Useful Cantonese phrases. A collection of useful phrases in Cantonese, a variety of Chinese spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, southern China, and a number of other places, in traditional characters and Yale Romanization. Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal. Click on any of the phrases that are links to hear them spoken.
John T. Scopes. John Thomas Scopes (1900-1970) was a substitute high school teacher who went on trial in Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925 for teaching evolution against State law. Chicago criminal lawyer Clarence Darrow unsuccessfully defended Scopes against the charge.
Scope (noun). length; extent; sweep; as, scope of cable. Scope (verb). to look at for the purpose of evaluation; usually with out; as, to scope out the area as a camping site. Origin: [It. scopo, L. scopos a mark, aim, Gr. skopo`s, a watcher, mark, aim; akin to, to view, and perh. to E. spy.