Requests & Politeness: 唔該 m4 goi1

Cantonese has a unique and important politeness word: 唔該 m4 goi1. It literally means 'should not' (唔 not + 該 should), expressing 'I shouldn't have troubled you'. It replaces Mandarin 請 qǐng for making requests AND 謝謝 xièxie for thanking someone for services. This dual function has no Mandarin parallel.

Use 唔該 m4 goi1 when: (1) making a request or getting someone's attention — 唔該，幾多錢？m4 goi1, gei2 do1 cin2? (Excuse me, how much?); (2) thanking someone for a service or action — 唔該晒 m4 goi1 saai3 (thank you very much — for something they did). Think of it as 'please/thanks for your effort'.

Use 多謝 do1 ze6 when thanking someone for a gift, favor, or compliment — things they gave you, not things they did for you. Someone gives you a present: 多謝！ do1 ze6! Someone holds the door: 唔該！m4 goi1! This distinction doesn't exist in Mandarin (both would be 謝謝).

For apologies: 對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6 (sorry — formal) and 唔好意思 m4 hou2 ji3 si1 (excuse me / sorry — lighter). 對唔住 replaces Mandarin 對不起 duìbuqǐ, and 唔好意思 replaces 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi. The usage is parallel to Mandarin.

A common Cantonese-specific politeness phrase: 唔使客氣 m4 sai2 haak3 hei3 (no need to be polite / you're welcome) and 唔使 m4 sai2 on its own meaning 'no need'. 唔使唔該 m4 sai2 m4 goi1 = you're welcome (literally 'no need for thanks'). Also: 唔緊要 m4 gan2 jiu3 = it's OK / doesn't matter (= Mandarin 沒關係).