Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Shopping: Asking for Sizes
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to another episode of Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. Hi everyone. It is so good to be back at the mic again. Lucas: Yes. Last week we were at the wet market buying fresh ingredients. This week, we are changing locations. Luna: Oh, really? Where are we going? Lucas: We are going shopping. Specifically, for clothes. You remember from Episode 240 that we learned how to ask for colors. Luna: Yeah, I remember. We asked if they had a specific color. But what if I find the perfect shirt, but it only comes in my size? Lucas: Exactly. That is a common problem. So today, we will focus on asking for different sizes. Just a few key phrases to get you through the store. Luna: Okay. Let us start with the first phrase. How do I ask if they have a bigger size? Lucas: Right. The phrase is 有冇大啲. Listen carefully. 有冇大啲. Luna: 有冇大啲. Okay. Does that mean 'Do you have bigger?' roughly? Lucas: Yes. 有冇 means 'do you have'. 大啲 means 'bigger' or 'larger'. So together, it is 'Do you have a bigger one?' Let me say it slowly. 有冇大啲. Luna: 有冇大啲. Got it. And then I just point to the tag or hold up the garment? Lucas: Exactly. You can hold it up and say it. Or just ask politely. Let me repeat it normally. 有冇大啲. Luna: 有冇大啲. I like that one. It feels very natural. What if I need a smaller size instead? Lucas: Good question. You would swap the word. Instead of 大啲 for bigger, you use 細啲 for smaller. So the structure is the same. 有冇細啲. Luna: 有冇細啲. Okay. Bigger or smaller. Simple. But wait, what if they don't have it in stock? Then I might want to try it on first. Lucas: Yes. Trying on is important. So, how do we ask where the fitting room is? Luna: Is it similar to asking for directions? Like 'Where is...?' Lucas: It is very similar. The phrase is 試衣間喺邊. Listen. 試衣間喺邊. Luna: 試衣間喺邊. Hmm. 試衣間 sounds like 'try clothes room'. And 喺邊 is 'where is'. Lucas: Spot on. 試衣間 is the fitting room. 喺邊 is where is. So literally, 'Fitting room is where?' Let me say it slowly. 試衣間喺邊. Luna: 試衣間喺邊. Oh, that is useful. I always forget the word for fitting room. 試衣間. Lucas: Yes. Practice it. 試衣間喺邊. Say it three times quickly. 試衣間喺邊. 試衣間喺邊. 試衣間喺邊. Luna: 試衣間喺邊. 試衣間喺邊. 試衣間喺邊. Okay, I think I have it memorized. Now, what if I put it on, and it looks weird? Lucas: Ah, the dreaded mirror moment. You might want to ask someone else what it looks like. Or even ask the shop assistant. Luna: How do I ask 'How does it look on me?' Lucas: The phrase is 着上身點. Listen. 着上身點. Luna: 着上身點. Is that 'wear upper body how?' Lucas: Yes. 着 means wear. 上身 means upper body or torso. 點 means how. So it translates to 'How does it look on the upper body?' or simply 'How does it look on me?' Let me say it slowly. 着上身點. Luna: 着上身點. Okay. It feels a bit formal, but polite. Can I use it with friends too? Lucas: You can. Though with close friends, you might just say 'What do you think?' but this phrase works well in a store context. Let me say it normally. 着上身點. Luna: 着上身點. Nailed it. So, I try it on, I ask how it looks, and maybe it is too tight? Lucas: Yes. If it is too tight, you need to say so. The phrase is 太緊喇. Listen. 太緊喇. Luna: 太緊喇. 太 means too. 緊 means tight. 喇 is a particle indicating a change or fact. So 'It is too tight.' Lucas: Correct. 太緊喇. It is a very common complaint when trying on clothes. Let me say it slowly. 太緊喇. Luna: 太緊喇. Okay. And if it is too loose? Lucas: Then you say 太鬆喇. 鬆 means loose. But let us stick to our main phrases for today. We have five key phrases. Let us review them all together. Luna: Okay. First one: 有冇大啲. Lucas: Do you have a bigger one? Luna: Second: 試衣間喺邊. Lucas: Where is the fitting room? Luna: Third: 幾大件. Lucas: Wait, we haven't covered 幾大件 yet. Did you miss that? Luna: No, I saw it in the list. What does 幾大件 mean? Lucas: Ah, right. I skipped it in the flow. 幾大件 means 'How big is it?' or 'What size is it?' 幾 means how many/what degree. 件 is a classifier for clothing. 大 means big. So it is asking for the size specification. Luna: Oh, interesting. So I can ask the tag directly? 幾大件? Lucas: Yes. Or if you are unsure about the sizing chart, you can ask the assistant 幾大件. Let me say it slowly. 幾大件. Luna: 幾大件. Okay. That is handy for online shopping too, maybe? Lucas: Definitely. Fourth phrase: 着上身點. Luna: How does it look on me? Lucas: And the fifth: 太緊喇. Luna: It is too tight. Lucas: Perfect. Five phrases. Small set. Very useful. Let us do a quick roleplay. Imagine you are in a store. You pick up a jacket. It is blue. But you need a larger size. Luna: Okay. I walk up to the counter. I hold the jacket. I say: 有冇大啲. Lucas: Good. The assistant shakes their head. They say no. What do you ask next? Luna: I need to check the size first maybe? Or find the fitting room? Let's find the fitting room. I ask: 試衣間喺邊? Lucas: The assistant points behind you. You go in, try it on. It fits, but you aren't sure if it suits you. You come out and ask me. Luna: I turn to you. I say: 着上身點? Lucas: I look at you and say 'Not bad.' But actually, it is a bit tight around the shoulders. So I adjust it and say: 太緊喇. Luna: Oh no. So I go back to the assistant. I say: 有冇大啲? Lucas: This time, they smile and give you a new jacket. Success. You have mastered the basic clothing shopping interaction. Luna: I feel much more confident about shopping in Cantonese now. It is not just about the money, it is about the fit. Lucas: Exactly. Fit is everything. Before we go, I want to mention something about the show. If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, your support keeps it ad-free. Luna: Yeah, it really does help. If today was actually useful to you, the way these stay ad-free is listener support — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Thank you for considering it. It allows us to keep making these episodes for you. Now, let us practice one more time. Repeat after me: 有冇大啲. Luna: 有冇大啲. See you next time. Practice these till we chat again.