How do you say nali (哪裡) in Cantonese?

In Cantonese, 哪裡 (or 哪兒) is 邊度 (bin1 dou6). To ask where something is, put 喺 (hai2, to be at) in front: 洗手間喺邊度呀? means where is the toilet?

How do you say here and there in Cantonese?

Here is 呢度 (ni1 dou6) and there is 嗰度 (go2 dou6). They replace Mandarin 這裡 and 那裡. With 喺 in front, 喺呢度 means at this place and 喺嗰度 means over there.

How do you say who in Cantonese?

Who is 邊個 (bin1 go3), replacing Mandarin 誰. The same word also means which one, because Cantonese builds which, where and who from 邊 (bin1). The polite form for asking who someone is, for example on the phone, is 邊位 (bin1 wai2).

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How to say nǎlǐ (哪裡) in Cantonese?

In Cantonese, 哪裡 is 邊度 (bin1 dou6), and "where is it?" is 喺邊度 (hai2 bin1 dou6). Mandarin builds its question words from 哪 nǎ; Cantonese builds them from 邊 (bin1): 邊度 where, 邊個 who or which one, 邊 plus a measure word for which. Here and there follow the same pattern with 度 (place): 呢度 here, 嗰度 there. Learn the three and you have the whole set. Check the Mandarin tones in the pinyin converter.

If you'd say (Mandarin)	Say (Cantonese)	Notes
哪裡 / 哪兒 nǎlǐ / nǎr (where)	邊度 bin1 dou6	The everyday word; no erhua in Cantonese
在哪裡 zài nǎlǐ (where is)	喺邊度 hai2 bin1 dou6	在 becomes 喺 (hai2); see 係 vs 喺
這裡 / 這兒 zhèlǐ (here)	呢度 ni1 dou6	呢 replaces 這
那裡 / 那兒 nàlǐ (there)	嗰度 go2 dou6	嗰 replaces 那
誰 shéi (who)	邊個 bin1 go3	Polite version: 邊位 bin1 wai2
哪個 nǎge (which one)	邊個 bin1 go3	Same word as who; context decides
哪些 nǎxiē (which ones)	邊啲 bin1 di1	Mirrors 呢啲 (these) and 嗰啲 (those)

Scenarios

Situation	Say	Why
Looking for the toilet	洗手間喺邊度呀?	"Where is the toilet?" The 呀 softens it
A friend asks where you're off to	你去邊度呀? / 你去邊呀?	去邊 is the short, very common form
Telling someone where to stand	企喺呢度	"Stand here." 企 (kei5) is Cantonese for stand
Pointing across the street	喺嗰度	"Over there"
Answering the phone	請問邊位?	"Who's calling, please?" 邊個 would sound blunt here
Choosing between two items	你要邊個?	"Which one do you want?" Point at 呢個 or 嗰個 to answer

Variations

邊 plus a measure word gives you "which": 邊間 (which shop or school), 邊架車 (which car), 邊本書 (which book). Mandarin does the same with 哪 + measure word.
邊 on its own also means "where" in short questions: 你去邊? and 你住邊? (where do you live?).
邊處 (bin1 syu3) is another way to say where; it means the same, but 邊度 is the one you'll hear most in Hong Kong.
喺度 means "here, present", and before a verb it marks an ongoing action: 佢喺度食飯 is "he's eating".
Which side: 邊便 (bin1 bin6), with 呢便 this side and 嗰便 that side.

The mistake to avoid

Swapping 喺 (hai2, to be at) for 係 (hai6, to be). Mandarin uses 在 for location and 是 for identity, and Cantonese keeps the same split: 佢喺邊度? is "where is he?", but 佢係邊個? is "who is he?". The two sound alike apart from the tone, so say the rising hai2 for places. The good news: Mandarin's 那 nà (that) and 哪 nǎ (which) differ only by tone, but in Cantonese they are completely different words, 嗰 go2 and 邊 bin1, so that classic Mandarin mix-up disappears.

More Mandarin-to-Cantonese swaps on the Mandarin to Cantonese hub; related guides: 什麼 in Cantonese, 呢個 vs 嗰個, 係 vs 喺, 你好 in Cantonese; more answers on the FAQ page.

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