How to Say Please in Cantonese

There are two words that means “Please” in Cantonese:

1. ? ? ? ?    (this may also mean ask or invite)
2. ??    (this phrase can also mean “Thank you”. Literately it means “not deserved” or “should not (bother you). ”  )

We can use them interchangeably.   The first form is more formal.

Examples:

1. Please open your books:   ???????cing² daa² hoi¹ nei⁵ ge³ syu¹

2. Please say that again ?once more ?:  ???????? m⁴ goi¹ nei⁵ gong² do¹ jat¹ ci³

or we can also say  ???????cing²nei⁵ gong² do¹ jat¹ ci³

3. Could you say that again, please?:  ????????????  m⁴ goi¹ nei⁵ ho² m⁴ ho² ji⁵ gong² do¹ jat¹ ci³

or we can say: ???????????     ho² m⁴ ho² ji⁵ cing²nei⁵gong² do¹ jat¹ ci³

?? = can ; could

???? = could or could not; can or cannot

Other Usage of ?

• ??   verb.   invite    ;  noun.  invitation.
  e.g.   May I ask/invite you to come to my home?
  ?????????????ngo⁵ ho² m⁴ ho² ji⁵ jiu¹ cing² nei⁵ loi⁴ ngo⁵ nguk¹ kei⁵
• ??  ask for leave
  e.g. ???????   I want to ask for (sick) leave.  ngo⁵ soeng² cing² beng⁶ gaa³
  ? = sick
• ??  Could you please tell (me/us) ..?
  e.g.  Could you tell me where is the toilet?  ????????   cing² man⁶ ci³ so² hai² bin¹ dou^{6
  … ????  = where is … ?}