CantoneseClass101.com Blog

What’s your favorite animal? Do you have any pets?  Questions like these make great conversation starters. Animals are a topic of interest for many people, and we sure do love our pets! What better way to break the ice and get to know someone than by asking about their favorite furry, scaly, or feathery creatures? Fancy putting some Cantonese animal words in your pocket? In this article, you’ll learn many animal names in Cantonese for different categories: pets, farm animals, wild beasts, sea creatures, birds, and all sorts of tiny bugs. We’ll spice it up with some animal proverbs and the “Twelve Zodiac Animals” story. Read on! Table of Contents At Home (Pets) On the Farm (Farm Animals) In the Wild / Forest / Safari... Show more

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,... Show more

There are over 10,000 Cantonese characters. Considering the vast number of ways these characters can be combined, it would be an understatement to say that this language has a lot of words!  → If you want to learn more about Cantonese characters and the language’s writing system, visit our guide on CantoneseClass101.com. Feeling overwhelmed? Keep in mind that even native Cantonese speakers only know a fraction of these words! To start having conversations, you’ll only need a few hundred basic Cantonese words.  In this article, we’ll list the most useful Cantonese words for beginners. Knowing these words will allow you to handle many everyday situations, whether you want to talk, listen, or both. Keep reading! Table of... Show more

Um… Hmm… Well... Have you ever heard or used these words in a conversation? In linguistics, they’re called "filler words." While they may seem meaningless, and while many associate them with uncertainty and nervousness, filler words can actually be useful. For example, they can help your speech sound more genuine and diplomatic, and even help you jump into a conversation. Cantonese filler words have the potential to make or break a conversation, depending on when and how you use them. In this article, you’ll learn what the most common Cantonese filler words are and how to use them properly. Let’s dive in! Table of Contents Filler Words Explained The Top 10 Cantonese Filler Words Pros and Cons of Filler Words Bonus:... Show more

Love is quite an unexplainable matter—it can cause you to feel happy, excited, and a number of other emotions. Considering the vast breadth of feelings you’re experiencing, how can you properly express your love in Cantonese to that special someone?  In this article, we’ll not only cover the most common love phrases like "I miss you," and "I love you," in Cantonese, but we’ll also teach you how to express your interest and affection during each stage of your relationship. As a bonus, we’ll share some love quotes at the end (but we don’t recommend using them in your dating life unless you want to sound...cheesy). Do note that most Hongkongers (and other people living in the Cantonese-speaking regions) are more subtle and reserved when... Show more

There seems to be a stigma attached to saying "no" nowadays. In certain cultures and social circles, it’s even considered rude or inappropriate to do so! But contrary to popular belief, saying no is a powerful way to safeguard your emotional health. It shows that you take responsibility for yourself and that you respect your own desires, wishes, and emotions. Expressing negative statements or rejection appropriately is also vital to effective communication. Wondering how to express "no" and negate statements in Cantonese? In this article, we’ll guide you through the most important aspects of Cantonese negation so that you can start asserting yourself with confidence!  → By the way, you may also want to see our vocabulary list of... Show more

Considering the huge number of languages in the world, why learn Cantonese? You might already be aware of how different Cantonese is compared to Western languages. After all, Cantonese is a tonal language with its own writing system based on 3000-4000 Chinese characters!  Even though Cantonese sounds complicated, it’s not that hard to master when you’re using the right tools and approach. Plus, learning Cantonese can open up lots of opportunities and enable you to fully experience the local culture. Still not convinced? Let CantoneseClass101.com share with you our top 10 reasons why you should learn Cantonese! Table of Contents Knowing Cantonese will unlock more career options. It will help you navigate the city. ... Show more

Depending on how long you’ve been learning Cantonese, you may already have an idea of how simple Cantonese grammar is. You may have even heard that Cantonese is "tenseless." But if that’s the case, how does one express the past, present, or future? In this article, CantoneseClass101.com will cover everything you need to know about expressing the different tenses in Cantonese—it’s easier than you think! Table of Contents Cantonese "Tenses" How to Express the Past How to Express the Present How to Express the Future How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese 1. Cantonese "Tenses" Cantonese is considered a tenseless language. In contrast to European languages like English or French, it... Show more

Some of you might have heard about how difficult it is to learn Cantonese. After all, Cantonese is a tonal language with its own writing system based on thousands of Chinese characters!  Do you fancy to learn Cantonese but want to get a rough idea of how long it’s gonna take? Or maybe you’ve already passed the beginner stage and would like to see how your progress compares to that of your peers? Today at CantoneseClass101, we’ll answer the question: How long does it take to learn Cantonese?  Our answers will be based on the three levels of Cantonese proficiency: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect throughout your Cantonese learning journey and serve as a benchmark.  Let’s... Show more

Proverbs allow us to articulate our ideas and ways of thinking in a fun way! Like quotes, they provide us with wisdom and insight—they can even serve as a window into other cultures! Do you want to put some Cantonese proverbs and idioms in your pocket? Without further delay, let’s review our top thirty selections! Table of Contents Animal-Related Idioms Ghost-Related Sayings Food-Related Sayings Sayings About People Tree-Related Proverbs Other Sayings How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese 1. Animal-Related Idioms There are plenty of Cantonese proverbs and idioms featuring animals. Below, we’ll introduce you to our favorites!  豬乸會上樹 Romanization: zyu1 naa2 wui5... Show more