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Making Plans

Ask a friend if they're free and arrange to meet

6words
20XP
7–12min
Practice this lesson

This final dialogue is about getting together. You will ask a friend if they are 得閒 (dak1 haan4), suggest they 出嚟 (ceot1 lai4) so you can 飲茶 (jam2 caa4) 一齊 (jat1 cai4), and lock in a time to 見面 (gin3 min6). It is the perfect way to learn Cantonese that leads straight back to using it with real people.

What you'll learn

  • Ask if someone is “free” with 得閒 (dak1 haan4)
  • Invite a friend to “come out”, 出嚟 (ceot1 lai4)
  • Suggest going “for dim sum” with 飲茶 (jam2 caa4)
  • Say “together” with 一齊 (jat1 cai4)
  • Arrange to “meet up” using 見面 (gin3 min6)

Make plans with a friend: ask if they're free and arrange where to meet.

dak1得haan4閒

free

nei5你ting1聽jat6日dak1得m4唔dak1得haan4閒aa3呀

Are you free tomorrow?

ceot1出lai4嚟

to come out

ting1聽jat6日ceot1出lai4嚟laa1啦

Come out tomorrow!

jam2飲caa4茶

to go for dim sum

ngo5我dei6哋heoi3去jam2飲caa4茶hou2好m4唔hou2好aa3呀

How about we go for dim sum?

jat1一cai4齊

together

ngo5我dei6哋jat1一cai4齊jam2飲caa4茶laa1啦

Let's go for dim sum together

gin3見min6面

to meet up

ngo5我dei6哋hai2喺gong2港tit3鐵zaam6站gin3見min6面laa1啦

Let's meet at the MTR station

wui5會

will, would

ngo5我ting1聽jat6日wui5會lai4嚟

I will come tomorrow

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask if someone is free in Cantonese?

Ask if they are 得閒 (dak1 haan4), “free”. It is the natural opener before you suggest meeting up or doing something together.

How do you invite a friend out in Cantonese?

Suggest they 出嚟 (ceot1 lai4), “come out”, and propose going 飲茶 (jam2 caa4), “for dim sum”, 一齊 (jat1 cai4), “together”.

How do you arrange to meet someone in Cantonese?

Use 見面 (gin3 min6), “to meet up”, once you have agreed on a time. This lesson shows how the whole plan comes together in conversation.