唔該埋單
m4 goi1 maai4 daan1
The Cantonese phrase for "check please" is 唔該埋單 (m4 goi1 maai4 daan1).
唔該埋單 is used when you are ready to pay and want the waiter to bring the bill to your table.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 唔該 (please/excuse me), 埋 (to settle/to finish up) and 單 (bill/receipt).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
唔該埋單 is a polite way to request the bill and is the standard way to get a server's attention. For a more formal way to politely request the check, you can use 麻煩結賬. In more informal settings, you can simply say 埋單.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, people commonly use the phrase 埋單 to mean "Bill please."
How do you pronounce it?
m4 goi1 maai4 daan1
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, the fight to 埋單 is a common social ritual where friends compete to pay the entire bill to show generosity.
- In many traditional Cantonese restaurants, instead of calling out 唔該埋單, customers simply make a writing motion in the air with their index finger to signal the waiter.
- The phrase 埋單 can be used metaphorically in Cantonese to mean 'paying the price' or 'facing the consequences' for a mistake, similar to the English 'footing the bill'.
Examples in context
- 麻煩埋單，多謝Could I have the check, please? Thank you.
- 請分開帳單Separate bills, please.
- 唔該埋單。m4 goi1 maai4 daan1.Check, please.
- 小姐，唔該埋單。siu2 ze2, m4 goi1 maai4 daan1.Miss, check please.
- 我哋想走喇，唔該埋單。ngo5 dei6 soeng2 zau2 laa3, m4 goi1 maai4 daan1.We want to leave, check please.
Example conversation
At a dim sum restaurant.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting家明，你食飽未？gā míng, néih sihk báu meih?Ka Ming, are you full yet?
- 家明 Ka Ming食飽咗喇，好飽。sihk báu jó la, hóu báuI'm full, very full.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好，我去叫服務員唔該埋單。hóu, ngo heui giu fuk mou yún m gōi maai dāanOkay, I'll ask the waiter for the check please.
- 家明 Ka Ming好嘅，麻煩你喇。hóu ge, mà fahn néih laOkay, thanks for doing that.
