http://www.chinese.hku.hk/main/chinese-language-centre/certificate-in-chinese-language-courses-for-foreign-students/

HKU Cantonese, Room B801, 8/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of, Pok Fu Lam (2026)

18/06/2026

Both 奄尖 / 腌臢 (jim1 zim1) and 娿哿 (o1 go6) are highly expressive Cantonese terms that describe (unpleasant) personality traits. They make a great pair to describe, for example, a difficult shopper or diner! But they attack the problem from two different angles.

* If someone is 奄尖 / 腌臢 (jim1 zim1), they are picky, choosy, or difficult to please. They reject things because they are “too” this or that, or of the “wrong” colour / size / shape / taste, etc. They know what they don't want.

* If someone is 娿哿 (o1 go6), they are indecisive. They might actually like everything, but it takes them forever to make up their mind and they may waver back and forth between choices.

Let’s look at some example sentences to see them in action!

1. 奄尖 / 腌臢 (jim1 zim1) - picky, fussy

佢食嘢好奄尖，呢啲又唔食，嗰啲又話油。
keoi5 sik6 je5 hou2 jim1 zim1, ni1 di1 jau6 m4 sik6, go2 di1 jau6 waa6 jau4.
(s/he) (eat) (thing) (very) (picky), (these) (also) (not) (eat), (those) (also) (say) (oily)
S/he is a very picky eater; s/he won't eat these, and she complains that those are too oily.

佢揀衫好奄尖，淨係純棉嘅先會買。
keoi5 gaan2 saam1 hou2 jim1 zim1, zing6 hai6 seon4 min4 ge3 sin1 wui5 maai5.
(s/he) (choose) (clothes) (very) (picky), (only) (pure cotton) (Adj.) (only if) (will) (buy)
S/he is very fussy when choosing clothes. S/he will only buy those that are 100% pure cotton.

你揀 groupmate 唔好咁奄尖啦，又唔係揀老公。
nei5 gaan2 groupmate m4 hou2 gam3 jim1 zim1 laa1, jau6 m4 hai6 gaan2 lou5 gung1.
(you) (choose) (groupmate) (don't) (so) (picky) (PARTICLE), (after all) (not be) (choose) (husband)
Don't be so picky when choosing groupmates! It's not like you're choosing a husband.

2. 娿哿 (o1 go6) - indecisive, wishy-washy

你咪咁娿哿啦，一係買，一係唔買，唔使諗成日！
nei5 mai5 gam3 o1 go6 laa1, jat1 hai6 maai5, jat1 hai6 m4 maai5, m4 sai2 nam2 seng4 jat6!
(you) (don't) (so) (indecisive) (PARTICLE), (either) (buy), (either) (not) (buy), (no need) (think) (whole day)
Don't be so wishy-washy! Either buy it or don't buy it, you don't need to spend the whole day thinking about it!

佢份人好娿哿，之前話去，而家又話怕熱唔想去。
keoi5 fan6 jan4 hou2 o1 go6, zi1 cin4 waa6 heoi3, ji4 gaa1 jau6 waa6 paa3 jit6 m4 soeng2 heoi3.
(his/her) (personality) (very) (indecisive), (before) (say) (go), (now) (again) (say) (fear) (hot) (not) (want) (go)
S/he is a very indecisive person. Earlier s/he said s/he was going, but now s/he says s/he's afraid of the heat and doesn't want to go.

佢買個外賣都娿哿過人，揀三四間都未揀好！
keoi5 maai5 go3 ngoi6 maai6 dou1 o1 go6 gwo3 jan4, gaan2 saam1 sei3 gaan1 dou1 mei6 gaan2 hou2!
(s/he) (buy) (MW) (takeout) (also) (indecisive) (more than others), (choose) (three) (four) (MW for shops) (even) (not yet) (choose-completed)
S/he is more indecisive than anyone even just ordering takeout. S/he's looked at several restaurants and still hasn't made up his/her mind!

25/05/2026

費事 (fai3 si6; also written as 廢事) is an incredibly common and useful Cantonese expression. It essentially means "to avoid the trouble of...", "so as not to...", or "lest...". It is used when you decide to do (or not do) something to prevent an annoying, awkward, or problematic situation later.
Here is how we can use it:

1. Action，費事 fai3 si6 + The bad outcome that you seek to avoid

我搭的士去，費事遲到。
ngo5 daap3 dik1 si2 heoi3, fai3 si6 ci4 dou3.
(I)(take)(taxi)(go),(lest)(be late)
I'm taking a taxi so I don't risk being late.

唔講住喇，我要瞓覺，費事聽日唔知醒。
m4 gong2 zyu6 laa3, ngo5 jiu3 fan3 gaau3, fai3 si6 ting1 jat6 m4 zi1 seng2.
(not)(speak)(for now)(LAA),(I)(need)(sleep),(lest)(tomorrow)(not know)(awake)
Let's stop talking for now, I need to sleep so I don't risk failing to wake up on time tomorrow.

我哋講嘢細聲啲，費事嘈到阿妹溫書。
ngo5 dei6 gong2 je5 sai3 seng1 di1, fai3 si6 cou4 dou2 aa3 mui2 wan1 syu1.
(we)(speak thing)(soft voice)(-er), (lest)(make noise to)(younger sister)(study)
Let's speak more quietly, so that we won’t disturb younger sister who’s studying.

2. 費事 fai3 si6 + Action that you don’t bother doing or not worth the hassle to do

我費事問佢，我知佢實話唔得。
ngo5 fai3 si6 man6 keoi5, ngo5 zi1 keoi5 sat6 waa6 m4 dak1.
(I)(avoid trouble)(ask)(him/her), (I)(know)(he)(definitely)(say)(not okay)
I wouldn’t even bother asking him. I know he'll definitely say no.

我費事打咁多字，所以直接打電話畀你。
ngo5 fai3 si6 daa2 gam3 do1 zi6, so2 ji5 zik6 zip3 daa2 din6 waa2 bei2 nei5.
(I)(avoid trouble)(type)(such many)(word), (so)(directly)(dial)(phone)(to)(you)
I don’t want to bother to type so many words, so I'm calling you directly.

件事已經過咗去，費事再提喇。
gin6 si6 ji5 ging1 gwo3 zo2 heoi3, fai3 si6 zoi3 tai4 laa3.
(MW)(matter)(already)(pass-ed go),(avoid trouble)(again)(mention)(PARTICLE)
That matter has already passed. There’s no point to mention it again.

28/04/2026

Try this mini quiz on classifiers for garments!
(Answers can be found below)

Options: 件 gin6 / 條 tiu4 / 對 deoi3

1. T裇 ti1 seot1
T-shirt

2. 背心 bui3 sam1
Vest / Tank top

3. 褲 fu3
Trousers

4. 半截裙 bun3 zit6 kwan4
Skirt (“half dress”)

5. 連身裙 lin4 san1 kwan4
Dress / One-piece (“joined body dress”)

6. 外套 ngoi6 tou3
Jacket

7. 冷衫 laang1 saam1
Jumper / Sweater

8. 頸巾 geng2 gan1
Scarf

9. 手襪 sau2 mat6
Gloves (“hand sock”)

10. 襪 mat6
Socks

*
*
*
*
*
Answer key:
****
件 gin6: 1, 2, 6, 7
條 tiu4: 3, 4, 5, 8
對 deoi3: 9, 10
****
Did you notice the pattern?

- 件 gin6: Used for things worn on the upper body (tops, jackets, shirts).

- 條 tiu4: Used for long, flexible, or strip-shaped items and those covering the lower body (scarves, trousers, shorts, panties, skirts, dresses).

- 對 deoi3: Used for things that come in pairs (socks, gloves). Note that trousers and shorts are not considered “a pair” in Cantonese because they are one inseparable piece of garment!

How many did you get right? Let us know in the comments!

28/03/2026

嘢 je5 (~“thing”) might be one of the most used words in Cantonese. We can think of it as a place holder for “something”, when you don’t want to be specific, the context has already made it obvious, or when the exact word doesn’t matter.

If you learn how to use 嘢, your Cantonese will instantly sound more natural because native speakers use it all the time!

1. 乜嘢 mat1 je5
(what)(thing)
= “what”

你想食乜嘢呀？
nei5 soeng2 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3?
(you)(want)(eat)(what)(PARTICLE)
What do you want to eat?

2. 有嘢 / 冇嘢
(have)(thing)
= There is something/nothing OR something/nothing is going on

如果你有嘢，可以同我講。
jyu4 gwo2 nei5 jau5 je5, ho2 ji5 tung4 ngo5 gong2.
(if)(you)(have)(thing), (can)(with)(me)(speak).
If there is something on your mind, you can tell me.

我冇嘢呀，好好呀。
ngo5 mou5 je5 aa3, hou2 hou2 aa3.
(I)(not have)(thing)(PARTICLE), (very)(good)(PARTICLE).
Nothing’s bothering me, I’m doing very well.

3. 做嘢 zou6 je5
(do)(thing)
= “to do something” OR “to work”

我做緊嘢，你唔好煩我。
ngo5 zou6 gan2 je5, nei5 m4 hou2 faan4 ngo5.
(I)(do-ing)(work), (you)(don’t)(bother)(me).
I am working, don’t bother me.

佢呢兩個月都冇做嘢。
keoi5 ni1 loeng5 go3 jyut6 dou1 mou5 zou6 je5.
(s/he)(this)(two)(MW)(month)(also)(not have)(work).
He/She hasn't had a job for these past two months.

4. 學嘢hok6 je5
(learn)(thing)
= “to learn (skills / knowledge)” OR “to attend tutorials or hobby classes”

佢個女逢星期六都要學嘢。
keoi5 go3 neoi2 fung4 sing1 kei4 luk6 dou1 jiu3 hok6 je5.
(his/her)(MW)(daughter)(every)(Saturday)(also)(need)(learn)(thing).
His/Her daughter has to take classes every Saturday.

5. 講嘢 gong2 je5
(speak)(thing)
= “to speak” OR “to bluff”

佢講嘢好細聲。
keoi5 gong2 je5 hou2 sai3 seng1.
(s/he)(speak)(very)(small)(voice).
He/She speaks very softly.

你可以食四碗飯？你講嘢呀？！
nei5 ho2 ji5 sik6 sei3 wun2 faan6? nei5 gong2 je5 aa4?!
(you)(can)(eat)(four)(bowls)(rice)? (you)(talk)(PARTICLE)?!
You can eat four bowls of rice? Are you talking nonsense?! (/Are you kidding me?!)

6. 嘢飲 / 嘢食 je5 jam2 / je5 sik6
(thing)(drink) / (thing)(eat)
= drinks / food

我哋去買啲嘢食同嘢飲。
ngo5 dei6 heoi3 maai5 di1 je5 sik6 tung4 je5 jam2.
(we)(go)(buy)(some)(food)(and)(drinks)
Let’s go buy some food and drinks.

28/02/2026

It's the year of the Horse!🐴 Let's learn some fun Cantonese expressions related to horses!

1. 馬路 maa5 lou6
Literal: horse road
Meaning: Road (built for vehicles to travel along)

*In the past, major roads were used by horse-drawn carriages, so they were called “horse roads.” The name stuck even though there are no horses anymore.

E.g.
過馬路之前要睇清楚。
gwo3 maa5 lou6 zi1 cin4 jiu3 tai2 cing1 co2.
(cross)(horse road)(before)(need)(look)(clear)
Look carefully before crossing the road.

2. 馬尾 maa5 mei5
Literal: horse tail
Meaning: ponytail hairstyle

E.g.
我跑步通常會紮馬尾。
ngo5 paau2 bou6 tung1 soeng4 wui5 zaat3 maa5 mei5.
(I)(run)(usually)(will)(tie up)(horse tail)
I usually wear a ponytail when I jog.

3. 出馬 ceot1 maa5
Literal: to send out the horse
Meaning: to personally take charge, to step in to help

*In ancient times, when someone important or powerful went into action, they literally mounted a horse and rode out or take the carriage. So “出馬” became associated with stepping in personally.

E.g.
老闆親自出馬，所以問題好快解決。
lou5 baan2 can1 zi6 ceot1 maa5, so2 ji5 man6 tai4 hou2 faai3 gaai2 kyut3.
(boss)(personally)(go out on horse)(so)(problem)(very)(fast)(solve)
The boss him/herself stepped in, so the problem was quickly solved.

4. 露出馬腳 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3
Literal: expose horse leg
Meaning: to reveal a flaw; to let the truth slip

E.g.
細佬話佢冇偷食，
sai3 lou2 waa6 keoi5 mou5 tau1 sik6,
(younger brother)(say)(he)(not have)(steal)(eat),
My younger brother said he didn’t sneak any food,

但塊面啲餅碎令佢露出馬腳。
daan6 faai3 min6 di1 beng2 seoi3 ling6 keoi5 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3.
(but)(MW)(face)(Pl.)(biscuit crumb)(make)(him)(expose horse leg)
but the biscuit crumbs on his face gave him away.

22/02/2026

祝大家馬到功成，龍馬精神！🧧🐴
zuk1 daai6 gaa1 maa5 dou3 gung1 sing4, lung4 maa5 zing1 san4!

(wish)(everyone)(horse-arrive-work-done),(dragon-horse-energetic)!

Wish you all swift success in all your ventures, and be full of energy and spirit!

30/01/2026

Would you like to get to know two interesting “aunties” (aa3 ji1 阿姨) in Cantonese?😏
There are two Cantonese adverbs that end with “ji”: “hai6 gam2 ji2 (係噉意)” and “zaa3 gaa1 ji1 (詐假意)”. Have you ever heard them? Do you understand what they mean?

1. hai6 gam2 ji2 係噉意
(Also written as 係咁意、係噉兒 etc.)

*Core meaning: to do something casually, just “for form’s sake”, without serious intention

我今朝係噉意食咗兩啖早餐，所以而家好肚餓。
ngo5 gam1 ziu1 hai6 gam2 ji2 sik6 zo2 loeng5 daam6 zou2 caan1, so2 ji5 ji4 gaa1 hou2 tou5 ngo6.
(I)(this morning)(casually)(ate)(two mouthfuls)(breakfast), (so)(now)(very)(hungry)
I only had a couple of bites of breakfast this morning, so I’m really hungry now.

我係噉意建議吓啫，你唔一定要噉做嘅。
ngo5 hai6 gam2 ji2 gin3 ji5 haa5 ze1, nei5 m4 jat1 ding6 jiu3 gam2 zou6 ge3.
(I)(casually)(suggest)(a bit)(PART), (you)(not)(necessarily)(need to)(like this)(do)(PART)
I was just making a casual suggestion - you don’t have to do it that way.

見到唔熟嘅同事，係噉意打個招呼都要嘅。
gin3 dou2 m4 suk6 ge3 tung4 si6, hai6 gam2 ji2 daa2 go3 ziu1 fu1 dou1 jiu3 ge3.
(see)(not familiar)(ADJ)(colleague), (casually)(make a greeting)(also)(need)(PART)
When you run into colleagues you’re not close with, a quick hello is still needed.

2. zaa3 gaa1 ji1 詐假意
(Also written as 詐假兒、詐家衣 etc.)

*Core meaning: to pretend, to put on an act

我詐假意扮唔識，等佢有機會認叻。
ngo5 zaa3 gaa1 ji1 baan6 m4 sik1, dang2 keoi5 jau5 gei1 wui6 jing6 lek1.
(I)(act as if)(pretend)(not know),(let)(him/her)(have)(chance)(claim smart)
I pretended not to know on purpose so s/he could get a chance to show off.

我只係詐假意踢佢，其實完全冇掂到佢。
ngo5 zi2 hai6 zaa3 gaa1 ji1 tek3 keoi5, kei4 sat6 jyun4 cyun4 mou5 dim3 dou2 keoi5.
(I)(only)(act as if)(kick)(him/her), (actually)(completely)(not)(touch)(reach)(him/her)
I was only pretending to kick him/her, but actually I didn’t touch him/her at all.

佢詐假意話想同你坐，其實係想抄答案！
keoi5 zaa3 gaa1 ji1 waa6 soeng2 tung4 nei5 co5, kei4 sat6 hai6 soeng2 caau1 daap3 on3.
(s/he)(act as if)(say)(want)(with)(you)(sit),(actually)(is)(want)(copy)(answers)
S/he pretended to want to sit with you, but actually s/he just wanted to copy your answers!

30/12/2025

新一年，你有咩 *願望* 呀？
san1 jat1 nin4, nei5 jau5 me1 *jyun6 mong6* aa3?
“What wishes do you have for the new year?”

我 *希望* 大家都平平安安。
ngo5 *hei1 mong6* daai6 gaa1 dou1 ping4 ping4 on1 on1.
“I hope everyone will be safe and sound.”

✨願望 jyun6 mong6 V.S. 希望 hei1 mong6 in Cantonese

願望 (jyun6 mong6) is a noun meaning “wishes”. It refers to a specific desire or aspiration, often something not fully under one’s control. Verbs that usually come with it are 有 (jau5) “to have” and 實現 (sat6 jin6) “to realize”.

Examples:

我嘅生日願望係順利畢業！
ngo5 ge3 saang1 jat6 jyun6 mong6 hai6 seon6 lei6 bat1 jip6!
(my)(birthday)(wish)(is)(smoothly)(graduate)
My birthday wish is to graduate smoothly / successfully graudate!

錢未必可以幫你實現所有願望。
cin2 mei6 bit1 ho2 ji5 bong1 nei5 sat6 jin6 so2 jau5 jyun6 mong6.
(money)(not necessarily)(can)(help)(you)(realise)(all)(wishes)
Money doesn’t necessarily help you achieve all your wishes.

希望 (hei1 mong6) can be a verb or a noun. As a verb it means “to hope” for a certain outcome or “to wish” for something. As a noun it refers to “hope” in a more abstract sense, as a positive attitude or expectation toward a desirable outcome.

Examples:

我希望聽日唔會落雨。
ngo5 hei1 mong6 ting1 jat6 m4 wui5 lok6 jyu5.
(I)(hope)(tomorrow)(not)(will)(fall)(rain)
I hope it won’t rain tomorrow.

我希望日日都係假期。
ngo5 hei1 mong6 jat6 jat6 dou1 hai6 gaa3 kei4.
(I)(hope)(day day)(all)(are)(holidays)
I wish every day were a holiday.

有生命就有希望。
jau5 sang1 ming6 zau6 jau5 hei1 mong6.
(have)(life)(then)(have)(hope)
Where there is life, there is hope.

When “to wish” means giving blessings on special occasions, e.g. “I wish you a happy new year” and “I wish you a happy birthday”, we use the verb 祝 zuk1 instead.

祝你生日快樂！
zuk1 nei5 saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6!
(bless)(you)(birthday)(happy)
Happy birthday to you!

29/11/2025

Is 想 soeng2 “to think”? This Cantonese word often confuses learners who have previous knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.
In Cantonese, we use 想 soeng2 only for “to want (to do/have something)”. E.g.,

我想食雪糕。
Ngo5 soeng2 sik6 syut3 gou1.
(I)(want)(eat)(ice cream)
I want to eat ice cream.

我想要一杯水。
Ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 bui1 seoi2.
(I)(want)(need)(one)(MW)(water)
I want a glass of water. / I’d like to have a glass of water.

When we want to say “to think (about sth.)” as a kind of mental activity, we use 諗 nam2 instead. Note that Hong Kong Cantonese speakers often pronounce it as “lam2” because the nasal initial is disappearing.

你諗緊乜嘢呀？
Nei5 nam2 gan2 mat1 je5 aa3?
(you)(think-ing)(what)(PRT)
What are you thinking about?

我諗咗好耐都唔明。
Ngo5 nam2 zo2 hou2 noi6 dou1 m4 ming4.
(I)(think-PERF)(for a long time)(still)(not)(understand)
I’ve thought about it for a long time but still don’t understand.

However, when we want to say “I (or sb.) think…”, we usually use 覺得 gok3 dak1 (to think; to feel) or 諗 nam2 (to think; to suppose), depending on the level of certainty. 覺得 gok3 dak1 is more certain, while 諗 nam2 leans towards speculation, like “I guess…/I suppose…”.

我覺得你好靚。
Ngo5 gok3 dak1 nei5 hou2 leng3.
(I)(think)(you)(very)(beautiful)
I think you’re very beautiful.

佢覺得我呃佢。
Keoi5 gok3 dak1 ngo5 aak1 keoi5.
(s/he)(think)(I)(lie)(s/he)
S/he thinks I’m lying to him/her.

十點啦，我諗佢唔會嚟喇。
Sap6 dim2 laa3, ngo5 nam2 keoi5 m4 wui5 lei4 laa3.
(ten)(o’clock)(PRT), (I)(think)(s/he)(not)(will)(come)(PRT)
It’s ten o’clock already. I guess s/he is not coming anymore.

To make things a bit more complicated, in Cantonese, a thought, an idea, or a perspective can be called both 想法 soeng2 faat3 and 諗法 nam2 faat3. The former sounds slightly more formal and less used in daily conversation. If you want to sound more colloquial and “local”, opt for the 諗法 nam2 faat3😉

30/10/2025

Halloween is around the corner! Let’s learn something about… ghosts?👻 Do you know that Cantonese speakers have a special love for the word “ghost 鬼 (gwai2)”? You can almost always find one in daily conversation!😨

In this post we’ll look at how we can use “鬼 gwai2” as an intensifier to make things sound extremely (or ghostly?) intense!

1. In Cantonese, 鬼 gwai2 often manifests itself by infixing between an adverb and an adjective to emphasize a strong degree…😱

Examples:

A）好難 hou2 naan4 → 好鬼難 hou2 gwai2 naan4 (very difficult)

　　我今年上啲堂好鬼難。
　　ngo5 gam1 nin2 soeng5 di1 tong4 hou2 gwai2 naan4.
　　(I)(this year)(attend)(Pl.)(class)(very)(ghost)(difficult)
　　The classes I'm taking this year are incredibly difficult.
　　
B）幾幽默 gei2 jau1 mak6 → 幾鬼幽默 gei2 gwai2 jau1 mak6 (quite humorous)

　　你個朋友幾鬼幽默。
　　nei5 go3 pang4 jau5 gei2 gwai2 jau1 mak6.
　　(you)(MW)(friend)(quite)(ghost)(humorous)
　　Your friend is pretty humorous.

C）咁快 gam3 faai3 → 咁鬼快 gam3 gwai2 faai3 (that fast / so fast)

　　你做咩行得咁鬼快啊？
　　nei5 zou6 me1 haang4 dak1 gam3 gwai2 faai3 aa3?
　　(you)(do what)(walk)(DAK)(so)(ghost)(fast)(PART)
　　Why are you walking so quickly?
　　

2. We can also say that something/someone is “as … as a ghost / 鬼咁... (gwai2 gam3)” for dramatic emphasis! It often conveys a bit of annoyance as well.🫣

Examples:

佢真係鬼咁孤寒，一蚊都唔借畀我。
keoi5 zan1 hai6 gwai2 gam3 gu1 hon4, jat1 man1 dou1 m4 ze3 bei2 ngo5.
(s/he)(really)(ghost)(-like)(stingy),(one)(dollar)(even)(not)(lend)(to)(me)
S/he is so incredibly stingy. S/he wouldn't even lend me a dollar.

條隊鬼咁長！我哋下次再嚟啦。
tiu4 deoi2 gwai2 gam3 coeng4! ngo5 dei6 haa6 ci3 zoi3 lai4 laa1.
(MW)(queue)(ghost)(-like)(long)!(we)(next time)(again)(come)(PART)
The line is ridiculously long! Let’s come back next time.

It’s fun to add “ghosts” into your daily conversation with friends👻 But please note that all these are very colloquial usages to be used only in informal and casual situations!

HKU Cantonese

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