🎙 CantonBee Podcast — Episode 6

Lion Rock Spirit｜獅子山精神：Why Hongkongers Never Give Up 🇭🇰

In this episode, Bee & Gee dive into 獅子山精神 si1 zi2 saan1 zing1 san4 — the iconic Hong Kong “Lion Rock Spirit.”

We explore what makes Hongkongers so strong, hardworking, and supportive of each other, even when life gets tough.

You’ll learn useful Cantonese vocabulary and phrases such as:

• 獅子山精神 si1 zi2 saan1 zing1 san4 — Lion Rock Spirit; HK’s never-give-up attitude

• 勤力 kan4 lik6 — hardworking

• 好捱得 hou2 ngaai4 dak1 — tough; able to endure hardship

• 唔怕辛苦 m4 paa3 san1 fu2 — not afraid of challenges

• 唔會輕易放棄 m4 wui5 hing1 ji6 fong3 hei3 — not giving up easily

• 打逆境波 daa2 jik6 ging2 bo1 — fight through adversity

• 靈活變通 ling4 wut6 bin3 tung1 — flexible and adaptable

• 互相幫助 wu6 soeng1 bong1 zo6 — help each other

• 加油 gaa1 jau2 — keep going / you can do it

• 唔好放棄 m4 hou2 fong3 hei3 — don’t give up

• 好捱得 hou2 ngaai4 dak1 — very resilient (repeated to emphasise meaning)

Bee & Gee also share personal stories about growing up in Hong Kong, cultural values, and how these phrases reflect the unique Hongkonger spirit.

💛 If you’re learning Cantonese or love Hong Kong culture, this episode is perfect for you!

Bee and Gee are back with a fun (and slightly spicy 🤭) cultural chat!

Today we explore the big and small hygiene habits that Westerners and Hongkongers do SO differently — from shoes at the door to shower routines to how we eat at restaurants.

We talk about:

🥿 Why Hongkongers take off shoes at home

🚿 Shower-before-bed vs morning shower

🍽️ Sharing dishes vs individual plates (and 公筷 becoming more common!)

🫖 Washing cutlery with hot tea at 茶餐廳

😆 Double-dipping — acceptable or criminal?

Lots of laughs and lots of “OMG so true” moments.

🎧 Tell us: Are you a morning shower or night shower person?

⸻

⭐ Vocabulary from this episode

• 污糟 wu1 zou1 — dirty / messy

• 乾淨 gon1 zeng6 — clean

• 瞓覺 fan3 gaau3 — to sleep

• 沖涼 cung1 loeng4 — to shower

• 筷子 faai3 zi2 — chopsticks

• 公筷 gung1 faai3 — serving chopsticks

• 酒樓 zau2 lau4 — Cantonese banquet-style restaurant

• 茶餐廳 caa4 caan1 teng1 — Hong Kong–style café

• 洗碗 sai2 wun2 — to wash dishes

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💛 Hong Kong people don’t often say “我愛你” (ngo5 oi3 nei5 — I love you). In fact, instead of saying 愛 (oi3, love), they might say “鍾意” (zung1 ji3 — like) to express affection, or simply show love through actions — cooking your favourite dish, checking if you’ve eaten, or quietly doing something thoughtful. 💬

In this heartfelt and funny episode, Bee 🐝 and Gee 🇬🇧 dive deep into how Hongkongers express emotions differently from Western cultures.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why Hong Kong people rarely say “我愛你” — and what they say instead ❤️

• The meaning of “我鍾意你” (I like you) and when it’s used in Cantonese

• Real-life examples of how families and couples show love without words

• Funny comparisons between British and Hong Kong ways of expressing emotion

• How language, culture, and upbringing shape emotional expression

Bee shares her personal experience growing up in Hong Kong, where open emotional expression wasn’t common. Gee, coming from the UK, gives his perspective as someone used to hearing “I love you” more often — and together, they uncover the warmth and subtlety behind Hong Kong love culture. 💞

💡 Learn Cantonese phrases from this episode:

• 我愛你 (ngo5 oi3 nei5) — I love you

• 我鍾意你 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 nei5) — I like you

• 食咗飯未呀？(sik6 zo2 faan6 mei6 aa3?) — Have you eaten yet?

• 小心呀！(siu2 sam1 aa3!) — Be careful!

• 記得着多件衫呀！(gei3 dak1 zoek3 do1 gin6 saam1 aa3!) — Remember to wear more clothes!

These everyday phrases may sound simple, but to Hongkongers, they often mean “I love you” — just without the words.

🎧 Learn Cantonese. Understand Hong Kong.

Subscribe to the CantonBee Podcast for more stories, laughter, and cultural insights — all while improving your Cantonese!

🐝 Follow @CantonBee on Instagram and YouTube for daily Cantonese tips, Reels, and learning resources.

🎁 Download your Free Cantonese Starter Pack → [link in bio or show notes]

🎵 Music: “Rain”

Musician: @iksonmusic

#CantonBee #Cantonese #HongKongCulture #LoveInHongKong #LearnCantonese #我愛你 #我鍾意你

In this hilarious and mouth-watering episode, Bee and Gee explore some of the most iconic (and surprising!) Hong Kong and Asian foods — from classic snacks to dishes that make Gee say “Whaaat?!” 🤯

🍽️ Featured foods:

🥮 月餅 (jyut6 beng2) — Mooncake

🍣 魚生 (jyu4 saang1) — Sashimi

🦑 海膽 (hoi2 daam2) — Sea urchin

🐔 鳯爪 (fung6 zaau2) — Chicken feet

🦆 鴨掌 (aap3 zoeng2) — Duck web

🐄 牛肚 (ngau4 tou5) — Beef tripe

🐮 牛舌 (ngau4 sit6) — Ox tongue

🥚 皮蛋 (pei4 daan6) — Century egg

🐸 田雞 (tin4 gai1) — Frog

🐙 海蜇 (hoi2 zit3) — Jellyfish

Gee gives his real gwai-lou reactions 😱 while Bee explains the Cantonese names, meanings, and cultural stories behind each dish — all with plenty of laughter and fun!

🎙️ CantonBee Podcast EP.2 — Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節快樂! 🌕✨

In this festive episode, Bee and Gwai-lou Gee chat about the Mid-Autumn Festival — one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations in Chinese culture! 💬💛

You’ll learn fun Cantonese words and phrases like:

🌕 中秋節快樂 【zung1 cau1 zit3 faai3 lok6】– Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

🥮 月餅 【jyut6 beng2】– mooncake

🎑 做節 【zou6 zit3】– to celebrate a festival

🏮 燈籠 【dang1 lung4】– lantern

Plus, you’ll hear about how people in Hong Kong celebrate by lighting lanterns, eating mooncakes, and enjoying the bright full moon together. 🌝💫

Listen now and celebrate 中秋節 with us — full of stories, laughter, and Cantonese learning fun! 🥮🐝

The legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival

中秋節 zung1 cau1 zit3 = Mid-Autumn Festival

后羿 hau6 ngai6 = Hou Yi

嫦娥 soeng4 ngo4 = Chang’e

玉兔 juk6 tou3 = Jade Rabbit

月餅 jyut6 beng2 = mooncake

燈籠 dang1 lung4 = lantern

賞月 soeng2 jyut2 = enjoy moon gazing