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Lesson 10: Tóuleuhn Hohkjaahp Gaiwaahk


(Dihnwáa héung, Lòh Ōn-Nèih hàahng gwolèih jip dihnwáa.)

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Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi¹ Wéi
Conventional way of answering the phone, as with 'hello' in English.

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, Bīnwái² Bīnwái
The honorific counterpart to *bīngo* 'who, whom.' The phrase seems more abrupt in translation than it actually is in Cantonese. The sense is more like 'who is calling please?' than the more blunt 'who are you?'
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a?
Làhm Yèuhng-Jí: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a³ Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a
A conventional way to identify oneself, roughly equivalent to the English 'this is ...'
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.
Lòh: Héi! Yèuhng-Jí, Néih hóu⁴ Néih hóu
Although *Néih hóu* is a little formal for greetings among friends, it is used here as part of phone language .
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! Dòjèh néih fūk ngóh dihnwá.
Làhm: M̀hsái haakhei. Yáuh mātyéh sih⁵ Yáuh mātyéh sih
Again, this seems abrupt in translation but is not in Cantonese. It can have the sense of 'what's going on?' or, in more formal contexts, 'what can I do for you?'
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a?
Lòh: Séuhng mahnháh néih syúnfoge sih⁶ sih
Another way to say *sihchìhng* 'matter(s), thing(s)'
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; néih syúnhóu⁷ syúnhóu
*Hóu* is used here as a verb complement indicating that the action is finished.
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meih a?
Làhm: Syúnhóu la.
Lòh: Néih syún jó⁸ jó
A perfective aspect particle, meaning that the event is viewed as completed. Although verbs with *-jó* are often translated in English as past tense, *jó* is not a past tense marker. Cantonese marks real time with time words, not verb suffixes.
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mātyéh fo?
Làhm: Gúmàhn, Saanmàhn, tùhng Jokmàhn fo. Néih nē⁹ nē
The final particle *nē* marks continuation of the topic. This sentence means 'And what courses have you chosen?'
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?
Lòh: Ngóh syúnjó Yihndoih Honyúh tùhng Tòhngsì¹⁰ Tòhngsì
*Tòhngsì* or Tang poetry. The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is considered China's golden age of poetry.
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; daahnhaih
m̀hjì juhng yiu syúndī mātyéh hóu.¹¹ syúndī mātyéh hóu.
Literally 'choose what good,' * syún mātyéh hóu* is more freely translated as 'what would be good?'
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Làhm: Néih wáa¹² wáa
Literally means 'to say,' *wáa* can also be used to express an opinion as with 'what do you say?'
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Jokmàhn fo dím a?
Lòh: Géidímjùng ge fo nē?
Làhm: Hahjau sàam dím¹³ Hahjau sàam dím
Chinese syntax typically follows a large to small pattern. Dates and time follow this pattern as do addresses.

Examples:
year-month-week-day-part of day-time
country-city-street-house (or apartment) number-name
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.
Lòh: M̀, géi hóu; juhng hóyíh tùhng néih¹⁴ tùhng néih
This is a coverbial construction. Note that the coverbial phrase typically precedes the main verb in Cantonese.
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yātchàih séuhngfo tìm¹⁵ tìm
Final particle meaning 'as well, along with.'
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.
Làhm: Wò! Daahnhaih kàhmyaht haih jeuihàuh yātyaht syún fo ge la bo.
Lòh: Wò, chàahm làh, Ngóh m̀hgeidāk tìm. Dím syun a¹⁶ Dím syun a
Literally, 'What to choose,' this utterance means 'What can I do?'
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?
Làhm: M̀hjì a. Bātgwo, néih hóyíh heui mahn Jùngmàhn haih ge Jèung Lóusì.
Lòh: Hóm̀hhóyíh pùih ngóh¹⁷ pùih ngóh
A coverbial phrase meaning 'to accompany.'
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yātchàih heui a?
Làhm: Hóyíh. Daahnhaih gàmyaht taai ngaan la, kéuih m̀hhéuhngdouh. Yiu dángdou¹⁸ dángdou
*Dou* 'until' is used here as a verb complement giving the verb phrase the sense of 'wait until.'
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hahgo sìngkèihyāt.
Lòh: Hóu la, hahgo sìngkèihyāt heui.
Làhm: Hóu. Haih gam sìn¹⁹ Haih gam sìn
Literally 'it is thus first,' this phrase is a conventional way to wrap up a conversation. Note that Chinese do not always conclude a telephone conversation by saying goodbye.
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.

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This Lesson in Chinese Characters This Lesson in Chinese Characters
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]

Conventional way of answering the phone, as with 'hello' in English.

The honorific counterpart to *bīngo* 'who, whom.' The phrase seems more abrupt in translation than it actually is in Cantonese. The sense is more like 'who is calling please?' than the more blunt 'who are you?'
A conventional way to identify oneself, roughly equivalent to the English 'this is ...'
Although *Néih hóu* is a little formal for greetings among friends, it is used here as part of phone language .
Again, this seems abrupt in translation but is not in Cantonese. It can have the sense of 'what's going on?' or, in more formal contexts, 'what can I do for you?'
Another way to say *sihchìhng* 'matter(s), thing(s)'
*Hóu* is used here as a verb complement indicating that the action is finished.
A perfective aspect particle, meaning that the event is viewed as completed. Although verbs with *-jó* are often translated in English as past tense, *jó* is not a past tense marker. Cantonese marks real time with time words, not verb suffixes.
The final particle *nē* marks continuation of the topic. This sentence means 'And what courses have you chosen?'
*Tòhngsì* or Tang poetry. The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is considered China's golden age of poetry.
Literally 'choose what good,' * syún mātyéh hóu* is more freely translated as 'what would be good?'
Literally means 'to say,' *wáa* can also be used to express an opinion as with 'what do you say?'
Chinese syntax typically follows a large to small pattern. Dates and time follow this pattern as do addresses.

Examples:
year-month-week-day-part of day-time
country-city-street-house (or apartment) number-name
This is a coverbial construction. Note that the coverbial phrase typically precedes the main verb in Cantonese.
Final particle meaning 'as well, along with.'
Literally, 'What to choose,' this utterance means 'What can I do?'
A coverbial phrase meaning 'to accompany.'
*Dou* 'until' is used here as a verb complement giving the verb phrase the sense of 'wait until.'
Literally 'it is thus first,' this phrase is a conventional way to wrap up a conversation. Note that Chinese do not always conclude a telephone conversation by saying goodbye.

Cantonese: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 10: Tóuleuhn Hohkjaahp Gaiwaahk


(Dihnwáa héung, Lòh Ōn-Nèih hàahng gwolèih jip dihnwáa.)


Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi, Bīnwái a?
Làhm Yèuhng-Jí: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a.
Lòh: Héi! Yèuhng-Jí, Néih hóu! Dòjèh néih fūk ngóh dihnwá.
Làhm: M̀hsái haakhei. Yáuh mātyéh sih a?
Lòh: Séuhng mahnháh néih syúnfoge sih; néih syúnhóu meih a?
Làhm: Syúnhóu la.
Lòh: Néih syúnjó mātyéh fo?
Làhm: Gúmàhn, Saanmàhn, tùhng Jokmàhn fo. Néih nē?
Lòh: Ngóh syúnjó Yihndoih Honyúh tùhng Tòhngsì; daahnhaih
m̀hjì juhng yiu syúndī mātyéh hóu.
Làhm: Néih wáa Jokmàhn fo dím a?
Lòh: Géidímjùng ge fo nē?
Làhm: Hahjau sàam dím.
Lòh: M̀, géi hóu; juhng hóyíh tùhng néih yātchàih séuhngfo tìm.
Làhm: Wò! Daahnhaih kàhmyaht haih jeuihàuh yātyaht syún fo ge la bo.
Lòh: Wò, chàahm làh, Ngóh m̀hgeidāk tìm. Dím syun a?
Làhm: M̀hjì a. Bātgwo, néih hóyíh heui mahn Jùngmàhn haih ge Jèung Lóusì.
Lòh: Hóm̀hhóyíh pùih ngóh yātchàih heui a?
Làhm: Hóyíh. Daahnhaih gàmyaht taai ngaan la, kéuih m̀hhéuhngdouh. Yiu dángdou hahgo sìngkèihyāt.
Lòh: Hóu la, hahgo sìngkèihyāt heui.
Làhm: Hóu. Haih gam sìn.

____________Additional Notes____________
This Lesson in Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Courses of Study | Study Terms ]

Cantonese: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 10: Tóuleuhn Hohkjaahp Gaiwaahk


(Dihnwáa héung, Lòh Ōn-Nèih hàahng gwolèih jip dihnwáa.)


Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi, Bīnwái a?
Làhm Yèuhng-Jí: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a.
Lòh: Héi! Yèuhng-Jí, Néih hóu! Dòjèh néih fūk ngóh dihnwá.
Làhm: M̀hsái haakhei. Yáuh mātyéh sih a?
Lòh: Séuhng mahnháh néih syúnfoge sih; néih syúnhóu meih a?
Làhm: Syúnhóu la.
Lòh: Néih syúnjó mātyéh fo?
Làhm: Gúmàhn, Saanmàhn, tùhng Jokmàhn fo. Néih nē?
Lòh: Ngóh syúnjó Yihndoih Honyúh tùhng Tòhngsì; daahnhaih m̀hjì juhng yiu syúndī mātyéh hóu.
Làhm: Néih wáa Jokmàhn fo dím a?
Lòh: Géidímjùng ge fo nē?
Làhm: Hahjau sàam dím.
Lòh: M̀, géi hóu; juhng hóyíh tùhng néih yātchàih séuhngfo tìm.
Làhm: Wò! Daahnhaih kàhmyaht haih jeuihàuh yātyaht syún fo ge la bo.
Lòh: Wò, chàahm làh, Ngóh m̀hgeidāk tìm. Dím syun a?
Làhm: M̀hjì a. Bātgwo, néih hóyíh heui mahn Jùngmàhn haih ge Jèung Lóusì.
Lòh: Hóm̀hhóyíh pùih ngóh yātchàih heui a?
Làhm: Hóyíh. Daahnhaih gàmyaht taai ngaan la, kéuih m̀hhéuhngdouh. Yiu dángdou hahgo sìngkèihyāt.
Lòh: Hóu la, hahgo sìngkèihyāt heui.
Làhm: Hóu. Haih gam sìn.

____________Additional Notes____________
This Lesson in Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Courses of Study | Study Terms ]

American English: Word View, click below to listen
Lesson 10: Tóuleuhn Hohkjaahp Gaiwaahk


(Dihnwáa héung, Lòh Ōn-Nèih hàahng gwolèih jip dihnwáa.)


Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi, Bīnwái a?
Làhm Yèuhng-Jí: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a.
Lòh: Héi! Yèuhng-Jí, Néih hóu! Dòjèh néih fūk ngóh dihnwá.
Làhm: M̀hsái haakhei. Yáuh mātyéh sih a?
Lòh: Séuhng mahnháh néih syúnfoge sih; néih syúnhóu meih a?
Làhm: Syúnhóu la.
Lòh: Néih syúnjó mātyéh fo?
Làhm: Gúmàhn, Saanmàhn, tùhng Jokmàhn fo. Néih nē?
Lòh: Ngóh syúnjó Yihndoih Honyúh tùhng Tòhngsì; daahnhaih
m̀hjì juhng yiu syúndī mātyéh hóu.
Làhm: Néih wáa Jokmàhn fo dím a?
Lòh: Géidímjùng ge fo nē?
Làhm: Hahjau sàam dím.
Lòh: M̀, géi hóu; juhng hóyíh tùhng néih yātchàih séuhngfo tìm.
Làhm: Wò! Daahnhaih kàhmyaht haih jeuihàuh yātyaht syún fo ge la bo.
Lòh: Wò, chàahm làh, Ngóh m̀hgeidāk tìm. Dím syun a?
Làhm: M̀hjì a. Bātgwo, néih hóyíh heui mahn Jùngmàhn haih ge Jèung Lóusì.
Lòh: Hóm̀hhóyíh pùih ngóh yātchàih heui a?
Làhm: Hóyíh. Daahnhaih gàmyaht taai ngaan la, kéuih m̀hhéuhngdouh. Yiu dángdou hahgo sìngkèihyāt.
Lòh: Hóu la, hahgo sìngkèihyāt heui.
Làhm: Hóu. Haih gam sìn.

____________Additional Notes____________
This Lesson in Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Courses of Study | Study Terms ]

American English: Sentence View, click below to listen
Lesson 10: Tóuleuhn Hohkjaahp Gaiwaahk


(Dihnwáa héung, Lòh Ōn-Nèih hàahng gwolèih jip dihnwáa.)


Lòh Ōn-Nèih: Wéi, Bīnwái a?
Làhm Yèuhng-Jí: Ōn-Nèih a? Ngóh haih Yèuhng-Jí a.
Lòh: Héi! Yèuhng-Jí, Néih hóu! Dòjèh néih fūk ngóh dihnwá.
Làhm: M̀hsái haakhei. Yáuh mātyéh sih a?
Lòh: Séuhng mahnháh néih syúnfoge sih; néih syúnhóu meih a?
Làhm: Syúnhóu la.
Lòh: Néih syúnjó mātyéh fo?
Làhm: Gúmàhn, Saanmàhn, tùhng Jokmàhn fo. Néih nē?
Lòh: Ngóh syúnjó Yihndoih Honyúh tùhng Tòhngsì; daahnhaih m̀hjì juhng yiu syúndī mātyéh hóu.
Làhm: Néih wáa Jokmàhn fo dím a?
Lòh: Géidímjùng ge fo nē?
Làhm: Hahjau sàam dím.
Lòh: M̀, géi hóu; juhng hóyíh tùhng néih yātchàih séuhngfo tìm.
Làhm: Wò! Daahnhaih kàhmyaht haih jeuihàuh yātyaht syún fo ge la bo.
Lòh: Wò, chàahm làh, Ngóh m̀hgeidāk tìm. Dím syun a?
Làhm: M̀hjì a. Bātgwo, néih hóyíh heui mahn Jùngmàhn haih ge Jèung Lóusì.
Lòh: Hóm̀hhóyíh pùih ngóh yātchàih heui a?
Làhm: Hóyíh. Daahnhaih gàmyaht taai ngaan la, kéuih m̀hhéuhngdouh. Yiu dángdou hahgo sìngkèihyāt.
Lòh: Hóu la, hahgo sìngkèihyāt heui.
Làhm: Hóu. Haih gam sìn.

____________Additional Notes____________
This Lesson in Chinese Characters
[Conventions and Grammatical Terms | Particles | Courses of Study | Study Terms ]