Shopping

1. 呢件衫幾錢㗎？

   ni1 gin6 saam1 gei2 cin2 gaa3?

   How much is this shirt?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of clothing while shopping

   Grammar Note

   "衫 (saam1)" is the Cantonese word for clothing in general. "幾錢 (gei2 cin2)" is the uniquely Cantonese way to ask price.

2. 可唔可以平啲㗎？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 peng4 di1 gaa3?

   Can you make it a bit cheaper?

   Usage

   Used to negotiate a discount, especially at Mong Kok or Temple Street markets

   Grammar Note

   "可唔可以" is the A-not-A question form in Cantonese for polite requests. "啲 (di1)" softens to "a bit".

3. 我想睇下呢個

   ngo5 soeng2 tai2 haa5 ni1 go3

   I'd like to take a look at this

   Usage

   Used when you want to examine an item more closely

   Grammar Note

   "睇 (tai2)" means "to look" in Cantonese. Adding "下 (haa5)" makes it "take a quick look" — casual and exploratory.

4. 有冇大碼㗎？

   jau5 mou5 daai6 maa5 gaa3?

   Do you have a large size?

   Usage

   Used to ask for sizing. "細碼" = small, "中碼" = medium, "大碼" = large

   Grammar Note

   "有冇" is the A-not-A yes/no question in Cantonese. Clothing sizes use "碼 (maa5)" rather than the Mandarin "號".

5. 我要呢個

   ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3

   I'll take this one

   Usage

   Used to indicate you want to purchase an item

   Grammar Note

   "要 (jiu3)" functions as both "want" and "will have" in Cantonese. This is the standard way to purchase something.

6. 可唔可以退換㗎？

   ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 teoi3 wun6 gaa3?

   Can I return or exchange this?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the return or exchange policy

   Grammar Note

   "退 (teoi3)" means return, "換 (wun6)" means exchange. In HK, many small shops have strict no-return policies.

7. 呢度有冇免稅㗎？

   ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 min5 seoi3 gaa3?

   Is there tax-free shopping here?

   Usage

   Used by tourists looking for duty-free goods. Note: Hong Kong already has very low taxes

   Grammar Note

   Hong Kong is known for low taxes. Most goods have no sales tax. "免稅" literally means "exempt from tax".

8. 信用卡得唔得㗎？

   seon3 jung6 kaat1 dak1 m4 dak1 gaa3?

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Used to ask if credit card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "得唔得 (dak1 m4 dak1)" is an A-not-A question for yes/no. "得 (dak1)" means "OK" or "possible" in Cantonese.

9. 唔該包好啲

   m4 goi1 baau1 hou2 di1

   Please wrap it carefully

   Usage

   Used when requesting careful gift wrapping or fragile item packaging

   Grammar Note

   "好啲 (hou2 di1)" means "more carefully" or "better". The particle "啲" adds the comparative nuance.

10. 呢個係唔係正貨㗎？

    ni1 go3 hai6 m4 hai6 zing3 fo3 gaa3?

    Is this an authentic product?

    Usage

    Used to verify authenticity when buying brand-name or expensive goods

    Grammar Note

    "係唔係" is the Cantonese A-not-A confirmation question. "正貨 (zing3 fo3)" means "authentic goods" — a key term in HK shopping.

11. 我唔使收據

    ngo5 m4 sai2 sau1 geoi3

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining when the cashier asks "sai2 m4 sai2 sau1 geoi3?" (do you need the receipt?)

    Grammar Note

    "Sai2" is the Cantonese verb "to need"; its negative is "m4 sai2". This is the plain negative answer to the A-not-A question "sai2 m4 sai2 sau1 geoi3?".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages