Learning Cantonese as a Foreigner

我叫Tom，係英國人。三年前搬咗嚟香港。

ngo5 giu3 Tom, hai6 jing1 gwok3 jan4. saam1 nin4 cin4 bun1 zo2 lai4 hoeng1 gong2.

My name is Tom, I am British. I moved to Hong Kong three years ago.

一開始完全聽唔明廣東話，連「唔該」同「多謝」都分唔到。

jat1 hoi1 ci2 jyun4 cyun4 teng1 m4 ming4 gwong2 dung1 waa2, lin4 m4 goi1 tung4 do1 ze6 dou1 fan1 m4 dou2.

At first I could not understand Cantonese at all. I could not even tell m4 goi1 and do1 ze6 apart.

我報咗間語言學校嘅課程，每個禮拜上兩堂。最難嘅係聲調——六個聲調簡直係噩夢。

ngo5 bou3 zo2 gaan1 jyu5 jin4 hok6 haau6 ge3 fo3 cing4, mui5 go3 lai5 baai3 soeng5 loeng5 tong4. zeoi3 naan4 ge3 hai6 sing1 diu6——luk6 go3 sing1 diu6 gaan2 zik6 hai6 ngok6 mung6.

I enrolled in a language school course, attending twice a week. The hardest part was the tones — six tones were a nightmare.

老師教我用歌曲嚟記聲調，真係有用。而家我可以用廣東話叫外賣、搭的士同同事傾偈。

lou5 si1 gaau3 ngo5 jung6 go1 kuk1 lai4 gei3 sing1 diu6, zan1 hai6 jau5 jung6. ji4 gaa1 ngo5 ho2 ji5 jung6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 giu3 ngoi6 maai6, daap3 dik1 si2 tung4 tung4 si6 king1 gai2.

My teacher taught me to use songs to remember tones, which really works. Now I can order takeaway, take taxis and chat with colleagues in Cantonese.

上個月喺茶餐廳用廣東話落單，老闆娘讚我講得好，嗰一刻我覺得呢三年嘅努力全部都值得。

soeng6 go3 jyut6 hai2 caa4 caan1 teng1 jung6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 lok6 daan1, lou5 baan2 noeng4 zaan3 ngo5 gong2 dak1 hou2, go2 jat1 hak1 ngo5 gok3 dak1 ni1 saam1 nin4 ge3 nou5 lik6 cyun4 bou6 dou1 zik6 dak1.

Last month when I ordered at a cha chaan teng in Cantonese, the owner praised my speaking. In that moment I felt three years of effort were all worth it.