Welcome back to a new lesson in Cantonese! Today we’re exploring the world of Cantonese House vocabulary!
Did you know that in Hong Kong, the average home size is just a little over 400 square feet? That’s right, you heard me, FOUR HUNDRED square feet! That’s tiny if you ask me! Plus, their price has really been increasing over the years.
If you’re planning on going to Hong Kong and visiting either family or friends (or even if you’re not visiting anyone), you’ll probably want to explore a little bit about Cantonese and Chinese vocabulary for houses. Despite Hong Kong houses being famous for being very small, Hong Kong people are proud of them and will invite you to their house without even giving it a second thought.
Speaking of which, let me tell you a little story that I’ve actually never told anyone. Get ready to laugh at me… HARD!
I used to live in Hong Kong, and for many months I didn’t bother to learn Cantonese. Everyone would speak English with me, and I thought I could get along just fine with English. I never really felt that there was a language barrier between me and local people. Well, actually, I couldn’t have been more wrong about this…
You see, one day, I got invited to a friend’s house for lunch. He would speak perfect English, so my immediate thought was that his family would speak it as well. However, that was not the case, as they really struggled to make sentences in English.
My struggle started once I stepped into their house: it was breathtakingly beautiful. I had learned that admiring someone’s house and house details was a sign of respect, so I wanted to tell them how beautiful their house was. I tried with gestures, but my success rate was right about 0, so I used my friend as a translator. All went well this time, but I was totally dependent on the presence of my friend.
After we had lunch, I found myself alone with his family as my friend had to leave for a while. At the worst possible moment, I suddenly felt a huge rumbling in my belly. Maybe I just wasn’t used to Cantonese food like this, and I really needed to use the restroom. There was just one problem: I didn’t know how to say it in Cantonese!
After a few minutes of trying to tell them what I needed, I ended up (shamefully) making gestures about where I needed to go, and you can imagine what I had to mimic to my friend’s family. To this day, he still says his family calls me “the bathroom guy”…
So, my friends, that’s why in this article we’re going to learn a few terms in Cantonese for household items. This way, if you end up in a situation like mine, you can ask what you want without having to go through the shameful situation I did.
How To Say House/Home In Cantonese
Ah, the joy of having your own house! Whether it’s a basement, a cozy apartment, or a grand mansion, having a place to call home is the best feeling ever. And if you’re planning on visiting Hong Kong or Guangdong, you might want to learn some Cantonese words related to houses and homes.
First off, let’s start with the basics. In Cantonese, you can say 房子 (fang2 zi5), which means house. It’s a simple word that even a baby can say.
Now, when it comes to “home,” things get a bit more interesting. In Cantonese, there are a few words you can use to express the concept of “home.” One of the most common words is 家 (jia1), which means “home” or “household.” But if you want to get really fancy, you can use the word 居所 (ju1 suo3), which means “residence” or “abode.” Now let’s learn other house-related words to help you build a conversation around this topic.
Cantonese House Vocabulary
Having some vocabulary locked and loaded to shoot during your next visit to a friend is particularly useful if you want to impress them, so here are a few words for you to practice and memorize. In the following tables, you can find the translation in Chinese characters and its Pinyin pronunciation.
Bedroom – 臥室 (Wo4 Shi4)
A bedroom is a place of rest and relaxation. It’s where we retreat after a long day, curl up under the covers, and forget all our worries. And if you’re planning on traveling to Hong Kong or Guangdong, you’ll definitely want to know how to say “bedroom” in Cantonese.
In Cantonese, the word for “bedroom” is 臥室 (wo4 shi4). It literally translates to “sleeping room,” which is a pretty accurate description of what a bedroom is all about. So the next time you’re visiting a friend’s house in Hong Kong, and they offer to show you their 臥室 (wo4 shi4), you’ll know exactly what they mean!
Kitchen – 廚房 (Chu2 Fang2)
The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home. It’s where we cook up delicious meals, experiment with new recipes, and gather with friends and family to share good food and conversation. And if you’re planning on visiting Hong Kong or Guangdong, you’ll definitely want to know how to say “kitchen” in Cantonese.
To say “kitchen” in Cantonese, you can say 廚房 (chu2 fang2). It literally means “cooking room,” which is pretty accurate if you think about it. And let’s face it, with all the amazing Cantonese cuisine out there, you’re definitely going to want to spend some time in the kitchen.
So get ready to fire up those woks and chopsticks, and let’s dive into the world of Cantonese kitchen vocabulary!
| English | Cantonese | Pronunciation | Sound |
| Kitchen | 廚房 | Chu2 | |
| Chairs | 椅子 | Yi3 | |
| Table | 桌子 | Zhuo | |
| Cabinet | 內閣 | Nei4 | |
| Stove | 火爐 | Huo3 | |
| Microwave | 微波 | Wei1 | |
| Pan | 平底鍋 | Ping | |
| Plate | 盤子 | Pan2 | |
| Silverware | 銀器 | Yin2 | |
| Cup | 杯子 | Bei1 | |
| Back door | 後門 | Hou4 men2 |
Living Room – 客廳 (Ke4 Ting1)
The living room is more than a place to chill and binge-watch your favorite shows on Netflix. It is the place where you gather with family and receive your guests. It is a very important place in a Hong Kong household, so you better learn how to say it in Cantonese.
In Cantonese, the living or dining room is called 客廳 (ke4 ting1). It’s a simple and straightforward term that will definitely come in handy when you want to impress your Cantonese-speaking friends with your knowledge of household vocabulary. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. Who wouldn’t want to talk about their living room, right?
Bathroom – 浴室 (Yu4 Shi4)
It’s the room in the house that nobody really wants to talk about, but everybody needs it. Whether you’re taking a quick shower or doing your business, the bathroom is an essential part of daily life. And if you’re planning on visiting Hong Kong or Guangdong, you might want to know how to ask where the bathroom is in Cantonese.
To say “bathroom” in Cantonese, you can say 浴室 (yu4 shi4). It’s a simple word that will come in handy when you really need to go. And let’s be real, when nature calls, there’s no time for fancy language skills.
Other House Related Words In Cantonese
| English | Cantonese | Pronunciation | Sound |
| Basement | 地下室 | Di4 xia4 shi4 | |
| Attic | 閣樓 | Ge2 lou2 | |
| Backyard | 後院 | Hou4 yuan4 | |
| Neighbourhood | 鄰里 | Lin2 li3 | |
| Pantry | 茶水間 | Cha2 shui3 jian1 | |
| Garden | 花園 | Hua1 yuan2 | |
| Balcony | 陽台 | Yang2 tai2 |
You have learned how to say different rooms, furniture, and appliances, and even how to ask where the bathroom is. You are now ready to explore all the rooms in the household and tell the host whatever you may want about their house.
Whether you’re visiting a friend’s place, going to a restaurant, or renting an Airbnb, knowing Cantonese house vocabulary will come in handy. You can impress your hosts by complimenting their home decor and their big backyard or asking for a glass of water in the kitchen. The possibilities are endless!
So go ahead, don’t be shy. Use your newfound Cantonese skills and show off a little. And if you make a mistake or can’t remember a word, don’t worry. Just laugh it off and try again. After all, learning a new language is all about making mistakes and having fun along the way.
And who knows, maybe you’ll even fall in love with the language and decide to learn more Cantonese words and phrases. The sky’s the limit, my friend. So go forth, explore, and enjoy the journey.
Learn More Cantonese With Ling App
Before you head out to impress your Cantonese-speaking friends with your newfound vocabulary, let me give you one last piece of advice. While it’s great to know how to say “living room,” “kitchen,” or even “attic” and “garden” in Cantonese, it’s even better to know how to hold a conversation in this language. Otherwise, you might come off as a weird person who just knows the names of different rooms in a house.
That’s where Ling App comes in! As the best language learning app out there, Ling App offers over 60 languages to choose from, including Cantonese. With Ling App, you can learn Cantonese at your own pace, with lessons that are personalized to your learning style and needs.
Imagine being able to understand your Cantonese-speaking friends and impress them with your fluency! You can even learn more than just house vocabulary – Ling App offers lessons in grammar, pronunciation, and conversation skills. Plus, the app is completely free to download and use!
So why not give it a try? Download Ling App today and start your Cantonese language learning journey. Who knows, you might even be able to have a full conversation with your friends and make new ones in the process.
Remember, learning a new language is not only about expanding your vocabulary, but also about immersing yourself in a new culture and connecting with people in a whole new way. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started on this exciting adventure together!
