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ngo5
I / me
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Question-only training with natural English + literal structure. Use Practice Controls above for filters.
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Standard Cantonese vocabulary search.
Type English, Hanzi, Jyutping, or Pinyin.
Try: tomorrow, now, I, where, half.
Reference area for grammar, tones, writing, and culture notes.
Grammar Adventure
你好！(Néih hóu!)
Close your eyes for a second and picture this.
You push open the glass door of a noisy Hong Kong yum cha restaurant. Warm steam hugs your face. Bamboo baskets clatter on trolleys, aunties shout 點心嚟啦！, and the smell of fresh 蝦餃 (haa1 gaau2) and 叉燒包 (caa1 siu1 baau1) makes your stomach happy. Everyone around you is laughing, pointing at plates, chatting non-stop.
You sit down at the round table, heart beating a little fast, and you think:
"I want to join them! I want to say 'This dumpling is delicious!' or 'I already ate three!' or 'More tea, please?' or even 'Tomorrow let's come again!'"
And guess what? You can, because Cantonese grammar is built for exactly this kind of fun, everyday chat.
1) Basic Word Order
When you speak, the order is simple and friendly, just like English: who + does what + what.
我食包。 (Ngo5 sik6 baau1.) = I eat bun.
你飲茶。 (Nei5 jam2 caa4.) = You drink tea.
Why so easy? No crazy word flipping, no "he eats" vs "I ate" changes. The verb stays the same every time.
2) Tiny Magic Helpers
To show when something happens, Cantonese adds tiny helpers (called aspect markers):
食咗 (sik6 zo2) = already eaten (finished action, like past).
我食咗三個包。 (Ngo5 sik6 zo2 saam1 go3 baau1.) = I ate three buns already.
食緊 (sik6 gan2) = eating right now (action is happening).
我食緊叉燒包！ (Ngo5 sik6 gan2 caa1 siu1 baau1!) = I'm eating cha siu bao right now!
聽日會 (ting1 jat6 wui5) = will / tomorrow.
聽日我會再嚟。 (Ting1 jat6 ngo5 wui5 zoi3 lai4.) = Tomorrow I will come again.
Cantonese cares about how the action feels (done, happening, planned), so it sounds natural, like telling a story to friends.
3) Tones = Meaning
Those rising-falling sounds you hear everywhere are tones. Same letters, different melody, totally different meaning.
詩 (si1) = poem
試 (si3) = try
That tone music is why we practise listening and speaking together in every drill.
4) Easy Question Pattern
Want to ask something? Just lift your voice or use a "not-yet?" pattern:
好唔好食？ (Hou2 m4 hou2 sik6?) = Is it tasty? (good-not-good-eat?)
你食咗未？ (Nei5 sik6 zo2 mei6?) = Have you eaten yet?
5) Final Particles + Counters
Small words at the end add emotion and local flavor:
食啦！ (Sik6 laa1!) = Eat already! / Come on, let's go!
好味呀！ (Hou2 mei6 aa3!) = So yummy!
And when counting, use a counter word:
一個包 (jat1 go3 baau1) = one bun.
Cantonese loves measure words. They make you sound polite and local right away.
So here you are, sitting at the table, ready to speak your first real Cantonese sentences while the trolleys roll by. No scary textbooks, just real life, real food, real fun.
你得㗎！(Néih dāk gaa!)
Now open your eyes, take a deep breath, and tap Start the Adventure below. Let's eat, laugh, and talk like a local.
Grammar 2
Real table talk: yum cha sentence building
Imagine you are at a noisy yum cha spot in the morning. Your friend just sat down, and you want to say:
我而家同朋友食緊點心。
(Ngo5 ji4 gaa1 tung4 pang4 jau5 sik6 gan2 dim2 sam1.)
Natural English: I am eating dim sum with my friend right now.
1) 我而家 (ngo5 ji4 gaa1) = I right now
Cantonese often puts time words early. 而家 marks the action as happening now.
我而家 = I right now
No extra am/is/are verb is needed.
2) 同朋友 (tung4 pang4 jau5) = with friend
同 is your with word. Put it before the person and keep the sentence simple.
Pattern: 同 + person
同朋友 = with friend
3) 食緊 (sik6 gan2) = eating (ongoing action)
Add 緊 after the verb to show in-progress action, similar to English -ing.
食 = eat
食緊 = eating now
食咗 = ate already (finished action)
4) 點心 (dim2 sam1) = dim sum (general)
Here, 點心 is general food reference, so no measure word is required.
食緊點心 = eating dim sum (general)
三個點心 = three pieces of dim sum (specific count)
Measure words quick cheat sheet
個 (go3): general classifier (一個朋友)
隻 (zek3): animals/some object types (一隻貓)
杯 (bui1): drinks (一杯奶茶)
條 (tiu4): long things (一條魚)
Why this works so well
Cantonese stacks logical sentence pieces and uses small helper markers instead of heavy verb changes.
我 | 而家 | 同朋友 | 食緊 | 點心
I | right now | with friend | eating | dim sum
Tones
Why tones are super important in Cantonese
Cantonese has 6 main tones. Some people say 9, but the extra 3 are short checked versions (for syllables ending in -p, -t, -k) that map to tones 1, 3, and 6. For beginners, focus on the main 6 first.
Each tone is a different pitch pattern (how your voice moves up, down, or stays level).
Same sound + different tone = completely different word.
Example with "si"
si1 = 詩 = poem
si2 = 史 = history
si3 = 試 = try / test
si4 = 時 = time
si5 = 市 = market / city
si6 = 事 = thing / matter
Why? Over time, Cantonese lost many old final consonant differences, so tones carry more meaning. It is a bit like English stress, but much stronger.
The 6 tones: quick voice picture
High level (si1): flat and high, like a steady high note.
High rising (si2): starts mid-high and rises, like a surprised "huh?".
Mid level (si3): flat in the middle range, calm and neutral.
Low falling (si4): starts low and falls, a heavier tone.
Low rising (si5): starts low and rises gently.
Low level (si6): flat and low, relaxed.
Examples you will hear often
買 maai5 = buy
賣 maai6 = sell
詩 si1 = poem
試 si3 = try
心 sam1 = heart
審 sam2 = examine
In Jyutping, the tone number at the end tells you the tone. This is why Jyutping is very useful for training.
How to learn tones without stress
1) Listen a lot: repeat after native audio every day.
2) Practice minimal pairs: words that only differ by tone are gold.
買 maai5 (buy) vs 賣 maai6 (sell).
3) Sing/hum tone paths: high flat -> rising -> mid flat -> low falling -> low rising -> low flat.
4) Record yourself: compare with native audio and adjust.
Tones are pronunciation, but they also act like grammar because they decide which word you are saying. If tones are strong early, sentence building becomes much easier.
你得㗎，慢慢練就得！ (You've got this. Practice slowly and it will click.)
Cantonese Sounds Guide (Jyutping)
This is the Cantonese sounds guide using Jyutping (the easiest romanization for learners today).
Jyutping shows you exactly how to say each word with numbers 1-6 for the tones.
Why learn sounds first? Because one wrong sound can change the whole meaning, like saying "mother" instead of "horse". But don't worry, we practise slowly and with audio in real life.
1) The Basic Consonants (starting sounds)
Most are similar to English or Spanish, but a few are special:
b, d, g: soft, no puff of air (like Spanish "b" in "bebe", not strong English "b" in "bat").
Ex: 包 baau1 (bun) - gentle b.
p, t, k: strong puff of air when at the beginning (aspirated).
Ex: 怕 paa3 (afraid) - like "p" in "pin", not "spin".
j: like "y" in "yes" (not like English "j" in "jam").
Ex: 魚 jyu4 (fish) = yoo.
z: like "j" in French "je" or soft "dz" (not English "z").
Ex: 字 zi6 (word/character) = like "jee" but short.
c: like "ts" in "cats" but strong puff.
Ex: 車 ce1 (car/bus) = "ts" sound.
s: normal "s" like in "sun".
ng: like the end of "sing" but can start a word.
Ex: 我 ngo5 (I/me) - say "ng" first.
h: always strong breathy "h" like Spanish "j" in "jamon" but softer.
gw, kw: rounded lips like "gw" in "Gwen", "kw" in "queen".
Ex: 國 gwok3 (country), 快 faai3 (fast) wait no - 快 is faai3, but 框 kwong1 (frame).
2) The Vowels (the singing part)
Cantonese vowels are clear and usually short. Here are the main ones:
aa: long "a" like "father" but open mouth.
Ex: 媽 maa1 (mom).
a (short): like "u" in "but" or "cup".
Ex: 唔 m4 (not).
i: like "ee" in "see".
Ex: 食 sik6 (eat).
u: like "oo" in "food".
Ex: 書 syu1 (book).
e: like "e" in "bed" but a bit higher.
Ex: 車 ce1 (car).
o: like "aw" in "law" but shorter.
Ex: 好 hou2 (good).
oe: like French "eu" in "peur" or rounded "er".
Ex: 女 neoi5 (woman/girl) - lips rounded.
yu: like German "u" umlaut or French "u" in "lune".
Ex: 魚 jyu4 (fish).
ei, ai, oi, ui, au, ou - diphthongs (two vowels gliding).
Ex: 你 nei5 (you), 買 maai5 (buy), 愛 oi3 (love), 杯 bui1 (cup), 口 hau2 (mouth), 好 hou2 (good).
3) The 6 Tones - the music of Cantonese
Tones are the most important part. They decide the meaning.
Think of your voice like a little melody line:
High level (1) - flat and high, confident.
詩 si1 = poem (like holding a high note steady)
High rising (2) - starts mid and goes up sharply.
史 si2 = history
Mid level (3) - flat in the middle of your normal voice.
試 si3 = try / test
Low falling (4) - starts low and dips lower.
時 si4 = time
Low rising (5) - starts low and rises gently.
市 si5 = market / city
Low level (6) - flat and low, relaxed and casual.
事 si6 = thing / matter
Quick memory trick
High -> Mid -> Low
1 flat high -> 2 up high -> 3 flat mid
4 down low -> 5 up low -> 6 flat low
Quick Practice Words (same sound, different tone)
詩 si1 (poem)
史 si2 (history)
試 si3 (try)
時 si4 (time)
市 si5 (market)
事 si6 (thing)
Say them slowly, then faster.
Tips to Learn Fast
Listen and repeat every day (audio apps or YouTube "Jyutping tones").
Record yourself and compare.
Start with tones 1, 3, 6 (easiest flats), then add 2 and 5 (risers).
Sing the tones like a little song: high - up - mid - down - up - low.
You've got this. Once the sounds click, the rest (words, sentences) feels much easier.
Writing
1) Main script: Traditional Chinese characters (繁體字)
Cantonese in Hong Kong and Macau is written mainly with traditional characters, not simplified forms used in mainland China.
Why? Hong Kong, Macau, and many overseas communities kept older full forms, so writing looks more detailed and classic.
Love: 愛 (traditional) vs 爱 (simplified)
Eat: 食 (common Cantonese writing) vs 吃 (more Mandarin standard style, both understood)
Most characters overlap with standard written Chinese, so Cantonese speakers can read Mandarin text but pronounce it with Cantonese sounds and tones.
2) Standard Chinese vs Colloquial Written Cantonese
Standard/Formal writing (書面語): very close to written Mandarin. Used in books, school, news, and official writing.
我喜歡你 = I like you (formal written form)
Cantonese reading: ngo5 hei2 fun1 nei5
Colloquial written Cantonese (口語寫法): used in chats, social media, subtitles, comics, and local ads.
Why? Spoken Cantonese has words and particles not used in standard written Chinese, so writing adapts to real speech.
唔 (m4, not) instead of 不
我唔知 = I don't know
佢 (keoi5, he/she/it) instead of 他/她/它
乜嘢 / 咩 (mat1 je5 / me1) = what
你食咗乜嘢？ = What did you eat?
Particles stay in writing: 好食呀！
Common Cantonese-only feeling words: 冇 (not have), 嚟 (come), 係 (is)
3) Romanization: writing Cantonese sounds with Latin letters
Characters do not directly show pronunciation, so learners use romanization systems.
Jyutping (粵拼): modern standard, uses tone numbers 1-6.
Example: 我食飯 = ngo5 sik6 faan6
Why popular: accurate, keyboard friendly, common in apps and dictionaries.
Yale: older learner system, often uses accents or h-marking (no final tone numbers).
Example: 我食飯 ≈ ngóh sihk faahn
Why some like it: looks more familiar to English readers at first.
Quick app tips
Start with traditional characters + Jyutping + audio.
Add a toggle like Show colloquial mode for real Hong Kong-style lines.
Explain simply: formal writing is close to Mandarin; daily chat writing has extra Cantonese flavor.
This helps beginners see writing as: characters + sounds + context, not something scary.
你寫得越來越靚㗎！ (Your writing keeps getting better.)
Introduction to Traditional Chinese Characters in Cantonese
As a multilingual teacher fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Catalan, Spanish, and English, this section guides you through traditional Chinese characters the way a beginner book would.
Focus: what characters are made of, how they grow from simple to complex, and how to analyze them without feeling overwhelmed.
Style: short explanations with strong focus on why and how.
What Are Chinese Characters Made Of?
Chinese characters are logograms: each character represents a word or idea, not only sound letters like alphabet writing.
Why this matters: Cantonese and Mandarin may pronounce the same character differently, but the written meaning can stay stable across both.
English: cat
Cantonese: 貓 (Jyutping: maau1)
Same writing system, different spoken pronunciation by dialect.
Characters are built from strokes (basic pen movements). There are 8 main families:
Horizontal (一): a flat line.
Vertical (丨): straight down.
Dot (丶): a small tap.
Left-falling (丿): slants down-left.
Right-falling (乀): slants down-right.
Turning (乛): bends and turns.
Hook (亅): sharp curved ending.
Rising (㇀): upward slant.
Stroke order is strict: top to bottom, left to right, outside to inside.
Why strict order: writing is smoother, shapes stay balanced, and memory improves faster.
From Simple to More Complex Characters
Characters start simple and build into more complex forms by combining components.
Simple (1-3 strokes)
一 (jat1, one): one horizontal stroke, easy unity image.
人 (jan4, person): two falling strokes like legs.
山 (saan1, mountain): three peaks, direct nature image.
Medium (4-8 strokes)
木 (muk6, tree/wood): base plus branch structure.
日 (jat6, sun/day): enclosure with inner line, like a light window.
明 (ming4, bright): 日 (sun) + 月 (moon).
Why this is useful: seeing sun + moon makes "bright" memorable immediately.
Complex (9+ strokes)
樹 (syu6, tree): layered components around wood meaning.
愛 (oi3, love): includes a heart-related center plus outer structure.
Complexity grows by stacking parts, but most daily-use characters stay around 5-15 strokes.
Why: reading efficiency in real life.
How to Analyze Characters (So They Feel Less Complex)
Break characters into pieces. They are structured puzzles, not random drawings.
1) Spot the radical: key meaning hint (e.g. 木 in wood words like 林).
2) Count and order strokes: follow order for balanced shape.
3) Find meaning + sound roles: many are semantic-phonetic forms.
4) Decompose actively: turn one character into known parts.
河 (ho4, river) = 水 radical (water meaning) + 可 (sound hint).
媽 (maa1, mother) = 女 radical (female category) + 馬 (sound hint).
明 (ming4, bright) = 日 + 月 in left-right structure.
Characters become easier when you read parts, not whole shapes. Analyze -> decompose -> write -> review.
Study Sheet
Grouped Lines
This page groups high-frequency words by category in a near-grammar learning order, so you can review the most useful Cantonese building blocks quickly.
Culture moved
Culture content is now in Stories → Culture.
Fun area with mini stories, culture notes, and games.
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Tap any highlighted Hanzi to open quick explanation.
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Tap any highlighted Hanzi to open quick explanation.
Culture
Quick History Background
Hong Kong started as a fishing village and trading port. After the Opium Wars, Britain took control (Hong Kong Island in 1842, then Kowloon and the New Territories later). In 1997, it returned to China as a Special Administrative Region under "one country, two systems".
Why interesting? This created a strong East-West fusion: British-era systems and English influence, together with deep Cantonese roots from southern China.
In one day you can see double-decker buses, afternoon tea, and yum cha culture together.
Population and Areas
Population in 2026 is around 7.4-7.5 million (small variation by source). Hong Kong is compact (about 1,100 km²), so density is very high and people live vertically.
Hong Kong Island: Central business core, Peak views, finance and offices.
Kowloon: dense streets, markets, Temple Street, Mong Kok energy.
New Territories: villages, country parks, hills, and quieter districts.
Islands: over 260 islands, including Lantau (Big Buddha, Disney).
You can move from skyscrapers to hiking trails or beaches in under an hour.
Cultural Highlights
Food: Dim sum, roast meats, congee, egg tarts, cha chaan teng classics.
Yum cha: social tea + food time; people chat for long sessions.
Street food: fish balls, egg waffles, milk tea (奶茶 naai5 caa4).
Transport: left-side driving, iconic ferries, very high transit usage.
Octopus: card used for MTR, buses, shops, and many daily payments.
Cost of Living Snapshot
Housing is one of the biggest cost pressures. Central areas can be very expensive, while transport and local meals can still be relatively affordable compared with rent.
Small flat in central zones: often very high monthly rent.
Street meal: often around HK$50-100 range.
Typical MTR trip: often around HK$10-20 range.
Language and Local Style
Cantonese in Hong Kong is expressive and full of particles and slang. English loanwords are common in everyday speech.
巴士 (baa1 si2) = bus
波士 (bo1 si6) = boss
Particles like 啦, 呀, 喎 add tone and emotion in conversation.
Festivals and City Feeling
Lunar New Year fireworks, Dragon Boat races, Mid-Autumn lanterns, Cheung Chau Bun Festival.
Temples next to luxury malls, global brands next to old local shops.
Hong Kong feels fast, resilient, food-focused, and proudly Cantonese while still globally connected.
你嚟香港一定會愛上佢㗎！ (You will likely fall in love with Hong Kong when you visit.)
Street-ready Cantonese for taxi rides, markets, minibuses, restaurants, and crowded places.
Your app uses built-in basic words now. Import your own JSON to match your exact PDF list.
{
"words": [
{
"id": "w1",
"hanzi": "我",
"jyutping": "ngo5",
"mandarin_hanzi": "我",
"pinyin": "wǒ",
"english": "I / me",
"mandarin_english": "I / me",
"intent_id": "pronoun_i",
"category": "pronoun",
"example": "我學廣東話。"
}
],
"patterns": [...],
"quiz": [...]
}
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