This study compares the syntactic forms and pragmatic strategies used by Cantonese students in making suggestions in Cantonese (their L1) and English (their L2), with the suggesting practices of Australian students. As to pragmatic strategies, Cantonese students appear to resemble Australian students in their choices of perspective, directness and overall politeness. Important differences in their choices of suggestion strategies and redressive actions though, reflect either the preferential difference between the two languages or the subjects’ language competence.