Cantonese 2

Session: 20 new remaining of the 20/day cap · 0 learning waiting · 73 reviews due.

Click Cantonese::Level2, not Level1. Level1 is review-only now. No learning queue today, so new cards mix into the 73 reviews.

This is a third sheet for today (HSK is 2026-09-20.md, Japanese is 2026-09-20-japanese-level2.md).

Session plan

• Seventy-three reviews. Clear those as they come; the new twenty mix in.
• Same-day Japanese: 自由 here is liberty in the city; JP 自由 is free time. Keep the sentences apart.
• Sense traps: 渣 is “lousy” (the sharpener), not tea dregs in the cup; 言 is the root in 語言, not a verb you conjugate; 行埋 in this sentence is the bedroom euphemism, not “walk closer”; 係咩 is the shock tag, not 係咪; 次 is this sitting of the exam.
• Glue: 噉就 don’t go, 都可以 eat anything, 唔理 how small the room, 就真 sorry, 兩句 let me speak, 陣間 the conclusion in a bit, 我哋嘅 right to speak.
• Police cluster: 報警 we may have to, 搶 they snatched the bag — same day, same call.
• Everyday: 電視 sports, 相當 grades, 一張 not one photo, 十五 Form 3, 支持 activists.

1. 電視（din6 si6）

television; TV · televisi; TV

Example: 我鍾意喺電視睇好多運動節目。 — I like watching lots of sports programs on TV.

• CJK: 電 = 电 diàn. 視 = 视. Mandarin 电视. JP テレビ. Traditional 電視. Same 電 as 電話. Verb is 睇電視, not 看電視 in Canto.
• Fun fact: 喺電視睇運動節目. The box / the channel. 電視城 is a studio; today is the set at home. JP uses the loan テレビ.
• Memorize: Sofa, sports on the screen: 喺電視睇好多運動節目.
• Study tip: 電視. Verb 睇. Don’t answer 電視城. Reading din6 si6.

2. 係咩（hai6 me1）

really? is that true? · benarkah?; memang?

Example: 你真係唔去？係咩？ — You're really not going? Really?

• CJK: 係 = 系 / 是. 咩 = sentence particle me1. Mandarin 是吗 / 真的吗. JP 本当に？. Not 係咪 hai6 mai6 (A-not-A “is it?”).
• Fun fact: 係咩 is the surprise check after 真係唔去. 咩 as “what” is me1 / me5 in other sentences; here it’s the tag. Don’t flash 係咪.
• Memorize: Raised eyebrows: 你真係唔去？係咩？
• Study tip: 係咩. Don’t answer 係咪. Reading hai6 me1.

3. 渣（zaa1）

dregs; lousy · ampas; payah

Example: 呢個筆刨好渣，刨幾吓支筆就斷。 — This pencil sharpener is terrible, breaks pencils after a few turns.

• CJK: 渣 = 渣 zhā. Mandarin 渣 (dregs) / 烂. JP かす / ひどい. Dictionary “dregs”; today is HK slang: rubbish, useless. 筆刨 = sharpener.
• Fun fact: 好渣 = it sucks. Tea 茶渣 is actual dregs — not this card. 渣男 is a later insult. The pencil snaps; that’s the picture.
• Memorize: Broken lead, cheap sharpener: 呢個筆刨好渣.
• Study tip: 渣. Don’t answer 爛 unless printed. Today is “lousy.” Reading zaa1.

4. 言（jin4）

to speak; speech (bound) · berbicara; bahasa (akar kata)

Example: 因為識講五種語言，Olga入到職。 — Olga got the job because she can speak five languages.

• CJK: 言 = 言 yán. Mandarin 言 / 语言. JP 言（げん）. Bound in 語言 jyu5 jin4. Same 言 as JP yesterday 発言. You don’t say 言五種 as a verb.
• Fun fact: Five 語言 got her the job. 講 is the spoken verb; 言 is the morpheme. Don’t conjugate 言 like Mandarin 言.
• Memorize: Five language badges, hired: 識講五種語言.
• Study tip: 言. Don’t answer 講. The compound is 語言. Reading jin4.

5. 噉就（gam2 zau6）

then; in that case · kalau begitu; maka

Example: 噉就唔好去啦！ — Then don't go!

• CJK: 噉 = Canto gam2 (这样). 就 = 就. Mandarin 那就. JP それなら. Spoken glue: given that, then…. Not 咁做 (do it that way) alone.
• Fun fact: 噉就唔好去 = if that’s the case, cancel. 噉 is Canto “thus”; 就 pushes the next action. Same-day 都可以 is the easy-going twin.
• Memorize: Hand wave, stay home: 噉就唔好去啦！
• Study tip: 噉就. Don’t answer 咁. Reading gam2 zau6.

6. 次（ci3）

time; this sitting; next · kali; berikutnya

Example: 呢次考試我一定要合格。 — I must pass this exam.

• CJK: 次 = 次 cì. Mandarin 次 / 这次. JP 次（じ） / 回. Classifier for attempts. 呢次 = this time (this exam sitting). Not 下次 only.
• Fun fact: 呢次考試…合格. One sitting. 第一次 was HSK yesterday’s 参赛 flavour; here 次 is the counter itself. 次次 = every time.
• Memorize: Exam paper, this round: 呢次考試我一定要合格.
• Study tip: 次. Don’t answer 回. Reading ci3. 呢次 = this time.

7. 陣間（zan6 gaan1）

soon; in a while · sebentar lagi; nanti

Example: 陣間我嘅結論會快啲。 — My conclusion will be a bit quicker soon.

• CJK: 陣 = 阵 zhèn. 間 = 间. Mandarin 一会儿. JP しばらくしたら. HK 陣間 = in a moment (same meeting / same afternoon). Not 呢陣 (right now).
• Fun fact: 陣間…結論會快啲. Speaker still talking; the end is coming. 一陣間 is the same idea. Don’t flash 而家.
• Memorize: Clock, wrap-up soon: 陣間結論會快啲.
• Study tip: 陣間. Don’t answer 而家. Reading zan6 gaan1.

8. 我哋嘅（ngo5 dei6 ge3）

our; ours · milik kita; kita punya

Example: 我哋要爭取我哋嘅發言權。 — We need to fight for our right to speak.

• CJK: 我 = 我. 哋 = plural. 嘅 = 的. Mandarin 我们的. JP 私たちの. Possessive 我哋嘅. Same 發言 as JP yesterday 発言.
• Fun fact: 我哋嘅發言權 = our right to speak. 我嘅 is mine; 我哋嘅 is the group. 嘅 is the linker, not a verb.
• Memorize: Group, megaphone: 爭取我哋嘅發言權.
• Study tip: 我哋嘅. Don’t answer 我嘅. Reading ngo5 dei6 ge3.

9. 報警（bou3 ging2）

to report to the police; to sound an alarm · lapor polisi

Example: 好可能我哋要報警。 — It's quite possible we'll have to call the police.

• CJK: 報 = 报 bào. 警 = 警. Mandarin 报警. JP 通報する / 警察に電話. Traditional 報警. Same-day 搶 is why you call. 警察 is the noun.
• Fun fact: 要報警 = make the call. 報警電話 is 999 in HK. Not 警告 (warn someone). Pair with 搶 later.
• Memorize: Phone to 999: 好可能我哋要報警.
• Study tip: 報警. Don’t answer 警察. Reading bou3 ging2.

10. 就真（zau6 zan1）

really; indeed · benar-benar; sungguh

Example: 就真對唔住。 — I'm really sorry.

• CJK: 就 = 就. 真 = 真. Mandarin 真的 / 实在. JP 本当に. Softener + “truly.” Not the tag 係咩.
• Fun fact: 就真對唔住 = sorry, I mean it. 真係 is the everyday twin; this card prints 就真. Don’t mix with 係咩’s surprise.
• Memorize: Head down, apology: 就真對唔住.
• Study tip: 就真. Don’t answer 係咩. Reading zau6 zan1.

11. 支持（zi1 ci4）

support; sustain · mendukung; menopang

Example: 有幾個社運人士出嚟支持我哋，但最後被拉咗。 — Several activists came out to support us but ended up arrested.

• CJK: 支 = 支. 持 = 持. Mandarin 支持. JP 支持（しじ）. Same word across CJK. Verb: 支持我哋. 拉 = arrest in Canto.
• Fun fact: 出嚟支持…被拉咗. Political backing, then the van. 精神支持 is moral support; today they showed up. Not 撐 (slang) unless printed.
• Memorize: Placards, then cuffs: 出嚟支持我哋，被拉咗.
• Study tip: 支持. Don’t answer 撐 unless printed. Reading zi1 ci4.

12. 自由（zi6 jau4）

free; freedom; liberty · bebas; kebebasan

Example: 喺呢個城市，人人都渴望自由。 — In this city, everyone longs for freedom.

• CJK: 自 = 自. 由 = 由. Mandarin 自由. JP 自由（じゆう） — same characters on the Japanese sheet, but that sentence is 自由な時間. Here it is civic liberty.
• Fun fact: 人人都渴望自由. City-wide longing. Don’t import JP “free time today.” 自由行 is visa-free travel — not this card.
• Memorize: City skyline, open sky: 人人都渴望自由.
• Study tip: 自由. Today is liberty. JP sheet is free time. Reading zi6 jau4.

13. 唔理（m4 lei5）

to ignore; to not care · tidak peduli; mengabaikan

Example: 我唔理間房幾細，有張床就得。 — I don't care how small the room is, as long as there's a bed.

• CJK: 唔 = not. 理 = 理 lǐ (pay attention). Mandarin 不管 / 不理. JP 構わない. Pattern 唔理 A，B 就得. 理人 = pay someone mind.
• Fun fact: 唔理間房幾細 = size is irrelevant; bed is the condition. 唔理 can be rude “I’m ignoring you”; here it’s “I don’t mind.”
• Memorize: Tiny room, one bed, shrug: 唔理間房幾細，有張床就得.
• Study tip: 唔理. Don’t answer 不管 unless that’s printed. Reading m4 lei5.

14. 兩句（loeng5 geoi3）

a few words · beberapa patah kata

Example: 等我講兩句。 — Let me say a few words.

• CJK: 兩 = 两 liǎng. 句 = 句. Mandarin 两句 / 说两句. JP 一言. Not literally only two sentences — a short remark. Classifier 句 for utterances.
• Fun fact: 講兩句 = grab the mic for a moment. Same-day 言 is the bound root; this is the spoken chunk. 三言兩語 is the idiom cousin.
• Memorize: Stand up, short remark: 等我講兩句.
• Study tip: 兩句. Don’t answer 一句 unless printed. Reading loeng5 geoi3.

15. 相當（soeng1 dong1）

quite; fairly; equivalent · cukup; setara

Example: 佢成績相當好。 — His grades are quite good.

• CJK: 相 = 相. 當 = 当. Mandarin 相当. JP 相当（そうとう）. Traditional 相當. Degree adverb 相當好. Also “equivalent to” in other sentences.
• Fun fact: 成績相當好 = pretty good, not 非常. Dictionary lists “equivalent”; today is the degree reading. 好相當 would be wrong order.
• Memorize: Report card, quite high: 佢成績相當好.
• Study tip: 相當. Don’t answer 非常. Today is “quite.” Reading soeng1 dong1.

16. 一張（jat1 zoeng1）

one (flat-object classifier) · satu (penggolong benda datar)

Example: 我以為男朋友係攝影師，佢一定會幫我影好多靚相，點知佢從來冇幫我影過一張相。 — I thought having a photographer as a boyfriend meant he'd take lots of nice photos of me, but he never took a single one.

• CJK: 一 = 一. 張 = 张 zhāng. Mandarin 一张. JP 一枚 / 一枚の写真. Classifier for photos, paper, tickets, tables, faces. 一張相.
• Fun fact: 冇…一張相 = not even one print. The punchline is the zero. 張 is the measure; 相 is the photo. Same-day 唔理 also used 張床.
• Memorize: Empty photo album: 從來冇影過一張相.
• Study tip: 一張. Classifier. Don’t answer 一個 for a photo. Reading jat1 zoeng1.

17. 十五（sap6 ng5）

fifteen; 15 · lima belas; 15

Example: 我十五歲嗰陣已經讀中三。 — I was in Form 3 when I was fifteen.

• CJK: 十 = 十. 五 = 五. Mandarin 十五. JP 十五（じゅうご）. HK 中三 = Form 3 (roughly grade 9). 歲 for age.
• Fun fact: 十五歲…讀中三. Local school clock, not 九年级. 十五 also the 15th of the month in other sentences; today is age.
• Memorize: Birthday 15, Form 3 uniform: 十五歲嗰陣讀中三.
• Study tip: 十五. Don’t answer 中三. Reading sap6 ng5.

18. 行埋（haang4 maai4）

sleep together (euphemism) · tidur bersama (eufemisme)

Example: 佢哋拍拖冇幾耐已經行埋一齊。 — They've been dating for a short time but already slept together.

• CJK: 行 = 行. 埋 = Canto maai4 (closer / together). Mandarin 发生关系 / 同居. JP 一緒になる（婉曲）. Literal “walk closer”; this card is 行埋一齊 = became physically intimate.
• Fun fact: 拍拖冇幾耐已經行埋一齊. Short dating, already that step. 行埋嚟 is “come over here” — different. 行街 is the outing. Keep it as a set phrase, not a walk.
• Memorize: Two toothbrushes too soon: 拍拖冇幾耐已經行埋一齊.
• Study tip: 行埋. Don’t answer 行街 or 行埋嚟. Today is the euphemism. Reading haang4 maai4.

19. 都可以（dou1 ho2 ji5）

all right; anything’s fine · boleh saja; tidak apa-apa

Example: 食咩都可以，我唔計較。 — Anything is fine, I don’t mind what we eat.

• CJK: 都 = 都. 可以 = 可以. Mandarin 都可以 / 随便. JP 何でもいい. Easy-going 食咩都可以. Same-day 噉就 was the sharp “then don’t.”
• Fun fact: 食咩都可以 = no preference. 可以 alone is “may”; 都可以 after a question word = any option works. 唔計較 = I’m not fussy.
• Memorize: Menu, shrug, anything: 食咩都可以，我唔計較.
• Study tip: 都可以. Don’t answer 可以 alone. Reading dou1 ho2 ji5.

20. 搶（coeng2）

to take by force; snatch · merampas

Example: 啲賊搶咗我個袋；快啲報警！ — The thieves snatched my bag; call the police quickly!

• CJK: 搶 = 抢 qiǎng. Mandarin 抢. JP 奪う / 抢. Traditional 搶. Tone coeng2. Same-day 報警 is the next line of this story.
• Fun fact: 搶咗我個袋. Street snatch, not 偷 (stealth). JP yesterday 盗む was the quiet steal; this is the yank. Then 快啲報警.
• Memorize: Bag yanked, shout 報警: 賊搶咗我個袋；快啲報警！
• Study tip: 搶. Don’t answer 偷. Pair with 報警. Reading coeng2.