Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Paying the Bill in Cantonese
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo, episode 196. Luna, we just had a great meal at the cinema last episode? Luna: Not exactly a meal, but popcorn and soda. Today I want to go to a real restaurant. Lucas: Perfect. So we just finished eating. What do we need to do now? Luna: Um, pay the bill? Lucas: Exactly. In Cantonese, to pay the bill is 埋單. Say it with me: 埋單. Luna: 埋單. Lucas: Good. 埋單 is a noun meaning the bill, but also used as a verb phrase meaning to settle the check. So you can say 請埋單, which means 'please bring the bill'. Luna: 請埋單. That sounds polite. Lucas: It is. And if you want to ask 'can I have the bill?' you say 可唔可以埋單. Luna: 可唔可以埋單. That's a full question. Lucas: Yes. Let's practice. Imagine we're at a restaurant. I'm the waiter. You say 請埋單. Luna: 請埋單. Lucas: Here's your bill. Now what if you want separate checks? You say 分開埋單. Luna: 分開埋單. So that's 'separate bills'? Lucas: Exactly. 分開 means separate. So 分開埋單. Let's try a short dialogue. You and I are dining together. After the meal, you say to me: 可唔可以埋單? Luna: 可唔可以埋單? Lucas: And I say: 你想分開埋單定一齊埋單? Luna: Oh, 'do you want separate or together?' So I say 分開埋單. Lucas: Perfect. Now you try the whole thing. You start with 請埋單. Luna: 請埋單. Lucas: Good. And if you need to ask for the bill more casually, just 埋單? with rising intonation. Luna: 埋單? Lucas: That works too. So we've got 埋單, 請埋單, 可唔可以埋單, and 分開埋單. Luna: I think I can manage. Let's do a role play. Lucas: OK. You're the customer, I'm the waiter. You just finished your meal. Luna: 可唔可以埋單? Lucas: 好, 埋單係呢度. Do you want 分開埋單? Luna: 係, 分開埋單. Thank you! Lucas: Excellent. Now remember, these phrases will come in handy when you're out in Hong Kong. Luna: For sure. And if Fexingo's helped you learn these useful phrases, you can support the show so it stays ad-free. Just visit buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: That's right. Even a small coffee helps us keep making episodes like this. Now, let's practice one more time. Repeat after me: 埋單. Luna: 埋單. Lucas: 請埋單. Luna: 請埋單. Lucas: 可唔可以埋單. Luna: 可唔可以埋單. Lucas: 分開埋單. Luna: 分開埋單. Lucas: Great work today. Keep practicing these and next time you dine out, you'll be ready. Thanks for joining us on Fexingo. Luna: See you next time!