Learning Cantonese

[jimothy]

Looks like I may be moving HKwards... So it would make sense to learn some basic Cantonese.
Can anyone recommend a good tool? I've heard the Rosetta Stone PC apps are good, but they don't seem to have Cantonese, only Mandarin.

Any suggestions?

[Bing o]

You probably won't need it tbh.

Learn the basics for getting a cab, that's about it really. (Road is "doh", and "'mgoi" is both please and thanks).

I learnt how to count during a very profitable 24 hours in Macau in the Wynn playing craps

If you're going to be anywhere else in the East, mandarin is much more useful, IMO.

[allgonepetetong]

As previously stated plus a few other HK essentials, based on my 4 years experience living there as an expat

M'Goi - please / thank you
Jo san - good morning
Jo tao - good evening
Ni Hao - hello
Wo hen hao - I am well

For Taxi Drivers
Li Doh - here
Xian Yao - turn left
xian Jo - turn right
check Hoi - strainght ahead
Gai - Street
Doh - Road

Learn your numbers and you will be fine. the standard of English in HK is not what it used to be, thanks the the government mother tounge schools policy, but it is still widely used and understood.

[lazy_b]

Things have probably changed in the thirty-odd years since I visited Hong Kong, but back then "m'goi" was just "please", while "thank you" was "dor jeh".

[jimothy]

Thanks all so far, I wasn't planning on becoming fluent, but it will certainly help to know my Ps and Qs.

[Silver993tt]

jimothy said:

Thanks all so far, I wasn't planning on becoming fluent, but it will certainly help to know my Ps and Qs.

Good on you. Far too many Brits assume that everyone else should speak English which I find a rather rude attitude. It's great that China is influencing Honk Kong to adopt it's true mother tongue - which certainly isn't English.

[Plotloss]

allgonepetetong said:

M'Goi - please / thank you
Jo san - good morning
Jo tao - good evening
Ni Hao - hello
Wo hen hao - I am well

For Taxi Drivers
Li Doh - here
Xian Yao - turn left
xian Jo - turn right
check Hoi - strainght ahead
Gai - Street
Doh - Road

I think I'm learning Cantonese

I really think so...

[Ozone]

Plotloss said:

allgonepetetong said:

M'Goi - please / thank you
Jo san - good morning
Jo tao - good evening
Ni Hao - hello
Wo hen hao - I am well

For Taxi Drivers
Li Doh - here
Xian Yao - turn left
xian Jo - turn right
check Hoi - strainght ahead
Gai - Street
Doh - Road

I think I'm learning Cantonese

I really think so...

Very good.

[johnfm]

You should try to schedule your learning at the same time everyday -it helps recall.

For Chinese I'd recommend two thirty....

[shakotan]

allgonepetetong said:

As previously stated plus a few other HK essentials, based on my 4 years experience living there as an expat

Ni Hao - hello

That's Mandarin, Lei Hou is more Cantonese, although 'Ni hao' is recognised everywhere in China.

Edited by shakotan on Wednesday 26th May 22:39

[whitevanman88]

I believe if you want to make any reasonable progress while attempting to walk in Hong Kong "Boo Yow" is an essential.

[3sixty]

lazy_b said:

Things have probably changed in the thirty-odd years since I visited Hong Kong, but back then "m'goi" was just "please", while "thank you" was "dor jeh".

"Dor jeh" is more formal, I think... or thats what I've been taught by the mother in law.

There is some audio books which I have in mp3 that I got online. I cant remember the company, think it was P something. Let me know and I can send across if you like (Think its only 50-100MB in size for 12x 30min sessions)... it'll teach you the basics.

Just dont do as I was told, and say "ho lan bao" in reply to "sik bao mei".

[A.Wang]

Cantonese isn't the easiest of languages to learn - a slight variation in tone can make the world's difference between "cock", "dog" and the number "nine". Judging by my PH name, I should know what I'm talking...right?

Saying that, good on you for wanting to learn. From what I'm told, ex-pats who speak the language pay less in certain establishments.

If you're serious about learning - google "Pimsleur Cantonese", and get yourself a copy. As a native speaker, I can tell you that the pronunciation on those CDs/MP3s (depending on where you get your copy from) is spot on, and the course structure doesn't automatically assume you're a dribbling retard.

Good luck in HK - and depending on your circumstanes - enjoy the locals!

[anonymous-user]

Du ley lo mo

Milo see

HTH

[3sixty]

A.Wang said:

If you're serious about learning - google "Pimsleur Cantonese", and get yourself a copy.

To the OP, this is the audio books I referred to above as "p something". PM me if you want a copy.

[killsta]

A.Wang said:

Enjoy the locals!

Edited by killsta on Thursday 27th May 22:27

[tobeee]

A.Wang said:

Cantonese isn't the easiest of languages to learn - a slight variation in tone can make the world's difference between "cock", "dog" and the number "nine". Judging by my PH name, I should know what I'm talking...right?

Saying that, good on you for wanting to learn. From what I'm told, ex-pats who speak the language pay less in certain establishments.

If you're serious about learning - google "Pimsleur Cantonese", and get yourself a copy. As a native speaker, I can tell you that the pronunciation on those CDs/MP3s (depending on where you get your copy from) is spot on, and the course structure doesn't automatically assume you're a dribbling retard.

Good luck in HK - and depending on your circumstanes - enjoy the locals!

Pimsleur is excellent. I used it when learning Mandarin. Don't be too disheartened when you realise how much slower it is to learn Cantonese than when you learnt French! And again when you realise that even the phrases you thought you'd got wrapped up leave the recipient with a puzzled expression! My Chinese in-laws have learnt to smile sympathetically when we're forced to attempt communication, and I've learnt to grin like a loony in the hope they'll get scared and watch the telly instead.

[jimothy]

3sixty said:

A.Wang said:

If you're serious about learning - google "Pimsleur Cantonese", and get yourself a copy.

To the OP, this is the audio books I referred to above as "p something". PM me if you want a copy.

YHM!

A.Wang said:

Good luck in HK - and depending on your circumstanes - enjoy the locals!

Thanks - going with the wife, so not sure how much enjoyment I could get out of the lcoals whilst still retaining my testicles...