Free Cantonese Chinese Lessons
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Free Cantonese Chinese LessonsMain Menu | Mandarin Lessons | Chinese Tutoring | Discussion Forum |
These Cantonese Chinese lessons have been designed to provide practical travel vocabulary and a foundation for basic conversational skills. You may also download a complete audio transcript for listening in your car. |
| English: | Soap | |
| Chinese: | fahn-gahn |
| English: | Is there any soap? | |
| Chinese: | yau moh fahn-gahn ah | |
| Literally: | have-not-have soap +? |
| English: | Towel | |
| Chinese: | moh-gun |
| English: | A towel (with measure word) | |
| Chinese: | tew moh-gun | |
| Literally: | a towel |
| The verb construction in the following phrase demonstrates an alternative method of asking a question using the verb to be. |
| English: | Is there a towel? | |
| Chinese: | hie-hm-hie yau tew moh-gun ah | |
| Literally: | is-not-is have towel? +? |
| English: | Where is the towel? | |
| Chinese: | moh-gun hie been doh ah | |
| Literally: | towel located where +? |
| English: | Pen | |
| Chinese: | but |
| English: | Do you have a pen | |
| Chinese: | nay yau moh but ah | |
| Literally: | you have-not-have pen +? |
| English: | No, I don't have a pen | |
| Chinese: | mo, ngoh moh but | |
| Literally: | not have, I not have pen |
| English: | (Measure work for stick like things, including pens) | |
| Chinese: | tchee |
| English: | One pen | |
| Chinese: | yut tchee but | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | Yes, I have 3 pens | |
| Chinese: | yau, ngoh yau sahm tchee but | |
| Literally: | have, I have 3 pens |
| In Cantonese, the verb to have can also mean there are: |
| English: | There are many people here | |
| Chinese: | nee-doh yau hoh doh yahn | |
| Literally: | here has many people |
| English: | Money | |
| Chinese: | tcheen |
| English: | Do you have any money? | |
| Chinese: | nay yau moh tcheen ah | |
| Literally: | you have / not have money +? |
| English: | I have money | |
| Chinese: | ngoh yau tcheen | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | I have some money | |
| Chinese: | ngoh yau yut-dee tcheen | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | I have a lot of money | |
| Chinese: | ngoh yau hoh doh tcheen | |
| Literally: | I have very much money |
| English: | Rich | |
| Chinese: | hoh yau tcheen | |
| Literally: | very has money |
| English: | She is rich | |
| Chinese: | keui hoh yau tcheen | |
| Literally: | she very rich |