"Phrases in Cantonese" can be found like all good books in appropriate Hongkong book stores, if it hasn't been sold out already.
If this is not an option, it is also offered on Amazon, but not on every Amazon. Amazon.co.uk does offer it. Btw. the page comes with a book review of mine telling one of the reasons why also this book is far from perfect. If Amazon is not an option either, you may get the ISBN from the Amazon page and order it through your local book store.
Cantonese Dictionary
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Miles Crew
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:53 pm
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Thanks Helmut, I think this sounds like the book for me despite its drawbacks. Vocabulary choice is less important to me than just including characters (I can't believe how often these are ignored; I can't imagine learning Chinese without characters) and classifiers is good enough for me. And anyway, food words are pretty important. It took me quite a bit of poring over snatched takeout menus to be able to reliably order something good to eat at any noodle, roast meat, and congee shop.
Has anyone tried the new "Dictionary of Cantonese Slang," apparently just out in June? This sounds like the Holy Grail to me.
Also, while we're on the topic of learning resources, I found a book/tape set in HK published by Greenwood Press by Cream Lee called "Current Cantonese Colloquialisms." It isn't a reference book, and as the cover says it is pretty advanced, but it has a LOT of phrases- with colloquial written forms and traditional equivalents- that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Has anyone tried the new "Dictionary of Cantonese Slang," apparently just out in June? This sounds like the Holy Grail to me.
Also, while we're on the topic of learning resources, I found a book/tape set in HK published by Greenwood Press by Cream Lee called "Current Cantonese Colloquialisms." It isn't a reference book, and as the cover says it is pretty advanced, but it has a LOT of phrases- with colloquial written forms and traditional equivalents- that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
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rathpy
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Miles Crew said:
<< That said, anyone know where to get the Betty Hung book? I can't find it on Amazon, or anything else decent-looking that I don't already have for that matter. >>
"Phrases in Cantonese" by Betty Hung - see http://www.chinabooks.com.au/currentstock/lndia_1.htm
- approximately US$15 + postage from Australia
Regards,
rathpy
<< That said, anyone know where to get the Betty Hung book? I can't find it on Amazon, or anything else decent-looking that I don't already have for that matter. >>
"Phrases in Cantonese" by Betty Hung - see http://www.chinabooks.com.au/currentstock/lndia_1.htm
- approximately US$15 + postage from Australia
Regards,
rathpy
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Miles Crew
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:53 pm
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Thanks, rathpy.
About this new "Dictionary of Cantonese Slang"... I haven't found it at any bookseller's site, but you can order it from the publisher at http://www.hurstpub.co.uk/ However, it is very expensive! Still, if it is what it says it is, I will fork over the money for it. I have sent an e-mail to one of the authors asking him to clarify a couple issues before I make my decision, though. If it turns out to be the best book ever I will certainly let people know. I just hope it doesn't focus TOO much on 粗口。
About this new "Dictionary of Cantonese Slang"... I haven't found it at any bookseller's site, but you can order it from the publisher at http://www.hurstpub.co.uk/ However, it is very expensive! Still, if it is what it says it is, I will fork over the money for it. I have sent an e-mail to one of the authors asking him to clarify a couple issues before I make my decision, though. If it turns out to be the best book ever I will certainly let people know. I just hope it doesn't focus TOO much on 粗口。
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Tom
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
the best C-E dictionary I ever saw, is :
Sidney Lau : A practical C-E dictionary.
it is HUGE, 1000 pages, and it costs around HK $ 280, which is not expensive for that size.
I got mine in HK, you have to look around to get it, but many bookstores
carry it.
Sidney Lau : A practical C-E dictionary.
it is HUGE, 1000 pages, and it costs around HK $ 280, which is not expensive for that size.
I got mine in HK, you have to look around to get it, but many bookstores
carry it.
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Jerry B
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Is the below book on anyone's radar?
"A Glossary of Cantonese Colloquial Expressions"
by Simon Siu-Hing So
I'm not sure if this is being referenced in the above posts, but, if it's not, it's apparently available for ordering via Amazon.com as of August. It's publishied by the Chinese University Press and is 412 pages. Sounds interesting to me and may be pertains to the above discussion. Or not.
Jerry
"A Glossary of Cantonese Colloquial Expressions"
by Simon Siu-Hing So
I'm not sure if this is being referenced in the above posts, but, if it's not, it's apparently available for ordering via Amazon.com as of August. It's publishied by the Chinese University Press and is 412 pages. Sounds interesting to me and may be pertains to the above discussion. Or not.
Jerry
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Great Wall
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Folks,
Some people mentioned Betty Hung's and Cream Lee's books on Cantonese. They can be ordered from the publisher's HP:
http://www.silkroadpress.com
Some people mentioned Betty Hung's and Cream Lee's books on Cantonese. They can be ordered from the publisher's HP:
http://www.silkroadpress.com
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Polly Shum
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Dear all
It's really nice that so many people interested in Cantonese and I found the messages post are really helpful.
By the way, I would like to ask if anyone can suggest me a comprehensive chart of Cantonese pronounciations (ie. romanization symbol of each existing sound) which match with Chinese characters. I think it will be very helpful for beginner.
Thank you!!!
Cheers,
Polly
It's really nice that so many people interested in Cantonese and I found the messages post are really helpful.
By the way, I would like to ask if anyone can suggest me a comprehensive chart of Cantonese pronounciations (ie. romanization symbol of each existing sound) which match with Chinese characters. I think it will be very helpful for beginner.
Thank you!!!
Cheers,
Polly
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rathpy
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Polly Shum wrote:
By the way, I would like to ask if anyone can suggest me a comprehensive chart of Cantonese pronounciations (ie. romanization symbol of each existing sound) which match with Chinese characters. I think it will be very helpful for beginner.
see...
http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/C ... syllabary/
Regards,
rathpy
By the way, I would like to ask if anyone can suggest me a comprehensive chart of Cantonese pronounciations (ie. romanization symbol of each existing sound) which match with Chinese characters. I think it will be very helpful for beginner.
see...
http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/C ... syllabary/
Regards,
rathpy
Re: Cantonese Dictionary
Some of the dictionaries are all in Chinese and are some of my best and favorites (without English definitions). For example all of my Minnan dictionaries and glossaries are this way (all the English translated ones are over 100 yrs old, out of date, and not easy to use--and I don't even both with them). In China, it's rare to find two-way dictionaries.