Courses › Fluency › Formal vs Informal Register
B2 · Lesson 4

Formal vs Informal Register

書面語口語
What you will learn

Understand the crucial distinction between formal and informal Cantonese. Learn when to switch registers — from casual chat to business emails, from street slang to polished presentations. Master code-switching like a native.

Dialogue

Conversation

A
你有冇留意到香港人講嘢會分場合用唔同嘅語氣？
Have you noticed that Hong Kong people use different tones depending on the occasion?
B
係呀，同朋友講嘢同同老闆講嘢完全唔同。
Yes, talking with friends vs with the boss is totally different.
A
最明顯嘅就係書面語同口語嘅分別。寫email用貴公司，傾偈會講你哋公司。
The most obvious is the difference between written and spoken. We write your esteemed company in emails but say your company in conversation.
B
我覺得最難嘅係知道幾時要轉register。太formal會俾人覺得你好假。
The hardest part is knowing when to switch register. Too formal and people think you are fake.
A
冇錯，太casual又會令人覺得你唔尊重對方。
True, too casual and people feel you are disrespectful.
B
例如唔該同多謝都係thank you，但係用法唔同。
For example m goi and do ze are both thank you but the usage differs.
A
廣東話嘅敬語系統冇日文咁複雜，但係都有微妙嘅分別。
Cantonese honorifics are not as complex as Japanese but there are subtle distinctions.
B
所以學語言唔止學詞彙，仲要學點樣喺唔同情境適當咁表達自己。
So learning a language is not just vocabulary, you need to learn how to express yourself appropriately in different contexts.
Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

書面語
written language
口語
spoken language
敬語
honorific language
語氣
tone / register
貴公司
your esteemed company (formal)
閣下
you (highly formal)
尊重
respect
微妙
subtle
情境
context / situation
適當
appropriate
詞彙
vocabulary
表達
express
Grammar

Language Patterns

Formal/Informal pairs (register switching)

Many Cantonese words have formal and informal versions. Knowing both and when to use each is key to sounding natural. Written Cantonese (書面語) tends toward formal; spoken (口語) toward informal.
食飯 (casual) → 用膳 (formal)
sik6 faan6 → jung6 sin6
eat → dine
你 (casual) → 閣下 (formal)
nei5 → gok3 haa6
you → your honour

唔止 A 仲要 B (not only A but also B)

唔止 (m4 zi2)...仲要 (zung6 jiu3) means "not only A but also need to B". More colloquial than 不但...而且. Shows something has multiple layers.
唔止要識講，仲要識寫。
m4 zi2 jiu3 sik1 gong2, zung6 jiu3 sik1 se2.
Not only need to speak but also write.
唔止平，仲要好食。
m4 zi2 peng4, zung6 jiu3 hou2 sik6.
Not only cheap but also delicious.

令人覺得 (make people feel that)

令人 (ling6 jan4) means "make people" and introduces how an action affects others perception. Useful for discussing the impact of language choices.
太直接會令人覺得冇禮貌。
taai3 zik6 zip3 wui5 ling6 jan4 gok3 dak1 mou5 lai5 maau6.
Being too direct makes people feel you are rude.
佢嘅態度令人好舒服。
keoi5 ge3 taai3 dou6 ling6 jan4 hou2 syu1 fuk6.
His attitude makes people feel comfortable.

唔該 vs 多謝 (two types of thank you)

唔該 (m4 goi1) thanks someone for a SERVICE or favour (passing salt, holding a door). 多謝 (do1 ze6) thanks for a GIFT or something received. Mixing them up sounds unnatural.
唔該你幫我開門。
m4 goi1 nei5 bong1 ngo5 hoi1 mun4.
Thank you for opening the door for me. (service)
多謝你嘅禮物。
do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 lai5 mat6.
Thank you for your gift. (gift received)
Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1
學語言 ___ 學詞彙，仲要學點樣適當咁表達。 (not only)
  • 唔止
  • 唔係
  • 唔好
  • 唔使
Answer
唔止
Translate · Question 2
Being too casual makes people feel you are disrespectful.
Answer
太casual會令人覺得你唔尊重對方。
Choice · Question 3
When should you use 唔該 instead of 多謝?
  • when thanking someone for a service or favour
  • when receiving a gift
  • when greeting someone
  • when saying goodbye
Answer
when thanking someone for a service or favour
Fill_blank · Question 4
寫email用 ___，傾偈講「你哋公司」。 (your esteemed company)
  • 貴公司
  • 你公司
  • 佢公司
  • 大公司
Answer
貴公司
Translate · Question 5
Cantonese honorifics are not as complex as Japanese but there are subtle differences.
Answer
廣東話嘅敬語系統冇日文咁複雜，但係都有微妙嘅分別。

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