Are you planning a trip to Hong Kong or Guangzhou and need to know how to say “appointment” in Cantonese? Look no further! In this guide, we will provide you with formal and informal ways to express this phrase, with relevant tips and examples to help you navigate your way through various situations.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Appointment
If you’re looking to convey a sense of professionalism or if you’re in a formal setting, these phrases will come in handy:
- 預約 (jeui coeng): This is the most common and direct translation for “appointment” in a professional context. For instance, if you need to set an appointment with a doctor, you can say “我想預約醫生” (ngo soeng yeui coeng ji sang), which means “I would like to make an appointment with the doctor.”
- 預約時間 (jeui coeng si gaan): To specifically mention the time of the appointment, you can add “時間” (si gaan) to the phrase. For example, “我想預約時間” (ngo soeng yeui coeng si gaan) means “I would like to make an appointment for a specific time.”
- 預定 (jeui ding): This word also means “appointment” and is often used in formal or business contexts. If you want to say “Can we schedule an appointment?” you would say “我們可以預定個時間嗎?” (ngo mun ho yi jeui ding go si gaan maa?).
Informal Ways to Say Appointment
When you’re in a more casual environment or conversing with friends and family, these phrases can be more appropriate:
- 約會 (joek wui): This term is primarily used to mean “appointment” in a social or romantic context. If you want to ask someone out or suggest meeting up, you can use this phrase. For example, “你想約會嗎?” (nei soeng joek wui maa?) translates to “Do you want to go out?”
- 約 (joek): To keep it even simpler and more casual, you can use only “約” (joek) to convey the idea of an appointment. For instance, if you’re arranging a casual catch-up with a friend, you can say “我地一齊去食飯啦，約嗎?” (ngo dei yat chai heui sik faan laa, joek maa?), which means “Let’s go eat together, are you free?”
Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you better understand the usage of these phrases:
- Be polite: Adding the word “請” (cing) which means “please” before mentioning the appointment, such as “請預約醫生” (cing jeui coeng ji sang), signifies politeness.
- Specify the purpose: To be more precise, mention the purpose of the appointment. For example, “我要預約美容院” (ngo yiu jeui coeng mei jung yun) means “I want to make an appointment at the beauty salon.”
- Useful phrases: Here are a few more practical phrases related to appointments:
– “我想取消預約” (ngo soeng ceot syun jeui coeng) means “I would like to cancel the appointment.”
– “你能否改期?” (nei nang fai goi kei?) translates to “Can you change the appointment?”
– “不好意思，我遲到了” (bat hou ji si, ngo ci dou liu) means “Sorry, I am late for our appointment.”
Remember, practice makes perfect! Familiarize yourself with these phrases and use them in context to enhance your Cantonese language skills.
Conclusion
In Cantonese, the word “appointment” can be expressed in various ways depending on the formality and context. Whether you’re setting up a professional meeting or arranging a casual outing, this guide has provided you with a combination of formal and informal phrases to help you effectively communicate your intentions.
Remember to be polite, specify the purpose, and utilize the additional tips and examples to enhance your understanding of these expressions. With a bit of practice and confidence, you’ll be proficient in discussing appointments in Cantonese in no time!
