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Lesson 3: Jòu Fóng
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng bòng Làhm Yèuhngjí dá dihnwáa mahn yáuhgwán jòufóng ge sih.)
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Fòhngdong Taaitáai:
Wéi.1
Wéi.
Used to answer the phone. It is also used to get someone's attention in informal situations, or with friends.
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Chàhn Gihtmìhng: Wéi, chéngmahn, néihdeih yáuhmóuh toufóng yiu chēutjòu a?
Fòhngdong:
Yáuh2
Yáuh
Cantonese has no direct equivalent to English 'yes' and 'no.' Typically, 'yes' is expressed by the affimative form of a verb, whereas 'no' is expressed by the negative form of the verb. Sometimes the affirmative or negative form of the copula *haih* 'to be' is used as sort of a generic affirmative or negative, meaning 'that is the way it is' (*haih*) or 'that is not the way it is' (*m̀hhaih*).
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! Yium̀hyiu táiháh a?
Chàhn:
Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a3
Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a
This phrase (and the response to it) is an exception to the usual situation where a classifier is required between a number and a noun. This is a conventional expression that follows literary form where classifers are not required. Typically the bound form *géi-* 'how many' is prefixed to a classifer before a noun to ask about quantity. The noun can be deleted when what it refers to is clear from context.
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?
Fòhngdong:
Léuhng4
Léuhng
*Léuhng* 'two' is a special form of *yìh* 'two' and is used before a classifier or measure. All other numbers use their regular forms when combining with classifiers or measures.
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fóng yāt tēng.
Chàhn: Yáuhmóuh
sáisáugàan5
sáisáugàan
Literally 'wash hands room,' this term is a polite form of 'bathroom' or 'restroom.' Another common, less polite word is *chisó*, which is closer in feeling to the English 'toilet' or 'latrine.'
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, tùhng chèuihfóng ne?
Fòhngdong : Yáuh a.
Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.6
Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
This sentence is an example of a common structure in Cantonese called 'topic-comment.' The basic word order of Cantonese is Subject-Time-Place-Verb-Object (STPVO). Here the object nouns *sáisáugàan* 'washroom, bathroom' and *chyùhfóng* 'kitchen' are put at the head of the sentence for emphasis and prominence.
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Chàhn: Jòugām géidò chín a?
Fòhngdong: Baatbaak mān yātgo yuht, m̀hbàau séuidihn.
Chàhn:
Gám7
Gám
The basic sense of *gám* is 'so, thus,' but it is used here as a pause marker meaning 'well...'
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, yium̀hyiu ngon'gām nē?
Fòhngdong : Yiu ńghbaakmān ngon'gām. Dím a? Séungm̀hséung jòu a?
Chàhn: Jòugām gwaijó dī, ngóh
lámhah8
lámhah
Here *háh* 'a little' is affixed to *lam* 'to think' to soften the effect of the verb, to give the meaning 'to think on it,' 'to think awhile,' or 'to think a bit'; it can make the action expressed by the verb more casual. Another way to express the same idea is by the structure verb+*yāt*+verb, as in: *mahn+yāt+mahn* 'to ask around, to see what one can find out.'
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sìn, dākm̀hdāk a?
Fòhngdong : Dāk! Móuh mahntàih.
Chàhn: Gám, m̀hgòisaai. Joigin.
Fòhngdong :
M̀hsái9
M̀hsái
A conventional response to 'thanks,' and the rough equivalent of 'you're welcome, don't mention it (lit. 'no need').
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haakhei. Joigin.
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng dá dihnwah béi Lòh Ōn-Nèih.)
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Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi.
Chàhn: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh ngāamngāam
bòng néih10
bòng néih
This is a coverbial clause meaning 'to help with,' in this case to make an enquiry on Yoko's behalf. Note that the coverbial phrase is placed before the main verb phrase---unlike the functionally similar prepositional phrase in English.
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pàhngyáuh Làhm Yèungjí
màhnjóháh jòufóng ge sih.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai!
Chàhn:
Haih la11
Haih la
Literally meaning 'is', the phrase *haih la* is often used when a new thought has occurred to the speaker, similar to 'Oh yeah, I just remembered...' in English.
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. Ngóh taaitáai séung chéng néih tùhng Làhm Yèuhngjí lèih ngóhdeih ngūkkei sihkfaahn.
Lòh: M̀hsái gam
haakhei12
haakhei
Literally 'polite,' here *haakhei* indicates appreciation.
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lā.
Chàhn: Bihnfaahn je. Sìngkèihluhkmáahn, hóu m̀hhóu a?
Lòh: Hóu ā. Dòjèhsaai!
____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
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[
Conventions and Grammatical Terms13
Conventions and Grammatical Terms
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|
Particles14
Particles
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Dates
Dates
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| Numbers
Numbers
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| Time
Time
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| Housing
Housing
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Photo - Houses15
Photo - Houses
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]
▲ Hide Footnotes
-
Wéi.
Used to answer the phone. It is also used to get someone's attention in informal situations, or with friends.
-
Yáuh
Cantonese has no direct equivalent to English 'yes' and 'no.' Typically, 'yes' is expressed by the affimative form of a verb, whereas 'no' is expressed by the negative form of the verb. Sometimes the affirmative or negative form of the copula *haih* 'to be' is used as sort of a generic affirmative or negative, meaning 'that is the way it is' (*haih*) or 'that is not the way it is' (*m̀hhaih*).
-
Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a
This phrase (and the response to it) is an exception to the usual situation where a classifier is required between a number and a noun. This is a conventional expression that follows literary form where classifers are not required. Typically the bound form *géi-* 'how many' is prefixed to a classifer before a noun to ask about quantity. The noun can be deleted when what it refers to is clear from context.
-
Léuhng
*Léuhng* 'two' is a special form of *yìh* 'two' and is used before a classifier or measure. All other numbers use their regular forms when combining with classifiers or measures.
-
sáisáugàan
Literally 'wash hands room,' this term is a polite form of 'bathroom' or 'restroom.' Another common, less polite word is *chisó*, which is closer in feeling to the English 'toilet' or 'latrine.'
-
Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
This sentence is an example of a common structure in Cantonese called 'topic-comment.' The basic word order of Cantonese is Subject-Time-Place-Verb-Object (STPVO). Here the object nouns *sáisáugàan* 'washroom, bathroom' and *chyùhfóng* 'kitchen' are put at the head of the sentence for emphasis and prominence.
-
Gám
The basic sense of *gám* is 'so, thus,' but it is used here as a pause marker meaning 'well...'
-
lámhah
Here *háh* 'a little' is affixed to *lam* 'to think' to soften the effect of the verb, to give the meaning 'to think on it,' 'to think awhile,' or 'to think a bit'; it can make the action expressed by the verb more casual. Another way to express the same idea is by the structure verb+*yāt*+verb, as in: *mahn+yāt+mahn* 'to ask around, to see what one can find out.'
-
M̀hsái
A conventional response to 'thanks,' and the rough equivalent of 'you're welcome, don't mention it (lit. 'no need').
-
bòng néih
This is a coverbial clause meaning 'to help with,' in this case to make an enquiry on Yoko's behalf. Note that the coverbial phrase is placed before the main verb phrase---unlike the functionally similar prepositional phrase in English.
-
Haih la
Literally meaning 'is', the phrase *haih la* is often used when a new thought has occurred to the speaker, similar to 'Oh yeah, I just remembered...' in English.
-
haakhei
Literally 'polite,' here *haakhei* indicates appreciation.
-
Conventions and Grammatical Terms
-
Particles
-
Photo - Houses
Cantonese has no direct equivalent to English 'yes' and 'no.' Typically, 'yes' is expressed by the affimative form of a verb, whereas 'no' is expressed by the negative form of the verb. Sometimes the affirmative or negative form of the copula *haih* 'to be' is used as sort of a generic affirmative or negative, meaning 'that is the way it is' (*haih*) or 'that is not the way it is' (*m̀hhaih*).
This phrase (and the response to it) is an exception to the usual situation where a classifier is required between a number and a noun. This is a conventional expression that follows literary form where classifers are not required. Typically the bound form *géi-* 'how many' is prefixed to a classifer before a noun to ask about quantity. The noun can be deleted when what it refers to is clear from context.
*Léuhng* 'two' is a special form of *yìh* 'two' and is used before a classifier or measure. All other numbers use their regular forms when combining with classifiers or measures.
Literally 'wash hands room,' this term is a polite form of 'bathroom' or 'restroom.' Another common, less polite word is *chisó*, which is closer in feeling to the English 'toilet' or 'latrine.'
This sentence is an example of a common structure in Cantonese called 'topic-comment.' The basic word order of Cantonese is Subject-Time-Place-Verb-Object (STPVO). Here the object nouns *sáisáugàan* 'washroom, bathroom' and *chyùhfóng* 'kitchen' are put at the head of the sentence for emphasis and prominence.
The basic sense of *gám* is 'so, thus,' but it is used here as a pause marker meaning 'well...'
Here *háh* 'a little' is affixed to *lam* 'to think' to soften the effect of the verb, to give the meaning 'to think on it,' 'to think awhile,' or 'to think a bit'; it can make the action expressed by the verb more casual. Another way to express the same idea is by the structure verb+*yāt*+verb, as in: *mahn+yāt+mahn* 'to ask around, to see what one can find out.'
A conventional response to 'thanks,' and the rough equivalent of 'you're welcome, don't mention it (lit. 'no need').
This is a coverbial clause meaning 'to help with,' in this case to make an enquiry on Yoko's behalf. Note that the coverbial phrase is placed before the main verb phrase---unlike the functionally similar prepositional phrase in English.
Literally meaning 'is', the phrase *haih la* is often used when a new thought has occurred to the speaker, similar to 'Oh yeah, I just remembered...' in English.
Literally 'polite,' here *haakhei* indicates appreciation.



Cantonese: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 3: Jòu Fóng
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng bòng Làhm Yèuhngjí dá dihnwáa mahn yáuhgwán jòufóng ge sih.)
Fòhngdong Taaitáai: Wéi.
Chàhn Gihtmìhng: Wéi, chéngmahn, néihdeih yáuhmóuh toufóng yiu chēutjòu a?
Fòhngdong: Yáuh! Yium̀hyiu táiháh a?
Chàhn: Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a?
Fòhngdong: Léuhng fóng yāt tēng.
Chàhn: Yáuhmóuh sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng ne?
Fòhngdong : Yáuh a. Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
Chàhn: Jòugām géidò chín a?
Fòhngdong: Baatbaak mān yātgo yuht, m̀hbàau séuidihn.
Chàhn: Gám, yium̀hyiu ngon'gām nē?
Fòhngdong : Yiu ńghbaakmān ngon'gām. Dím a? Séungm̀hséung jòu a?
Chàhn: Jòugām gwaijó dī, ngóh lámhah sìn, dākm̀hdāk a?
Fòhngdong : Dāk! Móuh mahntàih.
Chàhn: Gám, m̀hgòisaai. Joigin.
Fòhngdong : M̀hsái haakhei. Joigin.
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng dá dihnwah béi Lòh Ōn-Nèih.)
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi.
Chàhn: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh ngāamngāam bòng néih pàhngyáuh Làhm Yèungjí
màhnjóháh jòufóng ge sih.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai!
Chàhn: Haih la. Ngóh taaitáai séung chéng néih tùhng Làhm Yèuhngjí lèih ngóhdeih ngūkkei sihkfaahn.
Lòh: M̀hsái gam haakhei lā.
Chàhn: Bihnfaahn je. Sìngkèihluhkmáahn, hóu m̀hhóu a?
Lòh: Hóu ā. Dòjèhsaai!
____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles
Dates | Numbers | Time | Housing | Photo - Houses ]
Cantonese: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 3: Jòu Fóng
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng bòng Làhm Yèuhngjí dá dihnwáa mahn yáuhgwán jòufóng ge sih.)
Fòhngdong Taaitáai: Wéi.
Chàhn Gihtmìhng: Wéi, chéngmahn, néihdeih yáuhmóuh toufóng yiu chēutjòu a?
Fòhngdong: Yáuh! Yium̀hyiu táiháh a?
Chàhn: Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a?
Fòhngdong: Léuhng fóng yāt tēng.
Chàhn: Yáuhmóuh sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng ne?
Fòhngdong : Yáuh a. Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
Chàhn: Jòugām géidò chín a?
Fòhngdong: Baatbaak mān yātgo yuht, m̀hbàau séuidihn.
Chàhn: Gám, yium̀hyiu ngon'gām nē?
Fòhngdong : Yiu ńghbaakmān ngon'gām. Dím a? Séungm̀hséung jòu a?
Chàhn: Jòugām gwaijó dī, ngóh lámhah sìn, dākm̀hdāk a?
Fòhngdong : Dāk! Móuh mahntàih.
Chàhn: Gám, m̀hgòisaai. Joigin.
Fòhngdong : M̀hsái haakhei. Joigin.
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng dá dihnwah béi Lòh Ōn-Nèih.)
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi.
Chàhn: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh ngāamngāam bòng néih pàhngyáuh Làhm Yèungjí
màhnjóháh jòufóng ge sih.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai!
Chàhn: Haih la. Ngóh taaitáai séung chéng néih tùhng Làhm Yèuhngjí lèih ngóhdeih ngūkkei sihkfaahn.
Lòh: M̀hsái gam haakhei lā.
Chàhn: Bihnfaahn je. Sìngkèihluhkmáahn, hóu m̀hhóu a?
Lòh: Hóu ā. Dòjèhsaai!
____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles
Dates | Numbers | Time | Housing | Photo - Houses ]
American English: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 3: Jòu Fóng
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng bòng Làhm Yèuhngjí dá dihnwáa mahn yáuhgwán jòufóng ge sih.)
Fòhngdong Taaitáai: Wéi.
Chàhn Gihtmìhng: Wéi, chéngmahn, néihdeih yáuhmóuh toufóng yiu chēutjòu a?
Fòhngdong: Yáuh! Yium̀hyiu táiháh a?
Chàhn: Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a?
Fòhngdong: Léuhng fóng yāt tēng.
Chàhn: Yáuhmóuh sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng ne?
Fòhngdong : Yáuh a. Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
Chàhn: Jòugām géidò chín a?
Fòhngdong: Baatbaak mān yātgo yuht, m̀hbàau séuidihn.
Chàhn: Gám, yium̀hyiu ngon'gām nē?
Fòhngdong : Yiu ńghbaakmān ngon'gām. Dím a? Séungm̀hséung jòu a?
Chàhn: Jòugām gwaijó dī, ngóh lámhah sìn, dākm̀hdāk a?
Fòhngdong : Dāk! Móuh mahntàih.
Chàhn: Gám, m̀hgòisaai. Joigin.
Fòhngdong : M̀hsái haakhei. Joigin.
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng dá dihnwah béi Lòh Ōn-Nèih.)
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi.
Chàhn: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh ngāamngāam bòng néih pàhngyáuh Làhm Yèungjí
màhnjóháh jòufóng ge sih.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai!
Chàhn: Haih la. Ngóh taaitáai séung chéng néih tùhng Làhm Yèuhngjí lèih ngóhdeih ngūkkei sihkfaahn.
Lòh: M̀hsái gam haakhei lā.
Chàhn: Bihnfaahn je. Sìngkèihluhkmáahn, hóu m̀hhóu a?
Lòh: Hóu ā. Dòjèhsaai!
____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles
Dates | Numbers | Time | Housing | Photo - Houses ]
American English: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 3: Jòu Fóng
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng bòng Làhm Yèuhngjí dá dihnwáa mahn yáuhgwán jòufóng ge sih.)
Fòhngdong Taaitáai: Wéi.
Chàhn Gihtmìhng: Wéi, chéngmahn, néihdeih yáuhmóuh toufóng yiu chēutjòu a?
Fòhngdong: Yáuh! Yium̀hyiu táiháh a?
Chàhn: Yáuh Géi fóng géi tèng a?
Fòhngdong: Léuhng fóng yāt tēng.
Chàhn: Yáuhmóuh sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng ne?
Fòhngdong : Yáuh a. Sáisáugàan, tùhng chèuihfóng dōu géi daaihga.
Chàhn: Jòugām géidò chín a?
Fòhngdong: Baatbaak mān yātgo yuht, m̀hbàau séuidihn.
Chàhn: Gám, yium̀hyiu ngon'gām nē?
Fòhngdong : Yiu ńghbaakmān ngon'gām. Dím a? Séungm̀hséung jòu a?
Chàhn: Jòugām gwaijó dī, ngóh lámhah sìn, dākm̀hdāk a?
Fòhngdong : Dāk! Móuh mahntàih.
Chàhn: Gám, m̀hgòisaai. Joigin.
Fòhngdong : M̀hsái haakhei. Joigin.
(Chàhn Gihtmìhng dá dihnwah béi Lòh Ōn-Nèih.)
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi.
Chàhn: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh ngāamngāam bòng néih pàhngyáuh Làhm Yèungjí
màhnjóháh jòufóng ge sih.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai!
Chàhn: Haih la. Ngóh taaitáai séung chéng néih tùhng Làhm Yèuhngjí lèih ngóhdeih ngūkkei sihkfaahn.
Lòh: M̀hsái gam haakhei lā.
Chàhn: Bihnfaahn je. Sìngkèihluhkmáahn, hóu m̀hhóu a?
Lòh: Hóu ā. Dòjèhsaai!
____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles
Dates | Numbers | Time | Housing | Photo - Houses ]