Getting a table
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 幾位? | gei2 wai2 | how many people? (staff asks you) | 位 = polite classifier for people |
| 兩位 | loeng5 wai2 | two people | answer with number + 位 |
| 唔該，三位 | m4 goi1, saam1 wai2 | excuse me, table for three | |
| 有冇位? | jau5 mou5 wai2 | are there seats? | |
| 要等幾耐? | jiu3 dang2 gei2 noi6 | how long is the wait? | 幾耐 = how long |
Ordering
唔該，我想叫嘢食
Pronunciation m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 giu3 je5 sik6
excuse me, I'd like to order food
叫嘢食 = order food (natural colloquial)
呢個係咩?
Pronunciation ni1 go3 hai6 me1
what is this? (pointing at the menu)
我要一杯奶茶
Pronunciation ngo5 jiu3 jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4
I'll have a milk tea
有咩推薦?
Pronunciation jau5 me1 teoi1 zin3
what do you recommend?
一碟炒飯
Pronunciation jat1 dip6 caau2 faan6
a plate of fried rice
碟 dip6 = dish/plate classifier
唔該，加水
Pronunciation m4 goi1, gaa1 seoi2
excuse me, water refill please
at yum cha, the pot is topped up with hot water — 加水 gets the refill
Requests & dietary needs
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 唔食得辣 | m4 sik6 dak1 laat6 | can't eat spicy | |
| 少辣 | siu2 laat6 | a little spicy / less spicy | |
| 走辣 | zau2 laat6 | no chilli (leave it out) | 走 = "leave out" — 走冰 = no ice! |
| 我對蝦敏感 | ngo5 deoi3 haa1 man5 gam2 | I'm allergic to shrimp | 對X敏感 = allergic to X |
| 走冰 | zau2 bing1 | no ice | essential at cha chaan teng! |
| 少糖 | siu2 tong4 | less sugar | |
| 熱水 | jit6 seoi2 | hot water | default drink, often free |
| 凍水 | dung3 seoi2 | cold water | |
| 打包 | daa2 baau1 | takeaway / wrap it up | |
| 拎走 | ling1 zau2 | takeaway (to-go) | 喺度食 = eat here |
Dim sum essentials
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 點心 | dim2 sam1 | dim sum | |
| 飲茶 | jam2 caa4 | yum cha — "drink tea" = dim sum meal | the cultural institution |
| 蝦餃 | haa1 gaau2 | har gow — shrimp dumpling | |
| 燒賣 | siu1 maai2 | siu mai — pork dumpling | |
| 叉燒包 | caa1 siu1 baau1 | char siu bao — BBQ pork bun | |
| 腸粉 | coeng4 fan2 | cheung fun — rice noodle rolls | |
| 蛋撻 | daan6 taat1 | egg tart | |
| 鳳爪 | fung6 zaau2 | phoenix claws — chicken feet | for the brave |
| 蘿蔔糕 | lo4 baak6 gou1 | turnip cake | |
| 茶 | caa4 | tea | 普洱 pu-erh / 鐵觀音 tieguanyin / 菊花 chrysanthemum |
Paying the bill
唔該，埋單
Pronunciation m4 goi1, maai4 daan1
excuse me, the bill please
埋單 = settle the bill — THE word to know
幾多錢?
Pronunciation gei2 do1 cin2
how much is it?
收唔收卡?
Pronunciation sau1 m4 sau1 kaat1
do you take cards?
many small places are cash or Octopus only
AA制
Pronunciation ei1 ei1 zai3
split the bill / go dutch
related phrases: 夾錢 gaap3 cin2 = pool money; 分開俾 fan1 hoi1 bei2 = pay separately
Cha chaan teng survival kit
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 奶茶 | naai5 caa4 | HK-style milk tea | |
| 鴛鴦 | jin1 joeng1 | yuenyeung — coffee + tea mix | |
| 檸茶 | ning4 caa4 | lemon tea | |
| 多士 | do1 si2 | toast | 厚多士 = thick toast |
| 西多士 | sai1 do1 si2 | French toast | |
| 菠蘿油 | bo1 lo4 jau4 | pineapple bun with butter | |
| 通粉 | tung1 fan2 | macaroni (in soup) | breakfast staple |
| 常餐 | soeng4 caan1 | set meal | breakfast sets A/B/C on menus |
| 例湯 | lai6 tong1 | soup of the day | |
| 雲吞麵 | wan4 tan1 min6 | wonton noodles | HK's signature bowl |
| 碟頭飯 | dip6 tau4 faan6 | rice plate — rice + topping on one dish | lunch staple |
唔該，一杯奶茶，凍嘅
Pronunciation m4 goi1, jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4, dung3 ge3
a milk tea, cold/iced please
凍嘅 = iced; 熱嘅 = hot
呢個套餐有咩?
Pronunciation ni1 go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 me1
what's in this set meal?