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Lesson 8: Hái Baahkfo Gūngsī


(Lòh Ōn-Nèih heui baahkfo gūngsī máaih lìhngsihk.)

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Gwaihtói Síujé: Síujé, séung máaih dī mātyéh¹ mātyéh
In running speech *mātyéh* is sometimes reduced to *mēyéh*.
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a?
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Ngóh séung máaih dī béng'gōn.
Síujé: Yāt gàn² gàn
China (including Hong Kong) is officially on the metric system, although one occasionally comes across traditional Chinese measurements, particularly in open markets. In Hong Kong one might also encounter British/American weights and measures. For example, sometimes people will express a person's weight in pounds *bohng*. There is also some variation in terminology in the Cantonese-speaking world. For example, 'pound (as weight)' can be expressed as *bohng*, or by *Yìngbohng* 'English pound' to clearly distinguish it from one way of saying kilogram: *gùngbohng* 'metric pound.' The more usual term for kilogram is *gùnggàn* or simply *gàn*. *Gàn* as the term for traditional Chinese pounds is equal to .5 kilos or about 1.1 pounds.
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dihnghaih léuhng'³ léuhng'
'Two kilograms.' Note the use of the irregular number two *léuhng*. The *lèuhng* is used because *gàn* is a measure word here with an unstated noun (*béng'gōn* 'cookie').
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gàn a?
Lòh: Bungàn dākm̀hdāk a?
Síujé: Dāk, móuh mahntàih⁴ mahntàih
This word literally means 'question', but by extension can also mean 'problem', as it does here. Context determines which of the two senses apply. Here the saleswoman says *móuh mahntàih* 'no problem' to the question of how much to buy.
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.
Lòh: Gódī⁵ Gódī
*Gódī* 'that+CL' Again, the noun is deleted because it is clear from context ( in this case the context is a visual cue).
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haih mātyéh⁶ mātyéh
'What+thing' or just 'what.'
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a?
Síujé: Haih daahngōu.
Lòh: Géidò chíhn yāt doih⁷ doih
A measure word for 'bag,' it is used here without an accompanying noun because the noun is clear.
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?
Síujé: Seimān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Hóu, m̀hgòi⁸ m̀hgòi
Besides being used to thank someone for an effort or a favor, *m̀hgòi* can also be used to mean 'please' as it does in this utterance: 'One bag please.' As an extension of its sense of 'please,' *m̀hgòi* can be used politely to get a person's attention as it is used later in this dialogue.
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yātdoih a. Hái bīndouh béichíhn a⁹ Hái bīndouh béichíhn a
In many department stores--particularly in government-run stores--it is common to select merchandise with a clerk behind specialty counters. The clerk gives the customer a ticket indicating the item and the price, which is then taken to a cashier for payment. The customer takes the validated ticket to the original clerk who gives him or her the item. This procedure has been typical of socialist era merchandising, though it is changing in many places. Nevertheless, the practice still exists and can be a bit bewildering to the first time customer.
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?
Síujé: Hái nīdouh la, yātguhng chātmān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Nīdouh sahpmān.
Síujé: Dòjèh, jáufàan léuhngmān luhkhòuhbun.
Lòh: M̀hgòi. Chéngmahn, nīdouh yáuhmóuh maaih ngàuhyuhk ga¹⁰ ga
A contraction of the two common particles *ge* 'statement, affirmation' and *a* 'question particle.'
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?
Síujé: Móuh ā, heui síhchèuhng¹¹ síhchèuhng
The term *gāaisíh* 'street market' is commonly used in place of *síhchèuhng* in Hong Kong.
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sìn máaihdākdou.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai.

____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
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[Conventions and Grammatical Terms¹² [Conventions and Grammatical Terms

Click outside of this box to return to the lesson | Particles¹³ Particles

Click outside of this box to return to the lesson | Money Samples Money Samples
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Weights &Measures Weights &Measures
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| Shopping Vocabulary Shopping Vocabulary
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| Department Store Merchandise Department Store Merchandise
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An Advertisement¹⁴ An Advertisement

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In running speech *mātyéh* is sometimes reduced to *mēyéh*.
China (including Hong Kong) is officially on the metric system, although one occasionally comes across traditional Chinese measurements, particularly in open markets. In Hong Kong one might also encounter British/American weights and measures. For example, sometimes people will express a person's weight in pounds *bohng*. There is also some variation in terminology in the Cantonese-speaking world. For example, 'pound (as weight)' can be expressed as *bohng*, or by *Yìngbohng* 'English pound' to clearly distinguish it from one way of saying kilogram: *gùngbohng* 'metric pound.' The more usual term for kilogram is *gùnggàn* or simply *gàn*. *Gàn* as the term for traditional Chinese pounds is equal to .5 kilos or about 1.1 pounds.
'Two kilograms.' Note the use of the irregular number two *léuhng*. The *lèuhng* is used because *gàn* is a measure word here with an unstated noun (*béng'gōn* 'cookie').
This word literally means 'question', but by extension can also mean 'problem', as it does here. Context determines which of the two senses apply. Here the saleswoman says *móuh mahntàih* 'no problem' to the question of how much to buy.
*Gódī* 'that+CL' Again, the noun is deleted because it is clear from context ( in this case the context is a visual cue).
'What+thing' or just 'what.'
A measure word for 'bag,' it is used here without an accompanying noun because the noun is clear.
Besides being used to thank someone for an effort or a favor, *m̀hgòi* can also be used to mean 'please' as it does in this utterance: 'One bag please.' As an extension of its sense of 'please,' *m̀hgòi* can be used politely to get a person's attention as it is used later in this dialogue.
In many department stores--particularly in government-run stores--it is common to select merchandise with a clerk behind specialty counters. The clerk gives the customer a ticket indicating the item and the price, which is then taken to a cashier for payment. The customer takes the validated ticket to the original clerk who gives him or her the item. This procedure has been typical of socialist era merchandising, though it is changing in many places. Nevertheless, the practice still exists and can be a bit bewildering to the first time customer.
A contraction of the two common particles *ge* 'statement, affirmation' and *a* 'question particle.'
The term *gāaisíh* 'street market' is commonly used in place of *síhchèuhng* in Hong Kong.

Cantonese: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 8: Hái Baahkfo Gūngsī


(Lòh Ōn-Nèih heui baahkfo gūngsī máaih lìhngsihk.)


Gwaihtói Síujé: Síujé, séung máaih dī mātyéh a?
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Ngóh séung máaih dī béng'gōn.
Síujé: Yātgàn dihnghaih léuhng'gàn a?
Lòh: Bungàn dākm̀hdāk a?
Síujé: Dāk, móuh mahntàih.
Lòh: Gódī haih mātyéh a?
Síujé: Haih daahngōu.
Lòh: Géidò chíhn yātdoih?
Síujé: Seimān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Hóu, m̀hgòi yātdoih a. Hái bīndouh béichíhn a?
Síujé: Hái nīdouh la, yātguhng chātmān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Nīdouh sahpmān.
Síujé: Dòjèh, jáufàan léuhngmān luhkhòuhbun.
Lòh: M̀hgòi. Chéngmahn, nīdouh yáuhmóuh maaih ngàuhyuhk ga?
Síujé: Móuh ā, heui síhchèuhng sìn máaihdākdou.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai.

____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Money Samples
Weights &Measures | Shopping Vocabulary | Department Store Merchandise
An Advertisement ]

Cantonese: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 8: Hái Baahkfo Gūngsī


(Lòh Ōn-Nèih heui baahkfo gūngsī máaih lìhngsihk.)


Gwaihtói Síujé: Síujé, séung máaih dī mātyéh a?
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Ngóh séung máaih dī béng'gōn.
Síujé: Yātgàn dihnghaih léuhng'gàn a?
Lòh: Bungàn dākm̀hdāk a?
Síujé: Dāk, móuh mahntàih.
Lòh: Gódī haih mātyéh a?
Síujé: Haih daahngōu.
Lòh: Géidò chíhn yātdoih?
Síujé: Seimān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Hóu, m̀hgòi yātdoih a. Hái bīndouh béichíhn a?
Síujé: Hái nīdouh la, yātguhng chātmān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Nīdouh sahpmān.
Síujé: Dòjèh, jáufàan léuhngmān luhkhòuhbun.
Lòh: M̀hgòi. Chéngmahn, nīdouh yáuhmóuh maaih ngàuhyuhk ga?
Síujé: Móuh ā, heui síhchèuhng sìn máaihdākdou.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai.

____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Money Samples
Weights &Measures | Shopping Vocabulary | Department Store Merchandise
An Advertisement ]

American English: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 8: Hái Baahkfo Gūngsī


(Lòh Ōn-Nèih heui baahkfo gūngsī máaih lìhngsihk.)


Gwaihtói Síujé: Síujé, séung máaih dī mātyéh a?
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Ngóh séung máaih dī béng'gōn.
Síujé: Yātgàn dihnghaih léuhng'gàn a?
Lòh: Bungàn dākm̀hdāk a?
Síujé: Dāk, móuh mahntàih.
Lòh: Gódī haih mātyéh a?
Síujé: Haih daahngōu.
Lòh: Géidò chíhn yātdoih?
Síujé: Seimān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Hóu, m̀hgòi yātdoih a. Hái bīndouh béichíhn a?
Síujé: Hái nīdouh la, yātguhng chātmān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Nīdouh sahpmān.
Síujé: Dòjèh, jáufàan léuhngmān luhkhòuhbun.
Lòh: M̀hgòi. Chéngmahn, nīdouh yáuhmóuh maaih ngàuhyuhk ga?
Síujé: Móuh ā, heui síhchèuhng sìn máaihdākdou.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai.

____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Money Samples
Weights &Measures | Shopping Vocabulary | Department Store Merchandise
An Advertisement ]

American English: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 8: Hái Baahkfo Gūngsī


(Lòh Ōn-Nèih heui baahkfo gūngsī máaih lìhngsihk.)


Gwaihtói Síujé: Síujé, séung máaih dī mātyéh a?
Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Ngóh séung máaih dī béng'gōn.
Síujé: Yātgàn dihnghaih léuhng'gàn a?
Lòh: Bungàn dākm̀hdāk a?
Síujé: Dāk, móuh mahntàih.
Lòh: Gódī haih mātyéh a?
Síujé: Haih daahngōu.
Lòh: Géidò chíhn yātdoih?
Síujé: Seimān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Hóu, m̀hgòi yātdoih a. Hái bīndouh béichíhn a?
Síujé: Hái nīdouh la, yātguhng chātmān sàamhòuhbun.
Lòh: Nīdouh sahpmān.
Síujé: Dòjèh, jáufàan léuhngmān luhkhòuhbun.
Lòh: M̀hgòi. Chéngmahn, nīdouh yáuhmóuh maaih ngàuhyuhk ga?
Síujé: Móuh ā, heui síhchèuhng sìn máaihdākdou.
Lòh: M̀hgòisaai.

____________Additional Notes____________
This lesson shown with Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Money Samples
Weights &Measures | Shopping Vocabulary | Department Store Merchandise
An Advertisement ]