Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Cantonese Season 1, Lesson 10 - Asking How Much Something Costs. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask how much something costs in Cantonese.
Body
Eric: Here's the way to ask 'How much does this cost?' in Cantonese.
Olivia: [Normal] 呢個幾多錢呀?(ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3)
Eric: First is a pronoun meaning 'this one'
Olivia: [Normal] 呢個 [Slow] 呢個 (ni1 go3 )
Eric: Next is the phrase meaning 'how much’ or ‘how many'
Olivia: [Normal] 幾多 [Slow] 幾多( gei2 do1)
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 question meaning 'How much does this cost?'
Olivia: [Slow] 呢個幾多錢呀? [Normal] 呢個幾多錢呀?(ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3)
Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a store clerk or market hawker. Here's the informal way to ask, 'How much does this cost?'
Olivia: [Normal] 呢個點賣呀?(ni1 go3 dim2 maai6 aa3)
Eric: First is a pronoun meaning 'this one'
Olivia: [Normal] 呢個 [Slow] 呢個 (ni1 go3 )
Eric: Next is the adverb meaning 'how'
Olivia: [Normal] 點 [Slow] 點(dim2)
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'sell'
Olivia: [Normal] 賣 [Slow] 賣(maai6)
Eric: Last is the final particle.
Olivia: [Normal] 呀 [Slow] 呀(aa3)
Eric: Listen again to the informal question meaning 'How much does this cost?'
Olivia: [Slow] 呢個點賣呀? [Normal] 呢個點賣呀?(ni1 go3 dim2 maai6 aa3)
Eric: Here's a response meaning 'OK, I'll take it.'
Olivia: [Normal] 好呀,我要呢個。(hou2 aa3, ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3)
Eric: First is a convention meaning 'OK, Yes'
Olivia: [Normal] 好呀 [Slow] 好呀(hou2 aa3)
Eric: Next is the pronoun meaning 'I'
Olivia: [Normal] 我 [Slow] 我(ngo5)
Eric: Next is the verb meaning 'to take’ or ‘to need'
Olivia: [Normal] 要 [Slow] 要(jiu3)
Eric: Last is the pronoun meaning 'this one'
Olivia: [Normal] 呢個 [Slow] 呢個(ni1 go3 )
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'OK, I'll take it.'
Olivia: [Slow] 好呀,我要呢個。 [Normal] 好呀,我要呢個。(hou2 aa3, ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3)
Eric: Now let’s take a look at a response meaning, 'No, thanks. It's too expensive.'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔要喇, 唔該。太貴喇。(m4 jiu3 laa3, m4 goi1. taai3 gwai3 laa3)
Eric: First is a phrase meaning 'not need’ or ‘not want’
Olivia: [Normal] 唔要喇 [Slow] 唔要喇(m4 jiu3 laa3)
Eric: Next is the phrase meaning 'thank you'
Olivia: [Normal] 唔該 [Slow] 唔該(m4 goi1)
Eric: Next is the adjective meaning 'too expensive'
Olivia: [Normal] 太貴 [Slow] 太貴(taai3 gwai3)
Eric: Last is the final particle.
Olivia: [Normal] 喇 [Slow] 喇(laa3)
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'No, thanks. It's too expensive.'
Olivia: [Slow] 唔要喇, 唔該。太貴喇。 [Normal] 唔要喇, 唔該。太貴喇。(m4 jiu3 laa3, m4 goi1. taai3 gwai3 laa3)
Cultural Insight
Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Olivia: It’s quite common to bargain in markets. Other than saying the specific price you want, you can also ask “are there any discounts?” by saying 有冇折呀? (jau5 mou5 zit3 aa3?)

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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