Basic Nouns

1. 水

   seoi2

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with a gesture

2. 食物

   sik6 mat6

   Food

   Usage

   The general word to use when you are looking for something to eat

3. 錢

   cin2

   Money

   Usage

   The basic word when talking about paying or changing money

4. 廁所

   ci3 so2

   Toilet

   Usage

   This single word is usually enough for someone to point the way

5. 紙巾

   zi2 gan1

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking for paper at an eatery or a public toilet

6. 藥

   joek6

   Medicine

   Usage

   The general word to lead with at a pharmacy

7. 行李

   hang4 lei5

   Luggage

   Usage

   For storing, carrying, or collecting your bags

8. 鎖匙

   so2 si4

   Key

   Usage

   At a hotel front desk when handing over or collecting a key

9. 飛

   fei1

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both travel tickets and entry tickets

10. 護照

    wu6 ziu3

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, money changers, and immigration

11. 電話

    din6 waa2

    Phone

    Usage

    Used both for the device and for making a call

12. 充電器

    cung1 din6 hei3

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one

13. 車站

    ce1 zaam6

    Station

    Usage

    The most common landmark word when asking for directions

14. 醫院

    ji1 jyun2

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word to say when you feel seriously unwell

15. 警察

    ging2 caat3

    Police

    Usage

    Who to ask for after a theft or an accident

16. 舖頭

    pou3 tau2

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when asking where you can buy something

17. 房

    fong2

    Room

    Usage

    For booking, changing, or checking availability at a hotel

18. 路

    lou6

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, usually while showing a map

19. 家人

    gaa1 jan4

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up constantly in introductions and small talk

20. 名

    meng2

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. 頭

    tau4

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the part of the body that hurts

22. 眼

    ngaan5

    Eye

    Usage

    Cantonese uses the single character "ngaan5"

23. 牙

    ngaa4

    Tooth

    Usage

    For pointing at a sore tooth at the dentist; HK says "ngaa4"

24. 喉嚨

    hau4 lung4

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat

25. 肚

    tou5

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "tou5"; show it while pointing at where it hurts

26. 背脊

    bui3 zek3

    Back

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "bui3 zek3", not the Mandarin "hòubèi"

27. 腰

    jiu1

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    For lower-back pain

28. 腳

    goek3

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Cantonese "goek3" covers both leg and foot — point at the exact spot on your body to narrow it down

29. 手

    sau2

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Cantonese "sau2" covers the arm as well as the hand — point at the exact spot yourself

30. 心口

    sam1 hau2

    Chest

    Usage

    The word Hongkongers use for the chest when reporting pain; avoids the other reading of "hung1"

31. 消防車

    siu1 fong4 ce1

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A firefighting vehicle; in Hong Kong the fire service is reached on 999, the same number as the police

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