Express Feelings in Cantonese
Telling people how you feel is core everyday Cantonese. 開心 (hoi1 sam1) literally means "open heart" — happy — and negating it with 唔 gives you unhappy. Add tired, hungry, and angry, and you can express most moods.
Make these words stick
Practice with spaced-repetition flashcards or follow our free structured Cantonese course.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say happy in Cantonese?
開心 (hoi1 sam1), literally open heart. Add 唔 (m4) to negate it: 唔開心 (m4 hoi1 sam1) means unhappy.
How do you say you are tired or hungry in Cantonese?
Tired is 攰 (gui6) and hungry is 肚餓 (tou5 ngo6) — two words you will use constantly.
How do you say angry in Cantonese?
嬲 (nau1). 好嬲 (hou2 nau1) means very angry.
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