Jobs in Cantonese
"What do you do?" comes up in almost every first conversation in Hong Kong. These are the everyday job titles you will hear most, from the chef at your local cha chaan teng to the lawyers in Central — tap any word to hear it spoken.
Make these words stick
Practice with spaced-repetition flashcards or follow our free structured Cantonese course.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask what someone does for a living in Cantonese?
你做咩工㗎? (nei5 zou6 me1 gung1 gaa3) — what work do you do? Answer with 我係… (ngo5 hai6), I am a…, followed by the job title.
How do you say chef in Cantonese?
廚師 (cyu4 si1). In everyday speech you will also hear 大廚 (daai6 cyu4) for a head chef.
What does 師 mean at the end of job titles?
It marks a skilled professional — 律師 (lawyer), 工程師 (engineer), 會計師 (accountant). Learn the pattern and many job titles become guessable.
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