MTR — the metro
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 港鐵 | gong2 tit3 | MTR (the metro) | |
| 站 | zaam6 | station | 中環站 = Central station |
| 綫 | sin3 | line (MTR official spelling) | 荃灣綫 = Tsuen Wan Line |
| 月台 | jyut6 toi4 | platform | |
| 出口 | ceot1 hau2 | exit | A出口 = Exit A |
| 入閘 | jap6 zaap6 | enter the gates | 出閘 = exit gates |
| 轉車 | zyun3 ce1 | transfer / change trains | 喺邊度轉車? = where to transfer? |
| 方向 | fong1 hoeng3 | direction | |
| 終點站 | zung1 dim2 zaam6 | terminus / end station | |
| 對面月台 | deoi3 min6 jyut6 toi4 | opposite platform |
唔該，去金鐘係邊個月台?
Pronunciation m4 goi1, heoi3 gam1 zung1 hai6 bin1 go3 jyut6 toi4
excuse me, which platform for Admiralty?
Substitute station names freely
呢班車去唔去機場?
Pronunciation ni1 baan1 ce1 heoi3 m4 heoi3 gei1 coeng4
does this train/bus go to the airport?
班車 = the vehicle/run — a station doesn't go, the vehicle does
轉車喺邊度?
Pronunciation zyun3 ce1 hai2 bin1 dou6
where do I transfer?
Buses & minibuses
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 巴士 | baa1 si2 | bus | double-deckers everywhere |
| 小巴 | siu2 baa1 | minibus (green/red) | the adventurous option |
| 巴士站 | baa1 si2 zaam6 | bus stop | |
| 落車 | lok6 ce1 | get off (the vehicle) | |
| 有落 | jau5 lok6 | getting off! (minibus callout) | shout this to the driver |
| 下一站 | haa6 jat1 zaam6 | next stop | |
| 車飛 | ce1 fei1 | ticket/fare | 飛 fei1 = ticket colloq. |
| 車費 | ce1 fai3 | fare (the money) | 幾多車費? = how much is the fare? |
唔該，下一站有落
Pronunciation m4 goi1, haa6 jat1 zaam6 jau5 lok6
next stop please (I'm getting off)
On some minibuses — especially red ones — you may need to call out your stop
呢架巴士去唔去銅鑼灣?
Pronunciation ni1 gaa3 baa1 si2 heoi3 m4 heoi3 tung4 lo4 waan1
does this bus go to Causeway Bay?
Taxis
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 的士 | dik1 si2 | taxi | |
| 司機 | si1 gei1 | driver | |
| 唔該，去尖沙咀 | m4 goi1, heoi3 zim1 saa1 zeoi2 | to Tsim Sha Tsui please | 唔該，去 X = the destination formula |
| 呢度停 | ni1 dou6 ting4 | stop here | |
| 前面停 | cin4 min6 ting4 | stop ahead | |
| 兜路 | dau1 lou6 | to detour / go around | 唔好兜路 = don't take the long way |
| 打錶 | daa2 biu1 | by the meter | 跳錶 tiu3 biu1 = the meter incrementing itself |
| 找錢 | zaau2 cin2 | change (money back) | 唔使找 = keep the change |
唔該，去香港迪士尼
Pronunciation m4 goi1, heoi3 hoeng1 gong2 dik6 si6 nei4
to Hong Kong Disneyland please
唔該，前面停低
Pronunciation m4 goi1, cin4 min6 ting4 dai1
please stop up ahead
停低 = stop (a natural variant of 停)
呢度唔該
Pronunciation ni1 dou6 m4 goi1
here please (when dropping off)
Ferries & trams
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 天星小輪 | tin1 sing1 siu2 leon4 | Star Ferry | the famous harbour crossing |
| 碼頭 | maa5 tau4 | pier / ferry terminal | |
| 電車 | din6 ce1 | tram (the "ding ding") | HK Island's double-decker trams |
| 渡輪 | dou6 leon4 | ferry | to the outlying islands |
| 船 | syun4 | boat | |
| 對面 | deoi3 min6 | the other side / opposite | 過對面 = cross to the other side |
The Octopus card
The 八達通 (baat3 daat6 tung1) — Octopus card — pays for MTR, buses, ferries, trams, minibuses, convenience stores, and even many restaurants. Get one at the airport; it makes the whole city work on a tap.
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 八達通 | baat3 daat6 tung1 | Octopus card | |
| 拍卡 | paak3 kaat1 | tap the card | at gates and readers |
| 增值 | zang1 zik6 | top up / add value | 喺邊度增值? = where to top up? |
| 餘額 | jyu4 ngaak6 | balance | |
| 唔夠錢 | m4 gau3 cin2 | not enough money (on the card) |