How to Count from 1 to 10 in Cantonese

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

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

PDF download Download Article
  1. 一 = jat1. To say "yuht" say it with an exclamation mark. like this, "Yuht!" but say it fast and shortly. [1]
  2. 二 = ji6. To say "yee" say it lowly and longer than "yuht." [2]
    Advertisement
  3. 三 = saam1. Say it like "sahm." [3]
  4. 四 = sei3. Say it like you would say, "Say that." Emphasis on the "say" [4]
  5. 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]
  6. 六 = luk6. It is like a cross between look and loke. Say it like "yuht!" [6]
  7. 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]
  8. 八 = baat3. Say "baht" not with a low vowel, but kind of stretched out. [8]
    • Imagine it as a cross between a and o.
  9. 九 = gau2. As with 5, the word rises at the end. [9]
  10. 十 = sap6. Say it like, "What's sup", except make the "u" sound more like an extended "a". Emphasis on the "sup". [10]
    11. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What is the Cantonese word for hello?
    Caeiia
    Top Answerer
    It'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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 14 Helpful 21
  • Question
    What is the number eighteen in Cantonese?
    Sergeantpro
    Community Answer
    It is "sup bat", a combination of "sup" (10) and "bat" (8). Literally: ten-eight.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 10
  • Question
    How do I say "thank you" in Cantonese?
    Community Answer
    You can say either "dor tse" if someone gives you a present, or "mmm goi" if someone helps you to do something.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 11
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Buy books and CDs that teach Cantonese.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • 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
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Listen to Cantonese people around you.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Say Hello in Different Languages
      How to
      Use a Chinese Calligraphy Brush
      The Best Way to Learn Mandarin
      How to
      Count to 10 in Arabic
      How to
      Count to 10 in Korean
      How to
      Count to Ten in Japanese
      How to
      Count to 100 in Irish
      How to
      Count to Ten in Spanish (Plus More Numbers Up to 100!)
      How to
      Count to Ten in Russian
      How to
      Count to 10 in German
      How to
      Count to Twenty in Bengali
      How to
      Count to Ten in Tagalog
      Spanish Numbers: How to Count from 1-100 (& Beyond)
      How to
      Count in Chinese
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjgX94gWcIk
      2. ↑ https://www.omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
      3. ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
      4. ↑ https://cantonese.ca/numbers.php
      5. ↑ https://cantonese.ca/numbers.php
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
      8. ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/numbers/cantonese.htm
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVs6R9ewzPg

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 221,699 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement