The Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong is a major holiday, and the most important day for Buddhists around the world. In this article, you’ll learn about Buddha’s Birthday traditions, the prevalence of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and pick up some new vocabulary along the way.

Let’s get started!

1. What is the Birthday of the Buddha?

This is the most important day in 佛教 (fat6 gaau3), or Buddhism, and it’s a time for people to reflect on the Buddha’s teachings, show respect to ancestors, and work on bettering themselves.

The main purpose of celebrating Buddha’s Birthday is to remind people to use the Buddha’s wisdom to wash away the pollution of the inner self and to purify the mind. In particular, Buddhism’s code of ethics guides people to 行善 (hang4 sin6), or “do good deeds,” and elevate the human spirit realm. It also acts as an important force in establishing a harmonious society.

Due to the prevalence of Buddhism in Hong Kong, the government made the Buddha’s Birthday a public holiday in 1998. This allows students and workers to fully participate in the activities and worship rituals, and promotes the further growth of Buddhism here.

→ For some words about religion, we recommend that you check out our Religion vocabulary list!

2. When is Buddha’s Birthday?

This holiday takes place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, meaning that the date of Buddha’s Birthday celebration varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2020: May 7
• 2021: May 26
• 2022: May 15
• 2023: June 2
• 2024: May 22
• 2025: May 12
• 2026: May 31
• 2027: May 20
• 2028: May 9
• 2029: May 27

3. How is Buddha’s Birthday Celebrated?

On the Birthday of the Buddha, Hong Kong temples and monasteries hold special ceremonies and liturgy in honor of the Buddha. The grandest of these is the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, which is considered a holy place for Buddhists.

Here, you’ll find the 天壇大佛 (tin1 taan4 daai6 fat6), or Tian Tan Buddha. This is one of the tallest outdoor bronze sitting Buddhas in the world, and the altar beneath showcases his 舍利子 (se3 lei6 zi2), or “relic.” There are many Chinese-style buildings in the area, making this a great place for sightseeing.

Buddha’s Birthday traditions at the Po Lin Monastery are both solemn and grand. Most notable is the public Buddha bathing ceremony, in which worshippers pour fragrant water on the Buddha statue. People also enjoy gathering to watch the Shaolin Kung Fu performances here, in addition to eating a 齋菜 (zaai1 coi3), or “vegetarian dish.”

In temples all over Hong Kong, you’ll find people burning incense in honor of their ancestors.

→ Learn about more popular Tourist Attractions in Hong Kong with our vocabulary list.
→ You can also read up on Cantonese Cuisine, so you know what to expect on your visit.

4. Why Do They Bathe the Buddha Statue?

As we mentioned, on Buddha’s Birthday, Hong Kong temples perform the Buddha bathing ceremony. There are two main reasons they do this:

1. This is done to purify the mind with the help of Buddha’s wisdom.

2. According to legend, when Buddha was born, nine dragons came from the sky and spat water to bathe him.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Buddha’s Birthday

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong!

• 佛教 (fat6 gaau3) — “Buddhism” [n.]
• 釋迦牟尼 (sik1 gaa1 mau4 nei4) — “Buddha” [n.]
• 天壇大佛 (tin1 taan4 daai6 fat6) — “Tian Tan Buddha”
• 佛誕 (fat6 daan3) — “Buddha’s Birthday” [n.]
• 善信 (sin6 seon3) — “worshipper”
• 舍利子 (se3 lei6 zi2) — “relic” [n.]
• 佛堂 (fat6 tong4) — “temple” [n.]
• 慶典 (hing3 din2) — “celebration” [n.]
• 齋菜 (zaai1 coi3) — “vegetarian dish” [n.]
• 行善 (hang4 sin6) — “do good deeds” [v.]

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Cantonese Buddha’s Birthday vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about the Birthday of the Buddha with us, and that you learned something new today.

What are the most important holidays in your country? Are any of them related to Buddhism? We look forward to hearing from you in the comments!

To discover even more about Cantonese culture and the language, we recommend that you read the following pages:

• Guide to Cantonese Customs and Etiquette
• Hong Kong Body Gestures
• How to Celebrate the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
• The Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong
• 10 Netflix Hong Kong Shows Not to Miss Out On!

To continue learning about Hong Kong and the Cantonese language, create your free lifetime account on CantoneseClass101.com. With tons of fun and effective lessons for learners at every level, there’s something for everyone! Start learning with us, and attain your goals in no time.

Important life events are a great opportunity to practice Cantonese. Not only do they give you an opportunity to express your friendliness and caring to your native friends, but they can also serve as very good conversation starters.

Can’t wait to learn Happy New Year in Cantonese, and more? Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to Cantonese life events and messages!

Table of Contents

1. Birthday
2. Chinese New Year
3. New Year
4. Other Holidays
5. Graduation
6. New Job/Promotion
7. Retirement
8. Wedding
9. Injured/Sick
10. Pregnancy and Birth
11. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. Birthday

Most Hong Kongers have two birthdays: one expressed in Gregorian format, and the other one based on the lunar calendar. Nowadays, most natives only celebrate their Gregorian birthday, but the older generation may still treat their lunar birthday as the “real birthday,” and hence celebrate that one instead.

If you’re to celebrate a birthday for a local friend, you may want to learn a few birthday messages to say, on top of bringing presents and cake. Here at CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make learning about Cantonese life event messages both fun and informative!

1- 祝你生日快樂，心想事成

Meaning: I wish you a happy birthday, and that all your wishes come true!
Romanization: zuk1 nei5 saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6, sam1 soeng2 si6 sing4
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 牛一快樂！

Meaning: Happy B-day!
Romanization: ngau4 jat1 faai3 lok6
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

3- 青春常駐，年年廿八！

Meaning: Wishing you always (stay) young, like 28 years old, every year!
Romanization: cing1 ceon1 soeng4 zyu3, nin4 nin4 jaa6 baat3
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

2. Chinese New Year

There are two new years in Hong Kong: the New Year that everyone celebrates (based on the Gregorian calendar) and the Chinese New Year (based on the lunar calendar). Chinese New Year is a very important holiday in Hong Kong, as well as the Greater China area. We usually greet relatives and friends with the below greetings for Chinese New Year. Familiarize yourself with the common expressions below in exchange for some red packets (if you’re entitled to them)!

1- 恭喜發財！

Meaning: May you have a prosperous New Year!
Romanization: gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 年年有餘！

Meaning: Wishing you prosperity through the years!
Romanization: nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

3- 身體健康！

Meaning: Wishing you good health!
Romanization: san1 tai2 gin6 hong1
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

4- 萬事如意！

Meaning: Best wishes for the new year!
Romanization: maan6 si6 jyu4 ji3
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

5- 大吉大利！

Meaning: May good fortune be with you!
Romanization: daai6 gat1 daai6 lei6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

6- 快高長大！

Meaning: May you grow up fast and strong!
Romanization: faai3 gou1 zoeng2 daai6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

7- 青春常駐！

Meaning: May your youth always be with you!
Romanization: cing1 ceon1 soeng4 zyu3
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

8- 龍馬精神！

Meaning: May you be as energetic as dragons and horses!
Romanization: lung4 maa5 zing1 san4
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

9- 學業進步！

Meaning: May you excel in your studies!
Romanization: hok6 jip6 zeon3 bou6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

10- 心想事成！

Meaning: May all your wishes come true!
Romanization: sam1 soeng2 si6 sing4
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

3. New Year

We also celebrate the universal New Year in Hong Kong (and with fireworks!). See below for some Cantonese congratulations you can say to your native friends for the New Year!

1- 新年快樂，恭喜發財！今年煙花勁靚！

Meaning: May you have a happy and prosperous New Year! This year’s fireworks are breathtaking!
Romanization: san1 nin4 faai3 lok6! gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

2- 新年快樂！

Meaning: Have a happy New Year!
Romanization: san1 nin4 faai3 lok6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

3- 祝你新一年健康、快樂。

Meaning: Wishing you health and happiness in the new year.
Romanization: zuk1 nei5 san1 jat1 nin4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

4. Other Holidays

As the city where East meets West, Hong Kong has both Chinese and Western holidays. For example, we celebrate Easter, Christmas, Mid-Autumn Festival, etc. Below are some sentences for you to express your joy and holiday wishes in Cantonese to your friends!

1- 聖誕快樂！

Meaning: Merry Christmas!
Romanization: sing3 daan3 faai3 lok6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 假期愉快！

Meaning: Happy holidays!
Romanization: gaa3 kei4 jyu6 faai3
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

3- 享受你嘅假期！

Meaning: Enjoy the holidays!
Romanization: hoeng2 sau6 nei5 ge3 gaa3 kei4
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

5. Graduation

Most people consider graduation to be a huge milestone—learn the phrases below to wish your friend or loved one a happy graduation!

1- 祝福你一路上擁有許多光明美好的機會，且能一一成功把握住它們！

Meaning: Wishing that brighter opportunities come your way and you achieve success in all of them!
Romanization: zuk1 fuk1 nei5 jat1 lou6 soeng6 jung2 jau5 heoi2 do1 gwong1 ming4 mei5 hou2 dik1 gei1 wui6, ce2 nang4 jat1 jat1 sing4 gung1 baa2 aak1 zyu6 taa1 mun4
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

2- 展翅高飛吧！

Meaning: Spread your wings and fly!
Romanization: zin2 ci3 gou1 fei1 baa3
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

3- 恭喜你畢業，亦都祝福你下一場旅程！

Meaning: Congratulations on your graduation, and best wishes for your next adventure!
Romanization: gung1 hei2 nei5 bat1 jip6, jik6 dou1 zuk1 fuk1 nei5 haa6 jat1 coeng4 leoi5 cing4
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

6. New Job/Promotion

New jobs and promotions are worth celebrating! And in Hong Kong, if your close friends or your boss get promoted, they may treat you to lunch—so be prepared and learn some wise words of congratulations in Cantonese!

1- 恭喜恭喜，鴻圖大展，步步高升！

Meaning: Congratulations! Wish you more advancement and progress in the near future!
Romanization: gung1 hei2 gung1 hei2, hung4 tou4 daai6 zin2, bou6 bou6 gou1 sing1
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 祝您在新的仕途上再創輝煌！

Meaning: Hope you will make great success in your new position!
Romanization: zuk1 nei5 zoi6 san1 dik1 si6 tou4 soeng6 zoi3 cong3 fai1 wong4
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

3- 升職快樂！

Meaning: Happy promotion!
Romanization: sing1 zik1 faai3 lok6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

7. Retirement

Hong Kongers typically retire between the ages of fifty-five to sixty-five. Do you know what to say when your friend or colleague retires?

1- 祝您光榮退休！

Meaning: Best wishes as you retire!
Romanization: zuk1 nei5 gwong1 wing4 teoi3 jau1
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 退休也許能改變您生活方式的許多方面，但無法改變您這位非凡的人物。

Meaning: Retirement may change many things in your lifestyle, but nothing can change the wonderful person you are.
Romanization: teoi3 jau1 jaa5 heoi2 nang4 goi2 bin3 nei5 saang1 wut6 fong1 sik1 dik1 heoi2 do1 fong1 min6, daan6 mou4 faat3 goi2 bin3 nei5 ze2 wai2 fei1 faan4 dik1 jan4 mat2
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

3- 希望您很快找出新方式，使您每天能享受當自己老闆的愉快。

Meaning: Hope you’ll soon discover new ways to enjoy each day with all the pleasure of being your own boss.
Romanization: hei1 mong6 nei5 han2 faai3 zaau2 ceot1 san1 fong1 sik1, si5 nei5 mui5 tin1 nang4 hoeng2 sau6 dong1 zi6 gei2 lou5 baan2 dik1 jyu4 faai3
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

8. Wedding

Did you know that guests attending a wedding banquet are expected to give at least HK$800 in the form of red packets at the dinner reception? Further, the newlyweds often give out sweet favors, such as chocolates, before their guests go home.

1- 祝你哋白頭到老，永結同心！

Meaning: May you enjoy every happiness and success during your long life together!
Romanization: zuk1 nei5 dei6 baak6 tau4 dou3 lou5, wing5 git3 tung4 sam1
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

2- 恭喜晒！祝你哋幸福！

Meaning: Congratulations! I wish you happiness!
Romanization: gung1 hei2 saai3! zuk1 nei5 dei6 hang6 fuk1
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

3- 新婚快樂，早生貴子！

Meaning: Happy marriage and may you have a lovely baby early!
Romanization: san1 fan1 faai3 lok6, zou2 saang1 gwai3 zi2
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

9. Injured/Sick

Instead of saying “take care” when someone is ill, a more local way to express your concern and care is “Have you went to the doctor’s yet?” See below how to express this in Cantonese, and learn more Cantonese condolences for someone who’s not feeling well.

1- 睇咗醫生未？

Meaning: Have you went to the doctor’s yet?
Romanization: tai2 zo2 ji1 sang1 mei6
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

2- 早日康復。

Meaning: Get well soon.
Romanization: zou2 jat6 hong1 fuk6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

3- 保重。

Meaning: Take care.
Romanization: bou2 zung6
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

10. Pregnancy and Birth

How do you congratulate your friend’s newborn? Read below for some Cantonese congratulations you can use!

1- 恭喜添丁！

Meaning: Congratulations on the new baby!
Romanization: gung1 hei2 tim1 ding1
Format: Applicable to both written/formal and spoken/informal scenarios

2- 天大喜訊呀！

Meaning: That’s wonderful news.
Romanization: tin1 daai6 hei2 seon3 aa3
Format: Applicable to spoken/informal scenarios

3- 恭喜！祝你們的小寶貝帶來幸福

Meaning: Congratulations! May your baby bring you happiness.
Romanization: gung1 hei2! zuk1 nei5 mun4 dik1 siu2 bou2 bui3 daai3 loi4 hang6 fuk1
Format: Applicable to written/formal scenarios

11. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

We hope you still remember how to express Happy Birthday and Happy New Year in Cantonese!

With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning Cantonese now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Know that your hard work will pay off, and before you know it, you’ll be speaking Cantonese like a native! Before you go, let us know in the comments which of these Cantonese life event messages you’ll be able to practice first! We look forward to hearing from you!

Weather is a crucial element in our everyday lives. Not only does it determine whether you can go for a hike or a football match over the weekend, but it also serves as a very good conversation starter. When looking for a solid way to open a conversation with a stranger in Cantonese, weather is almost fail-proof.

Can’t wait to know more about Hong Kong weather? Keep reading!

Table of Contents

1. Hong Kong Weather Overview
2. Key Words and Phrases about Weather in Cantonese
3. Common Sentences to Talk about the Weather
4. Bonus: 4 Common Hong Kong Natural Disasters
5. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. Hong Kong Weather Overview

Falling into the subtropical climate zone, Hong Kong has four seasons: humid spring, rainy summer, invigorating autumn, and cool winter. The average annual temperature is 23°C (73.4°F).

Looking at Hong Kong weather by month, many would agree the best months of Hong Kong weather are November and December, where the temperature is generally comfortable with ample sunshine and pleasant breezes. From May to November, Hong Kong may be subjected to tropical cyclones of various strengths, and occasional showers and thunderstorms.

1- Spring

From March to May marks the spring season in Hong Kong. You can usually expect showers, fog, and steamy humidity. The temperature in spring typically ranges from 18°C to 25°C (64.4°F to 77°F).

The weather throughout the season can be quite unpredictable—sometimes you get to enjoy a clear blue sky; other times, you may experience sudden heavy rain. Still other times, it might get too foggy, which leads to reduced visibility and temporary suspension of ferry services.

If you’re going to travel to Hong Kong for a short trip in the springtime, it’s wise to bring shorts, t-shirts, and rainwear. As it will turn a bit chilly at night, you should bring a light jacket or coat, and a sweater as well.

2- Summer

Summer (June to August) brings unbearable heat, rain, and frequent typhoons to Hong Kong. The average temperature is 28°C (82.4°F), but it can often go up to 32°C (89.6°F) or even higher during the daytime. Little breeze, burning sunshine, and extreme humidity can be a nightmare to both locals and travelers. Be sure to arrive prepared with practical phrases to talk about hot weather in Cantonese, and follow our tips below.

Hong Kong is also due for constant threat of showers, typhoons, and thunderstorms in the summer. June has the highest average rainfall, and heat usually spikes in July or August.

If you’re going to travel to Hong Kong for a short trip in the summer, it’s suggested to bring t-shirts, shorts, and dresses. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella as well, to avoid getting wet in the rain.

3- Autumn

Autumn (September to November; average temperature 24°C or 75.2°F) is probably the best time to visit Hong Kong. During this time of the year, Hong Kong is cool and dry, with ample sunshine and pleasant breezes—perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking on Lamma Island and standup paddleboarding in Sai Kung!

If you would like to visit Hong Kong in lovely autumn, it’s advised to bring t-shirts, a thin overcoat, and a sweater (particularly toward the end of autumn).

4- Winter

Winter in Hong Kong is cool, dry, and cloudy, with occasional cold fronts. The temperature typically ranges from 12°C to 20°C (53.6°F to 68°F), although in recent years, Hong Kong winter has been getting hotter. In 2018, the average temperature went up to 19.1°C (66.4°F) due to global warming and local urbanization.

Still, it’s suggested to bring sweaters, coats, and boots if you’re to visit Hong Kong in the winter months. When a cold front hits Hong Kong, the temperature can drop quickly down to below 10°C (50°F), or even near 0°C (32°F) in the suburbs.

As temperature varies widely in the winter, it’s encouraged to check the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong government’s weather forecast agency, for up-to-date Hong Kong weather forecasts and tips.

2. Key Words and Phrases about Weather in Cantonese

All of the following examples are in written Cantonese.

1- 温度

Meaning: temperature
Romanization: wan1 dou6

• Example Sentence: 温度計上的溫度是甚麼？
• Romanization: wan1 dou6 gai3 soeng6 dik1 wan1 dou6 si6 sam6 mo1
• Meaning: What is the temperature on the thermometer?

2- 颱風

Meaning: hurricane
Romanization: toi4 fung1

• Example Sentence: 颱風從海洋吹到陸地。
• Romanization: toi4 fung1 cung4 hoi2 joeng4 ceoi1 dou6 luk6 dei6
• Meaning: The hurricane is blowing in from the sea.

3- 風

Meaning: wind
Romanization: fung1

• Example Sentence: 正在刮風，我們回家吧。
• Romanization: zing3 zoi6 gwaat3 fung1, ngo5 mun4 wui4 gaa1 baa6
• Meaning: The wind is blowing; let’s head home.

4- 雨

Meaning: rain
Romanization: jyu5

• Example Sentence: 街上正在下雨。
• Romanization: gai1 soeng6 zing3 zoi6 haa6 jyu5
• Meaning: The rain is falling on the street.

5- 悶熱

Meaning: muggy
Romanization: mun6 jit6

• Example Sentence: 今天非常悶熱。
• Romanization: gam1 tin1 fei1 soeng4 mun6 jit6
• Meaning: Today is very muggy.

6- 濕度

Meaning: humidity
Romanization: sap1 dou6

• Example Sentence: 低濕度令空氣感覺乾燥。
• Romanization: dai1 sap1 dou6 ling6 hung1 hei3 gam2 gok3 gon1 cou3
• Meaning: With low humidity, the air feels dry.

7- 潮濕

Meaning: humid
Romanization: ciu4 sap1

• Example Sentence: 八月很潮濕。
• Romanization: baat3 jyut6 han2 ciu4 sap1
• Meaning: It’s humid in August.

8- 結冰

Meaning: ice over
Romanization: git3 bing1

• Example Sentence: 橋比旁邊的馬路更快結冰。
• Romanization: kiu4 bei2 pong4 bin1 dik1 maa5 lou6 gang3 faai3 git3 bing1
• Meaning: Bridges will ice over before the rest of the roadway.

9- 攝氏

Meaning: Celsius
Romanization: sip3 si6

• Example Sentence: 今天氣溫是攝氏三十度。
• Romanization: gam1 tin1 hei3 wan1 si6 sip3 si6 saam1 sap6 dou6
• Meaning: Today’s temperature is 30 degrees Celsius.

10- 雪

Meaning: snow
Romanization: syut3

• Example Sentence: 下雪的森林。
• Romanization: haa6 syut3 dik1 sam1 lam4
• Meaning: The snow is falling in the woods.

11- 彩虹

Meaning: rainbow
Romanization: coi2 hung4

• Example Sentence: 我看見秀麗的彩虹。
• Romanization: ngo5 hon3 gin3 sau3 lai6 dik1 coi2 hung4
• Meaning: I saw a scenic rainbow.

12- 放晴

Meaning: clear up
Romanization: fong3 cing4

• Example Sentence: 我在等天氣放晴。
• Romanization: ngo5 zoi6 dang2 tin1 hei3 fong3 cing4
• Meaning: I am waiting for the sky to clear up.

13- 結冰

Meaning: freeze
Romanization: git3 bing1

• Example Sentence: 水在玻璃上結冰。
• Romanization: seoi2 zoi6 bo1 lei1 soeng6 git3 bing1
• Meaning: The water froze on the glass.

3. Common Sentences to Talk about the Weather

To inquire about the weather:

Chinese Character: 天氣點呀?
Meaning: How’s the weather?
Romanization: tin1 hei3 dim5 aa1
Breakdown: 天氣 means “weather,” 點 means “how,” and 呀 is the question mark particle.

To answer the question:

1- 我覺得好熱

Meaning: I feel very hot.
Romanization: ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2 jit6
Breakdown: 我 means “I,” 覺得 means “feel,” 好 means “very,” and 熱 means “hot.”

2- 我覺得好凍

Meaning: I feel very cold.
Romanization: ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2 dung3
Breakdown: 凍 means “cold.”

3- 我覺得今日好潮濕

Meaning: I feel very humid today.
Romanization: ngo5 gok3 dak1 gam1 jat6 hou2 ciu4 sap1
Breakdown: 今日 means “today” and 潮濕 means “humid.”

4- 可能會落雨

Meaning: Perhaps it’ll rain.
Romanization: ho2 nang4 wui5 lok6 jyu5
Breakdown: 可能 means “perhaps,” 會 means “will,” and 落雨 means “rain.”

5- 今日太曬喇

Meaning: It is too sunny today.
Romanization: gam1 jat6 taai3 saai3 laa3
Breakdown: 太 means “too,” 曬 means “sunny,” and 喇 is the particle.

To inquire about the temperature:

Chinese Character: 今日幾多度呀?
Meaning: How’s the temperature today?
Romanization: gam1 jat6 gei2 do1 dou6 aa3
Breakdown: 幾多 means “how many,” 度 means “temperature,” and 呀 is the question mark particle.

To answer the question:

Chinese Character: 今日三十二度
Meaning: It’s 32 degrees Celsius today.
Romanization: gam1 jat6 saam1 sap6 ji6 dou6
Breakdown: 三十二 means “thirty-two” and 度 means “degrees Celsius.”

4. Bonus: 4 Common Hong Kong Natural Disasters

Typhoon — Hong Kong is frequently hit by typhoons in summer, causing varying degrees of damage and, on rare occasions, injuries and deaths. The typhoon warning system using the designations T1, T3, T8, and T10, indicates the degree of storm intensity.

Landslide — The Hong Kong Observatory and the Geotechnical Engineering Office issue a landslide warning whenever there’s a high risk of landslides due to heavy rainfall.

Flood — Hong Kong sees very heavy rainstorms and has one of the highest average rainfall amounts of all the cities in the Pacific Rim. During particularly heavy storms, floods often occur in rural low-lying areas and natural flood plains.

Wildfire — On average, Hong Kong experiences over 10,000 wildfires each year, which injure or take the lives of more than 600 people. Most wildfires are the result of carelessness or negligence.

Learn more about Hong Kong natural disasters here.

5. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

We hope you’re now much more familiar with Hong Kong weather! Are seasons and weather talk similar in your own country, or very different? Let us know in the comments!

Fancy visiting Hong Kong in the refreshing autumn and want to put some basic Cantonese in your pocket? With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Know that your hard work will pay off, and before you know it, you’ll be speaking Cantonese like a native!

Adjectives are a very important part of our everyday language. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to describe how pretty the girl sitting next to you is or how spectacular the scenery is.

The more Cantonese adjectives you know, the easier for you to master the Cantonese language. Can’t wait to learn more about Cantonese adjectives? Keep reading and let CantoneseClass101 give you a hand!

Note that we will provide both written and spoken example sentences throughout the article for you. This will help you learn Cantonese adjectives in both forms. We’ve used symbols to help you identify which ones are written (w), spoken (s), or applicable to both (ws).

Now, let’s have some fun with Cantonese adjectives!

Table of Contents

1. How to Use an Adjective
2. Adjectives for Dimensions, Sizes, Distance, Number, Frequency, etc.
3. Adjectives Describing Value, Conditions, etc.
4. Adjectives Describing Personalities and Feelings
5. Adjectives Describing Colors, Weather, Taste, Appearance, etc.
6. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. How to Use an Adjective

There are three typical ways to use an Cantonese language adjectives in a sentence or phrase.

1- Adjective + 嘅 + Noun

We usually add 嘅 (ge3) between an adjective and a noun. For example, a “huge portion” in Cantonese is 大嘅份量 (daai6 ge3 fan6 loeng6), where 大 means “huge” and 份量 means “portion.”

Other examples include:

• (s) 開心嘅爸爸 (hoi1 sam1 ge3 baa4 baa1)
  Meaning: “a happy dad”
• (s) 高嘅小朋友 (gou1 ge3 siu2 pang4 jau5)
  Meaning: “a tall kid”

2- Adjective + Noun

In some instances, we can use an adjective and noun together without adding 嘅 (ge3). This implies we should treat the adjective and the noun as a unit.

Examples:

• (ws) 大國 (daai6 gwok3)
  Meaning: “a great country”
• (ws) 窮人 (kung4 jan4)
  Meaning: “poor people” / “the poor”
• (ws) 高山 (gou1 saan1)
  Meaning: “tall mountain”

3- Noun + Be Verb + Adjective + 嘅

We can also put the noun at the front when we use an adjective in Cantonese. Look at the examples below:

• Chinese Character: (s) 屋係白色嘅
  Romanization: uk1zi2 hai6 baak6 sik1 ge3
  Meaning: The house is white.
  Breakdown: 屋 is “house”; 係 is “is”; 白色 is “white”
• Chinese Character: (s) 新書係貴嘅
  Romanization: san1 syu1 hai6 gwai3 ge3
  Meaning: The new book is expensive.
  Breakdown: 新 is “new”; 書 is “book”; 係 is “is”; 貴 is “expensive”

2. Adjectives for Dimensions, Sizes, Distance, Number, Frequency, etc.

3. Adjectives Describing Value, Conditions, etc.

4. Adjectives Describing Personalities and Feelings

5. Adjectives Describing Colors, Weather, Taste, Appearance, etc.

6. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

Did you learn any new Cantonese adjectives? Is there anything you’re still fuzzy on? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to help! To practice, why not write us a paragraph about yourself in the comments using some of these adjectives? We look forward to hearing what you have to say. 🙂

Want to level up your Cantonese and learn more Cantonese phrases? No worries. With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Learning Cantonese is a headache to many—after all, with nine tones and 20k+ characters, Cantonese is one of the most difficult languages to master! But, with the right tools, you can certainly learn Cantonese a lot quicker and more effectively—in this case, those tools would be a great Cantonese course and the best Netflix Hong Kong shows.

Watching shows and movies in Cantonese on Netflix is a great way to sharpen language skills. Without even noticing, you’ll end up understanding the spoken language a lot better, and improve your pronunciation simply because you’ve gained familiarity with Cantonese as a whole.

Do you want to learn Cantonese on Netflix, while also learning more about the Hong Kong culture? Here are ten Netflix Hong Kong shows for you to work through in your spare time!

Table of Contents

1. S Storm
2. Vulgaria
3. Initial D
4. Cold War
5. Royal Tramp
6. The Midnight After
7. A Complicated Story
8. Justice, My Foot!
9. Sixty Million Dollar Man
10. OCTB
11. Bonus: More Cantonese TV Shows and Movies!
12. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. S Storm

• Cantonese Title: S風暴
• Romanization: S fung1 bou6
• Director: David Lam
• Stars: Louis Koo; Julian Cheung; Vic Chou

S Storm is a 2016 crime action movie, and the second film in the Storm film series, following 2014’s Z Storm.

Currently one of the best Cantonese Netflix films, S Storm depicts a classic run-in between the Independent Commission Against Corruption (a.k.a. ICAC) and the Hong Kong Police Force, which was triggered by the murder of the trader by a lone assassin. William Luk from ICAC refuses to disclose any information regarding the murder case to Julian Cheung, the chief investigator of the case from the Hong Kong police, even though he witnessed the incident.

The story continues to unfold as the police uncover that the murder case was actually tied to illegal bookmaking on football betting, and an international crime syndicate…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 廉政公署
  Romanization: lim4 zing3 gung1 cyu5
  Meaning: Independent Commission Against Corruption
• Character: 貪污
  Romanization: taam1 wu1
  Meaning: Corruption
• Character: 兇殺案
  Romanization: hung1 saat3 ngon3
  Meaning: Murder case
• Character: 犯罪
  Romanization: faan6 zeoi6
  Meaning: Commiting a crime
• Character: 調查
  Romanization: diu6 caa4
  Meaning: Investigation

2. Vulgaria

• Cantonese Title: 低俗喜劇
• Romanization: dai1 zuk6 hei2 kek6
• Director: Ho-Cheung Pang
• Stars: Chapman To; Kristal Tin; Ronald Cheng

Looking for Cantonese films on Netflix to make you laugh? Vulgaria is a 2012 comedy that tells the story of how a divorced movie producer strives to fulfill his daughter’s dream of seeing him being interviewed by a major HK TV broadcaster, despite the fact that he’s poor and struggling to make alimony payments to his ex-wife…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 喜劇
  Romanization: hei2 kek6
  Meaning: Comedy
• Character: 女兒
  Romanization: neoi5 ji4
  Meaning: Daughter
• Character: 監製
  Romanization: gaam1 zai3
  Meaning: Movie producer
• Character: 婚姻
  Romanization: fan1 jan1
  Meaning: Marriage
• Character: 電影
  Romanization: din6 jing2
  Meaning: Movie

3. Initial D

• Cantonese Title: 頭文字D
• Romanization: tau4 man4 zi6 D
• Director: Andrew Lau; Alan Mak
• Stars: Shawn Yue; Edison Chen; Jay Chou

Initial D, released in 2005, is an action film adapted from the Japanese Initial D manga series. The movie is about Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student, who has decided to focus on drift racing after winning his first competition. This is a sport he unknowingly perfects while delivering tofu with his father’s Toyota AE86…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 父親
  Romanization: fu6 can1
  Meaning: Father
• Character: 豆腐
  Romanization: dau6 fu6
  Meaning: Tofu
• Character: 漂移
  Romanization: piu1 ji4
  Meaning: Drifting
• Character: 汽車
  Romanization: hei3 ce1
  Meaning: Car
• Character: 擊敗
  Romanization: gik1 baai6
  Meaning: Defeat

4. Cold War

• Cantonese Title: 寒戰
• Romanization: hon4 zin3
• Director: Longman Leung; Sunny Luk
• Stars: Aaron Kwok; Tony Ka Fai Leung; Charlie Yeung

Cold War—the opening film at the 17th Busan International Film Festival—is a 2012 Hong Kong police thriller film. Its name derives from the code name used in the police operation, and the film has a sequel called Cold War 2.

During the investigation of a missing Hong Kong Police Force van, they find that the terrorists possess detailed knowledge of the police’s procedures and can always plan several steps ahead. In the absence of the Chief Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner M.B. Lee leads an operation code-named “Cold War,” and declares a state of emergency…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 警隊
  Romanization: ging2 deoi2
  Meaning: Police force
• Character: 副處長
  Romanization: fu3 cyu3 zoeng2
  Meaning: Deputy Commissioner
• Character: 行動
  Romanization: hang4 dung6
  Meaning: Operation
• Character: 贖金
  Romanization: suk6 gam1
  Meaning: Ransom
• Character: 代號
  Romanization: doi6 hou6
  Meaning: Code name

5. Royal Tramp

• Cantonese Title: 鹿鼎記
• Romanization: luk6 ding2 gei3
• Director: Jing Wong
• Stars: Stephen Chow; Man Cheung; Chingmy Yau

Royal Tramp is a 1992 comedy based on Louis Cha‘s novel The Deer and the Cauldron, and it stars the famous Stephen Chow, who played the protagonist Wai Siu-bo.

The story revolves around Wai Siu-bo, resourceful and cunning, who was made a member of the Heaven and Earth Society after rescuing its leader. Yet he performs poorly in his first assignment, and is subsequently made a servant to the very person the Heaven and Earth Society aim to overthrow…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 機智
  Romanization: gei1 zi3
  Meaning: Smart
• Character: 決鬥
  Romanization: kyut3 dau3
  Meaning: Battle
• Character: 皇帝
  Romanization: wong4 dai3
  Meaning: Emperor
• Character: 皇宮
  Romanization: wong4 gung1
  Meaning: Royal Palace

6. The Midnight After

• Cantonese Title: 那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅VAN
• Romanization: naa5 je6 ling4 san4, ngo5 co5 soeng5 liu5 wong6 gok3 hoi1 wong5 daai6 bou3 dik1 hung4 VAN
• Director: Fruit Chan
• Stars: Suet Lam; Lam Wong; Cheuk-Ling Tin

The Midnight After is a 2014 satirical horror comedy film based on the web-novel Lost on a Red Mini Bus to Taipo. The movie begins with seventeen people taking a Hong Kong minibus to Tai Po. After the minibus enters a tunnel, a passenger notices that the traffic has disappeared and the city is quieter than usual….

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 凌晨
  Romanization: ling4 san4
  Meaning: Midnight
• Character: 小巴
  Romanization: siu2 baa1
  Meaning: Minibus
• Character: 隧道
  Romanization: seoi6 dou6
  Meaning: Tunnel
• Character: 消失
  Romanization: siu1 sat1
  Meaning: Disappear
• Character: 神秘
  Romanization: san4 bei3
  Meaning: Mysterious

7. A Complicated Story

• Cantonese Title: 一個複雜故事
• Romanization: jat1 go3 fuk1 zaap6 gu3 si6
• Director: Kiwi Chow
• Stars: Jacky Cheung; Zhi-Ying Zhu; Stephanie Che

A Complicated Story is a 2013 film based on the novel with the same title. It’s about Liu Yazi, a student from Mainland China in a Hong Kong University, who has decided to become a surrogate mother to pay for her brother’s medical expenses. However, she’s asked to terminate the contract during her pregnancy… One of the best Cantonese dramas on Netflix for language learners.

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 複雜
  Romanization: fuk1 zaap6
  Meaning: Complicated
• Character: 代孕
  Romanization: doi6 jan6
  Meaning: Surrogacy
• Character: 合約
  Romanization: hap6 joek3
  Meaning: Contract
• Character: 秘密
  Romanization: bei3 mat6
  Meaning: Secret
• Character: 學生
  Romanization: hok6 saang1
  Meaning: Student

8. Justice, My Foot!

• Cantonese Title: 審死官
• Romanization: sam2 sei2 gun1
• Director: Johnnie To
• Stars: Stephen Chow; Anita Mui; Man-Tat Ng

Justice, My Foot! is a 1992 film about a lawyer called Sung. Sung is intelligent and excellent in speech. By leveraging his talents and skills, he quickly becomes the best lawyer in the region. And he’ll do whatever it takes to win the case—even neglecting right and wrong. But, because of this, none of his newborns survive more than a year…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 言語
  Romanization: jin4 jyu5
  Meaning: Speech
• Character: 狀師
  Romanization: zong6 si1
  Meaning: Lawyer (ancient Chinese)
• Character: 正義
  Romanization: zing3 ji6
  Meaning: Justice
• Character: 賄賂
  Romanization: kui2 lou6
  Meaning: Bribery
• Character: 勸告
  Romanization: hyun3 gou3
  Meaning: Persuasion

9. Sixty Million Dollar Man

• Cantonese Title: 百變星君
• Romanization: baak3 bin3 sing1 gwan1
• Director: Jing Wong; Wai Man Yip
• Stars: Stephen Chow; Gigi Leung; Man-Tat Ng

Sixty Million Dollar Man is a 1995 comedy, and one of the great Cantonese movies on Netflix of this genre. It revolves around a rich kid studying in Hawaii. Arrogant and powerful, he enjoys fooling people around him. Things change, however, when he meets a beautiful young lady…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 作弄
  Romanization: zok3 nung6
  Meaning: Trick
• Character: 夏威夷
  Romanization: haa6 wai1 ji4
  Meaning: Hawaii
• Character: 富有
  Romanization: fu3 jau5
  Meaning: Rich
• Character: 迷戀
  Romanization: mai4 lyun2
  Meaning: Obsess
• Character: 同學
  Romanization: tung4 hok6
  Meaning: Classmate

10. OCTB

• Cantonese Title: 反黑
• Romanization: faan2 hak1
• Director: Jones Soong Pounh Chong
• Stars: Jordan Chan; Danny Chan; Ken Wong

OCTB, which stands for Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, is a 2017 drama series that takes you back to the 1980s and shows you what would happen when an undercover detective crosses paths with familiar faces in the mafia underworld…

1- Related Words & Phrases in the Show:

• Character: 黑社會
  Romanization: haak1 se5 wui2
  Meaning: Underworld
• Character: 臥底
  Romanization: ngo6 dai2
  Meaning: Undercover
• Character: 酒吧
  Romanization: zau2 baa1
  Meaning: Bar
• Character: 手槍
  Romanization: sau2 coeng1
  Meaning: Handgun
• Character: 警署
  Romanization: ging2 cyu5
  Meaning: Police station

11. Bonus: More Cantonese TV Shows and Movies!

Craving more Cantonese TV shows and movies after watching the ones above? Check out our recommendations on Hong Kong TV shows and movies!

12. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

We hope that you enjoy these shows improve your Cantonese along the way! Which of these Cantonese shows on Netflix do you want to watch first and why? Do you have any favorite Hong Kong media to share? Let us know in the comments!

With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Know that your hard work will pay off, and before you know it, you’ll be speaking Cantonese like a native!

The Chinese Lantern Festivals that take place in Hong Kong each year are quite a sight, and offer an exhilarating experience! Traditionally based on many Chinese legends and stories, this holiday is a time to be with loved ones, admire beautiful Chinese lanterns, and maybe even find or reunite with your true love.

In this article, you’ll learn all about the Hong Kong Spring Lantern Festival, from its traditional meaning to modern-day celebrations.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

1. What is the Chinese Lantern Festival in Hong Kong?

In Chinese culture, the Lantern Festival, or 元宵節 (jyun4 siu1 zit3), is considered a time of passion and romance. This holiday also goes by the name of “Chinese Valentine’s Day.”

This is because, in ancient times, young girls were not allowed to go out except during the Lantern Festival on this day. So unmarried men and women took this opportunity to meet, and lovers to reunite.

However, this holiday isn’t as big in Hong Kong as it is in mainland China. In fact, people in Hong Kong don’t have much passion for the Lantern Festival. This is partially because the Lantern Festival isn’t a public holiday. Besides, Hong Kong was under British colonial rule for almost one hundred years, and they’ve gotten used to Valentine’s Day already.

Despite this, during the Lantern Festival, Hong Kong families will still get together and eat dumplings.

2. Chinese Lantern Festival Dates

The Lantern Festival is celebrated each year on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar, or 正月十五 (zing1 jyut6 sap6 ng5) in Cantonese. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date on the Gregorian calendar for the next ten years.

• 2020: February 8
• 2021: February 26
• 2022: February 15
• 2023: February 5
• 2024: February 24
• 2025: February 12
• 2026: March 3
• 2027: February 20
• 2028: February 9
• 2029: February 27

3. How is Chinese Valentine’s Day Celebrated?

There are many colorful and exciting festivities for the Lantern Festival in Hong Kong, though the most important thing is for families and loved ones to be with each other.

During the Chinese Lantern Festival, Hong Kong locals admire beautiful lanterns. A grand Lantern Carnival is held in Hong Kong every year, offering many programs including lantern displays, ethnic dance, traditional stage arts, and even a fireworks show. There’s also a lighting-up ceremony and game booths for families to enjoy together.

Another favorite activity is to 猜燈謎 (caai1 dang1 mai4), or solve riddles that are written on lanterns. Trying to solve the lantern riddle gives people something to think about while admiring the lanterns.

During the Lantern Festival, you can also see the lively dragon and lion dances. 舞獅 (mou5 si1), or the lion dance, is a kind of traditional performing art with martial arts techniques. To perform it, two dancers are dressed in lion costumes, one wearing the head and the other wearing the lower body. This lion jumps and rolls to the tune of music from gongs and drums, full of energy. Keep in mind that the lion in the Chinese lion dance is very different from lions in Western cultures, so if you have a chance, please enjoy it!

As we mentioned earlier, the Spring Festival is a perfect time to be with loved ones. Many Hongkongers get together with family members to enjoy a nice meal together, including 湯圓 (tong1 jyun2), or the glutinous rice ball. You may recall that glutinous rice balls are also eaten during the Winter Solstice celebration because they symbolize unity and reunion; people consume them during the Lantern Festival for the same reason.

4. Chinese Love Stories

How many people through the ages have looked toward the sky at night, hungering for love, and imagining their own future? And how many writers through the ages have wanted to express the genuine feelings of being human?

Some people say that Chinese people aren’t very romantic by nature. However, some of the most beautiful love stories come from Chinese culture and folklore.

Two of the most popular Chinese love stories are those of the Butterfly Lovers and of the Cowherd and the Weaver. Why not read up on these yourself?

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for the Spring Lantern Festival

Are you ready to review some of the Cantonese vocabulary words we saw in this article? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for this holiday!

• 元宵節 (jyun4 siu1 zit3) — Lantern Festival
• 舞獅 (mou5 si1) — lion dance
• 正月十五 (zing1 jyut6 sap6 ng5) — the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar
• 猜燈謎 (caai1 dang1 mai4) — solve riddles that are written on lanterns
• 彩燈 (coi2 dang1) — paper lantern
• 元宵綵燈會 (jyun4 siu1 coi2 dang1 wui5) — Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival
• 掛燈籠 (gwaa3 dang1 lung4) — hang lantern
• 湯圓 (tong1 jyun2) — glutinous rice ball
• 月圓之夜 (jyut6 jyun4 zi1 je6) — full moon night
• 舞龍 (mou5 lung4) — dragon dance
• 花燈 (faa1 dang1) — colorful lantern

To hear the pronunciation of each word or phrase, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Cantonese Spring Lantern Festival vocabulary list.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the Lantern Festival in Hong Kong is an essential component of traditional Chinese culture and is a celebration you don’t want to miss experiencing.

What are your thoughts on this Chinese holiday? Is there a Valentine’s Day celebration in your country? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more about Chinese or Cantonese holidays, you may find the following pages useful:

• Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong
• The Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong
• How to Celebrate the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

And for more information on Cantonese culture in general, check out these pages:

• Cantonese Culture
• What’s Your Favorite Hong Kong Food?
• Learn to Talk About Zodiac Signs

Whatever your reasons for taking an interest in Cantonese culture or learning the language, know that CantoneseClass101.com is the best place to expand your knowledge and improve your skills! With tons of lessons for learners at every level, there’s something for everyone.

What are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and learn Cantonese like never before.

Some say manners and etiquette are outdated and no longer matter in this day and age—why bother to care about how others think or feel? Why don’t we just “be our true self” and “show our personality?”

However, decent manners and etiquette are never out of style. They’re the cornerstone of civilization. Without them, a society will become disorganized; its members will demonstrate disrespect for one another and ultimately lead to chaos, insults, falsehoods, and many more unpleasant consequences.

That’s why we’ve set out to help you learn Cantonese customs and etiquette in Hong Kong for your time here.

Table of Contents

1. Why Manners and Etiquette Matter to You
2. Concepts Related to Manners in Hong Kong
3. Dining Etiquette in Hong Kong
4. Gift Giving Etiquette in Hong Kong
5. Do’s and Don’ts – Transportation in Hong Kong
6. Bonus: How to Greet in Hong Kong
7. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101 Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. Why Manners and Etiquette Matter to You

Manners Maketh Man.

Manners tell who you truly are and represent your inner self, while etiquette sets out a guideline on how you’re expected to behave in public. They touch on every aspect of our lives.

Things like saying 多謝 (do1 ze6) or “thank you” when someone offers help, greeting a colleague with 早晨 (zou2 san4) or “good morning,” and offering your seat to the elderly show that you care about and respect others.

Understanding the social etiquette in Hong Kong will come in handy when you’re making a new friend or interacting with the locals. By demonstrating your respect and avoiding behaviors that are deemed “offensive,” your relationships with them will be more sound and smooth.

2. Concepts Related to Manners in Hong Kong

1- 面 (min2)

面 (min2) is a unique concept in Chinese society. This concept of cultural etiquette in Hong Kong describes one’s status, dignity, and integrity. You can also refer to 面 (min2) as the feeling of being respected and honored by others.

This is a crucial concept in Hong Kong society. Further, a similar concept that will help you foster your relationships with the locals is 畀面 (bei2 min2), meaning:

• The ability to hold back when criticizing someone to make that person feel respected.
• Taking actions to demonstrate your admiration and regard for that person.

面 (min2) is closely tied to a number of unique concepts governing the culture of Hong Kong and Chinese communities:

• 關係 (gwaan1 hai6) meaning “relationship.”
• 中庸 (zung1 jung4) which is a prevailing mindset from Confucianism of not going for the extremes, both in terms of praise and criticism.
• 人情 (jan4 cing4) which is a sense of human touch and affection/owing someone a favor. Feel free to click the above links if you want to know more.

2- Respect for Seniors

According to Hong Kong social etiquette, age usually determines seniority. In family settings, it’s expected that everyone will respect the elder ones in accordance with filial piety, a deeply rooted virtue in many Southeast Asian countries. HongKongers usually worship their ancestors at least twice a year, which stems from the belief that children are indebted to their parents forever.

3. Dining Etiquette in Hong Kong

If you’re going to dine at a traditional Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong, tables will typically be large and round to accommodate a group of friends or family. Most dishes are shared instead of à la carte, and they’re placed in the center of the table where everyone gets to take a portion of the dishes.

General Food Manners & Restaurant Etiquette in Hong Kong

• DON’T put your hand below or above someone else’s hand while taking the food from a serving plate.
  DO wait until the other person finishes grabbing his or her food before you start taking yours.
• DON’T take food from the serving plates and put it into your mouth directly.
  DO put it into your bowl first before you eat.
• If you like only a part of the dish, DON’T look for your favorite part on the serving plate.
  DO this only while it’s in your bowl.
• DO leave bits of food on your plate to show that you were satisfied.
  DON’T leave your plate empty, because the host may think you didn’t have enough food.
• DON’T spin your table counterclockwise; always spin it clockwise.

Chopsticks

• DON’T point at someone or something with your chopsticks.
• DON’T use your own chopsticks to grab food from the serving plate.
  DO use “public chopsticks” (chopsticks that are placed at the center of the table for grabbing the food).
• DO place your chopsticks on the rest provided if you’re not using them.
• DON’T shake your chopsticks if they’re wet from soup.
• DON’T place your chopsticks across each other.
• DON’T put your chopsticks in your rice bowl in an upright position; this is only done at funerals.

Tea

• DO open the lid of the teapot or place the lid upside-down if you would like to request more tea.
• DO tap your fingers several times by your cup to thank a person for pouring tea for you.
• DON’T take the first sip; wait for the senior host to do so first.

4. Gift Giving Etiquette in Hong Kong

If you’re invited to someone’s house in Hong Kong, you’re expected to bring a gift with you. Check out the guidelines below:

• DON’T present four gifts, as “four” sounds similar to “death” in Cantonese. If you would like to bring multiple gifts with you, try three (similar to “life” in Cantonese), eight (similar to “prosperity” in Cantonese) or nine (similar to “eternity” in Cantonese).
• DO make sure you hand your gift over with both hands.
• DO insist on handing over the gift. Sometimes the host may refuse the gift a couple of times before accepting it. This is part of the traditional Hong Kong culture.
• DON’T wrap your gift in white or black, as they’re considered unlucky colors.
  DO try lucky colors like red or gold instead.
• DON’T unwrap the gift on the spot.
• DON’T pick clocks or watches as gifts. “Giving a clock” in Cantonese sounds like attending a funeral.
• DON’T pick shoes as gifts, as the Cantonese word for “shoes” sounds like “rough,” which suggests bad luck.

5. Do’s and Don’ts – Transportation in Hong Kong

General Manners on Public Transportation (Bus, MTR, etc.)

• DO keep quiet and be considerate. Avoid obstructive behavior and public displays of affection.
• DON’T eat, drink, or smoke on public transportation.
• DO give up your seat to the elderly, pregnant women, the disabled, and families with babies.
• DON’T litter.
• DON’T take up more than one seat.

MTR: Hong Kong’s Railway System

• DO have your Octopus card or ticket ready before you go through the gate in the MTR station. MTR is one of the busiest train systems in the world. Trains come in every minute during rush hour and take on around 4.6-million passengers every day. If you only search for your ticket or card at the gate, you’ll definitely feel the pressure from other impatient commuters.
• DO stand on the right side of the escalator to allow other commuters to walk on the left.
• DO let passengers get off before entering the MTR carriage.
• DON’T lean up against the poles, as other passengers will need to hold onto the poles.
• Even if you’re yet to arrive at your destination, DO let people out when you’re at a stop and DON’T stand at the doorway.
• DO pull your legs in to avoid tripping other commuters.
• DO move inside the train compartment.

6. Bonus: How to Greet in Hong Kong

When it comes to social etiquette in Hong Kong, there aren’t many special gestures (such as bowing) for when you greet someone in Hong Kong. Simply saying Cantonese greeting words will do:

• Cantonese character: 你好
• Romanization: nei5 hou2
• Meaning: “Hello” (formal)
• Cantonese character: 哈囉
• Romanization: haa1 lo3
• Meaning: “Hello” (informal)

If you would like to express your enthusiasm in meeting someone, you can wave your hands while saying hello to him or her. Avoid hugging, bowing, or kissing on the cheek.

To know more about how to appropriately greet someone in Hong Kong, check out our article on How to Say Hello in Cantonese!

7. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101 Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

Want to level up your Cantonese and learn more Cantonese phrases? No worries. With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Before you go, let us know in the comments if you learned anything new about etiquette in Hong Kong. Are etiquette rules here similar or very different than those in your country? We look forward to hearing from you!

Although English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, learning how to describe dates in Cantonese would be of great benefit to you. Mastering Cantonese dates will not only help you communicate better with the locals, it will also ensure that you won’t miss out on any important meetings or fun events in town.

In this article, we’ll go over how to say dates in Cantonese, how it differs from how to write dates in Cantonese, and even give you some background information on the Chinese calendar.

Can’t wait to learn about Cantonese dates? Let CantoneseClass101.com give you a hand!

Table of Contents

1. Traditional Chinese Calendar and Modern Calendar
2. Cantonese Years
3. Cantonese Months
4. Cantonese Days
5. Cantonese Date Format
6. The Week in Cantonese
7. Other Terms Related to Cantonese Dates
8. Simple Sentences
9. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101 Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. Traditional Chinese Calendar and Modern Calendar

The traditional Chinese calendar, which can be referred to as either 農曆 (nung4 lik6), 舊曆 (gau6 lik6), or 陰曆 (jam1 lik6) in Cantonese, is a lunisolar calendar which reckons years, months, and days according to astronomical phenomena.

Although modern day Hong Kong uses the Gregorian calendar which aligns with most countries in the world, the traditional Chinese calendar still governs some of the holidays (e.g. the Chinese New Year) and guides people in selecting days for weddings, funerals, moving, or starting a business.

2. Cantonese Years

年 (nin4) is “year” in Cantonese. To express a year in Cantonese, simply convert the number to Chinese characters and add them in front of the character 年 (nin4). For example, the year “2009” is 二零零九年 (ji6 ling4 ling4 gau2 nin4) in Cantonese.

More examples:

3. Cantonese Months

月 (jyut6) is “month” in Cantonese. To express a month in Cantonese, simply add the appropriate number in front of the character 月 (jyut6). For example, December is the twelfth month, so “December” in Cantonese is 十二月 (sap6 ji6 jyut6).

You can also visit our vocabulary list to familiarize yourself with Cantonese months!

4. Cantonese Days

日 (jat6) is “day” in Cantonese. To express a day in Cantonese, simply add the appropriate number in front of the character 日 (jat6). For example, the eleventh day of the month is “11,” so 11th in the context of a date is 十一日 (sap6 jat1 jat6).

Note that 日 (jat6) is the formal, written form to express a date. If you want to express a date in spoken form, replace 日 (jat6) with 號 (hou6). For example, 一日 (jat1 jat6) becomes 一號 (jat1 hou6). Also, when there’s 二十 (ji6 sap6), replace it with 廿 (jaa6) when speaking. Take the 21st of the month as an example: 二十一日 (ji6 sap6 jat1 jat6) becomes 廿一號 (jaa6 jat1 hou6).

5. Cantonese Date Format

The date is written in the following format in Hong Kong: [year]年 [month]月 [day]日 (nin4 / jyut6 / jat6). Simply insert the appropriate numbers in front of 年 (nin4), 月 (jyut6), and 日 (jat6).

Again, if you would like to say the date out loud, change 日 (jat6) to 號 (hou6).

For example:

6. The Week in Cantonese

Make sure to check out our list on Cantonese weeks and days, too!

7. Other Terms Related to Cantonese Dates

8. Simple Sentences

Want to learn some simple sentences related to dates? We have examples in both written and spoken form—familiarize yourself with the examples below!

1- 我昨天請假一天

Romanization: ngo5 zok3 tin1 ceng2 gaa3 jat1 tin1
Meaning: I took a day off yesterday.
Form: written form

2- 今天是九月十日星期六

Romanization: gam1 tin1 si6 gau2 jyut6 sap6 jat6 sing1 kei4 luk6
Meaning: Today is September 10th, Saturday.
Form: written form

3- 二月二十九日是閏年日

Romanization: ji6 jyut6 ji6 sap6 gau2 jat6 si6 jeon6 nin4 jat6
Meaning: Leap year day is February 29th.
Form: written form

4- 你幾時得閒？

Romanization: nei5 gei2 si4 dak1 haan4
Meaning: When will you be free?
Form: spoken form

5- 五月三十一日是世界無煙日

Romanization: ng5 jyut6 saam1 sap6 jat1 jat6 si6 sai3 gaai3 mou4 jin1 jat6
Meaning: May 31st is World No Smoking Day.
Form: written form

6- 邊日方便你？

Romanization: bin1 jat6 fong1 bin6 nei5?
Meaning: Which day is good for you?
Form: spoken form

7- 唔好意思，我星期五唔得閒

Romanization: m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 sing1 kei4 ng5 m4 dak1 haan4
Meaning: I’m sorry, but I’m not available on Friday.
Form: spoken form

8- 學校於八月暫停開放

Romanization: hok6 haau6 jyu1 baat3 jyut6 zaam6 ting4 hoi1 fong3
Meaning: The school is closed in August.
Form: written form

9- 我哋可唔可以約下星期開會？

Romanization: ngo5 dei6 ho2 m4 ho2 ji3 joek3 haa6 sing1 kei4 hoi1 wui2
Meaning: Can we set up a meeting next week?
Form: spoken form

10- 我們在六月結婚

Romanization: ngo5 mun4 zoi6 luk6 jyut6 git3 fan1
Meaning: We are getting married in June.
Form: written form

11- 星期五方唔方便？

Romanization: sing1 kei4 ng5 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6
Meaning: Does Friday work for you?
Form: spoken form

12- 三月在北半球及南半球分別代表春季及秋季的來臨

Romanization: saam1 jyut6 zoi6 bak1 bun3 kau4 kap6 naam4 bun3 kau4 fan1 bit6 doi6 biu2 ceon1 gwai3 kap6 cau1 gwai3 dik1 loi4 lam4
Meaning: March marks the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall in the southern hemisphere.
Form: written form

13- 明天見

Romanization: ming4 tin1 gin3
Meaning: See you tomorrow!
Form: written form

14- 十二月三十一日是除夕

Romanization: sap6 ji6 jyut6 saam1 sap6 jat1 jat6 si6 ceoi4 zik6
Meaning: December 31st is New Year’s Eve.
Form: written form

15- 星期一、星期二、星期三、星期四及星期五都是平日

Romanization: sing1 kei4 jat1, sing1 kei4 ji6, sing1 kei4 saam1, sing1 kei4 sei3 kap6 sing1 kei4 ng5 dou1 si6 ping4 jat2
Meaning: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are weekdays.
Form: written form

16- 今日係星期日

Romanization: gam1 jat6 hai6 sing1 kei4 jat6
Meaning: Today is Sunday.
Form: spoken form

17- 你今個禮拜得唔得閒？

Romanization: nei5 gam1 go3 lai5 baai1 dak1 m4 dak1 haan4?
Meaning: Are you free this week?
Form: spoken form

18- 今日全部堂都取消

Romanization: gam1 jat6 cyun4 bou6 tong4 dou1 ceoi2 siu1
Meaning: All classes for today got cancelled.
Form: spoken form

9. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101 Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

Want to level up your Cantonese and learn more Cantonese phrases? No worries. With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about dates in Cantonese now. We hope you feel more comfortable about how to write dates in Cantonese—to practice, be sure to include today’s date in Cantonese in your comment! We look forward to hearing from you.

Although English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, learning how to describe your family in Cantonese will be of great benefit to you. Not only will it help you understand the local culture better, but it can also facilitate communication with the locals and show respect, especially considering that family is a strong institution here.

Want to learn more about Hong Kong families in general and familiarize yourself with basic Cantonese family expressions? Keep reading and let CantoneseClass101.com give you a hand!

In this article, we’ll go over essential information including family titles in Cantonese, family Cantonese words, how to say family in Cantonese, and family relations in Cantonese.

By the time you’re done with this article, you’ll be much more informed on family meaning in Cantonese, and will be saying things like “grandmother” in Cantonese like it’s nothing!

But first…

Table of Contents

1. What is Family in Cantonese Culture?
2. Terms for Family Members in Cantonese
3. More Family Terms in Cantonese: Terms for Relatives
4. Terms for Family Members as a Married Person
5. Endearment Terms for the Family in Cantonese
6. Simple Sentences to Talk About Family in Cantonese
7. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

1. What is Family in Cantonese Culture?

Even though many locals have adopted Western ways of living, Chinese concepts like “family solidarity” and “family glory” are still prevalent. It’s also common for a grown-up to live with their family or parents, partly due to the sky-rocketed property prices and rent, as well as the strong emphasis on family bonding in Hong Kong.

Many HongKongers are living in nuclear families, usually with only one or two children, as most living spaces in Hong Kong are small. The traditional role of a mother is to take care of the family, though many HongKongers choose to hire a housemaid to carry out the domestic duties so that the mother can work full-time.

Age determines the seniority of a family. It’s expected for everyone to respect their elders in accordance with filial piety, a deeply rooted virtue in many Southeast Asian countries. HongKongers usually worship their ancestors at least twice a year, which stems from the belief that children are eternally indebted to their parents. This respect for seniority can also be observed through language; for example, “brother” is further classified as “elder brother” and “younger brother.”

2. Terms for Family Members in Cantonese

Unlike in English, there are very specific terms in Cantonese to refer to family members. For example, “grandfather” is further broken down to describe whether one is talking about the grandfather on the paternal or maternal side. “Sister” is further broken down according to age. Check out the detailed family tree in Cantonese below!

3. More Family Terms in Cantonese: Terms for Relatives

4. Terms for Family Members as a Married Person

5. Endearment Terms for the Family in Cantonese

6. Simple Sentences to Talk About Family in Cantonese

1- 我係你爸爸

Romanization: ngo5 hai6 nei5 baa4 baa1
Meaning: I am your father.

Additional Notes:

係 (hai6) is a verb with many different functions and often translates as “to be.” However, we primarily use 係 (hai6) to express that one noun is equivalent to another, as in the sentence 我係你爸爸 (ngo5 hai6 nei5 baa4 baa1). In a simple sentence using 係 (hai6), the meaning of the noun after 係 (hai6) is usually more general than the noun before 係 (hai6). Only when both nouns are equally specific can they be interchanged.

2- 呢個係我爸爸

Romanization: ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 baa4 baa1
Meaning: This is my father.

3- 嗰個係佢家姐

Romanization: go2 go3 hai6 keoi5 gaa1 ze1
Meaning: That is her elder sister.

4- 邊個係你妹夫？

Romanization: bin1 go3 hai6 nei5 mui6 fu1
Meaning: Who is your younger sister’s brother?

5- 我哋係老公老婆
Romanization: ngo5 dei2 hai6 lou5 gung1 lou5 po4
Meaning: We are husband and wife.

6- 佢係我大佬

Romanization: keoi5 hai6 ngo5 daai6 lou2
Meaning: He is my elder brother.

7- 我侄女伊利沙伯

Romanization: ngo5 zat6 neoi2 ji1 lei6 saa1 baak3
Meaning: My niece Elizabeth.

8- 邊個係達西嘅爸爸？

Romanization: bin1 go3 hai6 daat6 sai1 ge3 baa4 baa1
Meaning: Who is Darcy’s father?

9- 我妹妹去咗英國留學

Romanization: ngo5 mui4 mui2 heoi3 zo2 jing1 gwok3 lau4 hok6.
Meaning: My younger sister went to England to study abroad.

10- 佢係奧斯汀嘅細佬

Romanization: keoi5 hai6 ou3 si1 ting1 ge3 sai3 lou2
Meaning: He is Austin’s brother.

11- 我係溫特沃斯嘅老婆

Romanization: ngo5 hai6 wan1 dak6 juk1 si1 ge3 lou5 po4
Meaning: I am Wentworth’s wife.

12- 安妮係我嘅表妹

Romanization: on1 nei4 hai6 ngo5 biu2 mui2
Meaning: Anne is my “younger female cousin” (mother’s side).

How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese

Want to level up your Cantonese and learn more Cantonese phrases? No worries. With CantoneseClass101.com, you can have your daily dose of Cantonese whenever and wherever you want, through mobile apps, desktop software, and our website. We offer entertaining, engaging, and effective lessons on various aspects of the Cantonese language and culture.

Until now, we’ve delivered more than 750,000,000 lessons to thousands of happy students from all around the globe. You can learn Cantonese with over 1060 audio and video lessons delivered by our knowledgeable and energetic hosts, detailed PDF lesson notes, an abundance of vocabulary learning tools, spaced repetition flashcards, and a lively community to discuss the lessons with fellow learners. What are you waiting for? Download our lessons, enjoy our audio and video files, and start learning now!

And keep in mind that if you prefer a one-on-one learning approach and want to further accelerate your Cantonese learning, you can take advantage of our MyTeacher program!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about using family words in Cantonese now. More comfortable, or still confused about something we went over? We know it’s a lot to take in, so feel free to reach out with questions or concerns!

Happy learning!

During the Winter Solstice Festival, Hong Kong prepares to celebrate the coming New Year with family and loved ones. In this article, you’ll learn about how Hongkongers celebrate the Chinese Winter Solstice, and why!

At CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative—starting with this article.

Let’s delve into this rich and cozy aspect of Hong Kong culture together!

1. What is the Winter Solstice?

In Chinese tradition, there’s a saying that says Winter Solstice is more important than the Lunar New Year. That is because ancient China was an agricultural community, and cultivation had to be done according to the season.

Why do the Chinese celebrate the Winter Solstice?

Chinese people observed astronomy and the laws of nature, and found that the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. After that day, the daytime gradually becomes longer, and spring comes as winter fades away. Hence, the start of a new year actually starts on Winter Solstice instead of the Lunar New Year.

2. When is the Winter Solstice Festival?

Each year, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or December 22.

3. How Hongkongers Celebrate the Winter Solstice

On Winter Solstice, Hongkongers usually visit the temple, and then everyone has a family reunion and dines together. This is called zou dung. A delicious sumptuous dinner with family and friends, followed by glutinous rice balls as dessert, all while enjoying bonding and reuniting with everyone, is the best way to start a new year.

Do you know why eating glutinous rice balls is a custom during the Winter Solstice? Glutinous rice balls are a round-shaped dessert made of glutinous rice flour, and symbolize reunion. In some areas, eating glutinous rice balls on Winter Solstice represents a person adding a year to their age. There are various types of fillings in glutinous rice balls; the most common are black sesame and peanut, as well as the Shanghainese-style glutinous rice balls in sweet osmanthus and glutinous rice wine.

For the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, Hong Kong companies let their employees go home one or two hours before schedule, so they can go home earlier and enjoy family time and the sumptuous end-of-the-year dinner.

4. Winter Solstice as a Public Holiday

In which region is Winter Solstice a public holiday?

Trick question! Actually, Winter Solstice isn’t a public holiday in Hong Kong. Therefore, kids and even some adults don’t pay much attention to it.

Macau is the only region among all Chinese societies that classifies Winter Solstice as a public holiday.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Winter Solstice in Hong Kong

Here’s some essential Cantonese vocabulary you should know for the Winter Solstice in Hong Kong!

• 冬天 (dung1 tin1) — Winter
• 雲吞 (wan4 tan1) — Wonton dumpling
• 冬大過年 (dung1 daai6 gwo3 nin4) — Winter Solstice is more important than Chinese New Year
• 冬至 (dung1 zi3) — Winter Solstice Festival
• 永夜 (wing5 je6) — Polar night
• 白夜 (baak6 je6) — Midnight sun
• 做冬 (zou6 dung1) — Have dinner with family on Winter Solstice evening
• 桂花酒釀圓子 (gwai3 faa1 zau2 joeng6 jyun2 zi2) — Glutinous rice balls in sweet osmanthus and glutinous rice wine
• 湯圓 (tong1 jyun2) — Glutinous rice ball
• 一家團聚 (jat1 gaa1 tyun4 zeoi6) — Family reunion

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Cantonese Winter Solstice vocabulary list! Once you have these words down, you’ll be a step closer to talk about the Winter Solstice in Cantonese. 😉

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about this fun and festive holiday with us! What are your thoughts on the Winter Solstice? CantoneseClass101.com aims to make the process of learning Cantonese a painless and exciting experience, and what better way than by digging into Cantonese culture?

If you’re interested in learning more about Hong Kong and her people, you may find the following pages useful:

• Cantonese Culture
• Cantonese Pop Culture
• 10 Common Cantonese Words with No English Equivalent
• What’s Your Favorite Hong Kong Food?
• Cantonese Top Tourist Attractions

Learning Cantonese doesn’t have to be boring or overwhelming—with CantoneseClass101.com, it can even be fun! If you’re serious about leveling up your Cantonese skills, create your free lifetime account today!