Markets & Souvenirs

1. 呢個幾錢？

   ni1 go3 gei2 cin2?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "gei2 cin2" = "how much" in Cantonese

2. 可唔可以平啲？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 peng4 di1?

   Can you lower the price?

   Usage

   Basic price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "peng4" = "cheap" in Cantonese

3. 我出[金額]，你賣唔賣？

   ngo5 ceot1 [gam1 ngaak6], nei5 maai6 m4 maai6?

   I'll offer [amount] — will you sell it?

   Usage

   Make a counter-offer

   Grammar Note

   "maai6 m4 maai6" = A-not-A question

4. 買多啲可唔可以打折？

   maai5 do1 di1 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 daa2 zit3?

   Can I get a discount for buying more?

   Usage

   Ask for bulk discount

   Grammar Note

   "daa2 zit3" means "to discount"

5. 呢個係咪手工做嘅？

   ni1 go3 hai6 mai6 sau2 gung1 zou6 ge3?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Check if item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "hai6 mai6" placed before the predicate turns the sentence into a confirming question ("is it ...?"). No sentence-final "嗎" is needed

6. 呢個係咩材料做嘅？

   ni1 go3 hai6 me1 coi4 liu2 zou6 ge3?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Inquire about material

   Grammar Note

   "me1" = "what" in Cantonese

7. 可唔可以幫我包禮物？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 baau1 lai5 mat6?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Request gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "bong1" = "for (someone's benefit)"

8. 夜市喺邊度？

   je6 si5 hai2 bin1 dou6?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Ask where the night market is

   Grammar Note

   "hai2 bin1 dou6" = "where is it"

9. 可唔可以俾張收據我？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bei2 zoeng1 sau1 geoi3 ngo5?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Request a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "bei2" = "give" in Cantonese

10. 市場幾時開門？

    si5 coeng4 gei2 si4 hoi1 mun4?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Ask about market opening hours

    Grammar Note

    "gei2 si4" = "when / what time"

11. 我只係睇睇，唔該。

    ngo5 zi2 hai6 tai2 tai2, m4 goi1.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Decline persistent sellers politely

    Grammar Note

    "m4 goi1" = thanks for someone's service or effort; "do1 ze6" = thanks for a gift or kindness

12. 你哋收唔收信用卡？

    nei5 dei6 sau1 m4 sau1 seon3 jung6 kaat1?

    Do you accept credit cards?

    Usage

    Ask if card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "sau1 m4 sau1" is an A-not-A question ("accept or not?"). Cantonese forms yes/no questions this way rather than with a sentence-final "嗎"

13. 我買嚟做手信嘅。

    ngo5 maai5 lai4 zou6 sau2 seon3 ge3.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Explain you are buying a souvenir

    Grammar Note

    "sau2 seon3" is Cantonese for "souvenir/gift"

14. 呢個可唔可以國際運送？

    ni1 go3 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 gwok3 zai3 wan6 sung3?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Ask about international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "ho2 m4 ho2 ji5" = "is it possible to"

15. 你哋最好嘅貨係咩？

    nei5 dei6 zeoi3 hou2 ge3 fo3 hai6 me1?

    What's your best item?

    Usage

    Ask about the best item

    Grammar Note

    "zeoi3" forms superlatives

16. 呢個價錢係咪可以商量？

    ni1 go3 gaa3 cin2 hai6 mai6 ho2 ji5 soeng1 loeng6?

    Is this price negotiable?

    Usage

    Ask if price is negotiable

    Grammar Note

    "hai6 mai6" = "is it that ~?" question form

17. 有冇大啲嘅碼？

    jau5 mou5 daai6 di1 ge3 maa5?

    Do you have a larger size?

    Usage

    Ask for a bigger size

    Grammar Note

    "jau5 mou5" = "do you have or not" question

18. 太貴喇！

    taai3 gwai3 laa3!

    This is too expensive!

    Usage

    Reaction when price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "taai3 + adj + laa3" = "too ~!"

19. 鹽

    jim4

    Salt

    Usage

    Point at it to buy at a supermarket or dry-goods shop

20. 砂糖

    saa1 tong4

    Sugar

    Usage

    The single word "tong4" also means candy — show "saa1 tong4" when you want sugar

21. 胡椒粉

    wu4 ziu1 fan2

    Pepper

    Usage

    Ground pepper; whole peppercorns are "wu4 ziu1 lap1"

22. 食油

    sik6 jau4

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Also useful for checking which oil is used, e.g. for allergies

23. 醋

    cou3

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Point at it in the condiments aisle

24. 牛油

    ngau4 jau4

    Butter

    Usage

    HK says "ngau4 jau4", not the Mandarin "huángyóu"; supermarket labels use it too

25. 芝士

    zi1 si2

    Cheese

    Usage

    A loan from English "cheese" and the standard HK word; the Mandarin "nǎilào" is not used

26. 蜜糖

    mat6 tong4

    Honey

    Usage

    HK says "mat6 tong4", not the Mandarin "fēngmì"

27. 乳酪

    jyu5 lok6

    Yogurt

    Usage

    In Hong Kong "jyu5 lok6" means yogurt; note the same characters mean cheese in Taiwan

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