Sounds & Tones Learn the 6 tones + why they change meaning.
6-tone quick chart
| 1: high level ─ | 2: rising ↗ | 3: mid ─ |
| 4: low falling ↘ | 5: low rising ↗ | 6: low level ─ |
Minimal pairs
- maa1 (媽, mother) vs maa5 (馬, horse)
- si1 (詩, poem) vs si3 (試, try)
Jyutping Basics Read pronunciation + tone numbers (e.g., hou2).
Format = syllable + tone number (e.g., hou2).
Initials
b p m f d t n l g k h ng z c s j w
Finals
aa aai aau am an ang e i o u oe yu
Common traps
- oe vs eo (vowel shape changes the sound)
- ng can be an initial (ng5)
- -ng vs -n finals (ang vs an)
Sentence Structure Build simple S–V–O sentences.
Core order = Subject + Verb + Object (no verb conjugation).
- 我食飯 / ngo5 sik6 faan6 / I eat rice.
- 佢去學校 / keoi5 heoi3 hok6 haau6 / He goes to school.
- 我哋學廣東話 / ngo5 dei6 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 / We learn Cantonese.
Negation uses m4 (唔) before the verb.
Yes/no pattern: hai6 m4 hai6…? (係唔係…?)
Essential Particles (Starter Set) Particles that show time/state and tone of speech.
Aspect markers
- 咗 zo2 — completed
- 緊 gan2 — ongoing
- 過 gwo3 — experience
Sentence-final particles
- 呀 aa3/aa4 — softening
- 呢 ne1 — checking/continuing
- 啦 laa1/laa3 — suggestion/soft push