School & Education

1. 呢間學校係咪政府學校？

   ni1 gaan1 hok6 haau6 hai6 mai6 zing3 fu2 hok6 haau6?

   Is this school a government school?

   Usage

   Asking about school type in Hong Kong. There are government, subsidised, and DSS schools

   Grammar Note

   "係咪" forms a yes/no confirmation question — short for "係唔係"

2. 我想報名讀廣東話課程。

   ngo5 soeng2 bou3 ming4 duk6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 fo3 cing4.

   I'd like to enrol in a Cantonese course.

   Usage

   Enrolling in a Cantonese language course at a school

   Grammar Note

   "廣東話" is Cantonese's own name for the language. Also called "粵語" in formal contexts

3. 圖書館喺幾樓？

   tou4 syu1 gun2 hai2 gei2 lau2?

   What floor is the library on?

   Usage

   Asking which floor a facility is on within a school campus

   Grammar Note

   "幾樓" asks which floor. "喺幾樓" = "on which floor is it located"

4. 今日有冇功課？

   gam1 jat6 jau5 mou5 gung1 fo3?

   Is there homework today?

   Usage

   A student asking a teacher or classmate about homework

   Grammar Note

   "功課" means homework or coursework in Cantonese

5. 老師，唔該你解釋多次。

   lou5 si1, m4 goi1 nei5 gaai2 sik1 do1 ci3.

   Teacher, please explain it once more.

   Usage

   Asking a teacher to explain something again

   Grammar Note

   "唔該" is used for requests and light thanks; "多謝" is for gratitude only

6. 我唔明白呢條題目。

   ngo5 m4 ming4 baak6 ni1 tiu4 tai4 muk6.

   I don't understand this question.

   Usage

   Used when a student cannot understand a question or problem

   Grammar Note

   "條" counts questions (and elongated objects). "明白" means understand

7. 學費係幾多錢一學期？

   hok6 fai3 hai6 gei2 do1 cin2 jat1 hok6 kei4?

   How much is the tuition fee per semester?

   Usage

   Asking about tuition costs per semester

   Grammar Note

   "一學期" functions as "per semester" — a time measure for tuition

8. 下星期有考試。

   haa6 sing1 kei4 jau5 haau2 si5.

   There is an exam next week.

   Usage

   Informing someone about an upcoming exam

   Grammar Note

   "下星期" is Cantonese for "next week" — a short form of "下個星期"

9. 呢間大學有冇交流生計劃？

   ni1 gaan1 daai6 hok6 jau5 mou5 gaau1 lau4 sang1 gai3 waak6?

   Does this university have an exchange student programme?

   Usage

   Enquiring about exchange programmes at a Hong Kong university

   Grammar Note

   "有冇 + noun" is the A-not-A pattern asking whether something exists

10. 請問入學要求係咩？

    cing2 man6 jap6 hok6 jiu1 kau4 hai6 me1?

    What are the entry requirements?

    Usage

    Asking about admission requirements for a school or university

    Grammar Note

    "係咩" is a colloquial question meaning "is what?". "咩" = "what"

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