'Eye popping' lingo lessons: Useful Cantonese that allows you to rant like the best of us

The Cantonese language is probably one of the most poetic and expressive in the world, especially when you need to show negative feelings. For example: blogger Miss Fong in Hong Kong teaches us how to express anger with her post on the Cantonese phrase "ngaahn fo baau" literally meaning "eye fire explodes," as in, you were so wronged you feel like your eyes are about to pop out of your head with anger. Quite a useful phrase to use when, say, losing at the horse races, or haggling at Ladies Market.

Even us locals are always on the look out for the latest insults, which are too impolite for these pages, but if you are serious on brushing up your "guang dong waah" (Cantonese), then ditch the flashcards and click on Cecilie Gamst Berg's (a.k.a. Ah Sin) Youtube videos instead for Cantonese that is actually useful in everyday life, or listen to her RTHK podcast Naked Cantonese.

For advanced bilinguists who just need a bit of a helping hand now and then, the Cantonese Sheik will answer all translation issues related to everything from ordering dim sum like a pro to expressing your deep, hidden emotions.