Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Cantonese Season 1, Lesson 23 - Asking for the Bill. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for the bill at a restaurant and check the change in Cantonese.
Body
Eric: First we’ll see how to ask 'Can you bring the bill, please?' in Cantonese.
Olivia: [Normal] 唔該,埋單。(m4 goi1, maai4 daan1)
Eric: First is a phrase meaning 'excuse me’, ‘please’, or ‘thank you'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔該 [Slow] 唔該 (m4 goi1)
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'to calculate’ or ‘to bury'
Olivia: [Normal] 埋 [Slow] 埋(maai4)
Eric: Last is the noun meaning 'bill'
Olivia: [Normal] 單 [Slow] 單(daan1)
Eric: Listen again to the question meaning 'Can you bring the bill, please?'
Olivia: [Slow] 唔該,埋單。 [Normal] 唔該,埋單。(m4 goi1, maai4 daan1)
Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a waiter. Here's the way to ask, 'Where can I pay the bill?'
Olivia: [Normal] 去邊度埋單呀?(heoi3 bin1 dou6 maai4 daan1 aa3)
Eric: First is a verb meaning 'to go'
Olivia: [Normal] 去 [Slow] 去 (heoi3)
Eric: Next is the adverb meaning 'where'
Olivia: [Normal] 邊度 [Slow] 邊度(bin1 dou6 )
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'to pay the bill'
Olivia: [Normal] 埋單 [Slow] 埋單(maai4 daan1 )
Eric: Last is the final particle.
Olivia: [Normal] 呀 [Slow] 呀(aa3)
Eric: Listen again to the question meaning 'Where can I pay the bill?'
Olivia: [Slow] 去邊度埋單呀? [Normal] 去邊度埋單呀?(heoi3 bin1 dou6 maai4 daan1 aa3)
Eric: Next is a response meaning 'Excuse me, the change is wrong.'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔該,找錯錢呀!(m4 goi1, zaau1 co3 cin2 aa3)
Eric: First is a phrase meaning 'excuse me'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔該 [Slow] 唔該(m4 goi1)
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'to look for’, ‘to find’ or ‘to search'
Olivia: [Normal] 找 [Slow] 找(zaau1)
Eric: Next is the adjective meaning 'wrong'
Olivia: [Normal] 錯 [Slow] 錯(co3)
Eric: Next is the noun meaning 'money'
Olivia: [Normal] 錢 [Slow] 錢(cin2)
Eric: Last is the final particle.
Olivia: [Normal] 呀 [Slow] 呀(aa3)
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Excuse me, the change is wrong.'
Olivia: [Slow] 唔該,找錯錢呀! [Normal] 唔該,找錯錢呀!!(m4 goi1, zaau1 co3 cin2 aa3)
Eric: Here's a response meaning, 'Keep the change.'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔使找喇!(m4 sai2 zaau2 laa3)
Eric: First is a phrase meaning 'not need to'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔使 [Slow] 唔使(m4 sai2 )
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'to look for’, ‘to find’ or ‘to search'
Olivia: [Normal] 找 [Slow] 找(zaau2)
Eric: Last is the final particle.
Olivia: [Normal] 喇 [Slow] 喇(laa3)
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Keep the change.'
Olivia: [Slow] 唔使找喇! [Normal] 唔使找喇!(m4 sai2 zaau2 laa3)
Cultural Insight
Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Olivia: A 10% service charge is usually added to the bill at most restaurants in Hong Kong. You may leave coins if you pay in cash. If you pay by credit card, just add a few dollars to the bill, or a bit more if the service is really excellent. You don’t have to leave any change when you dine at pay-at-the-counter types of restaurants. You can tip the bellboy 10 to 20 HKD. You also don’t have to tip taxi drivers, but we usually round up to the nearest dollar.

Outro

Eric: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson!
Olivia: 拜拜! (baai1 baai3)

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