How to Say 'No' Politely in English When You Think in Cantonese

You've been asked to do something you can't (or don't want to) do. In Cantonese, you'd say something like:

「睇吓點啦」
「可能要遲少少」
「未必得喎」
「有啲難度」

These phrases work perfectly in Hong Kong. Everyone understands you're saying no—but politely, indirectly, and without burning bridges.

But when you try to translate them into English? Disaster.

• "Let's see how it goes" sounds vague and uncommitted.
• "Maybe a bit late" sounds like you're not taking it seriously.
• "Might not work" sounds uncertain and unprofessional.
• "A bit difficult" sounds like you're making excuses.

The result? Your client thinks you're wishy-washy. Your colleague thinks you're avoiding responsibility. Your boss thinks you're not confident.

But you're not any of those things. You're just trying to preserve 面 (face)—and English doesn't work that way.

Why Cantonese "No" Doesn't Translate

In Cantonese culture, saying no directly is considered rude, confrontational, and relationship-damaging. So we've developed dozens of ways to decline without actually saying「唔得」:

These work in Hong Kong because everyone shares the same cultural code. When you say「睇吓點啦」, your client knows you're not going to do it—but they appreciate that you're being respectful.

In English, none of this translates. English business communication values clarity, directness, and explicitness. If you write "Let's see how it goes," your client will literally think you mean "let's wait and see"—not "no."

This is why Cantonese speakers struggle with English emails at work. We're not bad at English—we're just trying to apply Cantonese communication rules to a language that doesn't share them.

The Solution: 7 English Patterns for Saying No (While Giving Face)

The good news? English does have polite ways to say no. They're just structured differently.

Instead of being vague and indirect (Cantonese style), English refusals are clear but softened with specific phrasing. Here are 7 patterns you can use:

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Pattern 1: The Soft No (Declining Without Explanation)

When to use: You want to decline politely without giving detailed reasons.

Cantonese instinct:

「唔得喎，唔好意思」

English pattern:

"Thank you for thinking of us, but we won't be able to take this on at the moment."

Why it works:

• "Thank you for thinking of us" = acknowledges the request (gives face)
• "won't be able to" = clear refusal (not vague)
• "at the moment" = softens the no (leaves door open for future)

Example:

"Thank you for the invitation to speak at your event. Unfortunately, we won't be able to participate this time due to scheduling conflicts. We appreciate you considering us and hope there will be opportunities to collaborate in the future."

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Pattern 2: The Conditional No (Declining Unless Conditions Change)

When to use: You'd say yes if circumstances were different.

Cantonese instinct:

「如果遲啲得就得，而家唔得」

English pattern:

"We'd love to help, but we can't commit under the current timeline/budget/scope. If [condition changes], we'd be happy to revisit."

Why it works:

• "We'd love to help" = shows willingness (gives face)
• "but we can't commit under..." = clear boundary (not vague)
• "If [condition], we'd be happy to revisit" = offers alternative (preserves relationship)

Example:

"We'd love to take on this project, but we can't commit to a three-day turnaround while maintaining the quality you expect. If the deadline could be extended to one week, we'd be happy to move forward. Please let us know if that's feasible."

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Pattern 3: The Redirect No (Declining But Offering Alternatives)

When to use: You can't do it, but you want to help them find a solution.

Cantonese instinct:

「我做唔到，但你可以搵第二個」

English pattern:

"This falls outside our area of expertise, but I'd be happy to recommend [alternative solution/person]."

Why it works:

• "This falls outside our area of expertise" = honest refusal (not making excuses)
• "I'd be happy to recommend" = shows you still want to help (gives face)

Example:

"Thank you for reaching out. This type of work falls outside our current focus area, but I'd be happy to recommend a few colleagues who specialize in this. Would that be helpful?"

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Pattern 4: The Delayed No (Buying Time Before Declining)

When to use: You need to decline but want to soften the blow by not refusing immediately.

Cantonese instinct:

「我諗吓先，之後覆你」

English pattern:

"Let me review this and get back to you by [specific date]."

Why it works:

• Gives you time to craft a thoughtful refusal
• Shows you're taking the request seriously (gives face)
• Sets a clear expectation (not vague like「睇吓點啦」)

Example:

"Thank you for sending this over. I'd like to review it carefully before committing. Can I get back to you by Friday with a decision?"

Follow-up (when you decline):

"Thank you for your patience. After reviewing the details, we've determined that we won't be able to take this on at the moment due to [brief reason]. We appreciate you thinking of us and hope we can collaborate on future projects."

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Pattern 5: The Partial No (Declining Part, Accepting Part)

When to use: You can't do everything they're asking, but you can do some of it.

Cantonese instinct:

「全部做唔晒，但可以做少少」

English pattern:

"We can't commit to [full request], but we'd be happy to help with [partial solution]."

Why it works:

• Shows willingness to help (gives face)
• Sets clear boundaries (not vague)
• Offers a concrete alternative (preserves relationship)

Example:

"We can't commit to delivering the full report by Monday, but we'd be happy to provide a summary of key findings by then, with the detailed analysis to follow by Thursday. Would that work for you?"

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Pattern 6: The Capacity No (Declining Due to Workload)

When to use: You're too busy and need to decline without sounding lazy.

Cantonese instinct:

「我而家好忙，做唔切」

English pattern:

"We're currently at capacity with existing commitments and wouldn't be able to give this the attention it deserves."

Why it works:

• "at capacity" = professional way to say "too busy" (not making excuses)
• "wouldn't be able to give this the attention it deserves" = shows respect for the work (gives face)

Example:

"Thank you for thinking of us for this project. We're currently at capacity with existing commitments and wouldn't be able to give this the attention it deserves. If your timeline is flexible, we'd be happy to discuss taking this on in [timeframe]. Otherwise, I'd be glad to recommend a few colleagues who might be available sooner."

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Pattern 7: The Budget/Scope No (Declining Due to Misalignment)

When to use: The project doesn't fit your budget, scope, or business model.

Cantonese instinct:

「呢個唔啱我哋做」

English pattern:

"After reviewing the details, this doesn't align with our current [budget/scope/focus area]."

Why it works:

• "doesn't align with" = professional way to say "not a fit" (not rude)
• Focuses on business reasons, not personal rejection (gives face)

Example:

"Thank you for the opportunity to review this proposal. After careful consideration, we've determined that this doesn't align with our current focus area. We appreciate you thinking of us and hope we can collaborate on projects that are a better fit in the future."

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How to Choose the Right Pattern

Not sure which pattern to use? Here's a quick decision tree:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Being Too Vague

Cantonese:

「睇吓點啦」

Bad English translation:

"Let's see how it goes."

Why it fails:
Your client will think you're still considering it—not declining.

Better:

"We won't be able to commit to this at the moment, but we appreciate you thinking of us."

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❌ Mistake 2: Over-Apologizing

Cantonese:

「唔好意思唔好意思，真係唔得，對唔住」

Bad English translation:

"I'm so sorry, I really can't, sorry sorry sorry."

Why it fails:
Excessive apologies make you sound unprofessional and lacking confidence.

Better:

"Thank you for the opportunity. Unfortunately, we won't be able to take this on due to current commitments."

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❌ Mistake 3: Giving Too Much Detail

Cantonese:

「我呢排好忙，又要開會又要做報告，仲有好多嘢未做完...」

Bad English translation:

"I'm really busy right now, I have meetings and reports and so many things to finish..."

Why it fails:
Too much detail sounds like you're making excuses or complaining.

Better:

"We're currently at capacity with existing commitments and wouldn't be able to give this the attention it deserves."

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Practice: Rewrite These Cantonese Refusals

Try rewriting these common Cantonese refusals using the patterns above:

1. 「可能要遲少少」
(You can't meet the deadline)

Suggested rewrite:

"We won't be able to meet the original deadline, but we can deliver by [new date]. Would that work for you?"

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2. 「未必得喎」
(You probably can't do it)

Suggested rewrite:

"After reviewing the requirements, we've determined that we won't be able to take this on at the moment. We appreciate you thinking of us."

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3. 「有啲難度」
(It's unrealistic)

Suggested rewrite:

"Based on the scope and timeline, this would be challenging to deliver at the quality level you expect. If we could adjust [X], we'd be happy to move forward."

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Use CantoLingo to Generate Face-Saving Refusals

Instead of manually translating your Cantonese refusals and worrying about tone, use CantoLingo:

1. Type your refusal in Cantonese (the way you naturally think)
2. Select "Polite" or "Apologetic" tone
3. Choose your recipient type (client, colleague, manager)
4. Get a professional English refusal (clear, polite, face-saving)

Example:

Cantonese input:

「唔好意思，呢個我哋真係做唔到，你搵第二個啦」

CantoLingo output (Polite tone, Client recipient):

"Thank you for thinking of us for this project. After careful review, we've determined that this falls outside our current area of expertise, and we wouldn't be able to deliver the results you deserve. We'd be happy to recommend a few colleagues who specialize in this area if that would be helpful. We appreciate your understanding and hope we can collaborate on future projects that align more closely with our strengths."

Time saved: 25-35 minutes (no more Googling "how to say no politely" or rewriting five times).

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Ready to Say No with Confidence?

Stop worrying about sounding rude or burning bridges. Start using CantoLingo to translate your Cantonese refusals into clear, professional, face-saving English.

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P.S. Saying no isn't rude—it's professional. The key is how you say it. CantoLingo helps you find the right words so you can decline confidently while preserving relationships.