Drinks: Learn Cantonese

Drinks are usually the first thing you order, so this lesson sets you up to ask for them clearly. You will learn the words for water, tea, coffee, and milk tea, and how to say you want something cold. After this you can order a drink the moment you sit down, whether it is a hot 茶 or a 凍 milk tea on a warm day.

What you'll learn

Ask for “water” using 水 (seoi2)
Order “tea” with 茶 (caa4)
Order “coffee” using 咖啡 (gaa3 fe1)
Say “milk tea” with 奶茶 (naai5 caa4)
Ask for a drink “iced” using 凍 (dung3)

Let's learn how to order drinks in Cantonese! Hong Kong is famous for its tea culture and unique drinks like milk tea.

seoi2水

water

m4唔goi1該，jat1一bui1杯seoi2水

Excuse me, a cup of water please

caa4茶

tea

jau5有mou5冇caa4茶？

Do you have tea?

gaa3咖fe1啡

coffee

m4唔goi1該，jat1一bui1杯gaa3咖fe1啡

Excuse me, one coffee please

naai5奶caa4茶

milk tea

m4唔goi1該，loeng5兩bui1杯naai5奶caa4茶

Excuse me, two milk teas please

dung3凍

iced / cold

m4唔goi1該，dung3凍naai5奶caa4茶

Excuse me, iced milk tea please

Frequently asked questions

How do you say milk tea in Cantonese?

Milk tea is 奶茶 (naai5 caa4). For the iced version that locals love, add 凍 (dung3) in front to get a cold milk tea.

How do you order an iced drink in Cantonese?

Put 凍 (dung3), meaning “cold” or “iced,” before the drink. So an iced coffee becomes 凍咖啡, using 咖啡 (gaa3 fe1).

What is the Cantonese word for tea?

Tea is simply 茶 (caa4). It is one of the most useful words to know, since tea comes with almost every meal.