Useful Cantonese phrases

English and Mandarin both get you a long way in Hong Kong, but a handful of Cantonese phrases go down well and are genuinely useful.

The essentials

• Màh goi — "please" / "thank you" for a service (like a waiter bringing your food).
• Dǔ jẹh — "thank you" for a gift or favour.
• Mèh yeh? — "what?" (used carefully — can sound abrupt out of context).
• Hóu — "good" / "okay", useful as a general affirmative.

At the table

Tapping two fingers on the table when someone pours your tea is a small, well-understood thank-you gesture, and often appreciated more than the phrase itself.

A note on Cantonese vs Mandarin

Hong Kong's everyday language is Cantonese, not Mandarin — the two are not mutually intelligible when spoken, even though they share a writing system in large part. Attempting Cantonese, even briefly, is usually noticed and appreciated.