你好，我叫
nei5 hou2 ngo5 giu3
The Cantonese phrase for "hello, my name is" is 你好，我叫 (nei5 hou2 ngo5 giu3).
你好，我叫 is a standard, polite way to introduce yourself in most social situations. It is used when meeting someone for the first time to provide your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nei5 hou2 (hello), ngo5 (I/me) and giu3 (to be called/named).
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 我叫 to introduce yourself, the verb giu3 (to be called) is followed directly by your name. You do not need to include a separate "to be" verb like "is" after the name.
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 hou2 ngo5 giu3
Did you know?
- In traditional Cantonese culture, people may introduce themselves by their surname first and their given name second, which is the reverse of the English order.
- In Cantonese, the verb giu3 literally means 'to be called' or 'to shout'. Using it to introduce yourself implies that this is the name people call out to get your attention.
- When meeting someone for the first time, a slight nod of the head often accompanies nei5 hou2 because a handshake is less common in traditional Cantonese circles than in the West.
Examples in context
- 你好，我叫小明。nei5 hou2, ngo5 giu3 siu2 ming4.Hello, my name is Siu Ming.
- 你好，我叫玲玲。nei5 hou2, ngo5 giu3 ling4 ling4.Hello, my name is Ling Ling.
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a networking event.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你好，我叫雅婷。nei5 hou2, ngo5 giu3 ngaa5 ting4.Hello, my name is Ya Ting.
- 志強 Chi Keung你好，雅婷。我叫志強。nei5 hou2, ngaa5 ting4. ngo5 giu3 zi3 koeng4.Hello, Ya Ting. My name is Zhi Qiang.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好高興認識你，志強。hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5, zi3 koeng4.Nice to meet you, Zhi Qiang.
- 志強 Chi Keung我都係，好高興認識你。ngo5 dou1 si6, hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5.Me too, nice to meet you.
