Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Cantonese Season 1, Lesson 16 - Asking Directions. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for and understand basic directions in Cantonese.
Body
Eric: Here's how to ask 'Where is the station?' in Cantonese.
Olivia: [Normal] 車站喺邊度?(ce1 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6)
Eric: First is a noun meaning 'train station'
Olivia: [Normal] 車站 [Slow] 車站 (ce1 zaam6)
Eric: Next is the preposition meaning 'at'
Olivia: [Normal] 喺 [Slow] 喺(hai2)
Eric: Last is the pronoun meaning 'where'
Olivia: [Normal] 邊度 [Slow] 邊度(bin1 dou6 )
Eric: Listen again to the question meaning 'Where is the station?'
Olivia: [Slow] 車站喺邊度? [Normal] 車站喺邊度?(ce1 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6)
Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a stranger. Here's how you can tell them, 'Go straight.'
Olivia: [Normal] 直行。(zik6 haang4)
Eric: First is an adjective meaning ‘straight'
Olivia: [Normal] 直 [Slow] 直 (zik6 )
Eric: Last is the verb meaning 'to walk'
Olivia: [Normal] 行 [Slow] 行(haang4)
Eric: Listen again to the phrase meaning 'Go straight.'
Olivia: [Slow] 直行。 [Normal] 直行。(zik6 haang4)
Eric: Here's a response meaning 'Turn right.'
Olivia: [Normal] 轉右。(zyun3 jau6)
Eric: First is a verb meaning 'Turn'
Olivia: [Normal] 轉 [Slow] 轉(zyun3)
Eric: Last is the adjective meaning 'right'
Olivia: [Normal] 右 [Slow] 右(jau6)
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Turn right.'
Olivia: [Slow] 轉右。 [Normal] 轉右。(zyun3 jau6)
Eric: Here's a response meaning, 'Turn left.'
Olivia: [Normal] 轉左。(zyun3 zo2)
Eric: First is a verb meaning 'Turn'
Olivia: [Normal] 轉 [Slow] 轉(zyun3)
Eric: Last is the adjective meaning 'left'
Olivia: [Normal] 左 [Slow] 左(zo2)
Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Turn left.'
Olivia: [Slow] 轉左。 [Normal] 轉左。(zyun3 zo2)
Cultural Insight
Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Olivia: There’s no solid rule that says when you need to use 邊度 (bin1 dou6) meaning “where” instead of 邊 (bin1), which also means “where.” Usually for longer questions, using 邊度 (bin1 dou6) would be safer. And of course, you can always substitute 邊 (bin1) with 邊度 (bin1 dou6), and it would not be wrong. It’s just a habit that Cantonese speakers have – they tend to shorten their speech!
For example, 你喺邊? (nei5 hai2 bin1?) can become 你喺邊度? (nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6?)
Also, 你住邊? (nei5 zyu6 bin1?) can become 你住邊度? (nei5 zyu6 bin1 dou6?) Which means “Where do you live?”
Lastly, 你去邊? (nei5 heoi3 bin1?) can become 你去邊度? (nei5 heoi3 bin1 dou6?) “Where are you going?”

Outro

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

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