Courses › Breakthrough › Handling Problems
B1 · Lesson 5

Handling Problems

處理問題
What you will learn

Learn to deal with everyday problems in Cantonese — from complaining about a broken appliance to resolving a billing error. Build the language skills to explain issues, request help, and negotiate solutions.

Dialogue

Conversation

A
唔好意思，我想投訴一下。我間房嘅冷氣壞咗成兩日喇。
Excuse me, I would like to make a complaint. The air conditioning in my room has been broken for two whole days.
B
真係唔好意思，我而家即刻安排師傅嚟整。
I am really sorry, I will arrange for a technician to come fix it right away.
A
唔該你快啲處理，因為真係熱到瞓唔到覺。
Please handle it quickly, because it is so hot I cannot sleep.
B
明白，如果今日搞唔掂，我幫你換另一間房。
Understood, if we cannot fix it today, I will arrange another room for you.
A
仲有，我噚日叫嘅room service送錯咗餐，收多咗錢。
Also, the room service I ordered yesterday delivered the wrong meal and overcharged me.
B
我即刻幫你查返，如果真係搞錯咗，一定會退返畀你。
I will check for you right away, if there was indeed a mistake, we will definitely refund you.
A
好，希望可以盡快解決。唔係嘅話我要同你哋經理傾。
OK, I hope it can be resolved as soon as possible. Otherwise I will need to speak with your manager.
B
放心，我一定跟進到尾，唔會再出問題嘅。
Do not worry, I will follow up until it is resolved, there will not be any more problems.
Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

投訴
complain / make a complaint
壞咗
broken / out of order
處理
handle / deal with
安排
arrange
師傅
technician / skilled worker
解決
resolve / solve
退錢
refund
跟進
follow up
經理
manager
送錯
delivered wrongly
收多咗錢
overcharged
放心
rest assured / do not worry
Grammar

Language Patterns

adj + 到 + verb唔到 (so adj that cannot verb)

This resultative pattern expresses that something is SO much of an adjective that you cannot do a verb. 熱到瞓唔到 means "so hot that I cannot sleep". Very expressive.
嘈到聽唔到你講嘢。
cou4 dou3 teng1 m4 dou2 nei5 gong2 je5.
So noisy I cannot hear what you are saying.
攰到行唔到。
gui6 dou3 haang4 m4 dou2.
So tired I cannot walk.

如果 ... 搞唔掂，就 ... (if cannot fix, then...)

Builds on the 如果...就 conditional by adding 搞唔掂 (gaau2 m4 dim6) meaning "cannot sort it out". This pattern proposes a backup plan if the first solution fails.
如果整唔到，就買過部新嘅。
jyu4 gwo2 zing2 m4 dou2, zau6 maai5 gwo3 bou6 san1 ge3.
If it cannot be fixed, then buy a new one.
如果傾唔掂，就搵經理。
jyu4 gwo2 king1 m4 dim6, zau6 wan2 ging1 lei5.
If we cannot resolve it by talking, then find the manager.

唔係嘅話 (otherwise / if not)

唔係嘅話 (m4 hai6 ge3 waa2) means "otherwise" or "if not". Use it to present a consequence or escalation if the situation is not resolved.
你快啲做，唔係嘅話趕唔切。
nei5 faai3 di1 zou6, m4 hai6 ge3 waa2 gon2 m4 cit3.
Do it quickly, otherwise you will not make it in time.
畀返錢我，唔係嘅話我投訴。
bei2 faan1 cin2 ngo5, m4 hai6 ge3 waa2 ngo5 tau4 sou3.
Give me my money back, otherwise I will complain.

verb + 返 (verb back / restore)

Adding 返 (faan1) after a verb means to do the action "back" or to restore something. 退返 means "refund back", 查返 means "check back on". Different from adj+返 (return to state).
退返啲錢畀我。
teoi3 faan1 di1 cin2 bei2 ngo5.
Refund the money to me.
我幫你查返個紀錄。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 caa4 faan1 go3 gei3 luk6.
Let me check back on the record for you.
Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1
冷氣 ___ 咗成兩日喇。 (broken)
  • 壞
  • 爛
  • 錯
  • 差
Answer
壞
Translate · Question 2
It is so hot I cannot sleep.
Answer
熱到瞓唔到覺。
Choice · Question 3
What does 跟進 mean?
  • follow up
  • give up
  • complain
  • apologise
Answer
follow up
Fill_blank · Question 4
你快啲處理，___ 我要搵你哋經理。 (otherwise)
  • 唔係嘅話
  • 因為
  • 所以
  • 不過
Answer
唔係嘅話
Translate · Question 5
If it cannot be fixed today, please arrange another room.
Answer
如果今日搞唔掂，麻煩你安排另一間房。

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