gam1 maan5 daa2 lou5 fu2今晚打老虎
Jyutpinggam1 maan5 daa2 lou5 fu2
Yalegām máahn dá lóuh fú
Definition
A humorous Cantonese transliteration of the French phrase "Comment allez-vous?" meaning "How are you?".
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Originating from the Stephen Chow film Flirting Scholar, this phrase is a classic example of Cantonese punning where foreign sounds are mapped onto unrelated Chinese characters. It is strictly a cultural reference and joke rather than a functional greeting. Using it in a serious context will only cause confusion or laughter.
Examples
When you see a foreign friend, are you trying to say 'How are you'?
This phrase is purely for laughs, don't actually use it.
Related words
Common phrases
funny
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a genuine way to greet someone in French or Cantonese. It carries no actual meaning of 'how are you' outside of the specific movie joke.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
