Chinese (Traditional) (Hong Kong)→English

Translate Chinese (Traditional) (Hong Kong) to English the way locals mean it.

Chinese (Traditional) (Hong Kong) often uses polite formulas, softeners, and local terms whose social meaning is warmer, less certain, or more indirect than a textbook reading suggests.

Going the other way? English to Chinese (Traditional) (Hong Kong)

474 local dialects

AIRTranslate on iPhone choosing between Chinese (Traditional) varieties

What locals actually say

你方便的話，今晚前覆我就可以了。

If you can, just get back to me by tonight.

「就可以了」means that this is sufficient, which makes the request sound less demanding than a direct command.

我明白你的意思，不過這個安排未必可行。

I see your point, but this arrangement probably will not work.

「未必」literally suggests that something is not guaranteed, but in context it often signals polite doubt or a likely negative outcome.

這次真的麻煩你了，改天請你飲茶。

Thanks, I really owe you one. I will treat you to dim sum sometime.

「麻煩你了」is a formula for thanking someone for going to the trouble, while「飲茶」in Hong Kong commonly refers to a casual dim sum outing, not simply drinking tea.

乘的士到港鐵站會快一點。

Taking a taxi to the MTR station will be quicker.

「的士」是香港常用的出租車稱呼，「港鐵」則指香港的地鐵網絡，兩者都帶有香港用語色彩。

我們先去茶餐廳吃個早餐吧。

Let's grab breakfast at a cha chaan teng first.

「茶餐廳」是香港特有的餐飲用語，指供應奶茶、菠蘿包等常見港式食物的平價餐廳。

我家姐今晚會返港，大家一齊食飯啦。

My older sister is coming back to Hong Kong tonight, so let's all have dinner together.

「家姐」是香港常見的家庭稱呼，指姐姐，帶有本地口語色彩；「返港」也常用於表示回到香港。

請你把份報告放在我張枱上，謝謝。

Please put the report on my desk, thanks.

「枱」是香港書面語常見的字形，用來表示桌子，區別於較常見的「台」或「桌」。

今日落雨，出街記得帶遮。

It's raining today, so remember to take an umbrella when you go out.

「遮」是香港口語常用的雨傘稱呼，「出街」則表示外出，兩者都帶有香港日常用語色彩。

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Chinese (Traditional) (Hong Kong) differs

Hong Kong written Chinese, traditional characters. Standard written Chinese with HK vocabulary (的士, 巴士, 港鐵); this is written Chinese, not Cantonese — pick the Cantonese option for spoken-style Cantonese.

Sound like a local everywhere, not just here.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.

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Localization Notes explaining why locals say it that way