wan2 wai2搵位揾位
Jyutpingwan2 wai2
Yalewán wái
Definition
To find a seat or a table, especially at a restaurant.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
This phrase is essential for navigating busy Hong Kong dining spots where you often need to secure a table before ordering. It is frequently used in the context of cha chaan teng or dim sum restaurants where customers are expected to be proactive. While it literally means to find a position, it is almost exclusively used for finding physical seating in public spaces.
Examples
It is crowded here, you help find a seat first.
We went to the dim sum restaurant, it took a long time to find a table.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin phrase 找位置, which is understood but sounds unnatural in a local Cantonese context. Also, ensure you use the verb 搵 rather than 尋, as 尋 is far too formal and literary for daily conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
