nei5你hou2好
Hello
nei5你hou2好，ngo5我giu3叫siu2小ming4明
Hello, my name is Siu Ming
Learn
Hello & Goodbye
Learn essential greetings
Greetings are the doorway into every conversation, and this lesson teaches the ones you will use most. You will learn to say a polite 你好 (nei5 hou2), wish someone 早晨 (zou2 san4) in the morning, and part ways with 再見 (zoi3 gin3) or a casual 拜拜 (baai1 baai3). By the end you will be able to start and end a friendly exchange in Cantonese without hesitating.
What you'll learn
- Greet anyone with “hello” using 你好 (nei5 hou2)
- Wish someone “good morning” with 早晨 (zou2 san4)
- Say a polite “goodbye” with 再見 (zoi3 gin3)
- Use the casual “bye bye” 拜拜 (baai1 baai3) with friends
- Ask “what's up?” naturally with 點呀 (dim2 aa3)
Cantonese is spoken by millions of people in their everyday lives, from markets to restaurants to homes. Let's start with the most essential greetings.
zou2早san4晨
Good morning
zou2早san4晨！gam1今jat6日tin1天hei3氣hou2好hou2好
Good morning! The weather is great today
zoi3再gin3見
Goodbye
hou2好hoi1開sam1心gin3見dou2到nei5你，zoi3再gin3見！
Great meeting you, goodbye!
baai1拜baai3拜
Bye bye (casual)
ting1聽jat6日gin3見，baai1拜baai3拜！
See you tomorrow, bye bye!
dim2點aa3呀
What's up? / How's it going?
wai3喂！dim2點aa3呀？hou2好noi6耐mou5冇gin3見
Hey! What's up? Long time no see
Frequently asked questions
How do you say hello in Cantonese?
Say 你好 (nei5 hou2). It is polite, friendly, and suitable for meeting almost anyone.
How do you say goodbye in Cantonese?
The standard goodbye is 再見 (zoi3 gin3). With friends, people often just say 拜拜 (baai1 baai3), which sounds like the English “bye bye.”
What does 早晨 mean?
早晨 (zou2 san4) means “good morning” and is a warm way to greet someone earlier in the day.
How do you casually ask what's up in Cantonese?
Use 點呀 (dim2 aa3), a relaxed way to ask “how's it going?” with people you already know.