你識唔識講廣東話？
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?
The English phrase "do you speak cantonese?" is translated into Cantonese as 你識唔識講廣東話？ (nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone has the ability to communicate in the Cantonese language.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 講 (gong2) is used specifically for the act of speaking or talking, whereas 識 (sik1) refers to the ability or knowledge of the language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the 'A-not-A' question pattern (識唔識), which is a common way in Cantonese to form a yes/no question by placing the negative form of the verb between the positive and negative versions. In this sentence, 講 (gong2) is the verb for the act of speaking.
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?
When do people say it?
When responding to this question, a common short affirmative response is simply 識 (sik1). A common short negative response to this question is 唔識 (m4 sik1).
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong, if you ask 你識唔識講廣東話？ to someone who is clearly local, it may be perceived as a joke or a sarcastic comment because it is so obvious they speak it.
- In Cantonese, the word 識 (sik1) used in this phrase also means 'to know a person' or 'to be acquainted with'. This links the ability to speak a language with the concept of knowing someone.
- The word 廣東話 (Cantonese) literally means 'Guangdong speech'. While it is the primary language of Hong Kong, it is named after the neighboring mainland province of Guangdong.
Examples in context
- 係，我講廣東話啊，hai6, ngo5 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2 aa3Yes, I speak Cantonese
- 唔係，我唔識講廣東話呀，m4 hai6, ngo5 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2 aa3No, I don't speak Cantonese
- 你識唔識講廣東話？nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?Do you speak Cantonese?
- 唔好意思，請問你識唔識講廣東話？m4 hou2 ji3 si1, cing2 man6 nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?Excuse me, may I ask if you speak Cantonese?
- 我想知你識唔識講廣東話？ngo5 soeng2 zi1 nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2?I want to know if you speak Cantonese.
Example conversation
Ka Ming meets Ka Yan for the first time at a party.
- 家明 Ka Ming你好，嘉欣。你識唔識講廣東話？nei5 hou2, gaa1 han1. nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 wa2?Hello, Ka Yan. Do you speak Cantonese?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan識，但我講得唔係好流利。sik1, daan6 ngo5 gong2 dak1 m4 hai6 hou2 lau4 lei6.I do, but I don't speak it very fluently.
- 家明 Ka Ming唔緊要，我哋可以用廣東話傾偈。m4 gan2 jiu3, ngo5 dei6 ho2 yi5 jung6 gwong2 dung1 wa2 king1 gai2.That's okay, we can chat in Cantonese.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好呀，唔該你。hou2 aa3, m4 goi1 nei5.Sure, thank you.
