Cantonese Verbs

Welcome to the 10th lesson about verbs in Cantonese. We will first learn about the present tense, followed by the past tense, and future tense. We will also analyze some grammar rules, and finally practice how to ask for direction in Cantonese.

Verbs are used to express an action (I swim) or a state of being (I am). The present tense in Cantonese conveys a situation or event in the present time. Here are some examples:

Present Tense - Cantonese - Pronunciation
I speak English 我會講英文 [ngo5 kui2 gong2 jing1 man4]
you speak French 你會講法文 [nei5 kui2 gong2 faat3 man4]
he speaks German 他會講德文 [taa1 kui2 gong2 dak1 man4]
she speaks Italian 她會講意大利文 [ji1 kui2 gong2 ji3 daai6 lei6 man4]
we speak Arabic 我們會講阿拉伯文 [ngo5 mun4 kui2 gong2 aa2 laa1 baa3 man4]
they speak Chinese 他們會講中文 [taa1 mun4 kui2 gong2 zung1 man4]

The past tense in Cantonese conveys a situation or event in the past time. Here are some examples:

Past Tense - Cantonese - Pronunciation
I visited France 我去過法國 [ngo5 heoi2 gwo1 faat3 gwok3]
you visited Italy 你去過意大利 [nei5 heoi2 gwo1 ji3 daai6 lei6]
he visited Morocco 他去過摩洛哥 [taa1 heoi2 gwo1 mo1 lok3 go1]
she visited China 她去過中國 [ji1 heoi2 gwo1 zung1 gwok3]
we visited Mexico 我們去過墨西哥 [ngo5 mun4 heoi2 gwo1 mak6 sai1 go1]
they visited Kenya 他們去過肯雅 [taa1 mun4 heoi2 gwo1 hang2 aa1]

The future tense in Cantonese conveys a situation or event which is anticipated to happen in the future. Here are some examples:

Future Tense - Cantonese - Pronunciation
I will drink milk 我將會飲牛奶 [ngo5 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 ngau4 naai1]
you will drink coffee 你將會飲咖啡 [nei5 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 gaa1 fe1]
he will drink tea 他將會飲茶 [taa1 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 caa4]
she will drink water 她將會飲水 [ji1 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 seoi2]
we will drink apple juice 我們將會飲蘋果汁 [ngo5 mun4 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 pan4 gu2 zap1]
they will drink tea 他們將會飲茶 [taa1 mun4 zoeng1 kui2 jam2 caa4]

Now let's take a break and refresh our vocabulary by learning the body parts.

ear 耳朵 [ji5 do2]

eye 眼睛 [ngaan5 zing1]

mouth 口 [hau2]

nose 鼻 [bei6]

hair 頭髮 [tau4 faat3]

face 臉 [lim5]

head 頭 [tau4]

heart 心 [sam1]

hand 手 [sau2]

fingers 手指 [sau2 zi2]

leg 腿 [teoi2]

feet 腳 [goek3]

Travel Phrases in Cantonese

Imagine yourself in some Cantonese speaking country. The following travel phrases are highly important and can help you avoid misunderstanding. Try to memorize them and practice!

English - Cantonese - Pronunciation
Can you help me? 你能幫我嗎？ [nei5 nang4 bong1 ngo5 maa1]
Can I help you? 我可以幫你嗎？ [ngo5 ho2 ji5 bong1 nei5 maa1]
Where is the airport? []
Go straight 直行 [ zik6 haang4]
Then 然後 [jin4 hau6]
Turn left 向左轉 [hoeng3 zo2 zyun2]
Turn right 向右轉 [hoeng3 jau6 zyun2]

I hope this lesson about the verbs in Cantonese was not hard for you. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. To see the full menu, you can also click on the "Menu" icon on the left side.