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Taking Transport

How to talk about using transport

8words
15XP
7–12min
Practice this lesson

Once you know the places, you need a way to say how you will reach them, and that is what this transport lesson delivers. The key word is 搭 (daap3), the verb for taking or riding, which you attach to the MTR, a bus, a taxi, or a tram. You will also learn to say you are walking, giving you a full set of ways to describe any journey.

What you'll learn

  • Use the verb 搭 (daap3) to say you are taking transport
  • Say “take the MTR” with 搭港鐵 (daap3 gong2 tit3)
  • Say “take the bus” with 搭巴士 (daap3 baa1 si2)
  • Catch a taxi using 搭的士 (daap3 dik1 si2)
  • Ride the tram with 搭電車 (daap3 din6 ce1)
  • Say you are walking with 行路 (haang4 lou6)

The verb “搭” means “to take” or “to ride”. Use it with all forms of transport!

daap6搭

to take / to ride

ngo5我gam1今jat6日daap6搭gong2港tit3鐵faan1返gung1工

I take the MTR to work today

daap6搭gong2港tit3鐵

take the MTR

daap6搭gong2港tit3鐵heoi3去zung1中waan4環hou2好faai3快

Taking the MTR to Central is very fast

daap6搭baa1巴si2士

take the bus

nei5你ho2可ji5以daap6搭baa1巴si2士heoi3去soeng1商coeng4場

You can take the bus to the mall

daap3搭dik1的si2士

take a taxi

hou2好jyun5遠，daap3搭dik1的si2士laa1啦

It's very far, let's take a taxi

daap6搭din6電ce1車

take the tram

daap6搭din6電ce1車hou2好peng4平，gei2幾man1蚊zau6就dak1得

Taking the tram is very cheap, just a few dollars

haang4行lou6路

to walk

hou2好gan6近，haang4行lou6路ng5五fan1分zung1鐘zau6就dou3到

It's very close, just a five minute walk

heoi3去

to go

ngo5我ting1聽jat6日heoi3去soeng1商coeng4場

I am going to the mall tomorrow

lai4嚟

to come

nei5你daap6搭baa1巴si2士lai4嚟laa1啦

Take the bus here!

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “take the bus” in Cantonese?

Say 搭巴士 (daap3 baa1 si2). The verb 搭 (daap3) means to take or ride, and you swap the second word to switch vehicles, as in 搭的士 (daap3 dik1 si2) for a taxi.

What does 搭 mean?

搭 (daap3) is the everyday verb for riding public transport. It works with trains, buses, taxis, and trams, so learning it once unlocks a whole set of phrases.

How do you say you are walking somewhere?

Use 行路 (haang4 lou6), which means to walk or go on foot. It is the natural choice when a place is close enough to skip transport altogether.