Adjectives

1. 大

   daai6

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. 細

   sai3

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. 重

   cung5

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. 輕

   heng1

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use 光 (gwong1)

5. 貴

   gwai3

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. 平

   peng4

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

   Grammar Note

   In Cantonese 平 means cheap in price, not flat

7. 燙

   tong3

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For objects too hot to touch. Hot weather is 熱 (jit6)

8. 凍

   dung3

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects, as in 凍檸茶 (iced lemon tea)

9. 新

   san1

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. 舊

    gau6

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    For old objects only; for an elderly person use 老 (lou5)

11. 後生

    hau6 saang1

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. 老

    lou5

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    Said of people; objects take 舊 instead

13. 乾淨

    gon1 zeng6

    Clean

    Usage

    Describes cleanliness of a room, toilet, water, and so on

14. 污糟

    wu1 zou1

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. 好

    hou2

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. 差

    caa1

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. 近

    kan5

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. 遠

    jyun5

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. 早

    zou2

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is 快 (faai3)

20. 遲

    ci4

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late in time. Slow in speed is 慢 (maan6)

21. 多

    do1

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. 少

    siu2

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. 好熱

    hou2 jit6

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Said of hot weather. Objects that are hot to the touch take 燙 (tong3)

24. 好凍

    hou2 dung3

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Said of cold weather; Cantonese uses 凍 for both objects and weather

25. 得意

    dak1 ji3

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    In Cantonese "得意" means "cute" — a different meaning from Mandarin "得意" (proud)

26. 型

    jing4

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

27. 好食

    hou2 sik6

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. 犀利

    sai1 lei6

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. 好玩

    hou2 waan2

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. 多啲

    do1 di1

    More

    Usage

    Ask for a larger amount

31. 少少

    siu2 siu2

    Just a little

    Usage

    HK says "siu2 siu2"; use it to ask for less spice or a smaller portion

32. 一半

    jat1 bun3

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the amount

33. 全部

    cyun4 bou6

    All

    Usage

    Say you want the whole lot

34. 夠喇

    gau3 laa3

    That’s enough

    Usage

    Show it to stop someone pouring or serving more

35. 即刻

    zik1 hak1

    Right now

    Usage

    HK says "zik1 hak1", not the Mandarin "mǎshàng" — signals urgency

36. 一個人

    jat1 go3 jan4

    One person

    Usage

    Give the party size at a restaurant door; on its own it can also mean "by myself"

37. 兩個人

    loeng5 go3 jan4

    Two people

    Usage

    For giving the party size; Cantonese counts people with "loeng5", not "ji6"

38. 三個人

    saam1 go3 jan4

    Three people

    Usage

    For giving the party size

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