愛爾蘭出生的華人的網上日誌
I speak Cantonese when I was on holidays in HK with my boyfriend. My boyfirend doesn't speak Cantonese, but he knows a few basics. So in my duration in HK, I would be talking in Chinese and then in English. I realised that I sometimes end up answering my boyfriend in Cantonese! It was so amusing for my relatives (red-faced for me) when they noticed what just happened. It's great that many people accepts me and boyfriend. Even the security gaurd in the appartment block said "Good morning!" to my boyfriend, but my boyfriend would just answer "Joh sun!". He would say the same to my relatives, and gave them a surprise. Locals would definately respect you more when you speak Chinese. But I am lucky that it is obvious that I am from abroad, but would all speak to me in Cantonese in shops etc... It was great! From my experience that has been really enjoyable in HK for both me and my boyfriend.
Posted by whykay at January 16, 2003 09:26 PM | TrackBackHi
I'm an english girl but my boyfriend is cantonese - from Hong Kong.
I would desperately like to learn some cantonese to surprise his parents when we visit them later this year. Do you havc any tips how i could learn some basics??
Unfortunately, my email to you bounced, Sonia! So I am going to post it here (if you are going to see it, good luck, you'll be fine! Just have fun...).
***** Beginning of my mail *****
Hiya!
That is great!!! My aunts, brothers, mom etc... has been
asking me if my boyfriend learn the basics yetbefore we
left for HK! Even though we got the Cantonese How-to book
(any good bookshop would have it), he did not really start
speaking some phrases till he got to HK!
The main ones are:
Good Morning - Jo Son
Thank you (when some gives you a present) - Dá Jea
Thank you (after someone helps you, attends you) - 'm Goy
Usually when you meet elders, there are so many ways to
greet them (and Chinese has so many of them depending if
you are greeting relatives of your mom or your dad, or
if they are older/younger than your mom/dad...phew confusing)
I would usually call
- middle-age man..50s, Uncle ("A Ba")
A bit younger..20-30s, Uncle ("A Suk")
- middle-age woman, Auntie (you have to be careful here not
to offend anyone here, as women are pretty rash when you
say the wrong Aunty!) But saying it in English is just fine.
- grandpa ("Gung-Gung")
- grandma ("Paw-Paw")
But my BF manage to get away in the beginning with just a
"Hello!". But greeting people "Good Morning!" in chinese in the morning
always turn heads, and people seem to give you more respect.
Um, just 2 more... Not sure if this is the case with every family,
but I was brought up to say "Bon appetit!" before a meal and
something similar after I finish dinner...
- Bon Apetit ("Die Ga Sik Faan")...roughly translated, 'Let's eat!'
- 'Please take your time having dinner', roughly translated, for after
dinner ("Die Ga Man-Man Sik Faan")
Hope that helps! Don't worry, you will pick up more
when you get there, especially saying "thank you!" alot.
Oh, one last phrase... "Bye-Bye!" Yup, it is that simple to
say bye!
Good luck! Hope you have the best of time in HK, I know my BF
and I did. We will be going back soon (when we have money... :) )
Best Regards,
-- Vicky
***** End of my mail *****
Posted by: whykay on March 1, 2003 12:34 AM