Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 請 / 请 | cing² | |
| 唔該 / 唔该 | m⁴ goi¹ | colloquial |
In Cantonese, 'please' is expressed differently depending on whether you are making a formal request or asking for a small favor in daily life. 請 / 请 is used for formal requests or when inviting someone to perform an action. 唔該 / 唔该 is used for small favors, such as asking someone to move aside and it can also function as 'thank you' once a small service has been performed for you.
Which one should you use?
請 / 请 is used for formal requests or invitations, such as 'please sit' or 'please enter'. In contrast, 唔該 / 唔该 is used for small requests in daily life, like asking for a glass of water. While English uses 'please' in many ways, 唔該 / 唔该 is often used as a standalone interjection to get someone's attention for a service, similar to 'excuse me'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
請 / 请 is the formal way to say 'please'. 唔該 / 唔该 is a colloquial term used in casual, everyday situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 請 / 请 to mean 'please (do something)', place it before a verb to form a polite command or request.
How do you pronounce it?
cing²
Did you know?
- 唔該 literally translates to 'not troublesome', reflecting a cultural desire to acknowledge that you are bothering the other person.
- The word 請 is also used to say that you are treating someone to a meal, meaning you will pay the bill.
- While 唔該 is used for services, Cantonese uses a completely different word, 多謝, to say 'thank you' for a physical gift or a compliment.
Examples in context
- 請問Excuse me/ May I ask?
- 請坐Please have a seat.
- 請慢走Please take care on your way.
- 我想麻煩你I'd like to ask a favor of you, please.
- 麻煩你帶我去這個地方Could you please show me the way to this place?
- 唔該幫我拎袋Please help me carry the bag.
- 唔該你等我一下Please wait for me a moment.
- 得閒傾下計啦，唔該If you have time, let's talk. Thanks!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
