Café & Drinks

1. 唔該，一杯奶茶。

   m4 goi1, jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4.

   Excuse me, one milk tea please.

   Usage

   Used to order Hong Kong-style milk tea, a local specialty

   Grammar Note

   m4 goi1 (唔該) is for thanking services or requesting things; do1 ze6 (多謝) is for gifts

2. 我要一杯檸檬茶，唔該。

   ngo5 jiu3 jat1 bui1 ning4 mung1 caa4, m4 goi1.

   I'd like one lemon tea, please.

   Usage

   Used to order lemon tea at a Hong Kong cha chaan teng

   Grammar Note

   jiu3 (要) means "want" or "need" and is commonly used when ordering

3. 有冇鴛鴦？

   jau5 mou5 jyun1 joeng1?

   Do you have yuanyang (coffee and milk tea mix)?

   Usage

   Used to order yuanyang, a signature Hong Kong drink

   Grammar Note

   Yuanyang (鴛鴦) is named after mandarin ducks (a loving pair), symbolizing the coffee-tea blend

4. 要凍嘅定係熱嘅？

   jiu3 dung3 ge3 ding6 hai6 jit6 ge3?

   Do you want it cold or hot?

   Usage

   Used to ask about temperature preference for a drink

   Grammar Note

   ding6 hai6 (定係) is the Cantonese conjunction "or" in alternative questions

5. 唔好加糖。

   m4 hou2 gaa1 tong4.

   Please don't add sugar.

   Usage

   Used to request no sugar in a drink

   Grammar Note

   m4 hou2 (唔好) forms a negative imperative meaning "don't" or "please don't"

6. 呢度有冇生力啤？

   ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 saang1 lik6 be1?

   Is there San Miguel beer here?

   Usage

   Used to ask for San Miguel beer, widely available in Hong Kong

   Grammar Note

   San Miguel (生力啤) is one of the most popular beer brands in Hong Kong

7. 我唔飲酒，有冇果汁？

   ngo5 m4 jam2 zau2, jau5 mou5 gwo2 zap1?

   I don't drink alcohol. Do you have fruit juice?

   Usage

   Used to decline alcohol and request fruit juice instead

   Grammar Note

   m4 (唔) is the standard Cantonese negation particle placed before verbs

8. 呢杯嘢飲幾錢？

   ni1 bui1 je5 jam2 gei2 cin2?

   How much is this drink?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a drink

   Grammar Note

   je5 (嘢) means "thing/stuff" in colloquial Cantonese; je5 jam2 (嘢飲) means "drink"

9. 好飲！再嚟一杯！

   hou2 jam2! zoi3 lei4 jat1 bui1!

   Delicious! One more cup please!

   Usage

   Used to compliment a drink and ask for another

   Grammar Note

   zoi3 (再) means "again" or "one more," commonly used for reordering

10. 有冇菊花茶？

    jau5 mou5 guk1 faa1 caa4?

    Do you have chrysanthemum tea?

    Usage

    Used to order chrysanthemum tea, popular in Hong Kong

    Grammar Note

    Chrysanthemum tea is a staple herbal drink at Hong Kong cha chaan tengs, said to cool the body

11. 走冰

    zau2 bing1

    No ice

    Usage

    The standard cha chaan teng ordering term; "dung3 jam2 zau2 bing1" = an iced drink with the ice held

12. 礦泉水

    kong3 cyun4 seoi2

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Show it when you want bottled water rather than tap; shops also say "zeon1 zong1 seoi2"

13. 熱水

    jit6 seoi2

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water, e.g. for formula or to take medicine

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