Transport & Travel — Building Blocks

What you will learn

Navigate Hong Kong like a local! Learn to use the MTR, buses, minibuses, ferries, and taxis. Discuss travel plans, buy tickets, and handle common transport situations in Cantonese.

Name different types of transport in HK
Buy tickets and use an Octopus card
Ask about routes, stops, and travel times
Discuss travel plans and experiences

Dialogue

Conversation

A

我想去尖沙咀，搭咩車最快呀？

ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 zim1 saa1 zeoi2, daap3 me1 ce1 zeoi3 faai3 aa3?

I want to go to Tsim Sha Tsui, what transport is fastest?

B

搭港鐵最快，由呢度去大概二十分鐘。

daap3 gong2 tit3 zeoi3 faai3, jau4 ni1 dou6 heoi3 daai6 koi3 ji6 sap6 fan1 zung1.

The MTR is fastest, about twenty minutes from here.

A

喺邊度買飛呀？我冇八達通。

hai2 bin1 dou6 maai5 fei1 aa3? ngo5 mou5 baat3 daat6 tung1.

Where do I buy a ticket? I do not have an Octopus card.

B

嗰邊有售票機，你可以買單程飛。

go2 bin1 jau5 sau6 piu3 gei1, nei5 ho2 ji5 maai5 daan1 cing4 fei1.

There is a ticket machine over there, you can buy a single journey ticket.

A

要轉車嗎？

jiu3 zyun3 ce1 maa3?

Do I need to transfer?

B

要呀，你喺金鐘轉荃灣綫，坐兩個站就到。

jiu3 aa3, nei5 hai2 gam1 zung1 zyun3 cyun4 waan1 sin3, co5 loeng5 go3 zaam6 zau6 dou3.

Yes, transfer at Admiralty to the Tsuen Wan line, two stops and you are there.

A

最尾一班車幾點呀？

zeoi3 mei5 jat1 baan1 ce1 gei2 dim2 aa3?

What time is the last train?

B

大約十二點半，你有好多時間嘅。

daai6 joek3 sap6 ji6 dim2 bun3, nei5 jau5 hou2 do1 si4 gaan3 ge3.

Around twelve thirty, you have plenty of time.

Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

港鐵

gong2 tit3

MTR

巴士

baa1 si2

bus

小巴

siu2 baa1

minibus

的士

dik1 si2

taxi

渡輪

dou6 leon4

ferry

八達通

baat3 daat6 tung1

Octopus card

單程飛

daan1 cing4 fei1

single journey ticket

轉車

zyun3 ce1

transfer (vehicles)

落車

lok6 ce1

get off (vehicle)

上車

soeng5 ce1

get on (vehicle)

售票機

sau6 piu3 gei1

ticket machine

最尾一班

zeoi3 mei5 jat1 baan1

the last service/train

Grammar

Language Patterns

搭 + transport (taking transport)

搭 (daap3) is the verb for taking public transport. Use 搭 + the transport type. For taxis, you can also use 截 (zit6) meaning to hail.

搭巴士去機場。

daap3 baa1 si2 heoi3 gei1 coeng4.

Take the bus to the airport.

搭渡輪過海。

daap3 dou6 leon4 gwo3 hoi2.

Take the ferry across the harbour.

由 A 去 B (from A to B)

由 (jau4) means "from" when describing a route or journey. The pattern 由 A 去 B clearly describes origin and destination.

由中環去旺角要幾耐？

jau4 zung1 waan4 heoi3 wong6 gok3 jiu3 gei2 noi6?

How long from Central to Mong Kok?

由屋企去公司搭港鐵。

jau4 uk1 kei2 heoi3 gung1 si1 daap3 gong2 tit3.

From home to work I take the MTR.

坐 + number + 個站 (ride N stops)

Use 坐 (co5) + number + 個站 (go3 zaam6) to say how many stops to ride. 站 (zaam6) is the measure word for stops/stations.

坐三個站就到。

co5 saam1 go3 zaam6 zau6 dou3.

Three stops and you are there.

坐五個站喺太古落車。

co5 ng5 go3 zaam6 hai2 taai3 gu2 lok6 ce1.

Ride five stops and get off at Tai Koo.

最 + adj (superlative)

最 (zeoi3) before an adjective creates the superlative — "the most" or "-est". Very straightforward in Cantonese compared to English.

搭港鐵最快。

daap3 gong2 tit3 zeoi3 faai3.

Taking the MTR is the fastest.

呢條路最近。

ni1 tiu4 lou6 zeoi3 kan5.

This route is the shortest.

Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1

我想去機場，___ 咩車最快？ (take)

搭
坐
行
揸

Answer

搭

Translate · Question 2

Take the MTR from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Answer

由中環搭港鐵去尖沙咀。

Choice · Question 3

What is an Octopus card called in Cantonese?

八達通
單程飛
售票機
車飛

Answer

八達通

Fill_blank · Question 4

喺金鐘 ___ 荃灣綫。 (transfer to)

轉
搭
落
上

Answer

轉

Translate · Question 5

What time is the last ferry?

Answer

最尾一班渡輪幾點呀？

Navigate Hong Kong like a local! Learn to use the MTR, buses, minibuses, ferries, and taxis. Discuss travel plans, buy tickets, and handle common transport situations in Cantonese.

Conversation

Key Words & Phrases

Language Patterns

搭 + transport (taking transport)

由 A 去 B (from A to B)

坐 + number + 個站 (ride N stops)

最 + adj (superlative)

Test Your Knowledge

Finished this lesson?