3 minute read

## 🗺️ Getting Around Hong Kong: Essential Cantonese for Navigation

Navigating Hong Kong and asking for directions in Cantonese? Here’s your essential guide! 🇭🇰

🎯 How to Ask for Directions

Starting the conversation:

  • 你好請問 (nei5 hou2 cing2 man6) - “Hello, excuse me, may I ask…”
  • 阻你一陣 (zo2 nei5 jat1 zan6) - “Sorry to bother you for a moment”
  • 打搞晒 (daa2 gaau2 saai3) - “Sorry for the trouble”

Key questions:

  • [地點]點去啊? - “How do I get to [location]?”
  • 我可以點去啊? (ngo5 ho2 ji5 dim2 heoi3 aa3) - “How can I get there?”

👥 Who to Address

  • 先生 (sin1 saang1) - Sir/Mr.
  • 小姐 (siu2 ze1) - Miss/Ms.
  • 伯伯 (baak3 baak3) - Uncle (older man)
  • 阿姐 (aa3 ze1) - Sister (woman)

🚇 Key Locations in Hong Kong

Popular destinations:

  • 灣仔站 (waan1 zai2 zaam6) - Wan Chai Station 🚇
  • 尖沙咀 (zim1 saa1 zeoi2) - Tsim Sha Tsui
  • 尖沙咀星光大道 - Tsim Sha Tsui Avenue of Stars ⭐
  • 中環 (zung1 waan4) - Central
  • 中環蘭桂坊 - Central Lan Kwai Fong 🍻
  • 銅鑼灣 (tung4 lo4 waan4) - Causeway Bay
  • 時代廣場 (si4 doi6 gwong2 coeng4) - Times Square 🛍️
  • 旺角 (wong6 gok3) - Mong Kok
  • 旺角女人街 - Mong Kok Ladies’ Market 👗
  • 通菜街 (tung1 coi3 gaai1) - Tung Choi Street

🛣️ Navigation Terms

Road features:

  • 路口 (lou6 hau2) - Road intersection
  • 十字路口 (sap6 zi6 lou6 hau2) - Cross intersection ➕
  • 天橋 (tin1 kiu4) - Pedestrian bridge/overpass 🌉
  • 巴士站 (baa1 si2 zaam6) - Bus station 🚌

Directions:

  • 向前行 (hoeng3 cin4 haang4) - Go forward ⬆️
  • 向後行 (hoeng3 hau6 haang4) - Go backward ⬇️
  • 轉左邊 (zyun3 zo2 bin1) - Turn left ⬅️
  • 轉右邊 (zyun3 jau6 bin1) - Turn right ➡️
  • 直行 (zik6 haang4) - Go straight ⬆️
  • 行到對面 (haang4 dou3 deoi3 min6) - Walk to the opposite side
  • 轉頭 (zyun3 tau4) - Turn around/turn back 🔄
  • 掉頭 (diu6 tau4) - Make a U-turn (for vehicles) 🚗

📏 Distance & Time

  • 路程 (lou6 cing4) - Distance/journey
  • 行一陣 (haang4 jat1 zan6) - Walk for a while
  • 大概 (daai6 koi3) - Approximately
  • 至少 (zi3 siu2) - At least
  • 幾遠 (gei2 jyun5) - How far
  • 兩分鐘 (loeng5 fan1 zung1) - Two minutes ⏰

🏪 Useful Landmarks

  • 七仔 (cat1 zai2) - 7-Eleven 🏪
  • 百佳 (baak3 gaai1) - PARKnSHOP 🛒
  • M記 (M gei3) - McDonald’s 🍟
  • 油站 (jau4 zaam6) - Gas station ⛽
  • 扶手電梯 (fu4 sau2 din6 tai1) - Escalator
  • 惠康 (wai6 hong1) - Wellcome supermarket 🛍️
  • 萬寧 (maan6 ning4) - Mannings pharmacy 💊
  • 屈臣氏 (wat1 san4 si6) - Watsons 🧴
  • 大家樂 (daai6 gaa1 lok6) - Café de Coral 🍽️
  • 茶餐廳 (caa4 caan1 teng1) - Cha chaan teng (tea restaurant) ☕
  • 銀行 (ngan4 hong4) - Bank 🏦
  • 郵局 (jau4 guk6) - Post office 📮
  • 巴士站 (baa1 si2 zaam6) - Bus stop 🚌
  • 港鐵站 (gong2 tit3 zaam6) - MTR station 🚇
  • 的士站 (dik1 si2 zaam6) - Taxi stand 🚕
  • 停車場 (ting4 ce1 coeng4) - Parking lot 🅿️
  • 商場 (soeng1 coeng4) - Shopping mall 🛒
  • 酒店 (zau2 dim3) - Hotel 🏨
  • 醫院 (ji1 jyun2) - Hospital 🏥
  • 學校 (hok6 haau6) - School 🏫
  • 公園 (gung1 jyun2) - Park 🌳
  • 圖書館 (tou4 syu1 gun2) - Library 📚
  • 街市 (gaai1 si5) - Market/wet market 🐟
  • 茶樓 (caa4 lau4) - Tea house/dim sum restaurant 🥟
  • 藥房 (joek6 fong4) - Pharmacy 💉

💬 Sample Direction Conversation

你好請問,灣仔站點去啊? “Hello, excuse me, how do I get to Wan Chai Station?”

你係地鐵站出去轉左邊,見到路口直行,跟住有第二個路口轉右邊。左邊有七仔,直行差唔多兩分鐘就會到啦! “From the MTR station, exit and turn left, when you see the intersection go straight, then at the second intersection turn right. There’s a 7-Eleven on the left, walk straight for about two minutes and you’ll arrive!”

🎉 Pro Tips

  1. Always start with 你好請問 to be polite! 😊
  2. Use 打搞晒 to apologize for any inconvenience
  3. Look for landmarks like 七仔 or 百佳 - they’re everywhere!
  4. 大概 (approximately) is your friend when asking about time/distance