SCMP Originals
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases

Cantonese phrases you don’t want to get wrong

If you don’t want to make embarrassing mistakes, let Luisa Tam explain the real meaning behind dai zau dim in Cantonese or “big hotel” and why it’s not a good place to meet friends for social activities.  

October 20, 2020
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Mastering tones in Cantonese could save you from embarrassing yourself in front of others. Let Luisa Tam show you the subtle difference between introducing someone as your “best friend” – lo yau –...03:57
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese...
Tips to help you avoid embarrassing tonal traps while speaking Cantonese
September 22, 2020
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When you learn Cantonese, you have to know how to talk about money. Luisa Tam is here to teach you some practical phrases, such as bei cin, used to ask people to “pay up”. Luisa also describes how...08:35
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese...
Talking money and 'symptoms' to communicate in Cantonese
August 6, 2020
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Descriptions of medical symptoms in Cantonese are often used in daily conversations to produce some fun expressions about behaviour and emotions. Luisa Tam walks us through some insane terms for a...04:38
SCMP Originals
Cantonese ‘symptoms’ for daily use
June 23, 2020
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Luisa Tam introduces you to some Hong Kong-style greetings you can use while easing your way out of isolation. She also has advice about how speaking with accurate tones in Cantonese can help you...07:19
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese...
How to greet your friends in Cantonese
June 10, 2020
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When you learn Cantonese, you have to know how to talk about money. Luisa Tam is here to teach you some practical phrases, such as bei cin, used to ask people to “pay up”, or for seoi which means...04:04
Cantonese
Talking money in Cantonese
June 9, 2020
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There are quite a few different ways to tell someone “Long time no see” when you’re speaking Cantonese. And when you haven’t seen someone for ages, as many of us have recently, these are the ways...03:36
Cantonese
Greet your friends in Cantonese with Luisa Tam
May 12, 2020
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Don’t get spooked by the word for “ghost” in Cantonese! As Luisa Tam explains, the word has plenty of other things.07:07
Cantonese
Try some fun and weird Cantonese words with Luisa Tam
March 9, 2020
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Join Luisa Tam on a journey to explore some alternative meanings behind words for colours in Cantonese, including how phrases such as ho hung  or “very red” can symbolise being “very popular” among...03:27
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Using colour to communicate in Cantonese
November 13, 2019
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Hai ah means "yes" in Cantonese, but as Luisa Tam explains, it is also an easy way to disagree without sounding disagreeable. 01:05
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Agree to disagree in Cantonese
June 18, 2019
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Did you ever feel uncomfortable with a topic and want to bring up something else? In Cantonese, it's as easy as gong le di.  Luisa Tam talks you through a phrase meaning "talking about this" which...01:05
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
A Cantonese conversation changer
June 11, 2019
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Luisa Tam gives you some quick tips to tell someone off like a local, using the Cantonese phrases - “ngaau dai” and “lat dai”.01:27
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Tell someone off like a local in Cantonese
May 13, 2019
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Stealing is always bad, including in Cantonese, as Luisa Tam explains in this quick lesson on why you don’t want to be “caught stealing a bite to eat” or accused of “stealing chickens”.01:26
Blowing Water
Make off with some Cantonese phrases about ‘stealing’
April 23, 2019
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Luisa Tam is back this week with another episode of useful Cantonese phrases. This week, don't get caught out pretending!01:25
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Luisa Tam - Don't Get Caught Out Pretending!
November 6, 2018
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Exploring a selection of Cantonese phrases related to the concepts of “disappearing”, “hiding”, and “running away” can be fun and useful, as Post editor Luisa Tam explains.04:57
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Intriguing Cantonese: enrich your skills with ‘disappearing’, ‘vanishing’ and ‘hiding’ phrases
November 24, 2023
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Using the right ‘tail sound’ in Cantonese, like aa, me and gaa, can convey different feelings and make you sound like a local.04:41
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
‘OK laa’: learn Cantonese ‘tail sounds’ or mei jam to speak like a local with Luisa Tam
September 15, 2022
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The Mid-Autumn Festival, coming on September 10, 2022, may be traditional, but the mysterious power of the moon has inspired some curious and novel Cantonese colloquialisms, explains Post senior...04:37
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Moon-inspired slang for Mid-Autumn Festival
August 15, 2022
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The SCMP’s Luisa Tam teaches you how to accurately pronounce a Cantonese “F-word” that is auspicious rather than infamous. Fuk is an important word meant to increase luck, happiness and prosperity,...04:43
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
Don’t get stuck on the F-word: say ‘fuk’ properly in Cantonese for luck and good fortune
December 17, 2021
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In Cantonese, sometimes telling the whole truth is not the best option. The South China Morning Post’s Luisa Tam teaches you how to tell white lies in Cantonese from offering words of praise to...03:31
SCMP Originals
How to tell white lies in Cantonese
December 1, 2020
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In Cantonese, almost everything can be summarised using the handy and ubiquitous word "je". Luisa Tam shows you how to work this versatile term into phrases describing concepts, places and even...03:48
Luisa Tam's helpful Cantonese phrases
How to use 'je' in everyday conversations
November 10, 2020
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HotMaxx, a grocery chain from mainland China, debuted in Hong Kong in September 2024. The new chain quickly drew the attention of locals because of its impressively low prices. Can traditional Hong Kong supermarkets hold their ground against this fresh competitor?04:41
Hong Kong economy
Cut-price mainland grocery brand makes inroads in Hong Kong
December 7, 2024
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The church group that purchased the theatre plans to convert the building into a community centre  15:14
SCMP Films
Sunset for Hong Kong’s Sunbeam Theatre
March 23, 2025
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A gym manager and former rugby player is attempting to run 50km (31 miles) daily for seven days straight to raise money for a Hong Kong charity. Kevin Field, who has been training for the...03:39
SCMP Originals
Running 50km a day for 7 days straight
March 22, 2025