I'm a cantonese speaking girl in England who knows only how to speak and listen to cantonese/chinese but not how to read or write it. Do you know of any books that use english and chinese in their pages that can teach me how to read and write it- it needs to be simple enough for poor me to understand!

And if you do know of such books, can you give me a safe and well known webiste that I could buy it from- or at least the name and the auther of the book?

My thanks,
~Ginny

When I was small, I had these flashcards with a picture of the object/animal, the chinese word for it, the mandarin pinyin, and also the english word. I'm not sure if you want those kind, but it actually works and I actually learned a lot from those cards when I was younger.

yeah, i had flash cards too, but it didn't help me very much. the biggest struggle for me was that the written chinese didn't resemble my spoken cantonese. maybe it's just me but i need someone to teach it to me.

i happened to stumble across a site with "flash cards" at http://www.yellowbridge.com/language/flashcards.html. i'm going to try them to see if it can help my ability to read.

Awesome, thanks. If anyone else knows other places as well, that would be much appreciated. For now, I'll go check this site out.

why not get a dictionary? english to chinese? i'm using it and im in england as well.what a coincidence

A fellow Cantonese speaker. Give this site a try, I thought it was interesting: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/index.html#Contents

maybe u could try my method of learning chinese

i learn to read chinese (both cantonese & mandarin) by listening to both cantonese & mandarin songs & reading the lyrics to it & reading subtitles in chinese movies & series

im currently taking a chinese class & learning how to write the characters

i think a good way is to sit down with a dictionary and a newspaper..

btw, english accents are hot!

Well, try watching series as they have subtitles in chinese.
You can also read newspapers as others stated.
You can also watch news reports if they have subtitiles.
Try reading some novels like Jin Yong, it helps a lot.

Good Luck.

I guess I'm bored. here's some cantonese words.
all to do with food.


-----------meen = noodles
--------------fan = rice
-----chou meen = fried noodles
--------chou fan = fried rice
-------------jook = congee
-------meen bao = bread
--------beng gon = biscuits
--------(sor) choi = vegetables
-------(shui) guo = fruit
--------------tong = soup
-------deem sum = dim sum

------muk dor no = McDonalds
-----hun duck gai = KFC
------------pee sa = pizza
-----------yee fun = spaghetti
------------soot go = ice cream
-----------sau see = sushi

----------zhu yook = pork
-----------au yook = beef
-----------gai yook = chicken (food. not animal)
-------yeung yook = lamb
--------------siu or = duck

-----------------yu = fish
-----------------hai = crab
-----------------ha = shrimp
----------- lung ha = lobster


i dunno if that was useful to ANYBODY.

LOL~ hong kong-ese say mcdonald's in the weirdest way @_@ kentucky becomes hun duck gai.. wahahah~~

my favourite was in Bruce Lee's movie... gai dan... woman replies ' gay dan? whos gay' LMAO...

siu or is goose
siu ngap is duck i think

don't forget the famous cantonese dessert:

tong sui - sweet soup

I very like-like-LIKE "yeung zi gam lou" that tong sui with mango juice! I want to have some!

yuet peng - mooncake
haam yuk jong - dumplings
tong yuen - glutinous rice ball
chang chap - orange juice
sai kua - watermelon
kung jiu - banana
lau lien - durian
san juk - mangosteen
lei - pear
peng kuo - apple

some words to share

Officially it is Hun Duck Gai. But hkpple call it Ka Hern Gai.

Here are any Dim Sums in Cantonese...

Har Gaw - Special Shrimp Har Gaw
Siu Mei - Pork Dumpling
Zon Guen - Spring Rolls (Fried Egg Rolls)
Fun Zao - Steamed Chicken Feets with Black Beans
Za Sui Bao - Steamed BBQ Bums
Bo Lou Bao - Yellow Cream Bums
Nei Won Bao - Steamed Lotus Seed Bums
Fan Cheung - Shrimp Rice Noodles

hey ppl.. if you describe a person as 小家 ... then what does that mean in English?

i learn something bout sik ngau siiii but i think it's not food

If you describe a person as small family.

no, sik gnau sii it's not food

sik = eat
ngau = cow
sii = sh*t

Small family??? Yes you're right it's correct if you directly translate it, but it means that someone has a small heart, hm... how to call that....
Someone don't want to spend too much money, someone who will be fast angry.

Correct me if I'm wrong pple with better english translations.

Someone who gets mad really easy and probably because its their own fault, but they won't admit it. Something like that, I think....

I would say that it can be used for someone who was stingy, insensitive, embarrasing (to themselves), ill mannered or unforgiving or any combination of these - basically, the opposite to 'dai fong'.

I would say that it means a person who gets upset by some not so important things.

lol.
sick ngau sii.
hahaha.


cool. i never thought anyone would reply.
lol. it was such a useless guide.
i guess people are interested.


well. everybody eats.

Sik Ngau Sii! That was really quite funny!

I have some western friends from work who always asking me to to 'yum cha' with them so that I can order stuff. I have therefore written them a list of translated 'ping yum' for various 'dim sum'

But now, I can just tell them to look here I guess!! Hehe

does that spell "siu hay" ? if it does then yeah it basically means someone who gets angry easily

It's nearly the same, but still differs. Your explanation is right for Siu Hay, but Siu Ka is a level higher... to the badness.

interesting!
i'll make a new list with dim sum now.
i guess Part 2 of my guide should come out.

siu mai = shrimp/beef dumpling
har gow = shrimp dumplings
cha siu bao = BBQ pork bun
fung jau = chicken feet with black bean sauce
au yook kau = steamed beef ball
siu lung bau = small dragon bun (beef dumpling, usually famous for it's juicy-ness and is eaten with vinegar)
lor bat go = radish cake
lai wong bao = custard bun/yellow cream bun
fun gwor = a big dumpling
bock beng = kind of like a chinese pizza with shrimps, green onion, etc...
zhun zhu gai = sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf
ja chun goon = fried egg roll
cha siu so = BBQ pork pie
zheen dui zhai = sesame balls
cheen chung go = sugar cake

(zheen) cheung fun = (fried) rice noodle rolls
ha cheung = rice noodle rolls (w/ shrimp filling)
au yook cheung = rice noodle rolls (w/ beef filling)
cha siu cheung = rice noodle rolls (w/ BBQ pork filling)
yu peen cheung = rice noodle rolls (w/ fish filling)
jai cheung = rice noodle rolls (w/ vegetarian filling)

mong guo bo deen = mango pudding
dou fu fa = tofu pudding
dan tat = egg tart

gwun/ching sui = (hot/clear) water
heung peen = jasmine tea
bo lei = black tea



haha. yay.
everybody feel free to add anything.

There was already a topic similar to this one, so this topic has been closed, please use the search next time

Read the FAQ for more information

Heres s short list of a random selection of foods, or maybe just some of the foods i like :

Juk - Congee
Dan Tart - Egg tart (Easy)
Dao foo far - Tofu pudding
Gar lay - Curry
Lung Har - Lobster
Cheese'E guk Lung Har - is therefore Lobster cooked in Cheese
Lat Chiuw jerng - Chilli oil /sauce
Suu Jai Yuu - Fish 'n' Chips
Min Bao - Bread
Jun Ju Lie Char - Pearl Tea???

the explanation is already given it quite accurate.
the difference between siu ka and siu hay is
siu ka is more old skool cantonase.
while siu hay is modern contonse more used in hk areas

there is quite a difference bewteen the cantonese in hk and like the canton area.
the hk version of cantonese is more modern and rough allot of words are taken from the english words.
while the canton cantonese is more classic and no infulence of the west

Tea with milk, Malaysians call it Teh Tarik, but in HK they call it Lai Char.

Some typical foodtypes/names for lunch/menus:

-Ng chaan: Lunch
-Maan chaan: dinner
-Law Sung Tong: Russian Borsh
-Kee Lim Tong: Creme soup
-Chaan Tsah: drinks within the menu (smaller then normal ones)
-Chaan Ton(Ng Chaan Yok Ton Fan) : Luncheon Meat and macaroni
-Kong Si Saam Man Chi: Club sandwich
-Teu Taan Chi : ham/egg sandwich
-Taan Ngau Chi: egg/beef sandwich

Drinks:
-Lin Mong Cha: Lemon Tea (tong=cold, yit=hot)
-Lin Lok: coke with lemon
-Lin Mat: honey water with lemon
-Lin Seu: sugar water with lemon
-Chau tong: without suger
-Hee lik: heineken beer
-Ka Si Paat: Carlsberg beer
-San lik Peer: San Miguel's beer
-Ka Feh: coffee
-Nai: milk
-Jin Yeung: mixed coffee and tea
-Suut Big: Sprite
-Chat Hey: 7 up
-Fan Taat: Fanta
-Hoh Hau Hoh Lok: coca cola
-Paat Si: Pepsi
-Kong Tsuen Seu: mineral water
-Tsing Lau Seu: distilled water
-(Yok Tsuen) Kee Lim: Schweppes cream soda
-Tsaan Chap: orange juice

no offense... but the ping yum i came across don't even sound like the way they should in cantonese... hard to imagine wut non-cantonese would get out of them if i can't even make them out.... no offense really, just wanted to make them more correct for others



yuet beng - mooncake
seui gao- dumplings
tsaang tsup - orange juice
sai gua - watermelon
heung tsiu - banana
ping gor - apple



Ha Gao - Special Shrimp
Chun Guen - Spring Rolls (Fried Egg Rolls)
Fung Tsao - Steamed Chicken Feets with Black Beans
Tsa Sui Bao - Steamed BBQ Bums
Bor Lor Bao - are actually Pineapple buns
Nai Wong Bao - are Yellow Cream Buns
Lien Yung Bao - Steamed Lotus Seed Bums
Ha Cheung - Shrimp Rice Noodles



Daan Taat - Egg tart (Easy)
Dao foo fa - Tofu pudding
Ga lei - Curry
Lung Ha - Lobster
Tsii Sii gok Lung Ha - is therefore Lobster cooked in Cheese
Lat tsiu jerng - Chilli oil /sauce
S(h)uu tsai Yuu - Fish 'n' Chips
Mien Bao - Bread
Tsun Juu Lai Cha - Pearl Tea???



-Gei Liim Tong: Creme soup
-Kong Si Saam Man Tsii: Club sandwich
-Teu Taan Tsii : ham/egg sandwich
-Taan Ngau Tsii: egg/beef sandwich

Drinks:
-Ling Mong Tsa: Lemon Tea (tong=cold, yit=hot)
-Ling Lok: coke with lemon
-Ling Mut: honey water with lemon
-Ling Seui: sugar water with lemon
-Jao tong: without suger
-Gaa Fehh: coffee
-Nai: milk
-Yiin Yeung: mixed coffee and tea
-Tsat Hei: 7 up
-Hor Hau Hor Lok: coca cola
-Baat Sii: Pepsi
-(Yok Tsuen) Gei Liim: Schweppes cream soda

Can anyone explain whats known as the "lazy tone" or "lan yum" in the cantonese language?

I'm not exactly too sure, but I have a friend from Hong Kong who speaks fluent Cantonese, but she says she has something called "Lau Hau" (translates into "slipping mouth,"...or something like that...I dunno), and she says she speaks the language so fast, there are often times she doesn't pronounce words that well as a result. But I dunno if that's anything similar to what "lan yum" is. I personally never heard of that phrase before until now.

From what I know, "lan yum" is pronouncing words that sounds right, but actually it's wrong. It usually happens when people talk fast.

For example, some people pronounce "five" (五) as "mm" but the correct pronounciation for it is actually "ng".

how you pronouce the word "I/me" is included as a 'lan yum' if you pronouce it incorectly. the correct way is "ngaw" where the beginning sound is like in between the N ang G sound, but people tend to just pronouce it as 'aw' because the sound between the N and G is just too hard to pronouce. if you pay attention to ppl talking, you might notice them saying 'aw' instead of 'ngaw.' it happens a lot on TV w/ the younger stars and it gets so annoying

Sometimes it doesnt really matter for me since i'm not too good at speakin it anyway.
Some people i know pronounces 'yesterday' in canto as 'kum yaat', but i pronounce it 'tuum yaat'...what is it really?

hahaha these posts are really funny...
yeah many people are very lazy and don't pronounce the words properly, gets very annoying
i have a friend who LOVES speaking like that

I don't say either...but I have heard kum yut and chum yut for 'yesterday'.

Um, I think you mean 'today', because that's what 'kum yaat' is. And yesterday is 'chum yaat'. I have never heard of 'tuum yaat' before. But there are some phrases that people don't pronounce correctly, or at least similar to what a lot of other people say.

To me it seems like foreign born Chinese trying to speak their language. Often times, we lack proper pronunciation because we don’t live around many Cantonese speaking people. I say the wrong words all the time but no one is there to correct me.

That's true. I used to live with my grandparents so I grew up speaking a lot of cantonese around the house, & my grandpa would be the one teaching me how to read & write & speak the language, but now that we've moved away from each other, it's just harder.

haha at first i thought the topic of this thread was 'lan yumm' as in disgusting to drink.

anyway i think its when people who havent heard or have enough experience with canto pronounce the tones wrong. cause even if you slip up a little bit in your pronouncination in canto, it sounds like something else.

and it sounds horrible! but it can be funny in some circumstances:
like when you want to pay the bill in a restaurant you say 'mai daan', but if you don't get it right it sounds like you're selling eggs!!
or when you want a cigar lighter 'da foor gei', you say it so that it sounds like you want to fire your employee. haha

LOL ur post is pretty funnY! can u guys actually tell whether u have a Lan Yum? Because I can't ... just wondering if I was the loner.. I live in England and was born there too... so the majority of the time I speak English affecting my Chinese.. ... I so badly envy those guys who r brought in HK then move abroad.. leaving them with perfect chinese and english!! I think the main reason for this Lan Yum in canto is because of the lack of practise I personally believe... how about everyone else.. what do u guys think??

hehehe~ I speak canto so I just wanted to start a learn canto thread if that's ok~ lolz~ just wanna help pplz learn a new language...hehehe~

but I dun wanna start teaching yet...I want other pplz to go first..heheheh~ so just add in anything u guyz know in canto and the translation of course! thnx!

i think cantonese is pretty hard to learn... btw, is there a pingying version for cantonese like they do for mandarin?