Money & Paying in Cantonese
Paying for things in Hong Kong means knowing a handful of words: 錢 (cin2, money), 現金 (jin6 gam1, cash), and whether something is 貴 (gwai3, expensive) or 平 (peng4, cheap). Each entry below has native audio and Jyutping.
Make these words stick
Practice with spaced-repetition flashcards or follow our free structured Cantonese course.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say money in Cantonese?
錢 (cin4). To ask a price, use 幾多錢 (gei2 do1 cin2) — how much? — where 錢 takes the changed tone cin2.
How do you say expensive and cheap in Cantonese?
貴 (gwai3) is expensive and 平 (peng4) is cheap. Note that Cantonese uses 平 where Mandarin uses 便宜.
How do you ask whether a shop takes cards?
收唔收信用卡呀? (sau1 m4 sau1 seon3 jung6 kaat1 aa3) — do you take credit cards? Many small shops are 現金 (cash) or Octopus only.
More Cantonese Word Lists
Essential Cantonese PhrasesCantonese GreetingsNumbers in CantoneseOrder Dim Sum in CantoneseFamily Members in CantoneseCantonese Slang Locals UseColors in CantoneseBe Polite in CantoneseRomantic Cantonese PhrasesAsk for Directions in CantoneseHong Kong Café Orders in CantoneseOrder Food in a Cantonese RestaurantDrinks in CantoneseCantonese Question WordsExpress Feelings in CantoneseBody Parts in CantoneseAnimals in CantoneseFruits in CantoneseGo Shopping in CantoneseTalk About the Weather in CantoneseTalk About Time in CantoneseDays of the Week in CantoneseTell the Time in CantoneseChinese New Year GreetingsGetting Around Hong Kong in CantoneseClothes in CantoneseAround the Home in CantoneseAt Work in CantoneseAt the Doctor in CantoneseAt a Hotel in CantoneseVegetables in CantoneseHong Kong Street Food in CantoneseCantonese Noodle DishesCantonese Desserts (Tong Sui)Ride the MTR in CantoneseAt the Airport in CantoneseAt School in CantoneseSports in CantoneseTalk About Hobbies in CantoneseYour Daily Routine in CantoneseHong Kong Festivals in CantoneseHong Kong Places in CantoneseCantonese Emergency PhrasesCantonese Measure WordsCantonese Birthday WordsJobs in CantoneseTastes in CantoneseCooking Words in CantonesePhone & Tech Words in CantoneseCantonese OppositesDescribing People in CantoneseCantonese for a Night OutCountries in CantoneseHong Kong Outdoors in CantoneseFriends in CantoneseEveryday Cantonese VerbsYes & No in Cantonese