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Some Cantonese expressions: (2 replies)

November 8, 2015, 5:05 pm
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they are not the standard 4 characters phrases, just find them amusing.
I would like to see non-native users challenge themselves and make sentences using the phrases below.

打爛沙盤問到篤  persistently questioning 
針唔拮到肉唔知痛  you don't care unless you are involved.
食過番尋味  come back for more
食野唔做野，做野打爛野 useless 
五時花六時變  change frequently
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Kitchen Sale UK (no replies)

November 8, 2015, 5:57 pm
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Kitchen Sale UK. Thirty Ex Display Kitchens To Clear. www.exdisplaykitchens1.co.uk £ 595 Each with appliances.Tel 01616-694786
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add New forum type (Cantonese Learning Resources) (2 replies)

October 2, 2015, 10:09 am
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Can we add a new forum type called "Cantonese Learning Resources"? Here we can discuss books, products like Glossika, language apps, Comics, websites, Youtube Channels, italki, subs2srs, anki etc.
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困獸鬥 (1 reply)

November 12, 2015, 6:32 am
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「困獸鬥」/「困獸之鬥」~ " a caged animals fight"

Explanation:
When animals are trapped in a cage,  one cannot stop fighting until the other is defeated.

Example: 
二人於電梯內作困獸之鬥 ( the two engage in a caged animals fight inside the lift.)

城門被封，城內攻守雙方之戰頓成困獸之鬥 ( the castle gate is blocked, the battle between the attackers and the defenders inside the castle has turned into a caged animals fight.)

Originated from : 
春秋․佐傳：「困獸猶鬥, 況人乎？」( even trapped animals would fight to the end, not to mention human.)

**This idiom may have became obscure, modern Cantonese prefer 「趕狗入窮巷」(狗都會咬返啖)

** I am not sure if "a caged animals fight" is the best translation, and I can't find dictionary definitions for " pit fight " or " cage fight" on the net. Either of these two can replace the phrase " a caged animals fight " in my two example sentences.
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Does anyone know any websites with Cantonese audiobooks+text? (1 reply)

November 12, 2015, 12:21 am
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I'm able to find audiobooks in Cantonese, but I can't seem to find the accompanying texts on any of the site's I've tried. I would like to see both types of files on the same site. Can anyone help?
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Watching Cantonese tv (no replies)

November 12, 2015, 5:43 pm
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Ultimately my goal is to be able to understand 90% of TV without subtitles. I am wondering has anyone on this forum achieved this goal and if so how long did it take?
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聽日影相可以影餐飽 (no replies)

November 14, 2015, 1:16 am
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Here 影餐飽 means just means "take pictures until you are completely satisfied"?
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Show discussion on Canto under threat in overseas (2 replies)

November 14, 2015, 12:47 pm
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Hong Kong Language School (1 reply)

November 15, 2015, 5:53 pm
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[www.hkls.com.hk]

I just wondering if anybody has any experience with the lessons or courses offered by this organisation?

Somebody is looking to sell on their package of 1 on 1 lessons that they bought.
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白飯魚 (1 reply)

November 15, 2015, 9:29 am
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Heard today that this term has an alternative meaning and can be used to refer to white plimsolls. Not mentioned in Cantodict..
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First day in Hong Kong (8 replies)

November 15, 2015, 8:39 pm
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I thought I would write this as a bit of a dairy entry of the event, that could capture how I have been feeling during this experience.

Ok so last night I came in, took a taxi, and spoke to the taxi driver in my broken canto. He told me about the hardship of life as a taxi driver which isnt too unfamiliar a story if you have spoken to a few taxi drivers. He was saying how he lived in a small flat with 7 people 4 of which were his children, and that by the end of the day his whole pay check went to household expenses and paying for his kids to go to university so that they could study to get a better life.

This kind of set the tone for my stay thus far, I got to my hotel, spoke to the hotel manager about finding my room which my brother was already in. From there my brother and I went to a restaurant across the road from the hotel called "nice restaurant". Now the guy serving us at the start I sort of mistook for an old woman, instead of greeting us as we entered, we got a stern look and a hand gesture pointing out clearly where we were supposed to sit. My brother and I sat down taking in the service level as a cultural difference between Australia and Hong Kong. The food was definetly hong kong style. We ate up and headed back to the hotel. I was a bit shocked at the level of service in the store and the types of people that served us, and right now it seems quite difficult to describe.

Edit: effectively the first waiter who I thought was an old lady came closer to our table and only then was I able to make out his mustache and goatee. They were truly the only distinguishing features that made him look masculine, as if he suffered from a hormone disorder. He wasnt exactly the most friendly waiter, eventually the store manager took over, and didnt mind conversing a bit in canto, taking our orders and describing the entree and drinks being combined in the cost of the main meal.

The next day, breakfast at the hotel was hokkien noodles, tiny sausages, baked beans, a bun (which I honestly thought was a baked potato), congee and salad. It just made me laugh, and as I am eating it, I am looking out the window at the buildings of 西營盤 and looking at the smudges on the buildings, all the air conditioning units, and clothes hanging under a few windows. There was underpants stuffed into a window ledge, and a few tshirts hanging off the rails.

My brother and I then leave the hotel, go to the station so that we can meet a guy I sat next to on the plane flight over who wanted to show us around hong kong. We meet up in 上環 where he takes us to an old style 飲茶, he treated us so well and sat down where we needed to, a process called 搭台 or sharing the table with others. Tea was served in the old style pots where you need some skill to pour otherwise you will spill.it everywhere, and then he got us some real hong kong style dishes I had never had in 飲茶 back home.乾蒸牛肉，蓮蓉包，棉花雞， 馬拉糕糯米雞，鵪春蛋燒賣，and 肯德基 were some of the dishes, it was tasty, unique, and something I will never forget. I had no problem talking with the locals, and regulars and staff around me. My brother was trying to speak a little, but his pronunciation was like a typical aussie.

Afterwards we went around shopping a bit, I bought my daughter, and partner some presents one from 住好啲, and another from a local hk 設計師。Then we went to the 孫中山 museum, and got a bit of an education on the history of hong kong and the well accomplished doctor and his political accomplishments.

We then returned to our hotel, dropped somethings off, and headed to mongkok. Commercial press was the next stop, picked up some canto comics, tried some shorts on with local vendor, thought I got robbed (I was wrong just didnt check my pockets properly). Checked my pockets, found out I still had money, met my brothers friend in Jordan and went out to see what else there was to eat. Ended up looking for 煲仔飯 and the one I wanted was 鳳爪排骨飯。 The other order was some sort of 松花蛋 covered in chilli, it was tasty but I cant say I would ever make the conscious decision to eat it again. At this point my brother pointed out how the food seemed to come out after an uncomfortably short amount of time.

Afterwards I wanted desert and we found ourselves at 澳州牛奶公司 which was hilarious, because we were the only Australians in there. Got myself a jelly and a hk style "凍茶同一碗七彩啫喱", which were both amazing. My brother got 一杯熱鴛鴦, which he didnt really appreciate.

I must admit being in Hong Kong didnt really invigorate me or motivate me to learn more Cantonese. Even though people were incredibly impressed with my current command of it, I felt somewhat sad, because it opened me up to hear about how hard life could be. Hong Kongers are an incredibly hard working people, however it is sad seeing these people in a somewhat constant state of desperation, constant stress, depression and without much opportunity for privacy. Both of our hosts, my friend and my brothers friend both told us how they feel like slaves to their job, and how they really dislike mainlander because of the lack of respect they have towards hong kongers.

My brother even saw a human shit on the street as we were shopping.

I have to say, I wanted to a culture shock coming to Hong Kong, people told me I probably wont get one because it is incredibly westernised.....They were wrong!

Thinking about it, it probably helped I was staying in 西營盤, because of how old the district is.
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Some idioms I like that's not in CantoDic (no replies)

November 15, 2015, 11:14 pm
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When I suggest idioms to add to CantoDic, I always want to suggest something people routinely use in day to day life, but sometimes, there are some rare used idioms that sound extremely awesome 
Like:

「直搗黃龍」" take the fight straight to the enemy's" ( a military related bold statement)
「功高震主」"one's  greatness overshadow his master ( will not end well for him)
「四海為家」" anywhere in the world is home " (quite a romantic term for " drifter's life )
「閒雲野鶴」(free cloud, wild crane) " an unburdened wanderer" ( another romantic term for " drifter")

「浪跡天涯」" fr-eely leave foot prints all over the world" ( how nice, drifting around the world)

「徒具虛名 / 徒負虛名」" carry a reputation that's not deserved"

The above idioms are not often heard in real life, but they are very common in drama and martial art novels.
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When (if ever) do you start learning to read/write Cantonese? (6 replies)

November 16, 2015, 4:26 pm
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I know everyone says you should learn to speak before you write Cantonese. But when should you start learning to read and write?

Right now I'm still actively learning to speak, and I don't think I'm fluent enough orally to start looking at reading and writing. But I'm curious to know if any other Cantonese learners without a Mandarin background have tried tackling the script, and if so, at what stage they started learning it.
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守株待兔 (no replies)

November 17, 2015, 2:40 am
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CantoDic has  守株待兔 as: " waiting for something that will only happen once"

Logically speaking, if it happened once, it could happen again. (the tree is still there, and hares are still running around.)

守株待兔 is a fable tale, and the moral of the story is :  " Instead of passively wait for good fortune, you should actively work for your own livelihood." 

Therefore, I would translate 守株待兔 as : "passively wait for good fortune. "

In Cantonese slang, it would be : "坐喺度等運到"( sit there waiting for luck to come) or simply "等運到"
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Idioms that can be translated in two words (1 reply)

November 19, 2015, 6:54 am
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If an idiom can be translated in just two words, I think it deserve to be added into CantoDic

萬全之計 /萬全之策 
Perfect plan

嚴陣以待
Intensively ready

粗製濫造
Shoddily made
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Booing in Cantonese (2 replies)

November 20, 2015, 2:32 am
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It seems Cantonese people boo by saying something that sounds like "cher" ,anyone know this word?
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ghost stories (no replies)

November 19, 2015, 10:19 am
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Hello, Everyone:

I have been faithful in my attendance to the Chinese class. That is about all I can say.


We are now on ghost stories. I think they are from the Soushenji (搜神記) but not sure. At any rate, I place them here for your entertainment rather than for my benefit. At this point, I am beyond help....





夷橐離國王侍婢有娠 ,王欲殺之.婢對曰:有氣大如雞子,從天而下,我故有娠.後產子,捐於豬溷中,豬以口氣噓之,不死;復徙置馬欄中,欲使馬藉殺之,馬復以口氣噓之,不死.王疑以為天子,令其母收取,奴畜之,名東明,令牧牛馬.東明善射,王恐奪其國也,欲殺之.東明走,南至掩淲水,以弓擊水,魚鱉浮為橋,東明得渡.魚鱉解散,追兵不得渡.因都王夫餘,故北夷有夫餘國焉.

秦時 ,南方有 “ 落頭民 , ” 其頭能飛 .其種人部有祭祀,號曰“ 虫落 , ” 故因取名焉 ,吳時,將軍朱桓,得一婢,每夜臥后,頭輒飛去.或從狗竇,或從天窗中出入,以耳為翼,將曉,復還.數數如此,傍人怪之,夜中照視,唯有身無頭,其體微冷,氣息裁屬.乃蒙之以被.至曉,頭還,礙被不得安,兩三度,墮地.噫吒甚愁,體氣甚急,狀若將死.乃去被,頭復起,傅頸.有頃,和平.桓以為大怪,畏不敢畜,乃放遣之.既而詳之,乃知天性也.時南征大將,亦往往得之.又嘗有覆以銅盤者,頭不得進:遂死.

狄希 ,中山人也,能造千日酒飲之,千日醉;時有州人,姓劉,名玄石,好飲酒,往求之.希曰:‘ 我酒發來未定 ,不敢飲君.’ 石曰 : ‘ 縱未熟 ,且與一杯,得否？’ 希聞此語 ,不免飲之.復索,曰:‘ 美哉！可更與之 . ’ 希曰 : ‘ 且歸 .別日當來.只此一杯,可眠千日也.’ 石別 ,似有怍色.至家,醉死.家人不之疑,哭而葬之.經三年,希曰:‘ 玄石必應酒醒 ,宜往問之.’ 既往石家 ,語曰:‘ 石在家否？ ’ 家人皆怪之曰 : ‘ 玄石亡來 ,服以闋矣.’ 希驚曰 : ‘ 酒之美矣 ,而致醉眠千日,今合醒矣.’ 乃命其家人鑿塚 ,破棺,看之.塚上汗氣徹天.遂命發塚,方見開目,張口,引聲而言曰:‘ 快者醉我也！ ’ 因問希曰 : ‘ 爾作何物也？令我一杯大醉 ,今日方醒,日高幾許？’ 墓上人皆笑之 .被石酒氣沖入鼻中,亦各醉臥三月.

魏黃初 中 ,頓丘界有人騎馬夜行,見道中有一物,大如毯兔,兩眼如鏡,跳躍馬前,令不得前.人遂驚懼,墮馬.魅驥便就地捉之,驚怖暴死.良久得蘇,蘇已失魅,不知所在.乃更上馬,前行數裡,逢一人,相問訊已,因說:“ 向者事變霜如此 ,今相得為伴,甚歡.” 入日 : “ 我獨行 ,得君為伴,快不要可言.君馬行疾,且前,我在后相隨也.” 遂共行 .語曰:“ 向者物何如 ? 乃令君怖懼耶 ?” 對曰 : “ 其身如兔 ,兩眼如鏡,形甚可惡.” 伴日 : “ 試顧視我耶 ?” 人顧視之 ,猶復是也.魅便跳上馬,人遂墮地,怖死.家人怪馬獨歸,即行推索,乃於道邊得之.宿昔乃蘇,說狀如是.
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Recommended reading order of Cantonese textbooks (no replies)

November 19, 2015, 9:48 pm
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I'm almost finished reading through the FSI Cantonese volumes and I'm now trying to decide what to read next. I have the following textbooks: Complete Cantonese, Matthews and Yip's Basic, Intermediate, and Comprehensive Grammar textbooks, Colloquial Cantonese, and No Sweat Cantonese. Can anyone familiar with these books recommend a reading order? Thanks!
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The job of 龍虎武師 (2 replies)

November 20, 2015, 6:09 pm
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from CantoDic > 「龍虎武師」: [martial arts films instructor/choreographer]

That's incorrect, 「龍虎武師」 should be translated as : " Trained martial artist - ( original meaning) martial art extra /action extra /

In martial arts films, the  " fighting choreographer " is 「武術指導」
The " action director"  is 「動作(場面)指導」

「龍虎武師」is the the grass root level action actors,  they are mostly be used as unnamed fighters who fight the movies stars in movies,  they also perform simple action stunt.
If a「龍虎武師」has a speaking role in the movies, he would be qualified as a 「動作演員」

 if a stunt is considered difficult or dangerous, the director would call in  「 特技演員」(professional stuntman )


In making of Kung Fu movies, from top to bottom:

「監製」~ The producer
「導演」~ Films director
「武術指導」~ "Martial art director/ choreographer " --  ( direct and choreograph fight scenes )
「動作指導」~ "Action director "--   ( direct and choreograph action scenes like fall from tall building)
「動作演員」~ " Action actor"  (from lead actors to supporting actors)
「特技演員」~ " Stuntman"  
「龍虎武師」~ " Martial art extra /Action extra / Trained martial artist - ( original meaning)
「臨時演員」~ " Extra"

**  if the 武術指導 and 動作指導 only direct, but not choreograph the sequences, the choreographers who work under them would be called 武術設計 and 動作設計  respectedly.
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Mixing Cantonese with English (5 replies)

November 22, 2015, 3:01 am
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Based on my experience girls have a tendency to mix Cantonese and English, I have heard women using 80% Cantonese and 20% English. However since everyone present could speak English I thought while it was weird there was no harm in it.

However just now I listen to a interview on the radio and the girl being interviewed was using about 80% cantonese and 20% English, while the interviewer used 100% Cantonese.

The thing I don't like about this is that there are many people in HK that can't speak English, so it you are on the radio (rthk) should you not try to speak in Cantonese?
What do people think about this?
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