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Common Tumbuka to Cantonese phrases

100 practical Tumbuka to Cantonese phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Tumbuka to Cantonese phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Cantonese translation (Cantonese) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.

The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Cantonese.

Tip: when a Cantonese phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tumbuka wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Cantonese translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.

Greetings and pleasantries

Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.

  1. Moni

    你好 (nei5 hou2)

  2. Zikomo

    多謝 (do1 ze6)

  3. Muli bwanji

    早唞 (zou2 tau2)

  4. Muli bwanji

    午安 (ng5 on1)

  5. Muli bwanji

    晚上好 (maan5 soeng6 hou2)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    晚安 (maan5 on1)

  7. Tiwonana

    再見 (zoi3 gin3)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    再見 (zoi3 gin3)

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    你叫咩名？ (nei5 giu3 me1 meng2)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    我叫John (ngo5 giu3 John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    你好嗎？ (nei5 hou2 maa3)

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    好高興見到你 (hou2 gou1 hing3 gin3 dou3 nei5)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    你會講英文嗎？ (nei5 wui5 gong2 jing1 man2 maa3?)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    我不太會講印地語 (ngo5 bat1 taai3 wui5 gong2 jan3 dei6 jyu5)

  3. Sindikumva

    我不明白 (ngo5 bat1 ming4 baak3)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    請慢慢講 (cing2 maan6 maan6 gong2)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    你可以再講一次嗎？ (nei5 ho2 ji5 zoi3 gong2 jat1 ci3 maa3?)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    洗手間在哪裡？ (sai2 sau2 gaan1 zoi6 naa5 lei5?)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    我怎樣去市中心？ (ngo5 zam2 joeng6 heoi3 si5 zung1 sam1?)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    向左轉 (hoeng3 zo2 zyun3)

  9. Pita kumanja

    向右轉 (hoeng3 jau6 zyun3)

  10. Pita mwendo

    直走 (zik6 zau2)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    票價是多少？ (piu3 gaai3 si6 do1?)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    請給我一張票 (cing2 kap1 ngo5 jat1 zoeng1 piu3)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    離這裡遠嗎？ (lei4 ze5 lei5 jyun5 maa3?)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    我迷路了 (ngo5 mai4 lou6 liu5)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    我可以在哪裡買SIM卡？ (ngo5 ho2 ji5 zoi6 naa5 lei5 maai5 SIM haak3?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Iye

    係 (hai)

  2. Ayi

    唔係 (m4 hai)

  3. Pang'ono

    可能 (ho2 nang4)

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    我同意 (ngo5 tung4 ji3)

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    我唔同意 (ngo5 m4 tung4 ji3)

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    聽落好 (ting1 lok6 hou2)

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    你點睇？ (nei5 dim2 tai2)

  8. Mungandithandize?

    你可以幫我嗎？ (nei5 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 maa3)

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    我需要幫助 (ngo5 seoi1 jiu3 bong1 zo2)

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    等一陣 (dang2 jat1 zan6)

  11. Ndikupemphera

    對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6)

  12. Palibe vutoli

    冇問題 (mou5 man6 tai4)

  13. Zikomo

    恭喜 (gung1 hei2)

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    生日快樂 (saang1 jat6 faai3 lok6)

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    一路平安 (jat1 lou6 ping4 on1)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    火車站在哪裡？ (fo2 ce1 zaam6 zoi6 naa5 lei5?)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    巴士站在哪裡？ (baa1 si2 zaam6 zoi6 naa5 lei5?)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    哪個月台？ (naa5 go3 jyut6 toi4?)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    幾點出發？ (gei2 dim2 ceot1 faat3?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    這是正確的路嗎？ (ze5 si6 zing3 kok3 dik1 lou6 maa3?)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    在這裡附近。 (zoi6 ze5 lei5 fu6 gan6.)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    離這裡很遠。 (lei4 ze5 lei5 han2 jyun5.)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    你可以在地圖上給我看嗎？ (nei5 ho2 ji5 zoi6 dei6 tou4 soeng6 kap1 ngo5 hon3 maa3?)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    請在這裡停。 (cing2 zoi6 ze5 lei5 ting4.)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    需要多久？ (seoi1 jiu3 gei2 do1?)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    這個多少錢？ (ze5 go3 do1 siu2 cin2?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    那個太貴了 (naa5 go3 taai3 gwai3 liu5)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    你有沒有便宜的東西？ (nei5 jau5 mou5 pin2 ji4 dik1 dung1 se3?)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    我可以用卡支付嗎？ (ngo5 ho2 ji5 jung6 kaat1 zi1 fu6 maa3?)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    我想要一張兩人的桌子 (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 zoeng1 loeng5 jan4 dik1 coek3 zi2)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    請給我帳單 (cing2 kap1 ngo5 zoeng3 daan1)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    服務包括在內嗎？ (fuk6 mou6 baau1 kwok3 zoi6 noi6 maa3?)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    我係素食者 (ngo5 hai6 sou3 sik6 ze2)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    請不要辣的食物 (cing2 m4 jiu3 laat6 dik1 sik6 mat6)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    這個很好味 (ze5 go3 han2 hou2 mei6)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    我可以要菜單嗎？ (ngo5 ho2 ji5 jiu3 coi3 daan1 maa3?)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    請給我一杯水 (cing2 kap1 ngo5 jat1 bui1 seoi2)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    打電話叫警察 (da2 din6 waa2 giu3 ging2 caat3)

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    打電話叫救護車 (da2 din6 waa2 giu3 gau3 wu6 ce1)

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    我需要醫生 (ngo5 seoi1 jiu3 ji1 sang1)

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    我覺得不舒服 (ngo5 gok3 dak1 bat1 syu1 fuk6)

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    我對花生過敏 (ngo5 deoi3 faa1 sang1 gwo3 man5)

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    最近的醫院在哪裡？ (zeoi3 gan6 dik1 ji1 jyun2 zoi6 naa5 lei5)

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    這裡痛 (ze5 lei5 tung4)

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    我唔見咗護照 (ngo5 m4 gin3 zo2 wu6 ziu3)

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    你可以打電話叫我的酒店嗎？ (nei5 ho2 ji5 da2 din6 waa2 giu3 ngo5 dik1 zau2 dim3 maa3)

  10. Thandizani!

    救命！ (gau3 ming6)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    很高興認識你 (hóu gōu hing yihn sīk néih)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    我們安排一個會議

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    你幾點方便？ (néih géi dím fōng bin?)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    我今天會發送報告

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    我們可以明天談嗎？ (ngóh mun hó yíh mìhng tīn tàhm ma?)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    請參閱附上的文件

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    謝謝你的時間

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    我期待與你合作

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    你可以解釋一下那一點嗎？ (néih hó yíh gaai sīk yāt hā nàh yāt dím ma?)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    我會再聯絡你

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    截止日期是星期五

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    而家幾點？ (ji4 gaa1 gei2 dim2?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    而家三點。 (ji4 gaa1 saam1 dim2.)

  3. Lero

    今日 (gam1 jat6)

  4. Maŵa

    聽日 (ting1 jat6)

  5. Kale

    尋日 (cam4 jat6)

  6. Lolemba

    星期一 (sing1 kei4 jat1)

  7. Lachiwiri

    星期二 (sing1 kei4 ji6)

  8. Lachitatu

    星期三 (sing1 kei4 saam1)

  9. Mmodzi

    一 (jat1)

  10. Awiri

    二 (ji6)

  11. Atatu

    三 (saam1)

  12. Kumi

    十 (sap6)

  13. Zana

    一百 (jat1 baak3)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    一半 (jat1 bun3)

  15. Zambiri

    多啲 (do1 di1)

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