Do you get nervous when the phone rings? 

Telephone phobia is the fear of talking on the phone, though it can even make you afraid of the ringing itself! 

Perhaps you fear criticism or judgement from the person who’s calling, or maybe you’re afraid of hearing an unfamiliar voice. 

While phone calls can be stressful enough in your mother tongue, making one in a foreign language can be especially tense. Because the language is less familiar to you, it might be more difficult to find the right words and accurately communicate your points. 

However, you can alleviate at least some of your worries by learning the most essential Cantonese phone phrases. Knowing them by heart will enable you to better understand the other speaker, express yourself, and ask for clarification if needed.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most useful Cantonese phone phrases for each stage of a call: greeting, identifying yourself, transferring the call, taking or leaving a message, handling connection issues, and more. Once we’re done here, you’ll be able to keep calm and pick up the phone with confidence.

Unless otherwise noted, the phone call phrases listed below are applicable to both formal and informal situations.

Table of Contents

1. Hello?
2. Who is this?
3. I’m calling because…
4. I need to speak to someone…
5. Hold the line, please…
6. Would you like to leave a message?
7. Please say it again…
8. Call you later!
9. Sample Phone Conversations
10. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. Hello? 

Start the call with confidence!

There are two common phrases for answering the phone in Cantonese, both of which can be used in formal and informal settings. The first one is more popular than the second one. 

#1

Chinese Character: 喂。
Romanization: wai2.
Meaning: “Hi.” (can only be used for phone calls)

#2

Chinese Character: 哈囉。
Romanization: haa1 lo3.
Meaning: “Hello.” (can be used for phone calls and in-person interactions)

2. Who is this?

Who are you? 

Asking who the other person is:

Chinese Character: 請問邊位？
Romanization: cing2 man6 bin1 wai2?
Meaning: “Who is this, please?”

Telling the other person who you are:

Chinese Character: 我係 + [company name] + 嘅 + [your name]。
Romanization: ngo5 hai6 + [company name] + ge3 + [your name].
Meaning: “This is [your name] from [company name].”

Note: If the company name is inapplicable or if you’re making a casual phone call, simply omit “+ [company name] + 嘅” from the sentence.

3. I’m calling because…

To make sure your phone call goes smoothly, you should let the other person know why you’re calling. Below are phrases you can use to describe different reasons.

Reason #1

If you missed a call from someone, you can call them back and use this phrase when they pick up. 

Chinese Character: 請問你之前係唔係打過電話畀我？
Romanization: cing2 man6 nei5 zi1 cin4 hai6 m4 hai6 daa2 gwo3 din6 waa6 bei2 ngo5?
Meaning: “Did you call me before?”

Reason #2

If you previously talked with this person and wanted to give them a call, you can use this phrase. 

Chinese Character: 我哋傾過電話。
Romanization: ngo5 dei6 king1 gwo3 din6 waa2.
Meaning: “We talked on the phone.”

Reason #3

This is a more versatile phrase that you can adjust for your specific needs. We use it when we’re calling to complete an action, such as booking a table. 

Chinese Character: 唔該，我想 + [action – e.g. 訂枱] 。
Romanization: m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 + [action – e.g. deng6 toi2]. 
Meaning: “Excuse me, I want to [action – e.g. book a table].”

4. I need to speak to someone…

Whether you’re calling an office or your friend’s home phone, you may need to ask if you can be handed over to the person you intended to call. Here are a few different ways you can ask to speak with someone: 

Formal phrase #1

Chinese Character: 請問 + [name] + 喺唔喺度？
Romanization: cing2 man6 + [name] + hai2 m4 hai2 dou6?
Meaning: “Excuse me, is [name] here?”

Formal phrase #2

Chinese Character: 唔該請 + [name] + 聽電話。
Romanization: m4 goi1 cing2 + [name] + teng1 din6 waa2.
Meaning: “I would like to talk to [name], please.”

Formal & informal

Chinese Character: [name] + 而家方唔方便聽電話？
Romanization: [name] + ji4 gaa1 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6 teng1 din6 waa2?
Meaning: “Is [name] free to speak?”

Informal phrase #1

Chinese Character: 我想搵 + [name]。
Romanization: ngo5 soeng2 wan2 + [name].
Meaning: “I would like to talk to [name].”

Informal phrase #2

Chinese Character: [name] + 喺唔喺度？
Romanization: [name] + hai2 m4 hai2 dou6?
Meaning: “Is [name] here?”

If he or she is not there…

This is what you might hear if the person you’re seeking is not available: 

Chinese Character: 佢唔喺度喎。
Romanization: keoi5 m4 hai2 dou6 wo3.
Meaning: “He/she is not here.”

5. Hold the line, please…

Wait! 

#1

Chinese Character: 麻煩你等等。
Romanization: maa4 faan4 nei5 dang2 dang2.
Meaning: “Please hold on.”

#2

Chinese Character: 我而家將你嘅電話轉駁過去，請等等。
Romanization: ngo5 ji4 gaa1 zoeng1 nei5 ge3 din6 waa2 zyun2 bok3 gwo3 heoi3, cing2 dang2 dang2.
Meaning: “I will transfer you to him/her. Please wait for a moment.”

#3

Chinese Character: 唔該唔好收線住。
Romanization: m4 goi1 m4 hou2 sau1 sin3 zyu6.
Meaning: “Hold the line, please.”

6. Would you like to leave a message?

Would you like to leave a message?

#1

Chinese Character: 請問你可唔可以留低口訊？
Romanization: cing2 man6 nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 lau4 dai1 hau2 seon3?
Meaning: “Would you like to leave a message?”

#2

Chinese Character: 你可唔可以叫佢打返呢個電話 + [your phone number]？
Romanization: nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 giu3 keoi5 daa2 faan1 ni1 go3 din6 waa2 + [your phone number]?
Meaning: “Could you please ask him/her to call me back at the same number [your phone number]?”

#3

Chinese Character: 我嘅電話號碼係 + [your phone number]。
Romanization: ngo5 ge3 din6 waa2 hou6 maa5 hai6 + [your phone number].
Meaning: “My number is [your phone number].”

7. Please say it again…

Because you’re a non-native speaker, handling a phone call in Cantonese may prove to be a real struggle—especially when you throw in other communication barriers, such as a bad connection. Below are several phrases you can use to ask for clarification, repetition, or additional information. 

#1

Chinese Character: 我聽得唔係好清楚。
Romanization: ngo5 teng1 dak1 m4 hai6 hou2 cing1 co2.
Meaning: “I cannot hear you clearly.”

#2

Chinese Character: 唔該講多次。
Romanization: m4 goi1 gong2 do1 ci3.
Meaning: “Please say it again.”

#3

Chinese Character: 條線斷咗。
Romanization: tiu4 sin3 tyun5 zo2.
Meaning: “The line is disconnected.”

#4 

Chinese Character: 請問點稱呼？
Romanization: cing2 man6 dim2 cing1 fu1?
Meaning: “How shall I call you?”

#5 

Chinese Character: 請問你個名點串？
Romanization: cing2 man6 nei5 go3 meng2 dim2 cyun3?
Meaning: “How do you spell your name, please?”

#6

Chinese Character: 你嘅電話號碼係咩？
Romanization: nei5 ge3 din6 waa2 hou6 maa5 hai6 me1?
Meaning: “What’s your phone number?”

8. Call you later! 

Finally, it’s time to end the conversation and hang up the phone. There are a few ways you could do this in Cantonese, depending on the situation. 

#1

Chinese Character: 唔好意思，你打錯電話。
Romanization: m4 hou2 ji3 si1, nei5 daa2 co3 din6 waa2.
Meaning: “Sorry, wrong number.”

#2

Chinese Character: 我會打返畀你。
Romanization: ngo5 wui5 daa2 faan1 bei2 nei5.
Meaning: “I will call you back.”

#3

Chinese Character: 我等陣打畀你。
Romanization: ngo5 dang2 zan6 daa2 bei2 nei5.
Meaning: “I will call later.”

#4

Chinese Character: 我遲啲再打嚟啦。
Romanization: ngo5 ci4 di1 zoi3 daa2 lei4 laa1.
Meaning: “I’ll call again later.”

#5

Chinese Character: 我仲有冇其他嘢可以幫到你？
Romanization: ngo5 zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 je5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou2 nei5?
Meaning: “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

#6

Chinese Character: 唔該，拜拜。
Romanization: m4 goi1, baai1 baai3.
Meaning: “Thanks, bye.”

9. Sample Phone Conversations

Now that you have several Cantonese phone call phrases handy, it’s time to see what a real-life phone call might sound like. We’ve included two sample phone conversations here: one informal and one formal.

Informal

Keira is asking Omelia out for a brunch: 

Keira: 喂。
Romanization: wai2.
Meaning: “Hi.”

Omelia: 喂，我係Omelia。
Romanization: Wai2, ngo5 hai6 Omelia.
Meaning: “Hi, this is Omelia.”

Keira: 你今個星期六得唔得閒？
Romanization: nei5 gam1 go3 sing1 kei4 luk6 dak1 m4 dak1 haan4?
Meaning: “Are you free this Saturday?”

Omelia: 得閒呀。
Romanization: dak1 haan4 aa3.
Meaning: “Yup, I’m free.”

Keira: 去食brunch好唔好？
Romanization: heoi3 sik6 brunch hou2 m4 hou2?
Meaning: “Let’s meet up for brunch?”

Omelia: 好呀。幾點見？
Romanization: hou2 aa3. gei2 dim2 gin3?
Meaning: “Sure. When shall we meet?”

Keira: 十點？
Romanization: sap6 dim2?
Meaning: “Ten o’clock?”

Omelia: 好呀。
Romanization: hou2 aa3.
Meaning: “Sure.”

Keira: 咁我去book位喇。
Romanization: gam2 ngo5 heoi3 book wai2 laa3.
Meaning: “Then I’ll go ahead and make a reservation.”

Omelia: 好，拜拜。
Romanization: hou2, baai1 baai3.
Meaning: “Cool, bye.”

Keira: 拜拜。
Romanization: baai1 baai3.
Meaning: “Bye.”

Formal

Keira is now calling the restaurant to reserve a table:

Keira: 喂。
Romanization: wai2.
Meaning: “Hi.”

Restaurant manager: 喂。
Romanization: wai2.
Meaning: “Hi.”

Keira: 唔該我想訂枱。
Romanization: m4 goi1 ngo5 soeng2 deng6 toi2.
Meaning: “Excuse me, I want to book a table.”

Restaurant manager: 想book幾時? 
Romanization: seong2 book gei2 si4?
Meaning: “What time?”

Keira: 星期六朝早十點。
Romanization: sing1 kei4 luk6 ziu1 zou2 sap6 dim2.
Meaning: “10 a.m. Saturday.”

Restaurant manager:  OK，你嘅電話號碼係咩?
Romanization: ok, nei5 ge3 din6 waa2 hou6 maa5 hai6 me1?
Meaning: “Okay, what’s your phone number?”

Keira: 91234567。
Romanization: gau2 jat1 ji6 saam1 sei3 ng5 luk6 cat1.
Meaning: “91234567.”

Restaurant manager:  OK，到時見。
Romanization: ok, dou3 si4 gin3.
Meaning: “Okay, see you then.”

Keira: 唔該，拜拜。
Romanization: m4 goi1, baai1 baai3.
Meaning: “Thanks, bye.”

Restaurant manager: 拜拜。
Romanization: baai1 baai3.
Meaning: “Bye.”

10. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

How do you feel about making a phone call in Cantonese now? Are there any phrases or situations we missed? Let us know, and we’ll be glad to get back to you! 

Now that you’ve learned quite a number of Cantonese phone call phrases, are you interested in picking up even more Cantonese? Depending on your needs, you might enjoy our free vocabulary lists of Cantonese phrases for business or travel.

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