdākdóu - able to use)

倒 dóu - succeed in doing the action (ex.: 學倒 hohkdóu - manage to learn, succeed in learning)

緊 gán - action is ongoing/continuous (ex.: 食緊 sihkgán - be eating)

過 gwo - action has occurred, present perfect (ex.: 畀過 béigwo - have given)

吓 háh - brief action (ex.: 睇吓 táiháh - take a peek, look at for a moment)

起嚟 héilàih - “when it comes to” the action, “once you start” the action (ex.: 用起嚟 yuhnghéilàih - when it comes to using, once you start using)

開 hōi - action that creates a gap (ex.: 行開 hàahnghōi - walk away)

好 hóu - satisfactory action, action completed to satisfaction (ex.: 寫好 séhóu - write to satisfaction, complete all the writing that had to be done)

咗 jó - completed action (ex.: 食咗 sihkjó - ate)

住 jyuh - sustained state of the action (ex.: 睇住 táijyuh - keep on looking, keeping an eye on)

落去 lohkheui - continue doing the action (ex.: 學落去 hohklohkheui - continue learning, carry on learning)

落嚟 lohklàih - downwards action (ex.: 睇落嚟 táilohklàih - look down)

埋 màaih - action that closes a gap (ex.: 行埋 hàahngmàaih - walk closer)

唔倒 m̀hdóu - “unable to,” negative for 得 dāk (ex.: 用唔倒 yuhngm̀hdóu - unable to use)

晒 saai - fully completed action, “completely,” “at all” (ex.: 冇晒 móuhsaai - not have at all, complete not have; 食晒 sihksaai - eat all up, eat all of)

成 sèhng - “make into,” “becoming” (ex.: 做成 jouhsèhng - make into; 改成 góisèhng - change into)

上 séuhng - upwards action, action onto something (ex.: 睇上 táiséuhng - look up; 貼上 tipséuhng - stick onto)

完 yùhn - an ended action (ex.: 學完 hohkyùhn - finish learning)

無 mòuh (negative):

唔 m̀h - negates most verbs

冇 móuh - negative of 有 yáuh (to have, there is/are)

唔駛 m̀hsái - negative of 要 yiu (to need to)

秩序 dihtjeuih:

動詞 - 主詞 - 對象/其他字

duhngchìh - zyúchìh - deuijeuhng/kèihtājih

事例 sihlaih:

يتعلم الرجل العربية

yuta’allamu ar-rajul(u) al-’arabīya(ta)

個男人學阿拉伯語

go nàahmjàhn hohk alāaibaakyúh

تعلم ta’allama - 佢（男性）學左 kéuih (nàahmsing) hohk jó

يتعلم yuta’allamu - 佢（男性）學 kéuih (nàahmsing) hohk

الرجل ar-rajul(u) - 個男人 go nàahmjàhn

ال al - 定冠詞 dihnggunchìh

رجل rajul - 男人 nàahmjàhn

ُ u - 同定冠詞主格結局（正式） tùhng dihnggunchìh jyúgaak gitguhk (jingsīk)

العربية al-’arabīya(ta) - 阿拉伯語 alāaibaakyúh

َ a - 同定冠詞賓格結局（正式） tùhng dihnggunchìh bāngaak gitguhk (jingsīk)

簡單結局（正式） gáandāan gitguhk (jingsīk)

在口語，名詞冇結局。

zoih háuyúh, mìhngchìh móuh gitguhk.

ٌ un - 不加定冠詞主格 bātgā dihnggunchìh jyúgaak

ُ u - 同定冠詞主格 tùhng dihnggunchìh jyúgaak

ً an - 不加定冠詞賓格 bātgā dihnggunchìh bāngaak

َ a - 同定冠詞賓格 tùhng dihnggunchìh bāngaak

ٍ in - 不加定冠詞所有格 bātgā dihnggunchìh sóyáuhgaak

ِ i - 同定冠詞所有格 tùhng dihnggunchìh sóyáuhgaak

現在時動詞 yihnzoihsìh duhngchìh

單數 dāansou

ُ-動詞-أ ‘a-duhngchìh-u - 我 ngóh

ُ-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-u - 你（男性）néih (nàahmsing)

ين-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-īna - 你（女性）néih (néuihsing)

ُ-動詞-ي ya-duhngchìh-u - 佢（男性）kéuih (nàahmsing)

ُ-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-u - 佢（女性）kéuih (néuihsing)

雙數 sēungsou

ان-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-āni - 你哋（二） néihdeih (yih)

ان-動詞-ي ya-duhngchìh-āni - 佢哋（男性，二）kéuihdeih (nàahmsing, yih)

ان-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-āni - 佢哋（女性，二）kéuihdeih (néuihsing, yih)

複數 fūksou

ُ-動詞-ن na-duhngchìh-u - 我哋 ngóhdeih

ون-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-ūna - 你哋（男性）néihdeih (nàahmsing)

ن-動詞-ت ta-duhngchìh-na - 你哋（女性）néihdeih (néuihsing)

ون-動詞-ي ya-duhngchìh-ūna - 佢哋（男性）kéuihdeih (nàahmsing)

秩序 dihtjeuih:

主詞 (+ 助詞) - 對象/其他字  (+ 助詞) - 動詞

zyúchìh (+ johchìh) - deuijeuhng/kèihtājih (+ johchìh) - duhngchìh

事例 sihlaih:

나는 문을 닫는다

我閂門

ngóh sāanmùhn

나+는 - 문+을 - 닫+는다

나 - 我 ngóh

는 - 話題助詞 wahtàih johchìh

문 - 門 mùhn

을 - 賓格助詞 bāngaak johchìh

닫다 - 閂 sāan

-는다 - 簡樸動詞 gáanpok duhngchìh

나는 학교에 있는다

我喺學校

ngóh hái hohkhaauh

나+는 - 학교+에 - 있+는다

나 - 我 ngóh

는 - 話題助詞 wahtàih johchìh

학교 - 學校 hohkhaauh

에 - 與格助詞 yúhgaak johchìh

있다 - 喺 hái

-는다 - 簡樸動詞 gáanpok duhngchìh

나는 책이 있는다

我有書

ngóh yáuh syū

나+는 - 책+이 - 있+는다

나 - 我 ngóh

는 - 話題助詞 wahtàih johchìh

책 - 書 syū

이 - 主格助詞 jyúgaak johchìh

있다 - 有 yáuh

-는다 - 簡樸動詞 gáanpok duhngchìh

簡單助詞 gáandāan johchìh

는/은 - 話題助詞 wahtàih johchìh

를/을 - 賓格助詞 bāngaak johchìh

에 - 與格助詞 yúhgaak johchìh

의 - 所有格助詞 sóyáuhgaak johchìh

가/이 - 主格助詞 jyúgaak johchìh

簡樸動詞 gáanpok duhngchìh

要是不加“-다”動詞嘅結局係子音，就添加“-는다”。

yiusih bātgā “-다” duhngchìh ge gitguhk haih jíyām, jauh tīmgā “-는다”.

要是不加“-다”動詞嘅結局係母音，就添加“-ㄴ다”。

子音 jíyām (consonants):

b - [p] - unaspirated p, like spot

p - [pʰ] - aspirated p, like park

d - [t] - unaspirated t, like stop

t - [tʰ] - aspirated t, like talk

g - [k] - unaspirated k, like sky

k - [kʰ] - aspirated k, like king

gw - [kʷ] - unaspirated qu, like squirm

kw - [kʷʰ] - aspirated qu, like queen

j - [ts] - z in Jyutping - unaspirated ts, like cats

ch - [tsʰ] - c in Jyutping - aspirated ts 

m - [m] - like make

n - [n] - like now

ng - [ŋ] - like bring

f - [f] - like food

h - [h] - like hand

l - [l] - like lake

s - [s] - like super

y - [j] - j in Jyutping - like yellow

w - [w] - like wake

母音 móuhyām (vowels):

a - [aː] - aa in Jyutping - like father

aai - [aːi]

aau - [aːu]

aam - [aːm]

aan - [aːn]

aang - [aːŋ]

aap - [aːp]

aat - [aːt]

aak - [aːk]

ai - [ɐi] - shorter version of aai

au - [ɐu]

am - [ɐm]

an - [ɐn]

ang - [ɐŋ]

ap - [ɐp]

at - [ɐt]

ak - [ɐk]

e - [ɛː] - like dress

ei - [ei] - like pay

eng - [ɛːŋ]

ek - [ɛːk]

i - [iː] - like meet

iu - [iːu]

im - [iːm]

in - [iːn]

ing - [ɪŋ] - like king

ip - [iːp]

it - [iːt]

ik - [ɪk]

o - [ɔː] - like fox

oi - [ɔːi]

ou - [ou] - like go

on - [ɔːn]

ong - [ɔːŋ]

ot - [ɔːt]

ok - [ɔːk]

u - [uː] - like do

ui - [uːi]

un - [uːn]

ung - [ʊŋ] - like Kung-Fu

ut - [uːt]

uk - [ʊk]

eu - [œː] - oe in Jyutping - œ in French, similar to bird

eui - [ɵy] - eoi in Jyutping - shorter version of eu with a rounded [i] sound, ü in German

eun - [ɵn] - oen in Jyutping

eung - [œːŋ] - oeng in Jyutping

eut - [ɵt] - eot in Jyutping

euk - [œːk] - eok in Jyutping

yu - [yː] - rounded [i] sound, ü in German

yun - [yːn]

yut - [yːt]

m - [m̩] - vocalic m, like hmmm

ng - [ŋ̩] - vocalic ng, like nggg

聲調 sīngdiuh (tones):

ā - 陰平 yāmpìhng (high flat) - 1 in Jyutping

á - 陰上 yāmsòehng (mid rising) - 2 in Jyutping

a - 陰去 yāmheui (mid flat) - 3 in Jyutping

àh - 陽平 yèuhngpìhng (low falling or low flat) - 4 in Jyutping

áh - 陽上 yèuhngsèuhng (low rising) - 5 in Jyutping

單數 dāansou (singular):

我 ngóh - I

你 néih - you

佢 kéuih - he/she/it

複數 fūksou (plural):

我哋 ngóhdeih - we

你哋 néihdeih - y’all