baat3八daat6達tung1通
Octopus card
hai2喺hoeng1香gong2港daap6搭gong2港tit3鐵，nei5你jung6用baat3八daat6達tung1通paak3拍jat1一paak3拍zau6就dak1得。
To take the MTR in Hong Kong, you just tap your Octopus card and you're done.
Learn
Paying, cashless
Pay the Hong Kong way: tap, swipe, and cash.
Learn the Cantonese for Octopus card, To top up, To swipe a card, Cash, Receipt. This lesson gives you each word with a clear example and romanization, plus audio so you can hear exactly how it sounds.
What you'll learn
- Octopus card: 八達通 (baat3 daat6 tung1)
- To top up: 增值 (zang1 zik6)
- To swipe a card: 碌卡 (luk1 kaat1)
- Cash: 現金 (jin6 gam1)
- Receipt: 收據 (sau1 geoi3)
You can already run errands at a counter and post or exchange things. Now let's pay the Hong Kong way: tap an Octopus card, top it up, swipe a credit card, or hand over cash and ask for a receipt.
zang1增zik6值
To top up
ngo5我zoeng1張baat3八daat6達tung1通mou5冇saai3晒cin2錢，jiu3要zang1增zik6值。
My Octopus card has no money left, so I need to top it up.
luk1碌kaat1卡
To swipe a card
ni1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳m4唔sau1收baat3八daat6達tung1通，ho2可ji5以luk1碌kaat1卡。
This restaurant does not take Octopus, but you can swipe a card.
jin6現gam1金
Cash
nei1呢dou6度zing6淨hai6係sau1收jin6現gam1金。
This place only takes cash.
sau1收geoi3據
Receipt
go3個sau1收ngan2銀jyun4員bei2畀zo2咗zoeng1張sau1收geoi3據ngo5我。
The cashier gave me a receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Paying, cashless lesson free?
Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.
Which words does Paying, cashless teach in Cantonese?
This lesson covers Octopus card, To top up, To swipe a card, Cash, Receipt.
What romanization is used?
Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.
Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?
No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.