Learn how to ask permission to take a picture
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| Cantonese Survival phrases, lesson 32. Can You Take out a Picture. In today’s lesson, we will introduce a phrase that will come in handy when you want to take pictures because when you want to be in a picture, you need to ask, can you take our picture or can you take my picture. Now first, let’s take a look at can you take our picture 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) Can you take our picture? 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) Let’s break it down by syllable 可 唔 可以 幫 我 哋 影 張 相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) One more time 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2). All right 可唔可以(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ) literally means, can or cannot. 可唔可以(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ) can or cannot. Use this to ask for favor. 可唔可以(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ) this is followed by 幫我哋(bong1 ngo5 dei6) which literally means, help us to in English. 幫我哋(bong1 ngo5 dei6) help us to. In this phrase, 幫(bong1) means to help, 幫(bong1) to help. 我哋(ngo5 dei6) means us, 我哋(ngo5 dei6) us. 幫我哋(bong1 ngo5 dei6) To help us, 幫我哋(bong1 ngo5 dei6) to help us. Do you remember how to say help me? That’s right 幫我(bong1 ngo5), 幫我(bong1 ngo5) help me 幫我(bong1 ngo5). What about help them 幫佢哋(bong1 keoi3 dei6), 幫佢哋(bong1 keoi3 dei6). Help me is 幫我(bong1 ngo5). Help them is 幫佢哋(bong1 keoi3 dei6). Next we have 影張相(jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) which literally means to take a picture 影張相(jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) to take a picture. 影相(jing2 soeng2) means to take pictures 影相(jing2 soeng2) take pictures. 影張相(jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) is to take a picture, 影張相(jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) to take a picture. 張(zoeng1) is the measure word for pictures, photos or paper. So one photo is 一張相(jat1 zoeng1 soeng2), one photo 一張相(jat1 zoeng1 soeng2), two photos 兩張相(loeng3 zoeng1 soeng2), two photos 兩張相(loeng3 zoeng1 soeng2). Now let’s go back to our full sentence 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2), 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2). So that sentence means, can you take our picture. Now let’s try, can you take my picture 可唔可以幫我影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) Simply replace 我哋(ngo5 dei6) with 我(ngo5). Let’s hear that sentence again 可唔可以幫我影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) Can you take my picture. |
| Great. So now it’s time for our regular test. I will give you the English and you give us the Cantonese. Can you take our picture? 可唔可以幫我哋影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 dei6 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) Can you take my picture? 可唔可以幫我影張相？(ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 jing2 zoeng1 soeng2) All right, that’s about does it for today. Remember to stop by cantoneseclass101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF and if you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Bye bye. |
Comments
HideHave you seen anyone you wish to take a photo of on your trips?
Hi Steven,
You can say 冇呀！
Siuling
Team CantoneseClass101.com
Hi Jimmy Lee,
Yes, that works too! :thumbsup:
However, although people would understand, it is not the most natural way to ask, because 可唔可以 means "May I..." as in a request. The most common way to ask is using 要唔要 "Do you want me to..." -->
要唔要幫你哋影張相？"Would you like me to take a photo for you?"
Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com
If I want to help someone to take picture, can I simply replace 我 to 你?
可唔可以幫你哋影張相？
Hi Geoffrey,
Thanks a lot for pointing that out! It's edited now :oops:
相 has multiple pronunciations: soeng1, soeng2, and soeng3;
in 影相 it is "soeng2" (generally speaking, when 相 is referring to "photo" or "image", it is soeng2)
For your reference, here are some examples of the different pronunciation of 相 words:
相信 (soeng1 seon3) "to believe; to trust; to be convinced"
相簿 (soeng2 bou2) "photo album"
賣相 (maai6 soeng3) "external appearance (of merchandise)"
Cheers,
Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com
Hi,
In the audio they pronounce 影相 as jing2 soeng2, but in the Expansion with Audio and Flashcards, they pronounce it as jing2 soeng3. Which one is it? Can it be both? Thanks.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your great feedback! If you have any questions, please feel free to let us know too :grin:
Echo,
Team CantoneseClass101.com
I haven't commented on any of the lessons thus far in my progression of these lessons; however, I would like to thank you for the hard work and effort it must have required to create them.
Of course, interactive lessons are preferable, but barring that (and I have looked in the vicinities of Montreal and Toronto; they do not exist!), this series of lessons are the next best thing!
Thank you!! :grin: