Talking About Sports in Cantonese: Key Vocabulary

When learning a new language, one of the best ways to improve is by incorporating your personal interests. If you’re a sports enthusiast, learning how to talk about sports in Cantonese can be an exciting and practical way to engage with the language. This article will guide you through key Cantonese vocabulary, phrases, and cultural insights related to sports. Whether you’re discussing a soccer match, talking about your favorite athlete, or just chatting about keeping fit, you’ll gain the confidence to have conversations about sports in Cantonese.

If you’re interested in mastering Cantonese and having fun learning about sports and other topics, check out our Cantonese classes at the NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo. Here’s the link to get started: Learn Cantonese.

1. Cantonese Vocabulary for Popular Sports

Here’s a list of the most common sports in Cantonese along with their pronunciation and meanings.

• 足球 (juk1 kau4) – Soccer
• 籃球 (laam4 kau4) – Basketball
• 乒乓球 (bing1 bam1 kau4) – Table tennis
• 羽毛球 (jyu5 mou4 kau4) – Badminton
• 網球 (mong5 kau4) – Tennis
• 游泳 (jau4 wing6) – Swimming
• 跑步 (paau2 bou6) – Running
• 體操 (tai2 cou1) – Gymnastics
• 排球 (paai4 kau4) – Volleyball
• 高爾夫球 (gou1 ji5 fu1 kau4) – Golf
• 拳擊 (kyun4 gik1) – Boxing
• 田徑 (tin4 ging3) – Track and field
• 馬拉松 (maa5 laai1 cung4) – Marathon
• 騎單車 (ke4 daan1 ce1) – Cycling

Example Sentences:

1. 我鍾意睇足球比賽。(ngo5 zung1 ji3 tai2 juk1 kau4 bei2 coi3) – I like to watch soccer matches.
2. 你有無打過籃球？(nei5 jau5 mou4 daa2 gwo3 laam4 kau4?) – Have you ever played basketball?

2. Talking About Players and Teams

Understanding how to refer to players, teams, and matches is essential when discussing sports.

• 球員 (kau4 jyun4) – Player
• 隊伍 (deoi6 ng5) – Team
• 教練 (gaau3 lin6) – Coach
• 隊長 (deoi6 zoeng2) – Team captain
• 裁判 (coi4 pun3) – Referee
• 比賽 (bei2 coi3) – Match
• 贏 (jeng4) – Win
• 輸 (syu1) – Lose
• 平手 (ping4 sau2) – Draw/tie

Example Sentences:

1. 佢係我最鍾意嘅球員。(keoi5 hai6 ngo5 zeoi3 zung1 ji3 ge3 kau4 jyun4) – He/She is my favorite player.
2. 我隊贏咗比賽。(ngo5 deoi6 jeng4 zo2 bei2 coi3) – My team won the match.

3. Sports-Related Verbs

Now let’s look at some common verbs related to sports and exercise:

• 踢 (tek3) – Kick (used for soccer)
• 打 (daa2) – Play (used for racket sports, like tennis or table tennis)
• 游 (jau4) – Swim
• 跑 (paau2) – Run
• 跳 (tiu3) – Jump
• 射 (se6) – Shoot (as in shooting a basketball)
• 贏 (jeng4) – Win
• 輸 (syu1) – Lose
• 訓練 (fan3 lin6) – Train, practice
• 健身 (gin6 san1) – Work out, exercise

Example Sentences:

1. 我每日都去健身房健身。(ngo5 mui5 jat6 dou1 heoi3 gin6 san1 fong4 gin6 san1) – I go to the gym to work out every day.
2. 你識唔識打羽毛球？(nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 daa2 jyu5 mou4 kau4?) – Do you know how to play badminton?

4. Discussing Fitness and Exercise

Fitness and health are essential topics when talking about sports. Here are some phrases and terms related to exercise and fitness in Cantonese:

• 健康 (gin6 hong1) – Health
• 鍛鍊 (dyun3 lin6) – To exercise, work out
• 體能 (tai2 nang4) – Physical fitness
• 肌肉 (gei1 juk6) – Muscle
• 燃燒卡路里 (jin4 siu1 kaa1 lou6 lei5) – Burn calories
• 飲食 (jam2 sik6) – Diet

Example Sentences:

1. 我覺得體能訓練好重要。(ngo5 gok3 dak1 tai2 nang4 fan3 lin6 hou2 zung6 jiu3) – I think fitness training is important.
2. 你點樣保持健康嘅生活習慣？(nei5 dim2 joeng6 bou2 ci4 gin6 hong1 ge3 sang1 wut6 zaap6 gwaan3?) – How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?

5. Cantonese Phrases for Watching Sports

If you’re a sports fan who loves watching games, either live or on TV, here are some phrases to use:

• 睇波 (tai2 bo1) – Watch a match (literally, “watch ball”)
• 直播 (zik6 bo3) – Live broadcast
• 入波 (jap6 bo1) – Score a goal
• 射波 (se6 bo1) – Shoot the ball
• 黃牌 (wong4 paai2) – Yellow card
• 紅牌 (hung4 paai2) – Red card
• 領先 (ling5 sin1) – Leading (in score)
• 追平 (zeoi1 ping4) – Equalize (score)

Example Sentences:

1. 今晚我地一齊睇足球直播。(gam1 maan5 ngo5 dei6 jat1 cai4 tai2 juk1 kau4 zik6 bo3) – Tonight we’ll watch a live soccer broadcast together.
2. 佢好叻，射咗三個波。(keoi5 hou2 lek1, se6 zo2 saam1 go3 bo1) – He/She is amazing; they scored three goals.

6. Sports Culture in Hong Kong and Cantonese-Speaking Communities

In Hong Kong and other Cantonese-speaking communities, sports play an important role in society. While soccer and basketball are among the most popular, other sports like table tennis, badminton, and rugby have gained significant attention.

Soccer in Hong Kong

Soccer (足球, juk1 kau4) is extremely popular, with many people gathering to watch local league matches or international competitions. European soccer leagues, especially the English Premier League, have a massive fan base in Hong Kong, and you’ll often see soccer fans sporting jerseys of famous teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, or Liverpool.

Basketball

Basketball (籃球, laam4 kau4) is another major sport. The NBA has a large following in Hong Kong, with fans staying up late to catch games. Hong Kong also has its own local basketball league.

Table Tennis and Badminton

Table tennis (乒乓球, bing1 bam1 kau4) and badminton (羽毛球, jyu5 mou4 kau4) are popular not only as professional sports but also as recreational activities. You’ll often find people playing these sports in parks, community centers, and schools.

If you want to become fluent in Cantonese and engage with Cantonese speakers about sports or any other topic, join our Cantonese classes at the NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo! Sign up here: Learn Cantonese.

7. Common Sports-Related Idioms and Expressions

Cantonese is a language rich in idiomatic expressions, and there are several sports-related idioms that you can use in conversation.

• 一箭雙鵰 (jat1 zin3 soeng1 diu1) – Literal meaning: “One arrow, two eagles.” This idiom means to achieve two things with one action, much like “killing two birds with one stone” in English.
• 得心應手 (dak1 sam1 jing3 sau2) – Literal meaning: “The heart responds, the hands execute.” This phrase means that someone is very skilled at something, especially in sports or physical activities.
• 馬不停蹄 (maa5 bat1 ting4 tai4) – Literal meaning: “The horse does not stop galloping,” this idiom describes someone who is continuously busy or working tirelessly without rest, much like a horse that never stops running. It can be used to describe an athlete who is constantly pushing themselves in training or competition.

• 一馬當先 (jat1 maa5 dong1 sin1) – Literal meaning: “One horse leading ahead.” This phrase is used to describe someone who is taking the lead or excelling in a competitive situation, much like a racehorse leading the pack.
• 打蛇隨棍上 (daa2 se4 ceoi4 gwan3 soeng5) – Literal meaning: “Hit the snake and follow with the stick.” This phrase means to seize the opportunity and act decisively, often used in sports when a player capitalizes on a mistake made by the opponent.

Example Sentences:

1. 佢嘅足球技巧真係得心應手。(keoi5 ge3 juk1 kau4 gei6 haau2 zan1 hai6 dak1 sam1 jing3 sau2) – His soccer skills are really second to none.
2. 喺呢場比賽，佢哋一馬當先贏咗第一分。(hai2 ni1 coeng4 bei2 coi3, keoi5 dei6 jat1 maa5 dong1 sin1 jeng4 zo2 dai6 jat1 fan1) – In this match, they took the lead and scored the first point.

8. Discussing Sports Injuries in Cantonese

Talking about injuries is an inevitable part of discussing sports. Here are some key words and phrases related to injuries:

• 受傷 (sau6 soeng1) – Injured
• 扭傷 (nau2 soeng1) – Sprain
• 骨折 (gwat1 zit3) – Fracture
• 拉傷 (laai1 soeng1) – Muscle strain
• 瘀傷 (jyu2 soeng1) – Bruise
• 復原 (fuk6 jyun4) – Recover

Example Sentences:

1. 佢喺比賽中途扭傷咗隻腳。(keoi5 hai2 bei2 coi3 zung1 tou4 nau2 soeng1 zo2 zek3 goek3) – He/She sprained his/her ankle in the middle of the match.
2. 受傷之後，佢休息咗兩個月。(sau6 soeng1 zi1 hau6, keoi5 jau1 sik1 zo2 loeng5 go3 jyut6) – After the injury, he/she rested for two months.

9. Talking About Your Favorite Sports in Cantonese

You might want to share with others which sports you enjoy. Here’s how you can talk about your favorite sports in Cantonese.

• 我最鍾意嘅運動係… (ngo5 zeoi3 zung1 ji3 ge3 wan6 dung6 hai6…) – My favorite sport is…
• 我每個星期打… (ngo5 mui5 go3 sing1 kei4 daa2…) – I play [sport] every week.
• 我參加咗… 隊。 (ngo5 caam1 gaa1 zo2… deoi6) – I joined the [sport] team.

Example Sentences:

1. 我最鍾意嘅運動係籃球。(ngo5 zeoi3 zung1 ji3 ge3 wan6 dung6 hai6 laam4 kau4) – My favorite sport is basketball.
2. 我每個星期打羽毛球。(ngo5 mui5 go3 sing1 kei4 daa2 jyu5 mou4 kau4) – I play badminton every week.

10. Sports Events and Festivals in Cantonese-Speaking Communities

Cantonese-speaking communities, especially in Hong Kong and Macau, host a variety of sports events and festivals. Some of the most popular include:

Dragon Boat Festival (端午節, dyun1 ng5 zit3)

Dragon Boat Racing (龍舟競賽, lung4 zau1 ging6 coi3) is one of the most iconic sports during the Dragon Boat Festival. Teams from around the world come to compete in these races, which have deep cultural and historical roots in Chinese communities. The dragon boat races are not just a sport but also a major social event that brings communities together.

Hong Kong Marathon (香港馬拉松, hoeng1 gong2 maa5 laai1 cung4)

The Hong Kong Marathon is one of the biggest annual sports events in Hong Kong. It attracts thousands of participants from around the world who run in different categories, including full marathon, half marathon, and a 10 km race.

11. Talking About Sportsmanship and Teamwork

In sports, having good sportsmanship and being a team player is important. Here are some key phrases:

• 體育精神 (tai2 juk6 zing1 san4) – Sportsmanship
• 團隊精神 (tyun4 deoi2 zing1 san4) – Team spirit
• 合作 (hap6 zok3) – Cooperation
• 領導能力 (ling5 dou6 nang4 lik6) – Leadership

Example Sentences:

1. 喺運動中，體育精神係好重要嘅。(hai2 wan6 dung6 zung1, tai2 juk6 zing1 san4 hai6 hou2 zung6 jiu3 ge3) – In sports, sportsmanship is very important.
2. 我哋嘅隊伍有好強嘅團隊精神。(ngo5 dei6 ge3 deoi6 ng5 jau5 hou2 koeng4 ge3 tyun4 deoi2 zing1 san4) – Our team has great team spirit.

12. How to Practice Cantonese While Learning Sports

To fully immerse yourself in learning Cantonese through sports, consider the following strategies:

1. Watch Cantonese Sports Broadcasts: Tune into local Cantonese broadcasts of sports events to get a feel for how sports commentary sounds in Cantonese. You’ll pick up on sports-specific vocabulary, phrases, and even slang used by fans.
2. Engage in Conversations with Native Speakers: Whether through language exchange programs or speaking with friends, engaging in discussions about sports with native Cantonese speakers will give you real-world practice.
3. Play Sports with Cantonese-Speaking Communities: If possible, join local sports clubs or meet-up groups where Cantonese speakers are active. Playing sports and communicating with teammates in Cantonese will deepen your learning experience.
4. Use Sports Apps in Cantonese: Some sports apps and platforms offer Cantonese language settings. Switch the language to Cantonese and read news, scores, and updates in your target language.

Conclusion

Talking about sports in Cantonese is a great way to expand your vocabulary, engage with native speakers, and immerse yourself in the cultural significance of sports within Cantonese-speaking communities. Whether you’re talking about your favorite soccer team, describing a basketball game, or just keeping fit, learning these key phrases and terms will enhance your Cantonese-speaking abilities.

Ready to take your Cantonese learning to the next level? At the NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo, we offer Cantonese classes tailored to your interests, including sports! Sign up now and join a growing community of learners: Learn Cantonese.

Feel free to share this article with fellow Cantonese learners who love sports! Engaging with sports-related content in Cantonese will definitely make your learning journey more exciting and practical.