Parenting Questions in Cantonese (Baby Sign Language – Week 10)

We had our final Sing and Sign session! AJ received his first certificate and I’m very tempted to get it framed. For my last baby sign language here (for now), we’re going to cover how to ask questions.

Signs of the Week

Here are the classic question words to sign every time you ask a question. You may remember how to sign ‘where’ already from our peekaboo week. For more guidance on how to structure questions in Cantonese, here is a great lesson from Dope Chinese with Gloria.

I like Gloria’s lessons because she teaches at a good pace and they are jam-packed full of Cantonese audio. Sometimes I find beginner lessons drag, especially when they are full of long English explanations- not suitable for heritage speakers.

Parenting Questions

Let’s look at some questions you are bound to ask your children sooner or later. Next time you ask your child one of the following, can you sign along too?

Who…?

佢係邊個啊? keoi5 hai6 bin1 go3 aa1? = Who are they (singular)?
你想打俾邊個 ? nei5 soeng2 daa2 bei2 bin1 go3 ? = Who do you want to call?
邊個係你死黨啊 ? bin1 go3 hai6 nei5 sei2 dong2 aa1? = Who is your best friend?

What…?

呢個係咩嚟㗎 ? ni1 go3 hai6 me1 lai4 gaa3? = What is this?
你想食啲咩 ? nei5 soeng2 sik6 di1 me1? = What do you want to eat?
你今日想做响咩 ? nei5 gam1 jat6 soeng2 zou6 di1 me1? = What do you want to do today?
發生咩事 ? faat3 sang1 me1 si6? = What’s wrong?
你哪度開緊的時呀 ? nei5 hai2 dou6 cai3 gan2 di1 me1 aa3? = What are you making?
呢個係咩色 ? ni1 go3 hai6 me1 sik1? = What colour is this?

Where…?

你喺邊度啊? nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa1? = Where are you?
你去邊度？nei5 heoi3 bin1 dou6? = Where are you going?
邊度痛 ? bin1 dou6 tung3? = Where does it hurt?

When…?

幾時交功課呀? gei2 si4 gaau1 gung1 fo3 aa1? = When is your homework due?
你幾時生日呀？nei5 gei2 si4 sang jat6 aa1? = When is your birthday?

How many…?

你見到有幾多個 . ? nei5 gin3 dou2 jau5 gei2 do1 go3..? = How many … can you see?
佢有幾多條邊 ? keoi5 jau5 gei2 do1 tiu4 bin1? = How many sides does this [shape] have?

And that’s the full baby sign language course complete! Over the past ten weeks, we’ve covered 45 different signs to teach your baby. Have they started signing back to you yet? Remember, consistency is key and you always must say the word along with the sign.

One day, I will return with more sign language lessons for toddlers but in the meantime, you can always review our previous signing lessons and our Quizlet deck. Happy Sunday and happy signing!

P.S. You can support Mama Bear Cantonese on Patreon. From £1 a month, you can access editable versions of all my resources as well as bonus content. Your generosity will help cover this site’s running costs. 多謝 do1 ze6!