Giving Directions — Building Blocks

What you will learn

Learn how to ask for and give directions in Cantonese. Navigate the streets of Hong Kong with confidence using location words, directional phrases, and landmark references.

Ask for directions politely
Use directional words (左、右、前、後)
Describe locations using landmarks
Understand common direction-giving patterns

Dialogue

Conversation

A

唔該，請問港鐵站喺邊度呀？

m4 goi1, cing2 man6 gong2 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3?

Excuse me, where is the MTR station?

B

你行前面嗰條街，然後轉左。

nei5 haang4 cin4 min6 go2 tiu4 gaai1, jin4 hau6 zyun3 zo2.

Walk along that street ahead, then turn left.

A

轉左之後要行幾耐呀？

zyun3 zo2 zi1 hau6 jiu3 haang4 gei2 noi6 aa3?

After turning left, how long do I need to walk?

B

大概五分鐘，你會見到一間便利店。

daai6 koi3 ng5 fan1 zung1, nei5 wui5 gin3 dou2 jat1 gaan1 bin6 lei6 dim3.

About five minutes, you will see a convenience store.

A

港鐵站係咪喺便利店隔離？

gong2 tit3 zaam6 hai6 mai6 hai2 bin6 lei6 dim3 gaak3 lei4?

Is the MTR station next to the convenience store?

B

唔係，過咗便利店之後直行，喺你右手邊。

m4 hai6, gwo3 zo2 bin6 lei6 dim3 zi1 hau6 zik6 haang4, hai2 nei5 jau6 sau2 bin1.

No, after passing the convenience store keep going straight, it is on your right side.

A

即係過咗紅綠燈嗰度？

zik1 hai6 gwo3 zo2 hung4 luk6 dang1 go2 dou6?

You mean past the traffic lights?

B

啱啱好，過咗紅綠燈就到㗎啦。

ngaam1 ngaam1 hou2, gwo3 zo2 hung4 luk6 dang1 zau6 dou3 gaa3 laa3.

Exactly, once you pass the traffic lights you are there.

Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

轉左

zyun3 zo2

turn left

轉右

zyun3 jau6

turn right

直行

zik6 haang4

go straight

前面

cin4 min6

ahead / in front

後面

hau6 min6

behind

隔離

gaak3 lei4

next to / beside

對面

deoi3 min6

opposite / across

紅綠燈

hung4 luk6 dang1

traffic lights

路口

lou6 hau2

intersection

右手邊

jau6 sau2 bin1

right-hand side

左手邊

zo2 sau2 bin1

left-hand side

大概

daai6 koi3

approximately

Grammar

Language Patterns

喺 + place + 邊度 (asking where)

Use 喺邊度 (hai2 bin1 dou6) to ask where something is located. Place the subject before 喺邊度.

港鐵站喺邊度？

gong2 tit3 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6?

Where is the MTR station?

洗手間喺邊度？

sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6?

Where is the restroom?

verb + 咗 ... 之後 (after doing)

Use verb+咗 followed by 之後 (zi1 hau6) to express "after doing something". This sequencing pattern is essential for giving step-by-step directions.

轉咗左之後直行。

zyun3 zo2 zo2 zi1 hau6 zik6 haang4.

After turning left, go straight.

過咗紅綠燈之後就到。

gwo3 zo2 hung4 luk6 dang1 zi1 hau6 zau6 dou3.

After passing the traffic lights you are there.

係咪 ... ？ (confirmation questions)

Use 係咪 (hai6 mai6) at the start or middle of a sentence to ask for confirmation, similar to "Is it...?" or "right?". Very natural in spoken Cantonese.

係咪喺隔離？

hai6 mai6 hai2 gaak3 lei4?

Is it next door?

你係咪行緊嗰邊？

nei5 hai6 mai6 haang4 gan2 go2 bin1?

Are you walking that way?

即係 (meaning / that is to say)

即係 (zik1 hai6) is used to clarify or rephrase, similar to "you mean" or "so basically". Very common in conversational Cantonese.

即係過咗嗰間鋪頭？

zik1 hai6 gwo3 zo2 go2 gaan1 pou3 tau4?

You mean past that shop?

即係行五分鐘就到？

zik1 hai6 haang4 ng5 fan1 zung1 zau6 dou3?

So basically walk five minutes and I am there?

Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1

港鐵站喺 ___ 呀？ (where)

邊度
幾時
點解
幾多

Answer

邊度

Translate · Question 2

Turn left then go straight.

Answer

轉左然後直行。

Choice · Question 3

Which means "next to"?

對面
隔離
後面
前面

Answer

隔離

Fill_blank · Question 4

過咗便利店 ___ 就到。 (after that)

之前
之後
然後
跟住

Answer

之後

Translate · Question 5

Is the restaurant opposite the MTR station?

Answer

餐廳係咪喺港鐵站對面？

Learn how to ask for and give directions in Cantonese. Navigate the streets of Hong Kong with confidence using location words, directional phrases, and landmark references.

Conversation

Key Words & Phrases

Language Patterns

喺 + place + 邊度 (asking where)

verb + 咗 ... 之後 (after doing)

係咪 ... ？ (confirmation questions)

即係 (meaning / that is to say)

Test Your Knowledge

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