Learn how to ask for directions
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| 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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