Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Eric: Must-Know Cantonese Social Media Phrases Season 1. Lesson 21 - It's Time to Celebrate!
Eric: Hi everyone, I'm Eric.
Siuling: And I'm Siuling.
Eric: In this lesson, you'll learn how to post and leave comments in Cantonese about Chinese New Year. 阿偉 (aa3 wai5) watches the fireworks, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment-
Siuling: 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
Eric: Meaning "May you have a prosperous New Year! This year's fireworks are breathtaking!" Listen to a reading of the post and the comments that follow.
DIALOGUE
(clicking sound)
阿偉: 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
(clicking sound)
Lisa姐: 大家咁話!最緊要身體健康! (daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6! zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1!)
陳業生: 祝年年有餘! (zuk1 nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4!)
威仔: 派利是! (paai3 lai6 si6!)
小儀: 祝你一家人健康,快樂。 (zuk1 nei5 jat1 gaa1 jan4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6.)
Eric: Listen again with the English translation.
(clicking sound)
阿偉: 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
Eric: "May you have a prosperous New Year! This year's fireworks are breathtaking!"
(clicking sound)
Lisa姐: 大家咁話!最緊要身體健康! (daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6! zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1!)
Eric: "Same to you! And the most important thing is to have good health!"
陳業生: 祝年年有餘! (zuk1 nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4!)
Eric: "Wishing you prosperity through the years!"
威仔: 派利是! (paai3 lai6 si6!)
Eric: "Red packets, please!"
小儀: 祝你一家人健康,快樂。 (zuk1 nei5 jat1 gaa1 jan4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6.)
Eric: "Wishing you and your family health and happiness."
POST
Eric: Listen again to 阿偉 (aa3 wai5)'s post.
Siuling: 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
Eric: "May you have a prosperous New Year! This year's fireworks are breathtaking!"
Siuling: (SLOW) 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!) (Regular) 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
Eric: Let's break this down. First is an expression meaning "May you have a prosperous New Year!"
Siuling: 恭喜發財! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! )
Eric: This greeting is used very frequently during the first two weeks of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is commonly celebrated with the family. The subways operate overnight on New Year's Eve so people can visit night markets without worrying about the time. Listen again "May you have a prosperous New Year!" is...
Siuling: (SLOW) 恭喜發財! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! ) (REGULAR) 恭喜發財! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! )
Eric: Then comes the phrase "This year's fireworks are breathtaking!"
Siuling: 今年煙花勁靚呀! (gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3 aa3! )
Eric: The annual Hong Kong Chinese New Year Fireworks are held at 8pm on the second day of the new lunar year, and they last around 30 minutes. Most people watch them at the harborfront, or rent a boat to get a perfect view from the harbor. Listen again. "This year's fireworks are breathtaking!" is...
Siuling: (SLOW) 今年煙花勁靚呀! (gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3 aa3!) (REGULAR) 今年煙花勁靚呀! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3 aa3!)
Eric: All together, "May you have a prosperous New Year! This year's fireworks are breathtaking!"
Siuling: 恭喜發財!今年煙花勁靚! (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4! gam1 nin4 jin1 faa1 ging6 leng3!)
COMMENTS
Eric: In response, 阿偉 (aa3 wai5)'s friends leave some comments.
Eric: His neighbor, Lisa姐 (LISA ze2), uses an expression meaning "Same to you! And the most important thing is to have good health!"
Siuling: (SLOW) 大家咁話!最緊要身體健康! (daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6! zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1!) (REGULAR) 大家咁話!最緊要身體健康! (daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6! zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1!)
[Pause]
Siuling: 大家咁話!最緊要身體健康! (daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6! zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1!)
Eric: Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted.
Eric: His supervisor, 陳業生 (can4 jip6 sang1), uses an expression meaning "Wishing you prosperity through the years!"
Siuling: (SLOW) 祝年年有餘! (zuk1 nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4!) (REGULAR) 祝年年有餘! (zuk1 nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4!)
[Pause]
Siuling: 祝年年有餘! (zuk1 nin4 nin4 jau5 jyu4!)
Eric: Use this expression to wish for success.
Eric: His college friend, 威仔 (wai1 zai2), uses an expression meaning "Red packets, please!" On the lunar New Year’s day, every married person prepares numerous red packets to give to their unmarried relatives and friends. These are small red or golden envelopes filled with money.
Siuling: (SLOW) 派利是! (paai3 lai6 si6!) (REGULAR) 派利是! (paai3 lai6 si6!)
[Pause]
Siuling: 派利是! (paai3 lai6 si6!)
Eric: Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous.
Eric: His high school friend, 小儀 (siu2 ji4), uses an expression meaning "Wishing you and your family health and happiness."
Siuling: (SLOW) 祝你一家人健康,快樂。 (zuk1 nei5 jat1 gaa1 jan4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6.) (REGULAR) 祝你一家人健康,快樂。 (zuk1 nei5 jat1 gaa1 jan4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6.)
[Pause]
Siuling: 祝你一家人健康,快樂。 (zuk1 nei5 jat1 gaa1 jan4 gin6 hong1, faai3 lok6.)
Eric: Use this expression to express good wishes.

Outro

Eric: Okay, that's all for this lesson. If a friend posted something about Chinese New Year, which phrase would you use? Leave us a comment letting us know. And we'll see you next time!
Siuling: 拜拜 (baai1 baai3)

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