[rb1234]

Hi All,

Wonder if anyone could help a newbie in HK. I've been in HK for around 6 weeks now and have been getting familiar with the local transport.

After a few weeks on the regular double decker buses I've now become a bit more adventurous and started using the small minivans which seem to get places that little bit quicker. So far I have been quite lucky as there is usually someone getting off where I want to.

But today I was a bit stuck as no-one was getting off and so I had to wait it out until the next time it stopped. Unfortunately this mean I had to walk another 10 mins (in the high humidity) this morning to get to my destination.

So my question is:
How do I get the minivan driver to stop where I want ? What is the phrase in Cantonese that I need to shout out ? Can someone provide a phonetic phrase which I can use ? (No rude sentences please !)

Thanks in advance
Rick

[jimbo]

O.k not a problem.

Some drivers will understand english as a lot of the filipino's will say bus stop please and thats fine, but if you want to do it local style then use the following.

Bus stop is Bah see jam

I want to get off here is 'yow lok'

and always say mmm goy afterwards as its polite

[rb1234]

That's just what I needed !

I'll try it out very soon !

Rgds
Rick

[fly]

...and the driver is always named "See Gay", as in "See Gay, Yow lok!"

He probably won't answer, but just make sure he acknowledges you with the casual wave, and if he doesn't stop exactly where you want its probably coz there's double-lines on the side of the road prventing him from doing so. Good luck!

[carang]

and it's "yow" as in "cow"

[larac]

While we're at it can someone please tell me how to say PLEASE. I've nailed the taxi instructions to get me home, TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT, STRAIGHT AHEAD but feel really rude just saying that and not saying PLEASE.

[francocw]

You can say "Ng goi" to the taxi driver. This means "Please"

[HKChigger]

Ya tell him the direction to turn and then say ng goi. The word for Please however is "ching"

[Connie]

"ng goi" means Thank You too!

[carang]

HK chinese rarely use the equivalent of "please" they follow most requests with the equivalent of "thank you" as mentioned previously

please is more of "cheng" than "ching".... as in "cheng siou sum che mun" "please stand clear of the doors"

and keep in mind... you would NEVEr say "mm goi" to someone who has given you a gift... you would say..."daw tse"