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Cantonese is a difficult Chinese language, however counting to 10 is very simple. Just use the pronunciation that's in this article. The following romanisation scheme is "Jyutping" - the most popular romanisation scheme for Cantonese.
Steps
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One: 一 = jat1. To say "yuht" say it with an exclamation mark. like this, "Yuht!" but say it fast and shortly. [1] X Research source
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Five: 五 = ng5. This is tricky. Instead of saying, "Mmm!" Like you tasted something good. Say it slowly and rising at the end, "Mmm..." Also, make sure your tongue touches the roof of your mouth while you're saying it. [5] X Research source
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Seven: 七 = cat1. It is like"ch" and then the "uht" sound. Say it quickly and shortly, and make sure you let your voice rise into a higher pitch at the end. [7] X Research source
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Eight: 八 = baat3. Say "baht" not with a low vowel, but kind of stretched out. [8] X Research source
- Imagine it as a cross between a and o.
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Ten: 十 = sap6. Say it like, "What's sup", except make the "u" sound more like an extended "a". Emphasis on the "sup". [10] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the Cantonese word for hello?CaeiiaTop AnswererIt's "néih hóu". Like "neigh" (a horse) and "hoe" (gardening tool) but said shortly and quickly. On the phone, you can say "wái." Like "why," but more forcefully and going up in tone as you speak it.
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QuestionWhat is the number eighteen in Cantonese?SergeantproCommunity AnswerIt is "sup bat", a combination of "sup" (10) and "bat" (8). Literally: ten-eight.
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QuestionHow do I say "thank you" in Cantonese?Community AnswerYou can say either "dor tse" if someone gives you a present, or "mmm goi" if someone helps you to do something.
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Tips
- Buy books and CDs that teach Cantonese.Thanks
- Because Cantonese is a tonal language (six tones versus Mandarin's four/five!), it may help you to think of it as a "tune". Counting should have an "up - down - up - down" sort of lilt. One is a higher tone, Two is a lower tone... If written as capitals vs lowercase... ONE... two... THREE... four... FIVE... six... (or YAHT, yee, SAHM, say, UNG, lok, BAHT, got, GAU, sop...)Thanks
- Listen to Cantonese people around you.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjgX94gWcIk
- ↑ https://www.omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
- ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
- ↑ https://cantonese.ca/numbers.php
- ↑ https://cantonese.ca/numbers.php
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
- ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
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