Cantonese Basic Phrase: How Are You?

Learning a new language can be an exciting journey, and learning Chinese is even more exciting because it opens you up to over 5000 years of history and culture. Whether you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong, connecting with Cantonese-speaking friends, or simply expanding your linguistic horizons, mastering the Cantonese basics such as “How are you” is a great place to start. We have put together several articles about how to greet in Canton. In this blog post, you will learn one of the most important phrases in Canton. Let’s go.

“How are you?” in Cantonese is 你好嗎 nei5 hou2 maa3

“How are you?” 你好嗎 nei5 hou2 maa3

One of the most fundamental and friendly phrases you can learn is “How are you?” In Cantonese, this is expressed as 你好嗎? (nei5 hou2 maa3). This simple greeting can open doors to deeper conversations and connections. This is also suitable for formal situations such as job interviews and in professional settings.

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese

“Hey, what’s up?” 喂 點呀 wai3 dim2 aa3  

When asking someone how they are in Cantonese, you don’t always need to say 你好嗎 (nei5 hou2 maa3). Whether you’re chatting with your best friend or a family member, you can use a more informal approach. In a less formal situation, people will say “What’s up?” 點呀 dim2 aa3.

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese

Other ways to ask “How Are Things” in Cantonese

Like other languages, in Chinese, there are many different ways to ask people how they are. Here are some other common phrases to ask “How are you doing?” in Canton, along with their meanings and pronunciations:

“How Are You Today?” 你今日點呀 nei5 gam1 jat6 dim2 aa3?

If you want to sound more like a native, you can also try this phrase, it is more casual and it sounds very person, it sounds like you actually care about the person rather than making a quick greeting.

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese. This phrase directly translates to “You today how are?”

“How is your work today” 你今日工作點呀 nei5 gam1 jat6 gung1 zok3 dim2 aa3?

At the end of a work day, you can ask about how one’s work day.

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese. This phrase means “You today work how is it?”

“How is your week?” 你呢個星期過得點呀? nei5 ni1 go3 sing1 kei4 gwo3 dak1 dim2 aa3?

So, it’s finally Friday, you will normally ask people how is their week so far. In Cantonese we often use this phrase to ask “How is your week?”

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese. This phrase translates directly to “You this week spent how?”

Conclusion

Whether this is the beginning of your Cantonese learning journey or you are just simply curious about the language, these phrases can help you engage in more varied and meaningful conversations in the local lanuage. Learning how to greet someone in Cantonese is a fantastic first step in your language journey. By mastering phrases like “你好嗎” (nei5 hou2 maa3) for “How are you” and “你今日點呀?” (nei5 gam1 jat6 dim2 aa3) for “How are you today?”, you’re not only showing respect for the culture but also opening doors to deeper connections with Cantonese speakers. Keep practicing these greetings, and soon you’ll find yourself more confident and ready to explore even more of this vibrant language. Happy learning and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram. My name is Nick and I have been working as a language instructor for over 10 years.