Cantonese Colloquial Expressions

This book of Cantonese idioms is a pragmatic reference guide to everyday Cantonese conversation in Hong Kong. It will help learners understand speakers' intended meanings, since people do not always use the literal meaning of words or phrases in communication with others. Instead people often use metaphors and figurative language to express themselves. It is important to note that the metaphorical use of language is pervasive in all aspects of human discourse, including casual conversation as well as poetry. It provides coverage of over 1,800 entries of the most commonly-used Cantonese colloquial expressions. Entries are clearly grouped under ten different categories, with an index for ease of reference. The user-friendly Yale Romanization system is adopted, with a brief pronunciation guide.