Free Cantonese Chinese Lessons
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Free Cantonese Chinese LessonsMain Menu | Mandarin Lessons | Chinese Tutoring | Bookmark & Share | Link to Us |
These Cantonese Chinese lessons have been designed
to provide practical travel vocabulary and a foundation for basic conversational
skills through a simple listen and repeat format. Don't be frustrated
if you find the phrases difficult to say at first -- this is to be expected
when starting on a new language. Practice as often as possible, and you'll
soon notice your ability to recognize and produce the sounds of Cantonese
developing naturally with repeated exposure. You may also download
a complete audio transcript for listening in your car. |
| English: | Person | |
| Chinese: | yan |
| English: | American | |
| Chinese: | may-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | America person |
| English: | Chinese | |
| Chinese: | johng-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | China person |
| English: | Is / are / am (verb) | |
| Chinese: | hie |
| English: | I am America | |
| Chinese: | ngoh hie may-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | I am America person |
| English: | You are Chinese | |
| Chinese: | nay hie johng-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | you are China person |
| English: | I am English | |
| Chinese: | ngoh hie yeeng gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | Not | |
| Chinese: | hm (lips closed) |
| To make a sentence negative, simple put the word for not in front of the verb. |
| English: | Am not | |
| Chinese: | hm hie | |
| Literally: | not am |
| English: | You are not American | |
| Chinese: | nay hm hie may-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | you not are American |
| English: | I am not Chinese | |
| Chinese: | ngoh hm hie johng-gwohk yan | |
| Literally: | I not am Chinese |
| In Cantonese, questions are often formed by placing both the positive and negative form of the verb, and then adding an open ah sound at the end of of the sentence. |
| English: | Are you? | |
| Chinese: | nay hie-hm-hie ah | |
| Literally: | you are-not-are +? |
| English: | Are you American? | |
| Chinese: | nay hie-hm-hie may-gwohk yan ah | |
| Literally: | you are-not-are American +? |
| There is no standard word for yes and no in Cantonese. Instead, questions are usually answered by repeating the positive or negative form of the verb from the original question. To answer the question Are you American, you'd repeat the positive or negative form of the verb: |
| English: | Yes | |
| Chinese: | hie | |
| Literally: | am |
| English: | No | |
| Chinese: | hm hie | |
| Literally: | not am |