In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power – use these ones sincerely and often!
Table of Contents
- 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese
- Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
- Infographic & Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You
- Video Lesson: ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
- How CantoneseClass101 Can Help You
So, how do you say ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese? You can learn easily! Below, CantoneseClass101 brings you perfect translations and pronunciation as you learn the most common ways Cantonese speakers say ‘Thanks’ in various situations.
1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese
1- Thank you.
多謝。
do1 ze6
The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!
2- That’s very kind of you.
你真係好人。
nei5 zan1 hai6 hou2 jan4.
This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.
3- Thanks for your kind words!
多謝你嘅鼓勵！
do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 gu2 lai6!
Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!
4- Thank you for coming today.
多謝你今日賞面。
do1 ze6 nei5 gam1 jat6 soeng2 min2.
This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with Cantonese speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your Cantonese guests!
5- Thank you for your consideration.
多謝你考慮。
do1 ze6 nei5 haau2 leoi6.
This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.
6- Thanks a lot!
好多謝你！
hou2 do1 ze6 nei5!
This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in Cantonese. Use this in an informal setting with your Cantonese friends or teachers.
7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.
好似你咁好嘅先生好難搵。
hou2 ci3 nei5 gam3 hou2 ge3 sin1 saang1 hou2 naan4 wan2.
Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your CantoneseClass101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!
8- Thank you for spending time with us.
多謝你花時間畀我哋。
do1 ze6 nei5 faa1 si4 gaan3 bei2 ngo5 dei6.
Any host at a gathering with Cantonese speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your Cantonese language teacher for her time.
9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.
多謝你咁有耐性幫我改進。
do1 ze6 nei5 gam3 jau5 noi6 sing3 bong1 ngo5 goi2 zeon3.
This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal Cantonese teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in China, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee – gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!
10- You’re the best teacher ever!
你係有史以嚟最好嘅先生！
nei5 hai6 jau5 si2 ji5 lei4 zeoi3 hou2 ge3 sin1 saang1!
This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!
11- Thank you for the gift.
多謝你份禮物。
do1 ze6 nei5 fan6 lai5 mat6.
This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.
12- I have learned so much thanks to you.
多謝你教咗我咁多嘢。
do1 ze6 nei5 gaau3 zo2 ngo5 gam2 do1 je5.
What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
In the Cantonese language, 唔該 (m4 goi1) has a few meanings. We most commonly use this to mean “Thanks” in a casual way. We can also use it to mean “please,” and it can even be used to get someone’s attention. 唔該 literally translates as “no” (唔) and “should” (該). You put these together and it means something along the lines of “shouldn’t.” 唔該 is made up of two sounds, one for each character. The first sound is m4, pronounced with your mouth closed almost like humming, low and flat. The second sound is goi1 with a flat high tone, almost like singing. We can also use 唔該 when we want to gain someone’s attention in a polite way, especially in a restaurant setting when needing to get a waiter’s attention.
唔該晒 (m4 goi1 saai3) is a more emphatic way of saying “Thank you.”
Cultural Insights
Quick Tip 1
Native Hong Kongers commonly use handshakes when greeting Westerners. The Hong Kong Chinese handshake is rather light, so don’t try to squeeze with all your might. During the greeting, many Hong Kong Chinese lower their eyes as a sign of respect, but you do not have to reciprocate.
On the run to China? Wait! You can’t go without some basic language phrases under your belt! Especially if you’re heading to meet your prospective employer! Either in person or online, knowing how to say ‘Thank you’ in the Cantonese language will only improve their impression of you! CantoneseClass101 saves you time with this short lesson that nevertheless packs a punch. Learn to say ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese in no time!
3. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You
Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in Cantonese, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of Cantonese in China!
Click Here to Listen to the Free Audio Lesson!
At CantoneseClass101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in China, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in Cantonese’ again…!
4. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language – it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.
5. Why would CantoneseClass101 be the perfect choice to learn Cantonese?
However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in Cantonese – why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special Cantonese friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!
CantoneseClass101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases
With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At CantoneseClass101, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods. A library replete with learning resources allows for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.
We accommodate all levels and types of learners, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and CantoneseClass101 is free for anyone to sign up. However, you can choose to fast track your fluency with lesson customization and increased interactive learning and practicing. Upgrade to Premium, or Premium PLUS to enhance your experience and greatly expedite your learning. With this type of assistance, and pleasurable effort on your part, you will speak Cantonese in a very short period of time!
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Best of all is that you’re never alone! We believe that practice is the holy grail of learning any new language, and we gear our courses to ensure lots of it. Enroll with us, and you gain immediate access to our lively forum where we meet and greet, and discuss your burning questions. Our certified teachers are friendly and helpful, and you are very likely to practice your first ‘Thanks!’ in Cantonese on him/her, AND mean it! Hurry up, and sign up now – you will thank us for it.
