A Few Words of Mandarin and Cantonese for a Date
You don't need to speak Chinese to date a Chinese speaker in Canada. But a few words, said with a smile and a willingness to be corrected, are a warm gesture. Here are some easy ones in Mandarin and in Cantonese. Ask your date which they speak at home first.
First, ask which language
Mandarin and Cantonese are spoken very differently. Many people from mainland China and Taiwan speak Mandarin; many from Hong Kong and Guangdong, and many longer-established Chinese Canadian families, speak Cantonese; plenty speak both, and some mostly speak English. "Do you speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home?" is itself a good question.
Mandarin (pinyin)
Hello: 你好 (nǐ hǎo). Nice to meet you: 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ). Thank you: 谢谢 (xièxie).
How was your day? 你今天过得怎么样？ (nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?) Delicious: 好吃 (hǎochī). See you next time: 下次见 (xià cì jiàn).
Cantonese (Jyutping)
Hello: 你好 (nei5 hou2). Nice to meet you: 好高興認識你 (hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5).
Thank you: 唔該 (m4 goi1) for a favour or a service, 多謝 (do1 ze6) for a gift. Very tasty: 好好食 (hou2 hou2 sik6). See you next time: 下次見 (haa6 ci3 gin3).
How to use them well
Use one or two naturally rather than reciting a list, and laugh along if your tones come out wrong: both languages are tonal, and the effort is what's appreciated. Asking your date to teach you a phrase they like is often more fun than arriving with one.
More for people who aren't Chinese → How to spot online dating scams →