Drinks in Cantonese
Ordering a drink is the easiest first win in Cantonese. 水 (seoi2, water) and 茶 (caa4, tea) are single syllables, and Hong Kong's signature 奶茶 (naai5 caa4, milk tea) belongs on every visitor's list. Learn them below with audio, then see the FAQ for ordering iced or hot.
Make these words stick
Practice with spaced-repetition flashcards or follow our free structured Cantonese course.
Frequently asked questions
How do you order a drink in Cantonese?
唔該 (m4 goi1) plus 一杯 (jat1 bui1, one cup of) and the drink: 唔該，一杯奶茶 — a milk tea, please. 杯 (bui1) is the measure word for cups and glasses.
How do you say iced or hot for drinks?
Put 凍 (dung3, iced) or 熱 (jit6, hot) in front: 凍咖啡 (dung3 gaa3 fe1) is iced coffee, 熱奶茶 (jit6 naai5 caa4) hot milk tea. Note iced drinks often cost a couple of dollars more.
What does 走冰 (zau2 bing1) mean?
No ice — 走 (zau2) means "hold the…" when ordering. 少冰 (siu2 bing1) is less ice.