English-Cantonese Dictionary

Browse common English words and their Cantonese translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Use this dictionary to look up everyday vocabulary or as a starting point for learning Cantonese.

Translate full sentences into Cantonese

About Cantonese

Cantonese is a major Chinese language spoken primarily in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Guangdong province of China. Cantonese is more conservative than Mandarin, preserving more features of Middle Chinese, including six to nine tones depending on the counting method. It uses traditional Chinese characters and has a rich cultural heritage in film, music, and cuisine.

Cultural Note

Cantonese has six distinct tones. It preserves ancient final consonants (-p, -t, -k) lost in Mandarin. Cantonese is the primary language of Hong Kong cinema and Cantopop.

Browse common Cantonese vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Translation	Example
Pronouns
I	pron.	我	I am a student. 我係學生。
you	pron.	你	You are kind. 你好好人。
he	pron.	佢	He is my friend. 佢係我朋友。
she	pron.	佢	She sings well. 佢唱得好好。
we	pron.	我哋	We live in Hong Kong. 我哋住喺香港。
they	pron.	佢哋	They work hard. 佢哋做嘢好勤力。
Question Words
what	int.	咩	What is this? 呢個係咩？
where	int.	邊度	Where is the station? 車站喺邊度？
when	int.	幾時	When will you come? 你幾時會嚟？
who	int.	邊個	Who is that? 嗰個係邊個？
why	int.	點解	Why are you sad? 你點解唔開心？
how	int.	點樣	How are you? 你點樣呀？
Verbs
to have	v.	有	I have a car. 我有一架車。
to go	v.	去	I go to school. 我去學校。
to eat	v.	食	We eat rice. 我哋食飯。
to drink	v.	飲	I drink tea. 我飲茶。
to see	v.	睇	I see the mountain. 我睇到座山。
to speak	v.	講	They speak Cantonese. 佢哋講廣東話。
to love	v.	愛	I love my family. 我愛我嘅家人。
Nouns
person	n.	人	That person is kind. 嗰個人好好。
child	n.	細路	The child plays. 個細路玩緊。
family	n.	家庭	Family is important. 家庭好重要。
friend	n.	朋友	My friend is kind. 我朋友好好人。
house	n.	屋	The house is big. 間屋好大。
city	n.	城市	Hong Kong is a big city. 香港係一個大城市。
water	n.	水	I want water. 我要水。
food	n.	食物	Cantonese food is good. 廣東菜好好食。
tea	n.	茶	Milk tea is good. 奶茶好好飲。
book	n.	書	This is my book. 呢本係我嘅書。
name	n.	名	My name is... 我嘅名係...
Adjectives
good	adj.	好	Good food. 好食嘅嘢。
bad	adj.	差	Bad weather. 差嘅天氣。
big	adj.	大	A big house. 大屋。
small	adj.	細	A small room. 細房。
beautiful	adj.	靚	Beautiful view. 靚景。
Adverbs
today	adv.	今日	Today is hot. 今日好熱。
tomorrow	adv.	聽日	See you tomorrow. 聽日見。
Prepositions
with	prep.	同	With my friend. 同我朋友一齊。
from	prep.	由	From Hong Kong. 由香港嚟。
to	prep.	去	Go to school. 去學校。
Conjunctions
and	conj.	同	Bread and tea. 麵包同茶。
Interjections
yes	interj.	係	Yes, I understand. 係，我明。
no	interj.	唔係	No, thank you. 唔係，唔該。