01
我想
ngo5 soeng2
I want to
我 (ngo5) means “I,” and 想 (soeng2) expresses wanting or wishing to do something.
STREET CANTONESE / 12
The everyday expressionCasual · Travel & new beginnings
Planning a journey to the UK
水腳
seoi2 goek3
A new adventure.
Enough for the journey?
Travel expenses.
Literal meaning“Water legs”
The money needed for a journey.
我想去英國闖一闖，唔知水腳夠唔夠。ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 jing1 gwok3 cong2 jat1 cong2, m4 zi1 seoi2 goek3 gau3 m4 gau3.I want to go to the UK to give it a shot, but I don't know if my travel expenses are enough.✦Hear it in context
Budgeting for a fresh start
我想去英國闖一闖，唔知水腳夠唔夠。
ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 jing1 gwok3 cong2 jat1 cong2, m4 zi1 seoi2 goek3 gau3 m4 gau3.
“Travel funds.”
Translation: I want to go to the UK to give it a shot, but I don't know if my travel expenses are enough.
Another English equivalent: “Passage money” or “traveling expenses.”
The setting
Someone is planning a big move or a long journey to the UK to seek new opportunities and is worried about whether they have enough saved up for the trip and initial costs.
Piece by piece
Unpack the expression
02
去英國
heoi3 jing1 gwok3
Go to the United Kingdom
去 (heoi3) means “to go,” and 英國 (jing1 gwok3) means the United Kingdom.
03
闖一闖
cong2 jat1 cong2
Give it a shot / venture out
Expresses trying one’s luck or venturing out to seek new opportunities.
04
唔知
m4 zi1
Don’t know
唔 (m4) means “not,” and 知 (zi1) means “to know.” Together, they express uncertainty.
05
夠唔夠
gau3 m4 gau3
Enough or not enough
An A-not-A question pattern: 夠 (gau3) means “enough.” Here, the speaker wonders whether their travel funds will be enough.