Essential Cantonese phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Macau smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

你好
nei hou
Hello
早晨
jou san
Good morning
多謝
do je
Thank you (for a gift or favour)

Social

唔該
m goi
Please / thanks (for service) / excuse me
Obrigado / Obrigada
o-bri-GA-du / -da
Thank you (Portuguese — co-official, and on every street sign)

Daily life

對唔住
deui m jyu
Sorry
幾多錢
gei do chin
How much is it?
洗手間喺邊度
sai sau gaan hai bin dou
Where is the toilet?

Food

好好味
hou hou mei
Delicious
埋單
maai daan
The bill, please

Emergency

救命
gau meng
Help!

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Actually learn to speak Macau’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.