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ngo5
I / me
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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
It belongs to the Yue branch of Chinese. It shares roots with Mandarin, but the spoken system is different.
How is it different from Mandarin?
Pronunciation and tones: Cantonese has its own sound system and tone patterns.
Core vocabulary: many daily words are different in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Spoken style: Cantonese uses sentence-final particles (aa3, laa1, maa3, ge3) much more.
Writing in Hong Kong/Macau: traditional characters are the standard.
Shared base: both still share many characters and a lot of formal written Chinese.
Traditional Characters and Mandarin Similarities
Cantonese in Hong Kong and Macau is written mainly with traditional characters.
Mandarin in mainland China is mostly written with simplified characters.
Even so, many common words and structures overlap, especially in formal writing.
Main challenge for beginners is usually spoken Cantonese: sounds, tones, and particles.
Minimum beginner knowledge
Tones: tone changes meaning, so learn words with tone from day one.
Jyutping: a sound guide for Cantonese. The final number (1-6) shows the tone, for example hou2.
Character awareness: recognize common traditional characters and basic parts.
Core sentence patterns: who + when + action + object/place.
Key particles: a small set makes speech sound natural fast.
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 itself. If the tone changes, the meaning changes.
This is why you should always learn a word and its tone together.
The 6 main tones
Tone 1: high and level. Example: gaa1 (家).
Tone 2: rising, like a short question. Example: hou2 (good).
Tone 3: mid and level. Example: jiu3 (want).
Tone 4: low and falling. Example: lei4 (come).
Tone 5: low and rising. Example: ngo5 (I).
Tone 6: low and level. Example: hai6 (is).
Useful starter words
hou2 -> good
jiu3 -> want
ngo5 -> I
hai6 -> is
lei4 -> come
How to practice
Say short words first, then short phrases.
Repeat out loud and copy one native recording.
Record yourself sometimes and compare.
Remember: tone is not extra decoration. It is part of the word.
Sounds
Jyutping: Tricky Sounds
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese.
The letters show the sound, and the final number shows the tone (1 to 6).
Example: hou2 means the sound hou with tone 2.
Do not read Jyutping like English spelling.
Common tricky sounds
ng: like the end of song, but at the beginning.Example: ngo5
j: like y in yes, not English j.Example: jiu3
z: a light dz/j sound, not English z.Example: zi1
c: an airy ts/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.
Example: sap6
Example: jat6
Example: sik6
m4: just m as a full syllable.Example: m4
Quick tip
Cantonese sounds are usually shorter and tighter than English.
If you over-stretch a vowel, the word may sound unnatural.
Remember: Jyutping is a sound map for Cantonese. Read it as Cantonese, not as English.
Characters
How to See the Parts
Many Chinese characters are made from smaller parts.
When you meet a new character, do not treat it as one big block. Look for structure first.
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 often points to person-related meaning.
口 often relates to mouth, speech, or sound.
女 often marks female-related words.
木 often connects to tree / wood ideas.
氵 often connects to water / liquid ideas.
心 / 忄 often relates to mind, emotion, or feeling.
言 / 讠 often relates to speech or language.
Meaning clue + another part
河: 氵 gives a water clue, and 可 is another main part.
喝: 口 gives a mouth/speaking clue, plus another main part on the right.
More complex characters: see big parts first
想 -> first see 相 + 心, then break 相 into 木 + 目.
請 / 请 -> first see 言 / 讠 + 青.
Read big blocks first; zoom in only after that.
Best reading method
Step 1: find the biggest visible parts.
Step 2: check if one part gives a meaning clue.
Step 3: only then look at smaller details.
Remember: you do not need to explain every tiny piece. The first goal is to see structure clearly.
Sentence Basics
Core Patterns
Good news: basic Cantonese grammar is often simpler than English.
Verbs usually do not change by person (I / you / he / she / they).
我去。
ngo5 heoi3
I go.
佢去。
keoi5 heoi3
He / She goes.
Basic order
Subject + Verb + Object
我食飯。
ngo5 sik6 faan6
I eat.
佢飲水。
keoi5 jam2 seoi2
He / She drinks water.
你買書。
nei5 maai5 syu1
You buy a book.
To be
hai6 = to be
m4 hai6 = not to be
我係學生。
ngo5 hai6 hok6saang1
I am a student.
佢係老師。
keoi5 hai6 lou5si1
He / She is a teacher.
我唔係老師。
ngo5 m4 hai6 lou5si1
I am not a teacher.
Have / do not have
jau5 = have
mou5 = do not have
我有錢。
ngo5 jau5 cin2
I have money.
我冇錢。
ngo5 mou5 cin2
I do not have money.
Want / do not want
jiu3 = want / need
m4 jiu3 = do not want
我要水。
ngo5 jiu3 seoi2
I want water.
我唔要。
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?
你要唔要呀？
nei5 jiu3 m4 jiu3 aa3?
Do you want it?
你有冇錢呀？
nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 cin2 aa3?
Do you have money?
你得唔得呀？
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 aa3?
Can you do it?
Remember: think in useful patterns, not long rule lists.
Sentence Basics
Longer Sentences
Main idea: build longer sentences one piece at a time.
Person + Time + Action + Place
Person + Action + Object + Extra information
Time usually comes early
我今日去工作。
ngo5 gam1jat6 heoi3 gung1zok3
I go to work today.
佢聽日嚟。
keoi5 ting1jat6 lei4
He / She comes tomorrow.
我而家唔得閒。
ngo5 ji1gaa1 m4 dak1haan1
I am busy now.
gam1jat6 = today
ting1jat6 = tomorrow
ji1gaa1 = now
Time and Action (No Verb Conjugation)
Cantonese verbs do not change like English verbs. There is no -ed or -ing verb form.
To show time, Cantonese uses time words and small markers around the verb.
zo2 = completed action
我食咗飯。
ngo5 sik6 zo2 faan6
I ate / I have eaten.
gan2 = action in progress
我食緊飯。
ngo5 sik6 gan2 faan6
I am eating.
gwo3 = life experience ("have ever")
我去過香港。
ngo5 heoi3 gwo3 hoeng1gong2
I have been to Hong Kong.
wui5 = future / will
我聽日會嚟。
ngo5 ting1jat6 wui5 lei4
I will come tomorrow.
Time word only can also show past/future clearly in context.
佢琴日嚟。
keoi5 kam4jat6 lei4
He / She came yesterday.
Place often uses hai2
hai2 = at / in
我喺屋企。
ngo5 hai2 uk1kei2
I am at home.
佢喺香港。
keoi5 hai2 hoeng1gong2
He / She is in Hong Kong.
廁所喺邊度？
cisou2 hai2 bin1dou6?
Where is the toilet?
Going somewhere
heoi3 = go
我去屋企。
ngo5 heoi3 uk1kei2
I go home.
你去邊度呀？
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
Where are you going?
Coming
lei4 = come
佢嚟屋企。
keoi5 lei4 uk1kei2
He / She comes home.
你聽日嚟唔嚟呀？
nei5 ting1jat6 lei4 m4 lei4 aa3?
Are you coming tomorrow?
Adjectives
Cantonese often uses hou2 before adjectives in everyday speech.
呢個好貴。
ni1 go3 hou2 gwai3
This is very expensive.
佢好靚。
keoi5 hou2 leng3
He / She is pretty.
呢個好好食。
ni1 go3 hou2 hou2 sik6
This is very tasty.
Because / so
jan1wai6 = because
so2ji5 = so
因為我好唔舒服，所以我唔去。
jan1wai6 ngo5 hou2 m4 syuufuk6, so2ji5 ngo5 m4 heoi3
Because I feel unwell, I am not going.
因為佢好忙，所以佢唔嚟。
jan1wai6 keoi5 hou2 mong4, so2ji5 keoi5 m4 lei4
Because he / she is busy, he / she is not coming.
Can / cannot
dak1 = can
m4 dak1 = cannot
我得。
ngo5 dak1
I can.
我唔得。
ngo5 m4 dak1
I cannot.
而家唔得。
ji1gaa1 m4 dak1
Not now / It does not work now.
你得唔得幫我呀？
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 bong1 ngo5 aa3?
Can you help me?
With someone
tung4 = with
我同佢去。
ngo5 tung4 keoi5 heoi3
I go with him / her.
我同朋友食飯。
ngo5 tung4 pang4jau5 sik6 faan6
I eat with a friend.
Remember: do not translate English word by word. Learn short sentence shapes, then add one piece at a time.
Speaking Patterns
Questions
In Cantonese, questions are often straightforward. Two easy methods are enough for beginners:
1) Question words
2) A-not-A questions
What? (mat1je5)
呢個係乜嘢？
ni1 go3 hai6 mat1je5?
What is this?
你要乜嘢？
nei5 jiu3 mat1je5?
What do you want?
Who? (bin1go3)
佢係邊個？
keoi5 hai6 bin1go3?
Who is he / she?
邊個嚟呀？
bin1go3 lei4 aa3?
Who is coming?
Where? (bin1dou6 / hai2 bin1dou6)
你喺邊度呀？
nei5 hai2 bin1dou6 aa3?
Where are you?
廁所喺邊度？
cisou2 hai2 bin1dou6?
Where is the toilet?
你去邊度呀？
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
Where are you going?
When? (gei2si4)
你幾時去呀？
nei5 gei2si4 heoi3 aa3?
When are you going?
佢幾時嚟呀？
keoi5 gei2si4 lei4 aa3?
When is he / she coming?
How much? (gei2do1 cin2)
呢個幾多錢？
ni1 go3 gei2do1 cin2?
How much is this?
一杯茶幾多錢？
jat1 bui1 ce4 gei2do1 cin2?
How much is one cup of tea?
How many? (gei2do1)
你有幾多呀？
nei5 jau5 gei2do1 aa3?
How many / how much do you have?
你要幾多？
nei5 jiu3 gei2do1?
How many / how much do you want?
Which? (bin1 go3)
你要邊個？
nei5 jiu3 bin1 go3?
Which one do you want?
邊個係你嘅？
bin1 go3 hai6 nei5 ge3?
Which one is yours?
A-not-A questions
Verb + m4 + Verb
你要唔要呀？
nei5 jiu3 m4 jiu3 aa3?
Do you want it?
你係唔係學生呀？
nei5 hai6 m4 hai6 hok6saang1 aa3?
Are you a student?
你有冇錢呀？
nei5 jau5 m4 jau5 cin2 aa3?
Do you have money?
你得唔得呀？
nei5 dak1 m4 dak1 aa3?
Can you do it?
Helpful particle
aa3 often makes a question sound softer and more natural.
你好唔好呀？
nei5 hou2 m4 hou2 aa3?
Are you okay?
你去邊度呀？
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
Where are you going?
Remember: keep the sentence shape, then add a question word or use Verb + m4 + Verb.
Speaking Patterns
Particles
Particles are small words, usually placed at the end of a sentence.
They often do not change the basic meaning, but they strongly change tone and feeling.
This is one reason spoken Cantonese sounds expressive and natural.
Important beginner rule
Do not translate particles word by word. Instead ask: does this sound softer, more obvious, more like a suggestion, or more conversational?
aa3
Often sounds softer, more open, and conversational.
你好呀。
nei5 hou2 aa3
Hi / Hello.
我唔知呀。
ngo5 m4 zi1 aa3
I do not know (soft tone).
你去邊度呀？
nei5 heoi3 bin1dou6 aa3?
Where are you going?
laa1 / laa3
Often gives a feeling of suggestion, decision, or "okay then / let's do it."
去啦。
heoi3 laa1
Let us go / Go now.
食飯啦。
sik6 faan6 laa1
Come eat now.
好啦。
hou2 laa3
Okay then.
gaa3
Often sounds explanatory or descriptive, like calmly stating a fact.
佢好好㗎。
keoi5 hou2 hou2 gaa3
He / She is very nice (explaining tone).
呢個好貴㗎。
ni1 go3 hou2 gwai3 gaa3
This is expensive (matter-of-fact).
我唔知㗎。
ngo5 m4 zi1 gaa3
I do not know (explaining tone).
maa3
Often sounds like light confirmation: obvious / expected / right?
係嘛？
hai6 maa3?
Is it so?
你知嘛。
nei5 zi1 maa3
You know, right?
佢係學生嘛。
keoi5 hai6 hok6saang1 maa3
He / She is a student, right?
lo1
Often sounds matter-of-fact, like "so then" or "that is the result."
唔去囉。
m4 heoi3 lo1
Then I am not going.
好囉。
hou2 lo1
Okay then.
ge3
Very common. At beginner level, treat it as useful for description and identification.
呢個係我嘅。
ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3
This one is mine.
佢係好好嘅。
keoi5 hai6 hou2 hou2 ge3
He / She is very good.
熱嘅。
jit6 ge3
It is hot.
凍嘅。
dung3 ge3
It is cold.
Best beginner set
aa3
laa1 / laa3
maa3
ge3
Quick comparison
我唔知。
ngo5 m4 zi1
I do not know.
我唔知呀。
ngo5 m4 zi1 aa3
I do not know / I am not sure.
去。
heoi3
Go.
去啦。
heoi3 laa1
Let's go / Go now.
Remember: particles are not decoration. They are a core part of natural spoken Cantonese.
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
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Help Me: -50 · Pause: -20 · Wrong Quiz: -100 · Idle 20s: -5 · Shuffle + New Game appear when no moves are left.
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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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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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