Archive for the 'Cantonese Phrases' Category
April 24, 2020
Celebrating the Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong
The Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong is a major holiday, and the most important day for Buddhists around the world. In this article, you’ll learn about Buddha’s Birthday traditions, the prevalence of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and pick up some new vocabulary along the way.
Let’s get started!
1. What is the Birthday of the Buddha?
This is the most important day in 佛教 (fat6 gaau3), or Buddhism, and it’s a time for people to reflect on the Buddha’s teachings, show respect to ancestors, and work on bettering themselves.
The main purpose of celebrating Buddha's Birthday is to remind people to use the Buddha's wisdom to wash away the pollution of the inner self and to purify the mind. In particular, Buddhism's code of ethics guides... Show more
April 10, 2020
Hong Kong Life Events: Happy New Year in Cantonese and More!
Important life events are a great opportunity to practice Cantonese. Not only do they give you an opportunity to express your friendliness and caring to your native friends, but they can also serve as very good conversation starters.
Can’t wait to learn Happy New Year in Cantonese, and more? Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to Cantonese life events and messages!
Table of Contents
Birthday
Chinese New Year
New Year
Other Holidays
Graduation
New Job/Promotion
Retirement
Wedding
Injured/Sick
Pregnancy and Birth
Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
1. Birthday
Most Hong Kongers have two birthdays: one expressed in Gregorian format, and... Show more
March 30, 2020
Your Guide to Hong Kong Weather and More
Weather is a crucial element in our everyday lives. Not only does it determine whether you can go for a hike or a football match over the weekend, but it also serves as a very good conversation starter. When looking for a solid way to open a conversation with a stranger in Cantonese, weather is almost fail-proof.
Can’t wait to know more about Hong Kong weather? Keep reading!
Table of Contents
Hong Kong Weather Overview
Key Words and Phrases about Weather in Cantonese
Common Sentences to Talk about the Weather
Bonus: 4 Common Hong Kong Natural Disasters
How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
1. Hong Kong Weather Overview
Falling into the subtropical climate zone, Hong Kong has four seasons: humid... Show more
March 24, 2020
100 Cantonese Adjectives Just for You!
Adjectives are a very important part of our everyday language. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to describe how pretty the girl sitting next to you is or how spectacular the scenery is.
The more Cantonese adjectives you know, the easier for you to master the Cantonese language. Can’t wait to learn more about Cantonese adjectives? Keep reading and let CantoneseClass101 give you a hand!
Note that we will provide both written and spoken example sentences throughout the article for you. This will help you learn Cantonese adjectives in both forms. We’ve used symbols to help you identify which ones are written (w), spoken (s), or applicable to both (ws).
Now, let’s have some fun with Cantonese adjectives!
Table of Contents
How to... Show more
February 25, 2020
10 Netflix Hong Kong Shows Not to Miss Out On!
Learning Cantonese is a headache to many—after all, with nine tones and 20k+ characters, Cantonese is one of the most difficult languages to master! But, with the right tools, you can certainly learn Cantonese a lot quicker and more effectively—in this case, those tools would be a great Cantonese course and the best Netflix Hong Kong shows.
Watching shows and movies in Cantonese on Netflix is a great way to sharpen language skills. Without even noticing, you’ll end up understanding the spoken language a lot better, and improve your pronunciation simply because you’ve gained familiarity with Cantonese as a whole.
Do you want to learn Cantonese on Netflix, while also learning more about the Hong Kong culture? Here are ten Netflix Hong... Show more
January 25, 2020
元宵節: The Chinese Lantern Festival in Hong Kong
The Chinese Lantern Festivals that take place in Hong Kong each year are quite a sight, and offer an exhilarating experience! Traditionally based on many Chinese legends and stories, this holiday is a time to be with loved ones, admire beautiful Chinese lanterns, and maybe even find or reunite with your true love.
In this article, you’ll learn all about the Hong Kong Spring Lantern Festival, from its traditional meaning to modern-day celebrations.
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
1. What is the Chinese Lantern Festival in Hong Kong?
In Chinese culture, the Lantern Festival, or 元宵節 (jyun4 siu1 zit3), is considered a time of passion and romance. This holiday also goes by the name of "Chinese Valentine's Day."
This is... Show more
January 6, 2020
Guide to Cantonese Customs and Etiquette
Some say manners and etiquette are outdated and no longer matter in this day and age—why bother to care about how others think or feel? Why don’t we just "be our true self" and "show our personality?"
However, decent manners and etiquette are never out of style. They’re the cornerstone of civilization. Without them, a society will become disorganized; its members will demonstrate disrespect for one another and ultimately lead to chaos, insults, falsehoods, and many more unpleasant consequences.
That’s why we’ve set out to help you learn Cantonese customs and etiquette in Hong Kong for your time here.
Table of Contents
Why Manners and Etiquette Matter to You
Concepts Related to Manners in Hong Kong
Dining Etiquette in Hong Kong
... Show more
December 20, 2019
Talking About Tomorrow in Cantonese: Dates in Cantonese
Although English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, learning how to describe dates in Cantonese would be of great benefit to you. Mastering Cantonese dates will not only help you communicate better with the locals, it will also ensure that you won’t miss out on any important meetings or fun events in town.
In this article, we’ll go over how to say dates in Cantonese, how it differs from how to write dates in Cantonese, and even give you some background information on the Chinese calendar.
Can’t wait to learn about Cantonese dates? Let CantoneseClass101.com give you a hand!
Table of Contents
Traditional Chinese Calendar and Modern Calendar
Cantonese Years
Cantonese Months
Cantonese Days
Cantonese Date Format
The Week in... Show more
December 6, 2019
Cantonese Family: “Grandmother” in Cantonese and More!
Although English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, learning how to describe your family in Cantonese will be of great benefit to you. Not only will it help you understand the local culture better, but it can also facilitate communication with the locals and show respect, especially considering that family is a strong institution here.
Want to learn more about Hong Kong families in general and familiarize yourself with basic Cantonese family expressions? Keep reading and let CantoneseClass101.com give you a hand!
In this article, we’ll go over essential information including family titles in Cantonese, family Cantonese words, how to say family in Cantonese, and family relations in Cantonese.
By the time you’re done with this article,... Show more
December 3, 2019
How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice in Hong Kong
During the Winter Solstice Festival, Hong Kong prepares to celebrate the coming New Year with family and loved ones. In this article, you’ll learn about how Hongkongers celebrate the Chinese Winter Solstice, and why!
At CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative—starting with this article.
Let’s delve into this rich and cozy aspect of Hong Kong culture together!
1. What is the Winter Solstice?
In Chinese tradition, there’s a saying that says Winter Solstice is more important than the Lunar New Year. That is because ancient China was an agricultural community, and cultivation had to be done according to the season.
Why do the Chinese celebrate the... Show more