Make a Request
One question. One confident answer. Your first order in Cantonese.
A1 beginner / 8–10 minutes / Listening & speaking
Path 01 · Cha Chaan Teng
Make a Request
Ask for chopsticks or a spoon politely.
Lesson 3 of 5 · A1 BeginnerYour mission
Your food has arrived, but you need something to eat with. Understand the waiter’s question and ask politely for a pair of chopsticks or a spoon.
Cantonese pronunciation reference · Fixed audio voices · Tap ▶ to listen.
1Preview your vocabulary
Listen, repeat and get familiar with these six building blocks. One useful pairing: 一對筷子 · a pair of chopsticks / 一隻匙羹 · a spoon.
2Listen to the dialogue
Two short exchanges. The same question helps you ask for two different things. You
要一對筷子，唔該。
jiu3 jat1 deoi3 faai3 zi2, m4 goi1.
A pair of chopsticks, please.
You
要一隻匙羹，唔該。
jiu3 jat1 zek3 ci4 gang1, m4 goi1.
A spoon, please.
Play the full conversation
3Build your request
One useful pattern. No grammar rules to memorise today. 要I’d like
+一對one pair of
+筷子chopsticks
+唔該please
要I’d like
+一隻one
+匙羹spoon
+唔該please
一對 counts a pair. 一隻 counts one spoon here. Learn each item together with its counting word.
After 要咩呀？, starting your answer with 要 is natural. Add 唔該 to make your request polite.
4Your turn
Listen first. Every Cantonese answer has its own audio button. 0 of 3 practice questions completed
5A quick café rehearsal
Look away from the text and try speaking. Practise two requests at your table.
Look at each picture, listen to the waiter, then ask for the item aloud.
A pair of chopsticks
要一對筷子，唔該。
jiu3 jat1 deoi3 faai3 zi2, m4 goi1.
A pair of chopsticks, please.
One spoon
要一隻匙羹，唔該。
jiu3 jat1 zek3 ci4 gang1, m4 goi1.
A spoon, please.
Take your time. Compare your rhythm and tones with the reference. This is speaking practice, not an automatic pronunciation assessment.
6
One small step into real life
Lesson 3 complete!
You've practised understanding 要咩呀？ and asking politely for chopsticks and a spoon.