Skip to content

The Cantoflow journal

Plain-English guides to Cantonese and the city that speaks it. The phrases Hong Kongers actually use, how the six tones work, what to say at yum cha and how to get off a minibus without a fuss. Every phrase comes with Jyutping, so you can say it out loud, not just read it.

A black-and-white cut-out of a rooster rice bowl broken into three pieces and held together with small cream cross-stitches, on red paper.

Language

6 min read

Sorry in Cantonese: how to apologise and say excuse me in Hong Kong

How to say sorry and excuse me in Cantonese: 對唔住, 唔好意思, 唔該 and 借借, when to use each, and how Hong Kongers reply to an apology.

29 Oct 2026

A black-and-white cut-out of a rooster rice bowl broken into three pieces and held together with small cream cross-stitches, on red paper.

Language

6 min read

Sorry in Cantonese: how to apologise and say excuse me in Hong Kong

How to say sorry and excuse me in Cantonese: 對唔住, 唔好意思, 唔該 and 借借, when to use each, and how Hong Kongers reply to an apology.

29 Oct 2026

A black-and-white cut-out of a rooster rice bowl broken into three pieces and held together with small cream cross-stitches, on red paper.

Language

6 min read

Sorry in Cantonese: how to apologise and say excuse me in Hong Kong

How to say sorry and excuse me in Cantonese: 對唔住, 唔好意思, 唔該 and 借借, when to use each, and how Hong Kongers reply to an apology.

29 Oct 2026

A black-and-white cut-out of two pairs of hands in suit sleeves passing a business card, each person holding it with both hands, on red paper.

Work

12 min read

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

A black-and-white cut-out of two pairs of hands in suit sleeves passing a business card, each person holding it with both hands, on red paper.

Work

12 min read

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

A black-and-white cut-out of two pairs of hands in suit sleeves passing a business card, each person holding it with both hands, on red paper.

Work

12 min read

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

A black-and-white cut-out of an elderly Hong Kong grandmother using red chopsticks to put food into the rice bowl of her grandchild's partner, who holds the bowl in both hands, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

12 min read

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

A black-and-white cut-out of an elderly Hong Kong grandmother using red chopsticks to put food into the rice bowl of her grandchild's partner, who holds the bowl in both hands, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

12 min read

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

A black-and-white cut-out of an elderly Hong Kong grandmother using red chopsticks to put food into the rice bowl of her grandchild's partner, who holds the bowl in both hands, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

12 min read

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

Language

Language

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman cupping a hand to her ear as she listens closely, on cream paper.

Language

11 min read

How to choose a Cantonese tutor: what to look for and what it costs

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman cupping a hand to her ear as she listens closely, on cream paper.

Language

11 min read

How to choose a Cantonese tutor: what to look for and what it costs

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman cupping a hand to her ear as she listens closely, on cream paper.

Language

11 min read

How to choose a Cantonese tutor: what to look for and what it costs

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

Cantonese expressions and idioms: funny sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Cantonese expressions and idioms: funny sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Numbers in Cantonese: counting, prices and paying like a Hong Konger

Numbers in Cantonese: counting, prices and paying like a Hong Konger

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

Travel

Travel

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman laughing as she leans out of a taxi’s back window, her long hair blowing in the wind, on red paper.

Travel

8 min read

Taking a taxi in Hong Kong: the Cantonese you actually need

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman laughing as she leans out of a taxi’s back window, her long hair blowing in the wind, on red paper.

Travel

8 min read

Taking a taxi in Hong Kong: the Cantonese you actually need

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman laughing as she leans out of a taxi’s back window, her long hair blowing in the wind, on red paper.

Travel

Taking a taxi in Hong Kong: the Cantonese you actually need

Family & heritage

Family & heritage

A black-and-white cut-out of a toddler reaching up with both arms towards a parent's hands reaching down, on red paper.

Family & heritage

9 min read

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

A black-and-white cut-out of a toddler reaching up with both arms towards a parent's hands reaching down, on red paper.

Family & heritage

9 min read

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

A black-and-white cut-out of a toddler reaching up with both arms towards a parent's hands reaching down, on red paper.

Family & heritage

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

Work

Work

A black-and-white cut-out of a man with a takeaway coffee waving hello to a smiling colleague in a blazer, on cream paper.

Work

8 min read

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

A black-and-white cut-out of a man with a takeaway coffee waving hello to a smiling colleague in a blazer, on cream paper.

Work

8 min read

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

A black-and-white cut-out of a man with a takeaway coffee waving hello to a smiling colleague in a blazer, on cream paper.

Work

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

Illustration of a gold lucky cat, with the Cantoflow logo displayed on its coin

Quick links

Home

Learning pathways

Workshops

Book lessons

Contact us

Learning pathways

Complete Cantonese

Survival Cantonese

Business Cantonese

All learning pathways

From the Journal

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

How to keep your child speaking Cantonese abroad

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy

Quick links

Home

Learning pathways

Workshops

Book lessons

Contact us

Learning pathways

Complete Cantonese

Survival Cantonese

Business Cantonese

All learning pathways

From the Journal

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

How to keep your child speaking Cantonese abroad

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy

Quick links

Home

Learning pathways

Workshops

Book lessons

Contact us

Learning pathways

Complete Cantonese

Survival Cantonese

Business Cantonese

All learning pathways

From the Journal

Business Cantonese: what it is, who it’s for and how to learn it

Learning Cantonese for your partner’s family: where to start

Cantonese phrases for parents: from breakfast to bedtime

How to keep your child speaking Cantonese abroad

Do you need to speak Cantonese to work in Hong Kong?

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy