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ngo5
I / me
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Jyutping
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 section for foundations, sounds, characters, sentence structure, and spoken patterns.
Foundations
What Is Cantonese?
Cantonese is a Chinese language spoken mainly in:
Hong Kong
Macau
Parts of southern China
Overseas Chinese communities
What makes it different?
Its own pronunciation
Its own tones
Its own common vocabulary
Its own grammar patterns
Its own spoken particles
What beginners need to know
Tones: part of the word
Jyutping: how sounds are written
Characters: how words look
Grammar: how sentences work
Particles: how speech sounds natural
Beginner focus order
Do not try to master everything at once. Start with:
1) Sounds
2) Tones
3) Jyutping
4) Character structure
5) Basic grammar
6) Spoken patterns
Sounds
Tones
In Cantonese, tone is part of the word.
Same sound + different tone = different word.
The 6 main tones
Tone 1: high + level (high, flat). Example: gaa1.
Tone 2: rising (like a short question). Example: hou2 (good).
Tone 3: mid + level (calm, even). Example: jiu3 (want).
Tone 4: low + falling (lower, heavier). Example: lei4 (come).
Tone 5: low + rising (starts lower than tone 2). Example: ngo5 (I).
Tone 6: low + level (low, steady). Example: hai6 (is).
Good beginner words
hou2 -> good
jiu3 -> want
ngo5 -> I
hai6 -> is
lei4 -> come
Remember: tone is not extra. Tone = part of the word.
Sounds
Jyutping: Tricky Sounds
Jyutping uses Roman letters, but not English sound rules.
Do not read it like English.
Common tricky sounds
ng: like the end of song, but at the start. Example: ngo5.
j: like y in yes, not English j. Example: jiu3.
z: light j / dz sound, not English z. Example: zi1.
c: airy ch sound. Example: cin2.
eoi: tight, rounded vowel. Example: heoi3.
oe: rounded uh-like vowel. Example: soeng2.
yu: like ee with rounded lips. Example: jyu5.
aa: like a in father. Example: aa3.
-p / -t / -k: short closed endings. Stop quickly. Examples: sap6, jat6, sik6.
m4: just m by itself. Example: m4.
Quick tip
Cantonese sounds are often shorter.
Cantonese sounds are often tighter.
Cantonese sounds are often less stretched than English.
Remember: read Jyutping as Cantonese sound spelling, not English spelling.
Characters
How to See the Parts
Many Chinese characters are built from smaller parts.
Do not read a new character as one big block.
Look for big parts, repeated shapes, meaning clues, and inner structure.
Start with easy examples
木: tree / wood
林: 木 + 木 -> two trees = woods
森: 木 + 木 + 木 -> three trees = forest
Some characters show meaning directly
休: 亻 + 木 -> person + tree = rest
晶: 日 + 日 + 日 -> three suns
品: 口 + 口 + 口 -> three mouths
众 / 眾: 人 + 人 + 人 -> three people
Common meaning clues
亻 -> person
口 -> mouth / speaking
女 -> female-related meaning
木 -> tree / wood
氵 -> water / liquid
心 / 忄 -> heart / feelings / mind
言 / 讠 -> speech / words
Meaning clue + another part
河: 氵 is the water clue, 可 is another part. Think water-related and part-built.
喝: 口 is the mouth clue, right side is another part. Think mouth-action related.
More complex characters: see big parts first
想 -> main parts: 相 and 心. Then inside 相: 木 and 目.
請 / 请 -> main parts: 言 / 讠 (speech clue) and 青.
See big blocks first. Do not split everything too early.
Best reading method
Step 1: Find the biggest visible parts.
Step 2: Ask if you know a meaning clue or recognize a common shape.
Step 3: Only then look at smaller parts.
Remember: you do not need to explain every tiny piece. Start by seeing structure.
Sentence Basics
Core Patterns
Good news: Cantonese grammar is often simpler than English.
Verbs usually do not change by person (I/you/he/she/they).
ngo5 heoi3 -> I go
keoi5 heoi3 -> he/she goes
Same verb.
Basic order
subject + verb + object
ngo5 sik6 faan6 -> I eat
keoi5 jam2 seoi2 -> he/she drinks water
nei5 maai5 syu1 -> you buy a book
To be
hai6 = to be
ngo5 hai6 hok6saang1 -> I am a student
keoi5 hai6 lou5si1 -> he/she is a teacher
m4 hai6 = not to be
ngo5 m4 hai6 lou5si1 -> I am not a teacher
Have / do not have
jau5 = have
mou5 = do not have
ngo5 jau5 cin2 -> I have money
ngo5 mou5 cin2 -> I do not have money
Want / do not want
jiu3 = want / need
m4 jiu3 = do not want
ngo5 jiu3 seoi2 -> I want water
ngo5 m4 jiu3 -> I do not want it
Most useful negative word
m4 hai6 -> not be
m4 jiu3 -> do not want
m4 zi1 -> do not know
m4 ming4 -> do not understand
m4 hou2 -> not good / do not
Very common yes/no pattern
verb + m4 + verb
jiu3 m4 jiu3? -> want or not?
hai6 m4 hai6? -> is it or not?
jau5 m4 jau5? -> have or not?
dak1 m4 dak1? -> can or not?
nei5 jiu3 m4 jiu3 aa3?
nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 cin2 aa3?
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 aa3?
Remember: think in patterns, not long rule lists.
Sentence Basics
Longer Sentences
Main idea: build sentences one piece at a time.
person + time + action + place
person + action + object + extra information
Time usually comes early
ngo5 gam1jat6 heoi3 gung1zok3 -> I go to work today
keoi5 ting1jat6 lei4 -> he/she comes tomorrow
ngo5 ji1gaa1 m4 dak1haan1 -> I am busy now
gam1jat6 = today
ting1jat6 = tomorrow
ji1gaa1 = now
Place often uses hai2
hai2 = at / in
ngo5 hai2 uk1kei2 -> I am at home
keoi5 hai2 hoeng1gong2 -> he/she is in Hong Kong
cisou2 hai2 bin1dou6? -> where is the toilet?
Going somewhere
heoi3 = go
ngo5 heoi3 uk1kei2 -> I go home
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3? -> where are you going?
Coming
lei4 = come
keoi5 lei4 uk1kei2 -> he/she comes home
nei5 ting1jat6 lei4 m4 lei4 aa3? -> are you coming tomorrow?
Adjectives
Cantonese often uses hou2 before adjectives.
ni1 go3 hou2 gwai3 -> this is very expensive
keoi5 hou2 leng3 -> he/she is pretty
ni1 go3 hou2 hou2 sik6 -> this is very tasty
Because / so
jan1wai6 = because
so2ji5 = so
jan1wai6 ngo5 hou2 m4 syuufuk6, so2ji5 ngo5 m4 heoi3
jan1wai6 keoi5 hou2 mong4, so2ji5 keoi5 m4 lei4
Can / cannot
dak1 = can
m4 dak1 = cannot
ngo5 dak1
ngo5 m4 dak1
ji1gaa1 m4 dak1
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 bong1 ngo5 aa3?
With someone
tung4 = with
ngo5 tung4 keoi5 heoi3
ngo5 tung4 pang4jau5 sik6 faan6
Remember: do not translate English word by word. Learn short sentence shapes and add one piece at a time.
Speaking Patterns
Questions
Two easy ways to ask questions:
1) Question words
2) A-not-A questions
What? (mat1je5)
ni1 go3 hai6 mat1je5?
nei5 jiu3 mat1je5?
Who? (bin1go3)
keoi5 hai6 bin1go3?
bin1go3 lei4 aa3?
Where? (bin1dou6 / hai2 bin1dou6)
nei5 hai2 bin1dou6 aa3?
cisou2 hai2 bin1dou6?
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
When? (gei2si4)
nei5 gei2si4 heoi3 aa3?
keoi5 gei2si4 lei4 aa3?
How much? (gei2do1 cin2)
ni1 go3 gei2do1 cin2?
jat1 bui1 ce4 gei2do1 cin2?
How many? (gei2do1)
nei5 jau5 gei2do1 aa3?
nei5 jiu3 gei2do1?
Which? (bin1 go3)
nei5 jiu3 bin1 go3?
bin1 go3 hai6 nei5 ge3?
A-not-A questions
verb + m4 + verb
nei5 jiu3 m4 jiu3 aa3?
nei5 hai6 m4 hai6 hok6saang1 aa3?
nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 cin2 aa3?
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 aa3?
Helpful particle
aa3 often makes questions softer and more natural.
nei5 hou2 m4 hou2 aa3?
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
Remember: keep the sentence shape. Add a question word, or use verb + m4 + verb.
Speaking Patterns
Particles
Main idea: particles are small words, often at the end of a sentence.
They usually do not change basic meaning. They change feeling and tone.
They can make a sentence softer, more natural, more spoken, more obvious, or more friendly.
Important beginner rule
Do not translate particles word by word. Ask: softer, question-like, suggestion, obvious, or natural spoken tone?
aa3
Often softer, more open, conversational, and question-like.
nei5 hou2 aa3
ngo5 m4 zi1 aa3
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
laa1 / laa3
Often suggestion, movement, decision, "okay then," or "come on."
heoi3 laa1
sik6 faan6 laa1
hou2 laa3
gaa3
Often explanatory or descriptive, like stating something.
keoi5 hou2 hou2 gaa3
ni1 go3 hou2 gwai3 gaa3
ngo5 m4 zi1 gaa3
maa3
Often obvious, expected, lightly confirmed.
hai6 maa3?
nei5 zi1 maa3
keoi5 hai6 hok6saang1 maa3
lo1
Often matter-of-fact, natural result, then / so.
m4 heoi3 lo1
hou2 lo1
ge3
Very common. Beginner uses: describing / identifying, plus natural spoken description.
ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3
keoi5 hai6 hou2 hou2 ge3
jit6 ge3
dung3 ge3
Best beginner set
aa3
laa1 / laa3
maa3
ge3
Quick comparison
Without particle: ngo5 m4 zi1 -> I do not know
With particle: ngo5 m4 zi1 aa3 -> I do not know / not sure
Without particle: heoi3 -> go
With particle: heoi3 laa1 -> let's go / go now
Remember: particles do not just add meaning. They change the tone and feeling of speech.
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.
Food
Personal
Places
Transport
Culture moved
Culture content is now in Stories → Culture.
Fun area with mini stories, culture notes, and games.
Story of the day
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Tap any highlighted Hanzi to open quick explanation.
Games
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Hanzi Match-3
Tap 2 neighboring tiles to swap. Match 3+ same Hanzi.
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Match Hanzi to reveal meaning.
Help Me: -50 · Pause: -20 · Wrong Quiz: -100 · Idle 20s: -5 · Shuffle + New Game appear when no moves are left.
Press Start to begin.
Cantonese Blitz Challenge
Tap Start. A popup challenge opens with 60 seconds, 5 wins target, and mixed Translate + Listen + Tone rounds.
You can close the challenge anytime with the X button.
Mini Stories
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Jyutping
English
Lens
Select a story and tap Play.
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.
Use built-in starter words, or import a full translator dictionary dataset (English ↔ Cantonese).
Built-in translator dictionary: CC-Canto (Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0).
{
"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": [...]
}
or CSV:
hanzi,jyutping,english
我,ngo5,I / me
聽日,ting1 jat6,tomorrow
or CEDICT-style TXT:
傳統 简体 [romanization] /english gloss/
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