Do you know the dos and don’ts at a Hong Kong family dinner? 🇭🇰🥢

In EP16 of the CantonBee Podcast, Bee & Gee chat about the dining manners and table etiquette Bee grew up learning from her mum — from inviting elders to eat and waiting for them to start, to chopstick taboos, pouring tea for others, the famous finger-tapping thank-you gesture, and why you shouldn’t flip a whole fish! 🐟🍵

We also talk about the culture of sharing dishes around the table and some little rules that might surprise you if you didn’t grow up in a Cantonese family.

Learn some useful Cantonese along the way, with cultural explanations in English.

🎙️ CantonBee Podcast EP16
🇭🇰 Topic: Hong Kong Dining Manners


What dining manners did you learn from your family? Are any of them similar to these?

#CantonBee #Cantonese #LearnCantonese #HongKong #HongKongCulture #CantoneseCulture #TableManners #DiningEtiquette #廣東話

🎙️ CantonBee Podcast Ep. 15 – Ghost Festival (鬼節 / 七月十四) 👻

Have you ever wondered why some people avoid staying out late during Ghost Month? Or why people burn paper iPhones, mansions and even luxury handbags? 😱

In this episode, we explore one of the most fascinating traditional festivals in Cantonese culture — Ghost Festival (鬼節), also known as the 14th day of the 7th lunar month (七月十四) in Hong Kong.

You’ll learn:

👻 What Ghost Festival is

🚪 Why people believe the Gate of Hell (鬼門關) opens during Ghost Month

🔥 What paper offerings (燒衣紙) are and why people burn them

🙅‍♀️ Common Ghost Month taboos and the stories behind them

Whether you’re learning Cantonese or you’re curious about Hong Kong culture, this episode is packed with useful vocabulary and fascinating traditions!

📝 Vocabulary

• 鬼節 (gwai2 zit3) – Ghost Festival

• 七月十四 (cat1 jyut6 sap6 sei3) – 14th day of the 7th lunar month

• 鬼門關 (gwai2 mun4 gwaan1) – Gate of Hell

• 燒衣紙 (siu1 ji1 zi2) – to burn paper offerings (joss paper)

🎧 Listen now and let us know:

Which Ghost Month tradition surprised you the most?

🎙️ CantonBee Podcast Episode 14 – World Cup ⚽

Tournament

* 世界盃【sai3 gaai3 bui1】＝ World Cup

Football

* 足球【zuk1 kau4】＝ football

* 踢波【tek3 bo1】＝ to play football

Countries

* 國家【gwok3 gaa1】＝ country

* 英格蘭【jing1 gaak3 laan4】＝ England

* 巴西【baa1 sai1】＝ Brazil

* 阿根廷【aa3 gan1 ting4】＝ Argentina

* 法國【faat3 gwok3】＝ France

* 葡萄牙【pou4 tou4 ngaa4】＝ Portugal

* 日本【jat6 bun2】＝ Japan

* 韓國【hon4 gwok3】＝ South Korea

* 西班牙【sai1 baan1 ngaa4】＝ Spain

* 德國【dak1 gwok3】＝ Germany

Teams

* 球隊【kau4 deoi2】＝ football team

Famous Players

* 美斯【mei5 si1】＝ Messi

* C朗【si1 long5】＝ Cristiano Ronaldo

* 簡尼【gaan2 nei4】＝ Harry Kane

* 夏蘭特【haa6 laan4 dak6】＝ Erling Haaland

* 麥巴比【mak6 baa1 bei2】＝ Kylian Mbappé

* 尼馬【nei4 maa5】＝ Neymar

Football Facilities

* 球場【kau4 coeng4】＝ football pitch / football stadium

* 龍門【lung4 mun4】＝ goal

Player Positions

* 球員【kau4 jyun4】＝ football player

* 前鋒【cin4 fung1】＝ forward / striker

* 中場【zung1 coeng4】＝ midfielder

* 後衛【hau6 wai6】＝ defender

* 守門員【sau2 mun4 jyun4】＝ goalkeeper

Supporting a Team

* 支持【zi1 ci4】＝ to support

* 球迷【kau4 mai4】＝ football fan

Match Actions

* 入波【jap6 bo1】＝ to score

* 贏波【jeng4 bo1】＝ to win

* 輸波【syu1 bo1】＝ to lose

* 和波【wo4 bo1】＝ to draw

Scorelines

* 比數【bei2 sou3】＝ score

* 一比零【jat1 bei2 ling4】＝ 1–0

* 一比一【jat1 bei2 jat1】＝ 1–1

* 二比一【ji6 bei2 jat1】＝ 2–1

* 三比二【saam1 bei2 ji6】＝ 3–2

* 四比零【sei3 bei2 ling4】＝ 4–0

Football Rules

* 越位【jyut6 wai2】＝ offside

* 自由球【zi6 jau4 kau4】＝ free kick

* 角球【gok3 kau4】＝ corner kick

* 黃牌【wong4 paai2】＝ yellow card

* 紅牌【hung4 paai2】＝ red card

* 冠軍【gun3 gwan1】＝ champion

Did you know Cantonese has some REALLY colourful sayings? 😂 In this episode, Bee & Gwai-lou Gee compare famous Cantonese proverbs with English sayings and discover how different cultures express the same ideas!

We explore 5 classic Cantonese sayings, their literal meanings, real meanings, and English equivalents 👀

🐟 食得鹹魚抵得渴 (sik6 dak1 haam4 jyu4 dai2 dak1 hot3)

🍚 隔離飯香 (gaak3 lei4 faan6 hoeng1)

🐶 狗口長不出象牙 (gau2 hau2 zoeng2 bat1 ceot1 zoeng6 ngaa4)

🐷 豬乸戴耳環 (zyu1 naa2 daai3 ji5 waan2)

🎨 畫公仔畫出腸 (waa2 gung1 zai2 waa2 ceot1 coeng2)

From salted fish to pigs wearing earrings 🤣, these sayings reveal humour, wisdom, and Hong Kong culture in everyday Cantonese.

Join Bee & Gee as they explore Hong Kong life, culture, and everyday Cantonese — learn Cantonese naturally, one convo at a time! 🐝

🎧 Follow CantonBee Podcast for more Hong Kong culture & Cantonese learning!

#CantonBee #CantonesePodcast #LearnCantonese #HongKongCantonese #CantoneseSayings #CantoneseProverbs #HongKongCulture #CantoneseLearning #廣東話 #粵語 #廣東話Podcast #HongKongCulturePodcast #CantoneseExpressions #CantonesePhrases #Cantonais #광둥어 #広東語 #BahasaKanton #ภาษากวางตุ้ง #WikangCantonese

Ever wondered what really happens in a traditional Chinese wedding? 👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏻

In this episode, Bee and Gee walk you through the full journey of a Chinese marriage — from proposal to wedding banquet — and explain the meaning behind each tradition.

求婚【kau4 fan1】

Meaning: to propose marriage

訂婚【ding3 fan1】

Meaning: to get engaged

結婚【git3 fan1】

Meaning: to get married

擺酒【baai2 zau2】

Meaning: to host a wedding banquet

開門利是【hoi1 mun4 lei6 si6】

Meaning: red packet given to open the door (door games tradition)

接新娘【zip3 san1 noeng4】

Meaning: groom picking up the bride

玩新郎【waan2 san1 long4】

Meaning: groom door games / challenges by bridesmaids

禮金【lai5 gam1】

Meaning: bride price (money given by groom’s family)

嫁妝【gaa3 zong1】

Meaning: dowry (gifts from bride’s family)

龍鳯鈪【lung4 fung6 ngaak3】

Meaning: dragon & phoenix wedding bracelets (gold jewellery)

過大禮【gwo3 daai6 lai5】

Meaning: formal betrothal gift ceremony

金器【gam1 hei3】

Meaning: gold jewellery

人情【jan4 cing4】

Meaning: wedding gift money from guests

敬茶【ging3 caa4】

Meaning: tea ceremony (showing respect to elders)

斟茶【zam1 caa4】

Meaning: to pour tea

What shocked Gee the most when he visited Hong Kong? 🇭🇰

In this episode, Bee and Gee talk about Gee’s first impressions — the super tall buildings, tiny Hong Kong flats, lightning-fast cha chaan teng service, reliable public transportation, and how fast Hong Kong people walk.

Gee also shares why he felt very safe in Hong Kong and how locals react when foreigners speak Cantonese.

A fun episode about Hong Kong culture and Cantonese learning.

Follow CantonBee for more Cantonese learning and Hong Kong culture 🐝

Lunar New Year Traditions | Cantonese Culture Explained

Lunar New Year isn’t just about saying “Happy New Year” 🧧✨

In this episode of the CantonBee Podcast, Bee and Gee explore the real Cantonese traditions behind Chinese New Year — from 揮春 (fai1 ceon1) decorations to 年廿八洗邋遢 (nin4 jaa6 baat3 sai2 laap6 taat3) big cleaning day.

You’ll learn:

🧹 Why we clean the house before New Year

🖌 Why “福” is often placed upside down (福倒 fuk1 dou3 / 福到 fuk1 dou3)

🍽 What happens during 團年飯 (tyun4 nin4 faan6)

🧧 The meaning behind 派利是 (paai3 lei6 si6) / 𢭃利是 (lo2 lei6 si6)

🚫 Why 年初三 (nin4 co1 saam1) is called 赤口 (cek3 hau2)

🎊 Common Lunar New Year taboos you should avoid

Plus, we share 3 essential Cantonese blessings you can use this year:

✨ 新年快樂 (san1 nin4 faai3 lok6)

💰 恭喜發財 (gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4)

💪 身體健康 (san1 tai2 gin6 hong1)

If you’re learning Cantonese or curious about Hong Kong culture, this episode gives you practical phrases and cultural insight in one fun conversation.

🎧 Perfect for beginners who want to understand real Hong Kong Cantonese traditions.

—

Crash course link in IG bio 🐝

🎧 EP.9 — Chinese Zodiac Animals & Their Meanings

What are the Chinese Zodiac Animals, and what do they represent? 🧧🐲

In this episode, Bee & Gwai-lou Gee explore the 12生肖 (sap6 ji6 sang1 ciu3 — the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs), their meanings and cultural background — plus why the Zodiac year doesn’t start on 1 January, but around 立春 (lap6 ceon1 — Start of Spring, the first solar term) 🌱.

Perfect for beginners who want to learn Cantonese vocabulary and understand Chinese culture in a simple, fun way.

⸻

🐾 The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals（十二生肖 sap6 ji6 sang1 ciu3）

1️⃣ 鼠 syu2 — Rat

2️⃣ 牛 ngau4 — Ox

3️⃣ 虎 fu2 — Tiger

4️⃣ 兔 tou3 — Rabbit

5️⃣ 龍 lung4 — Dragon

6️⃣ 蛇 se4 — Snake

7️⃣ 馬 maa5 — Horse

8️⃣ 羊 joeng4 — Goat / Sheep

9️⃣ 猴 hau4 — Monkey

🔟 雞 gai1 — Rooster

1️⃣1️⃣ 狗 gau2 — Dog

1️⃣2️⃣ 豬 zyu1 — Pig

⸻

🐝 Want to learn Cantonese step by step?

Cantonese for Absolute Beginners — 30-Minute Crash Course

👉 Crash course link in bio

🎁 Free Cantonese Starter Pack also available!

#CantonBee #Cantonese #LearnCantonese #ChineseZodiac #十二生肖

#ChineseCulture #HongKongCantonese #CantoneseLearning

#ChineseNewYear #立春 #ZodiacAnimals #LanguagePodcast

🎙️ CantonBee Podcast｜Episode 8

Lucky & Unlucky Numbers in Cantonese

Why is 8 lucky but 4 avoided in Hong Kong? 🍀

In this episode, Bee and Gee talk about lucky and unlucky numbers in Cantonese and Hong Kong culture — and how numbers affect daily life, from buildings to phone numbers.

Perfect for Cantonese learners who want real cultural context, not just vocabulary.

👉 Follow CantonBee on Instagram & YouTube for more Cantonese tips and Hong Kong culture.

🎁 Get the FREE Cantonese Starter Pack + Measure Words List — link in bio of IG / YouTube (www.cantonbee.carrd.co)

Christmas means different things in British and Hong Kong culture.

In Britain, Christmas is mainly family time — going home, eating together, and spending the day with family.

For Hongkongers, family gatherings already happen often during Chinese festivals like 冬至, so Christmas is more commonly seen as a time for romance or hanging out with friends.

In this episode, Bee and Gee talk about how these differences can cause culture shock — especially for couples.

Cantonese words you’ll hear:

• 冬至【dung1 zi3】– Winter Solstice

• 聖誕節【sing3 daan3 zit3】– Christmas

• 聖誕快樂【sing3 daan3 faai3 lok6】– Merry Christmas

• 二人世界【ji6 jan4 sai3 gaai3】– romantic time for two

🎧 Listen now and see which side you relate to more — family or romance?