Ordering: Learn Cantonese

This lesson gives you the phrases that get your order across, no matter what you are eating. You will learn how to say you want or don't want something, how to ask someone to give you a dish, and the polite “I would like.” Combine these with the food words you already know and you can order anything on the table with confidence.

What you'll learn

Be polite when ordering with 唔該 (m4 goi1)
Say you “want” something using 要 (jiu3)
Say you “don't want” it with 唔要 (m4 jiu3)
Ask someone to “give me” using 俾我 (bei2 ngo5)
Say “I would like” with 我想要 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3)

Now let's learn how to order! These phrases will help you get exactly what you want at a dim sum restaurant.

m4唔goi1該

please / excuse me

m4唔goi1該，jau5有mou5冇naai5奶caa4茶？

Excuse me, do you have milk tea?

jiu3要

want

ngo5我jiu3要dung3凍naai5奶caa4茶

I want iced milk tea

m4唔jiu3要

don't want

m4唔jiu3要gaa3咖fe1啡，jiu3要caa4茶

I don't want coffee, I want tea

bei2畀ngo5我

give me

m4唔goi1該，bei2畀ngo5我haa1蝦gaau2餃

Please give me shrimp dumplings

ngo5我soeng2想jiu3要

I would like

ngo5我soeng2想jiu3要caa1叉siu1燒baau1包tung4同daan6蛋taat1撻

I would like BBQ pork buns and egg tarts

soeng2想

to want to

ngo5我soeng2想sik6食dim2點sam1心

I want to eat dim sum

bei2畀

to give

m4唔goi1該，bei2畀ngo5我jat1一bui1杯seoi2水

Please give me a cup of water

Frequently asked questions

How do you say I want in Cantonese?

Use 要 (jiu3) for a direct “want,” or the softer 我想要 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3) for “I would like.” Both work well when ordering food.

How do you politely order food in Cantonese?

Add 唔該 (m4 goi1) to your request, which works as “please” or “excuse me.” For example, you can say the dish you want followed by 唔該 to sound polite.

How do you say you don't want something in Cantonese?

Say 唔要 (m4 jiu3), the negative of 要 (jiu3). It is the simple way to decline a dish or refill.