Dialogue

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CantoneseClass101.com. This is Business Cantonese for Beginners Season 1 Lesson 21 - Giving Your Opinion in Cantonese. John here.
Siuling: 大家好!(daai6 gaa1 hou2!) I'm Siuling.
John: In this lesson, you’ll learn how to give opinions. The conversation takes place at an office.
Siuling: It's between Monica and Linda.
John: The speakers are boss and employee, therefore, they will speak formal Cantonese. Okay, let's listen to the conversation.
DIALOGUE
黃小芬: 我認為我哋要擴展服務供應。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 jing6 wai4 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 kong3 zin2 fuk6 mou6 gung1 jing3.)
張麗珊: 我唔敢肯定呢個係咪好建議,因為我哋而家人手不足。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ngo5 m4 gam2 hang2 ding6 ni1 go3 hai6 mai6 hou2 gin3 ji5, jan1 wai6 ngo5 dei6 ji4 gaa1 jan4 sau2 bat1 zuk1.)
黃小芬: 我嘅諗法唔同,我哋要有新嘢畀個市場。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 ge3 lam2 faat3 m4 tung4, ngo5 dei6 jiu3 jau5 san1 je5 bei2 go3 si5 coeng4.)
張麗珊: 咁又係,但係我哋會需要更多人手。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 jau6 hai6, daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 wui2 seoi1 jiu3 gang3 do1 jan4 sau2.)
黃小芬: 同人事部傾下,睇下佢哋可以做到啲乜。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: tung4 jan4 si6 bou6 king1 haa5, tai2 haa5 keoi5 dei6 ho2 ji5 zou6 dou3 di1 mat1.)
張麗珊: 都可以嘅,不過佢哋未必鍾意。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: dou1 ho2 ji5 ge3, bat1 gwo3 keoi5 dei6 mei6 bit1 zung1 ji3.)
黃小芬: 但係我哋冇得揀。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 mou5 dak1 gaan2.)
張麗珊: 既然係咁,首先要從長計議。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gei3 jin4 hai6 gam2, sau2 sin1 jiu3 cung4 coeng4 gai3 ji5.)
John: Listen to the conversation one time slowly.
黃小芬: 我認為我哋要擴展服務供應。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 jing6 wai4 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 kong3 zin2 fuk6 mou6 gung1 jing3.)
張麗珊: 我唔敢肯定呢個係咪好建議,因為我哋而家人手不足。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ngo5 m4 gam2 hang2 ding6 ni1 go3 hai6 mai6 hou2 gin3 ji5, jan1 wai6 ngo5 dei6 ji4 gaa1 jan4 sau2 bat1 zuk1.)
黃小芬: 我嘅諗法唔同,我哋要有新嘢畀個市場。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 ge3 lam2 faat3 m4 tung4, ngo5 dei6 jiu3 jau5 san1 je5 bei2 go3 si5 coeng4.)
張麗珊: 咁又係,但係我哋會需要更多人手。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 jau6 hai6, daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 wui2 seoi1 jiu3 gang3 do1 jan4 sau2.)
黃小芬: 同人事部傾下,睇下佢哋可以做到啲乜。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: tung4 jan4 si6 bou6 king1 haa5, tai2 haa5 keoi5 dei6 ho2 ji5 zou6 dou3 di1 mat1.)
張麗珊: 都可以嘅,不過佢哋未必鍾意。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: dou1 ho2 ji5 ge3, bat1 gwo3 keoi5 dei6 mei6 bit1 zung1 ji3.)
黃小芬: 但係我哋冇得揀。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 mou5 dak1 gaan2.)
張麗珊: 既然係咁,首先要從長計議。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gei3 jin4 hai6 gam2, sau2 sin1 jiu3 cung4 coeng4 gai3 ji5.)
John: Listen to the conversation with the English translation.
黃小芬: 我認為我哋要擴展服務供應。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 jing6 wai4 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 kong3 zin2 fuk6 mou6 gung1 jing3.)
Monica: I think that we should broaden our offer.
張麗珊: 我唔敢肯定呢個係咪好建議,因為我哋而家人手不足。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ngo5 m4 gam2 hang2 ding6 ni1 go3 hai6 mai6 hou2 gin3 ji5, jan1 wai6 ngo5 dei6 ji4 gaa1 jan4 sau2 bat1 zuk1.)
Linda: I'm not sure if it's a good idea. We are understaffed now.
黃小芬: 我嘅諗法唔同,我哋要有新嘢畀個市場。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 ge3 lam2 faat3 m4 tung4, ngo5 dei6 jiu3 jau5 san1 je5 bei2 go3 si5 coeng4.)
Monica: I would not agree with you. We have to bring something new to the market.
張麗珊: 咁又係,但係我哋會需要更多人手。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 jau6 hai6, daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 wui2 seoi1 jiu3 gang3 do1 jan4 sau2.)
Linda: Yes, but we will need more people.
黃小芬: 同人事部傾下,睇下佢哋可以做到啲乜。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: tung4 jan4 si6 bou6 king1 haa5, tai2 haa5 keoi5 dei6 ho2 ji5 zou6 dou3 di1 mat1.)
Monica: Speak with the HR department then and see what they can do about it.
張麗珊: 都可以嘅,不過佢哋未必鍾意。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: dou1 ho2 ji5 ge3, bat1 gwo3 keoi5 dei6 mei6 bit1 zung1 ji3.)
Linda: Well yes, but they may not like this.
黃小芬: 但係我哋冇得揀。
(wong4 siu2 fan1: daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 mou5 dak1 gaan2.)
Monica: But we don't have a choice.
張麗珊: 既然係咁,首先要從長計議。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gei3 jin4 hai6 gam2, sau2 sin1 jiu3 cung4 coeng4 gai3 ji5.)
Linda: Then, first it's necessary to prepare a detailed plan.
POST CONVERSATION BANTER
John: Lots of foreigners go to work in Hong Kong. What are the main benefits of working there?
Siuling: Employers give their employees many different types of leave entitlements.
John: So annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave, for example.
Siuling: There are also retirement and termination benefits.
John: Can employees get other types of benefits, too?
Siuling: Yes, meal benefits, transportation benefits, and accommodation benefits are common.
John: What about the benefits of living in Hong Kong? What is the healthcare like?
Siuling: The healthcare system is divided into public and private healthcare.
John: For a small fee, the government will provide your healthcare in the public option.
Siuling: As long as you have a Hong Kong ID card, you are eligible for public healthcare. It can take time to be seen at public clinics, though.
John: So there is also the private option. Many employers give private health insurance.
Siuling: Housing in Hong Kong is expensive and small, but there are many options.
John: Okay, now onto the vocab.
VOCAB LIST
John: Let’s take a look at the vocabulary from this lesson. The first word is...
Siuling: 擴展(kong3 zin2) [natural native speed]
John: to expand
Siuling: 擴展(kong3 zin2) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 擴展(kong3 zin2) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 服務(fuk6 mou6) [natural native speed]
John: service
Siuling: 服務(fuk6 mou6) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 服務(fuk6 mou6) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 供應(gung1 jing3) [natural native speed]
John: supply; to offer; to supply
Siuling: 供應(gung1 jing3) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 供應(gung1 jing3) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 唔敢(m4 gam2) [natural native speed]
John: to not dare
Siuling: 唔敢(m4 gam2) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 唔敢(m4 gam2) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 肯定(hang2 ding6) [natural native speed]
John: for sure; certainly
Siuling: 肯定(hang2 ding6) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 肯定(hang2 ding6) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5) [natural native speed]
John: suggestion, advice; to suggest, to advise
Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 諗法(lam2 faat3) [natural native speed]
John: personal view, idea
Siuling: 諗法(lam2 faat3) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 諗法(lam2 faat3) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 首先(sau2 sin1) [natural native speed]
John: first
Siuling: 首先(sau2 sin1) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 首先(sau2 sin1) [natural native speed]
John: And lastly...
Siuling: 揀(gaan2) [natural native speed]
John: to choose
Siuling: 揀(gaan2) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 揀(gaan2) [natural native speed]
KEY VOCAB AND PHRASES
John: Let's have a closer look at the usage of some of the words and phrases from this lesson. The first word is...
Siuling: 你嘅建議(nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5)
John: meaning "your suggestion."
John: Let’s break down this phrase.
Siuling: First is 你嘅(nei5 ge3), this means "your." Next is 建議 (gin3 ji5).
John: This means "suggestion, proposal."
Siuling: 你嘅建議(nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5) is an idea or plan of someone else.
John: Can you give us an example using this phrase?
Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 你嘅建議不獲採納。(nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5 bat1 wok6 coi2 naap6.)
John: ... which means "Your suggestion was not accepted."
John: Okay, what's the next phrase?
Siuling: 但係我哋冇得揀。(daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 mou5 dak1 gaan2)
John: meaning "But we don't have a choice."
John: This is a little long, so let’s break it down.
Siuling: First is 但係(daan6 hai6), which means "but." Next is 我哋(ngo5 dei6).
John: This means "we." The next part is "do not have."
Siuling: That is 冇得(mou5 dak1). Finally is 揀(gaan2).
John: This means "choose, select." When you can’t avoid a situation, you can use this phrase.
Siuling: The written form of the verb 揀(gaan2) is 選擇(syun2 zaak6).
John: Can you give us an example using this phrase?
Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 呢項投資係好高風險, 但係我哋冇得揀。(ni1 hong6 tau4 zi1 hai6 hou2 gou1 fung1 him2, daan6 hai6 ngo5 dei6 mou5 dak1 gaan2.)
John: ... which means "This is a very high-risk investment, but we don't have a choice."
John: Okay, now onto the lesson focus.

Lesson focus

John: In this lesson, you'll learn about giving opinions for the expansion of the company.
John: How can we state our opinion in Cantonese?
Siuling: You can state your opinion after 我認為 (ngo5 jing6 wai4).
John: This means "I think..."
Siuling: You can also say 我覺得 (ngo5 gok3 dak1).
John: This second one sounds less formal. Now, let’s hear some example sentences.
Siuling: 我認為我哋要善用社交媒體去提升知名度。(ngo5 jing6 wai4 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 sin6 jung6 se5 gaau1 mui4 tai2 heoi3 tai4 sing1 zi1 ming4 dou6.)
John: "I think we should make good use of social media to gain more popularity."
Siuling: 我認為公司要請多啲有經驗嘅人。(ngo5 jing6 wai4 gung1 si1 jiu3 ceng2 do1 di1 jau5 ging1 jim6 ge3 jan4.)
John: "I think our company should hire more experienced employees."
Siuling: 我覺得咁做未必行唔通。(ngo5 gok3 dak1 gam2 zou6 mei6 bit1 haang4 m4 tung1.)
John: "I think it does not necessarily mean failure." If someone else offers their opinion, you might need to react to it.
Siuling: Yes, you might agree or disagree.
John: Here are some phrases to help.
Siuling: 我可以肯定... (ngo5 ho2 ji3 hang2 ding6 …)
John: "I’m sure that…"
Siuling: 我唔敢肯定... (ngo5 m4 gam2 hang2 ding6 …)
John: "I can’t be sure that…"
Siuling: 我同意... (ngo5 tung4 ji3 …)
John: "I agree with…"
Siuling: 我唔同意... (ngo5 m4 tung4 ji3 …)
John: "I disagree with…"
Siuling: 我嘅諗法一樣。(ngo5 ge3 lam2 faat3 jat1 joeng6.)
John: "I have the same opinion."
Siuling: 我嘅諗法唔同。(ngo5 ge3 lam2 faat3 m4 tung4.)
John: "I have a different opinion."

Outro

John: Okay, that’s all for this lesson. Thank you for listening, everyone, and we’ll see you next time! Bye!
Siuling: 拜拜!(baai1 baai3!)

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