baa1 si2巴士

Jyutpingbaa1 si2

Yalebā sí

名詞Very common

Definition

Bus; a large public transport road vehicle operating on a fixed route.

ngo5我daap3搭baa1巴si2士heoi3去hok6學haau6校。

ngo5我daap3搭baa1巴si2士heoi3去hok6学haau6校。

I take the bus to school.

colloquialtransport

How it's used

Pronounced with a distinct Cantonese accent, this loanword is the standard way to refer to buses in daily life. While written Chinese might use 公共汽車, that term sounds overly formal or academic in a Hong Kong context. Most locals prefer using the classifier 架 when counting buses, though 部 is also acceptable.

Measure word

gaa3架ga

Examples

ngo5我gam1今jat6日daap6搭baa1巴si2士faan1返gung1工aa4呀。

I am taking the bus to work today.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知bin1邊gaa3架baa1巴si2士heoi3去zim1尖saa1沙zeoi2咀㗎？

Do you know which bus goes to Tsim Sha Tsui?

Common phrases

soeng1雙cang4層baa1巴si2士

double-decker bus

baa1巴si2士zaam6站

bus stop

daap6搭baa1巴si2士

to take the bus

Common mistake

Avoid using the Mandarin term 公交, which is not used in Hong Kong and will sound unnatural to locals. Additionally, remember that while the word is an English loan, the pronunciation is adapted to Cantonese phonology, so avoid using an English accent when saying it.