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Cantonese for travelling in Hong Kong

From calling your stop on a minibus to ordering at a cha chaan teng, the Cantonese that gets you around Hong Kong. Phrases, etiquette and the small details that make a trip feel less like a tour, plus a guide for anyone moving here for good.

A black-and-white cut-out of bamboo dim sum steamer baskets stacked into the shape of a Christmas tree, topped with a small hand-drawn red star, on cream paper.

Language

8 min read

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

A black-and-white cut-out of bamboo dim sum steamer baskets stacked into the shape of a Christmas tree, topped with a small hand-drawn red star, on cream paper.

Language

8 min read

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

A black-and-white cut-out of bamboo dim sum steamer baskets stacked into the shape of a Christmas tree, topped with a small hand-drawn red star, on cream paper.

Language

8 min read

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

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

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

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

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

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

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

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

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

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

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From the Journal

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

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

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

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

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

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

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

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

Merry Christmas in Cantonese: festive greetings and how Hong Kong celebrates

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

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

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