Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Directions: Go Straight
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey Luna, ready for another Cantonese lesson? Luna: Yes. I've been practicing my weather phrases from last time. But today, I want to learn how to ask for directions. I got lost in Mong Kok last weekend and couldn't say 'go straight'. Lucas: Oh, that sounds frustrating. Well, today we're covering exactly that. Simple directions: go straight, turn left, turn right. By the end of this episode, you'd be able to find your way in Cantonese. Luna: Perfect. Let's start. Lucas: First phrase: 直行. This means 'go straight'. Let me say it slowly. 直行. Now at normal speed. 直行. Luna: 直行. 直行. Hmm, that's not too hard. It sounds like 'jik hang'. Lucas: Close. The 'jik' sound is a bit like 'jick' but with a high flat tone. And 'hang' like 'hung' but with a rising tone. Try again. Luna: 直行. 直行. Lucas: Yeah, that's it. Now, 'turn left' is 轉左. Say it with me. 轉左. Luna: 轉左. 轉左. That sounds like 'jyun zo'. Lucas: Right. 轉 means 'turn', 左 means 'left'. Together, 轉左. And 'turn right' is 轉右. 轉右. Luna: 轉右. 轉右. So 右 is 'right', like 'yau'? Wait, is that the same 'yau' as in 'have'? Lucas: Good question. 右 'right' is a different tone. The 'have' word 有 is a rising tone. 右 is a low falling tone. Let's practice: 轉右. Luna: 轉右. 轉右. Okay, I'll remember that. Lucas: Great. Now, to say something is 'in front', we say 喺前面. For example, 'the MTR station is in front' would be '地鐵站喺前面'. But let's just focus on 喺前面 for now. Luna: 喺前面. 喺前面. 'Hai chin min'. That's like 'hai' as in 'at' and 'chin min' as 'front face'. Lucas: Exactly. And one more: 過馬路 means 'cross the street'. 過馬路. Luna: 過馬路. That sounds like 'gwo maa lou'. 過 'cross', 馬路 'road'. Got it. Lucas: Good. Let's put them together in a little scenario. Imagine you're on Nathan Road and want to go to the park. Someone tells you: 直行, 然後轉左. That means 'go straight, then turn left'. Luna: 直行, 然後轉左. Go straight, then turn left. Okay. And if I need to cross the road? Lucas: Then they'd say 過馬路. So a full direction could be: 直行, 過馬路, 轉右. That means 'go straight, cross the street, turn right'. Luna: 直行, 過馬路, 轉右. I can say that. Let me try a whole sentence: 地鐵站喺前面, 直行, 轉左. 'The MTR station is in front, go straight, turn left.' Lucas: Perfect. You just gave directions. Let's practice those phrases again. Repeat after me: 直行. Luna: 直行. Lucas: 轉左. Luna: 轉左. Lucas: 轉右. Luna: 轉右. Lucas: 喺前面. Luna: 喺前面. Lucas: 過馬路. Luna: 過馬路. Lucas: You're getting it. Now, let's do a quick role play. I'll ask '點去地鐵站?' — 'How do I get to the MTR station?' You answer using our phrases. Luna: Okay. 點去地鐵站? Hmm. 地鐵站喺前面, 直行, 轉右. Lucas: Beautiful. You just gave a perfect direction. And if you're not sure, you can just say '唔知' — 'I don't know.' But you did great. Luna: Thanks. This is really useful. I feel like I could actually ask for directions now. Lucas: You definitely can. And if Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with your Cantonese, you might consider supporting us. If today's lesson was worth a coffee to you, that's the link — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It helps us keep making these episodes ad-free. Luna: Yeah, every little bit helps. And we love doing this. Now, back to our directions. Let's practice one more scenario. What if I'm at a crosswalk? Lucas: Good idea. You'd say '過馬路' before crossing. And if someone tells you '喺前面', you know it's ahead. So let's combine: 直行到街口, 過馬路, 然後轉左. That means 'go straight to the corner, cross the street, then turn left'. Luna: 直行到街口, 過馬路, 然後轉左. 街口 is 'street corner', right? Lucas: Yes. You're catching on fast. Let's review our five phrases one more time. I'll say each, you repeat. Luna: Okay. Lucas: 直行. Luna: 直行. Lucas: 轉左. Luna: 轉左. Lucas: 轉右. Luna: 轉右. Lucas: 喺前面. Luna: 喺前面. Lucas: 過馬路. Luna: 過馬路. Lucas: Awesome. You've got it. Next time you're in Hong Kong, try using these phrases. People will appreciate it. Luna: I will. Thanks Lucas. And thanks to our listeners for joining. Keep practicing these and you'll never get lost again. Well, maybe a little, but you can ask. Lucas: Exactly. That's all for today. See you next time on Learn Cantonese with Fexingo! Luna: Bye bye!