唔該

From the negation particle 唔 (m4) and the character 該／该 (goi1, “should”), literally meaning " should not ", saying that what the other had done was not necessary or it was very kind of them to have done this.

唔該 (Cantonese)

1. excuse me (to get attention)

   唔該，可唔可以要杯冰水呀？ [Cantonese, trad.]
   唔该，可唔可以要杯冰水呀？ [Cantonese, simp.]

   m⁴ goi¹, ho² m⁴ ho² ji⁵ jiu³ bui¹ bing¹ seoi² aa³?

   Excuse me, can I have a glass of ice water?

2. please

   唔該你同我睇住啲嘢。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   唔该你同我睇住啲嘢。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   m⁴ goi¹ nei⁵ tung⁴ ngo⁵ tai² zyu⁶ di¹ je⁵.

   Please keep an eye on my stuff.

   • 2019, 紙情, 《有些愛　錯過了就回不去》, Hong Kong: 孤泣工作室, →ISBN, page 69:

     佢想玩玩吓就唔該另覓目標。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     佢想玩玩吓就唔该另觅目标。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     keoi⁵ soeng² waan^4-2 waan^4-2 haa⁵ zau⁶ m⁴ goi¹ ling⁶ mik⁶ muk⁶ biu¹.

     if he wants to play around, he should please find another target.

3. thank you

   唔該嗮！／唔该嗮！ [Cantonese]  ―  m⁴ goi¹ saai³!   ―  Thank you very much!

When 唔該／唔该 is used to mean "thank you," only use it to thank someone for something that you have requested or for small favors. Using it to thank someone for a greater favor such as a (gift, patronage, or applause) may be offensive. See 多謝／多谢 (do1 ze6).

• (thank you):