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B1 · Lesson 9

Cantonese Slang I

俚語（一）
What you will learn

Unlock the colourful world of Cantonese slang. These expressions are used every day by native speakers but rarely appear in textbooks. Master them to sound natural and understand casual conversations, TV shows, and social media.

Dialogue

Conversation

A
你尋日去咗嗰間新餐廳點呀？
How was that new restaurant you went to yesterday?
B
正到飛起！啲嘢食真係好掂。
Absolutely amazing! The food was really great.
A
係咩？我成日都想去試，但係怕伏。
Really? I have been wanting to try it, but I am afraid it will be a letdown.
B
唔會㗎，我包你冇蝕底。不過服務就麻麻地。
No way, I guarantee you won not lose out. But the service is so-so.
A
即係點呀？係咪嗰啲好串嘅侍應？
What do you mean? Are the waiters rude?
B
都唔係串，淨係好hea，叫咗嘢等好耐先嚟。
Not rude exactly, just really slack. Ordered and waited ages for it to come.
A
算啦，最緊要嘢食正。我今個weekend約埋你去啦！
Never mind, the most important thing is the food is great. I will invite you to go this weekend!
B
好呀！你記得book定位，唔係嘅話實食閉門羹。嗰度成日爆場。
Sure! Remember to book a table, otherwise you will definitely be turned away. That place is always packed.
Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

正
awesome / great (slang)
掂
great / sorted (slang)
伏
a letdown / hidden trap (slang)
蝕底
lose out / get a bad deal
麻麻地
so-so / mediocre
串
rude / arrogant (slang)
hea
lazy / slack / chilling
算啦
forget it / never mind
爆場
fully packed / sold out
閉門羹
turned away / rejected
約埋
invite along / arrange together
正到飛起
incredibly awesome
Grammar

Language Patterns

adj + 到飛起 (extremely adj)

Adding 到飛起 (dou3 fei1 hei2) after an adjective is a vivid slang intensifier meaning "so X it flies". Only used in casual speech. Can be positive or negative.
平到飛起！
peng4 dou3 fei1 hei2!
Incredibly cheap!
忙到飛起。
mong4 dou3 fei1 hei2.
Insanely busy.

我包你 ... (I guarantee you)

我包你 (ngo5 baau1 nei5) means "I guarantee you" or "I promise you". Very colloquial and confident. Used to reassure someone about an outcome.
我包你好食。
ngo5 baau1 nei5 hou2 sik6.
I guarantee it is delicious.
我包你唔會後悔。
ngo5 baau1 nei5 m4 wui5 hau6 fui3.
I guarantee you will not regret it.

實 + verb (definitely will)

實 (sat6) before a verb means "definitely" or "for sure". Stronger than 一定, more slangy. Common in warnings and predictions.
你唔去實後悔。
nei5 m4 heoi3 sat6 hau6 fui3.
If you do not go you will definitely regret it.
咁做實出事。
gam2 zou6 sat6 ceot1 si6.
Doing it that way will definitely cause trouble.

最緊要 (the most important thing is)

最緊要 (zeoi3 gan2 jiu3) means "the most important thing is" or "what matters most is". Very common in everyday speech to prioritise what counts.
最緊要開心。
zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 hoi1 sam1.
The most important thing is to be happy.
最緊要身體健康。
zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 san1 tai2 gin6 hong1.
Health is what matters most.
Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1
嗰間餐廳 ___ 到飛起！ (awesome)
  • 正
  • 掂
  • 伏
  • 串
Answer
正
Translate · Question 2
I guarantee you will not lose out.
Answer
我包你冇蝕底。
Choice · Question 3
If something is a 伏, it is...
  • a hidden letdown or trap
  • an amazing deal
  • very expensive
  • very funny
Answer
a hidden letdown or trap
Fill_blank · Question 4
唔book位 ___ 食閉門羹。 (definitely will)
  • 實
  • 都
  • 就
  • 先
Answer
實
Translate · Question 5
The service was so-so, but the food was great.
Answer
服務麻麻地，但係嘢食好正。

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