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Cantonese tones, phrases and Jyutping

Plain-English guides to how Cantonese really works: the six tones, Jyutping, everyday phrases and the slang you’ll hear on the streets of Hong Kong. Written for English speakers, with Jyutping for every phrase.

Four torn paper squares in a row on cream paper, holding black-and-white cut-outs of a horse, a horse, a tiger and a tiger, underlined in red.

Language

11 min read

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Four torn paper squares in a row on cream paper, holding black-and-white cut-outs of a horse, a horse, a tiger and a tiger, underlined in red.

Language

11 min read

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Four torn paper squares in a row on cream paper, holding black-and-white cut-outs of a horse, a horse, a tiger and a tiger, underlined in red.

Language

11 min read

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling young girl in a puffy jacket, holding a red packet against her cheek with both hands, in front of a torn-paper photograph of fireworks over Victoria Harbour, on cream paper.

Family & heritage

10 min read

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a young woman in profile, one hand cupped beside her mouth as she calls out, with three red hand-drawn sound arcs travelling towards a small cut-out of a Hong Kong minibus, on cream paper.

Travel

7 min read

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Black and white cut-out of a Hong Kong grandmother and her granddaughter talking and laughing across a small café table over cups of tea, with a thin dark red line looping between them, on red paper.

Language

8 min read

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Black and white cut-out of a Hong Kong grandmother and her granddaughter talking and laughing across a small café table over cups of tea, with a thin dark red line looping between them, on red paper.

Language

8 min read

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Black and white cut-out of a Hong Kong grandmother and her granddaughter talking and laughing across a small café table over cups of tea, with a thin dark red line looping between them, on red paper.

Language

8 min read

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

A young woman in a running vest looks down as she pins a blank white race bib to her chest. A black-and-white cut-out on red paper, with an old oil can floating to her left and a thin red line flowing from its spout to the bib.

Language

6 min read

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

A young woman in a running vest looks down as she pins a blank white race bib to her chest. A black-and-white cut-out on red paper, with an old oil can floating to her left and a thin red line flowing from its spout to the bib.

Language

6 min read

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

A young woman in a running vest looks down as she pins a blank white race bib to her chest. A black-and-white cut-out on red paper, with an old oil can floating to her left and a thin red line flowing from its spout to the bib.

Language

6 min read

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

A young couple in dark wool coats stand forehead to forehead, eyes closed and smiling, her hand resting on his chest. A black-and-white cut-out on cream paper over a torn blush patch, with a thin red thread curling away to the right.

Language

8 min read

I love you in Cantonese: romantic phrases, pet names and meeting the parents

A young couple in dark wool coats stand forehead to forehead, eyes closed and smiling, her hand resting on his chest. A black-and-white cut-out on cream paper over a torn blush patch, with a thin red thread curling away to the right.

Language

8 min read

I love you in Cantonese: romantic phrases, pet names and meeting the parents

A young couple in dark wool coats stand forehead to forehead, eyes closed and smiling, her hand resting on his chest. A black-and-white cut-out on cream paper over a torn blush patch, with a thin red thread curling away to the right.

Language

8 min read

I love you in Cantonese: romantic phrases, pet names and meeting the parents

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

A black-and-white cut-out of a cha chaan teng waitress in a white shirt and striped apron, mid-stride and calling out, carrying a tray of milk tea and toast, on red paper.

Language

7 min read

Cha chaan teng Cantonese: how to order like a local

A young woman with long, sleek dark hair cups one hand beside her mouth as if whispering a secret, smiling knowingly at the camera. A black-and-white portrait on deep red paper.

Language

8 min read

Cantonese expressions and idioms: funny sayings Hong Kongers actually use

A young woman with long, sleek dark hair cups one hand beside her mouth as if whispering a secret, smiling knowingly at the camera. A black-and-white portrait on deep red paper.

Language

8 min read

Cantonese expressions and idioms: funny sayings Hong Kongers actually use

A young woman with long, sleek dark hair cups one hand beside her mouth as if whispering a secret, smiling knowingly at the camera. A black-and-white portrait on deep red paper.

Language

8 min read

Cantonese expressions and idioms: funny sayings Hong Kongers actually use

An overhead black-and-white cut-out of a round family dinner table on cream paper. Hands of every age, from an elderly grandparent’s to a small child’s, reach in with chopsticks over shared dishes of steamed fish, greens and prawns, beside small bowls of rice, one of them red.

Family & heritage

6 min read

Cantonese family terms: who is who, and what to call them

An overhead black-and-white cut-out of a round family dinner table on cream paper. Hands of every age, from an elderly grandparent’s to a small child’s, reach in with chopsticks over shared dishes of steamed fish, greens and prawns, beside small bowls of rice, one of them red.

Family & heritage

6 min read

Cantonese family terms: who is who, and what to call them

An overhead black-and-white cut-out of a round family dinner table on cream paper. Hands of every age, from an elderly grandparent’s to a small child’s, reach in with chopsticks over shared dishes of steamed fish, greens and prawns, beside small bowls of rice, one of them red.

Family & heritage

6 min read

Cantonese family terms: who is who, and what to call them

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

A black-and-white cut-out of a smiling woman in a knitted jumper on a torn dusty-pink paper patch, holding a har gow up to her chin with a pair of red chopsticks, a bamboo steamer of dumplings in front of her.

Language

6 min read

Dim sum in Cantonese: how to order at yum cha, from tea to bill

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

Three black-and-white cut-out portraits on torn cream paper against red: a woman in a blazer talking on her phone, an older stallholder in an apron calling out with a hand cupped to her mouth, and a young man with a backpack reading a map. A red thread runs from mouth to mouth.

Language

6 min read

Language in Hong Kong: what the city really sounds like

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

Numbers in Cantonese: counting, prices and paying like a Hong Konger

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

Numbers in Cantonese: counting, prices and paying like a Hong Konger

A smiling Hong Kong market stall holder in an apron behind piles of oranges and lychees, with hand-written red price cards reading $28, $35 and $10, cut out in black and white on cream paper with a blush torn-paper patch.

Language

6 min read

Numbers in Cantonese: counting, prices and paying like a Hong Konger

Collage of a young woman in profile on torn cream paper against red. A red thread runs into her ear and out of her mouth into a tangled knot, while an older relative's hand rests on her shoulder.

Family & heritage

7 min read

I understand Cantonese but can’t speak it: a guide for heritage learners

Collage of a young woman in profile on torn cream paper against red. A red thread runs into her ear and out of her mouth into a tangled knot, while an older relative's hand rests on her shoulder.

Family & heritage

7 min read

I understand Cantonese but can’t speak it: a guide for heritage learners

Collage of a young woman in profile on torn cream paper against red. A red thread runs into her ear and out of her mouth into a tangled knot, while an older relative's hand rests on her shoulder.

Family & heritage

7 min read

I understand Cantonese but can’t speak it: a guide for heritage learners

A woman's mouth and a listening ear linked by red lines carrying handwritten Chinese characters, on torn cream paper.

Language

6 min read

Cantonese pronunciation guide: sounds English speakers struggle with most

A woman's mouth and a listening ear linked by red lines carrying handwritten Chinese characters, on torn cream paper.

Language

6 min read

Cantonese pronunciation guide: sounds English speakers struggle with most

A woman's mouth and a listening ear linked by red lines carrying handwritten Chinese characters, on torn cream paper.

Language

6 min read

Cantonese pronunciation guide: sounds English speakers struggle with most

Two people waving hello, with handwritten 哈囉！ (haa1 lo3, “hello!”) in a red circle above them.

Language

4 min read

How to say hello in Cantonese: 10 greetings you’ll actually hear in Hong Kong

Two people waving hello, with handwritten 哈囉！ (haa1 lo3, “hello!”) in a red circle above them.

Language

4 min read

How to say hello in Cantonese: 10 greetings you’ll actually hear in Hong Kong

Two people waving hello, with handwritten 哈囉！ (haa1 lo3, “hello!”) in a red circle above them.

Language

4 min read

How to say hello in Cantonese: 10 greetings you’ll actually hear in Hong Kong

Hands exchanging a cup of tea and a wrapped red gift, illustrating everyday thanks and gratitude for gifts

Language

8 min read

How to say thank you in Cantonese: when to use 唔該 and 多謝

Hands exchanging a cup of tea and a wrapped red gift, illustrating everyday thanks and gratitude for gifts

Language

8 min read

How to say thank you in Cantonese: when to use 唔該 and 多謝

Hands exchanging a cup of tea and a wrapped red gift, illustrating everyday thanks and gratitude for gifts

Language

8 min read

How to say thank you in Cantonese: when to use 唔該 and 多謝

A smiling woman holding a note with the Cantonese characters 唔該 (m4 goi1, “thank you”) and a pen, framed by torn cream paper on a red background.

Language

7 min read

Written Cantonese explained: characters, Jyutping and how Hong Kong actually writes

A smiling woman holding a note with the Cantonese characters 唔該 (m4 goi1, “thank you”) and a pen, framed by torn cream paper on a red background.

Language

7 min read

Written Cantonese explained: characters, Jyutping and how Hong Kong actually writes

A smiling woman holding a note with the Cantonese characters 唔該 (m4 goi1, “thank you”) and a pen, framed by torn cream paper on a red background.

Language

7 min read

Written Cantonese explained: characters, Jyutping and how Hong Kong actually writes

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A Star Ferry crossing the water beside a black-and-white view of the Hong Kong skyline, with a red sun and red brush strokes on cream paper.

Travel

4 min read

Moving to Hong Kong? The Cantonese you actually need to know

A woman taking an online Cantonese lesson with a tutor on screen, with a handwritten 你好 (nei5 hou2, “hello”) greeting in a cream speech bubble on a red paper background.

Updated for 2026

Language

11 min read

How to learn Cantonese as a beginner: where to start

A woman taking an online Cantonese lesson with a tutor on screen, with a handwritten 你好 (nei5 hou2, “hello”) greeting in a cream speech bubble on a red paper background.

Updated for 2026

Language

11 min read

How to learn Cantonese as a beginner: where to start

A woman taking an online Cantonese lesson with a tutor on screen, with a handwritten 你好 (nei5 hou2, “hello”) greeting in a cream speech bubble on a red paper background.

Updated for 2026

Language

11 min read

How to learn Cantonese as a beginner: where to start

A man practising Cantonese with a card reading nei5 hou2 and a red speech bubble containing 你好 (“hello”), against a softly tinted Hong Kong skyline with torn-paper edges.

Language

6 min read

Jyutping explained: Cantonese romanisation for beginners

A man practising Cantonese with a card reading nei5 hou2 and a red speech bubble containing 你好 (“hello”), against a softly tinted Hong Kong skyline with torn-paper edges.

Language

6 min read

Jyutping explained: Cantonese romanisation for beginners

A man practising Cantonese with a card reading nei5 hou2 and a red speech bubble containing 你好 (“hello”), against a softly tinted Hong Kong skyline with torn-paper edges.

Language

6 min read

Jyutping explained: Cantonese romanisation for beginners

Six young people holding red lines at different heights and angles to show the shapes of the Cantonese tones, against a red background.

Language

9 min read

Cantonese tones: all six explained, with a pitch chart

Six young people holding red lines at different heights and angles to show the shapes of the Cantonese tones, against a red background.

Language

9 min read

Cantonese tones: all six explained, with a pitch chart

Six young people holding red lines at different heights and angles to show the shapes of the Cantonese tones, against a red background.

Language

9 min read

Cantonese tones: all six explained, with a pitch chart

A young man and woman laughing together, with handwritten red Cantonese exclamations between them, 得啦！ (dak1 laa1, “all right!”) and 正呀！ (zeng3 aa3, “brilliant!”), on torn cream paper.

Updated for 2026

Language

12 min read

Cantonese slang: essential Hong Kong street language for 2026

A young man and woman laughing together, with handwritten red Cantonese exclamations between them, 得啦！ (dak1 laa1, “all right!”) and 正呀！ (zeng3 aa3, “brilliant!”), on torn cream paper.

Updated for 2026

Language

12 min read

Cantonese slang: essential Hong Kong street language for 2026

A young man and woman laughing together, with handwritten red Cantonese exclamations between them, 得啦！ (dak1 laa1, “all right!”) and 正呀！ (zeng3 aa3, “brilliant!”), on torn cream paper.

Updated for 2026

Language

12 min read

Cantonese slang: essential Hong Kong street language for 2026

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

A Hong Kong postcard showing a hazy sunset over the city and hills, with a red Star Ferry stamp in the corner, framed in red.

Travel

11 min read

Cantonese phrases for travellers: 50+ essentials for Hong Kong

A puzzled woman holding Hong Kong and China flags, with handwritten labels asking 廣東話？ (gwong2 dung1 waa2, “Cantonese?”) or 普通話？ (pou2 tung1 waa2, “Mandarin?”), against a cream torn-paper background.

Language

10 min read

Is Cantonese harder than Mandarin? An honest comparison

A puzzled woman holding Hong Kong and China flags, with handwritten labels asking 廣東話？ (gwong2 dung1 waa2, “Cantonese?”) or 普通話？ (pou2 tung1 waa2, “Mandarin?”), against a cream torn-paper background.

Language

10 min read

Is Cantonese harder than Mandarin? An honest comparison

A puzzled woman holding Hong Kong and China flags, with handwritten labels asking 廣東話？ (gwong2 dung1 waa2, “Cantonese?”) or 普通話？ (pou2 tung1 waa2, “Mandarin?”), against a cream torn-paper background.

Language

10 min read

Is Cantonese harder than Mandarin? An honest comparison

A woman practising Cantonese with headphones and an open notebook, with red speech marks and torn cream paper on a red background.

Updated for 2026

Language

6 min read

Best methods for learning Cantonese online in 2026

A woman practising Cantonese with headphones and an open notebook, with red speech marks and torn cream paper on a red background.

Updated for 2026

Language

6 min read

Best methods for learning Cantonese online in 2026

A woman practising Cantonese with headphones and an open notebook, with red speech marks and torn cream paper on a red background.

Updated for 2026

Language

6 min read

Best methods for learning Cantonese online in 2026

Collage of a smiling woman climbing sand-coloured concrete steps in front of a blush torn-paper patch on cream paper, about to step up to a single red step at the top.

Language

10 min read

How long does it take to learn Cantonese? Real milestones

Collage of a smiling woman climbing sand-coloured concrete steps in front of a blush torn-paper patch on cream paper, about to step up to a single red step at the top.

Language

10 min read

How long does it take to learn Cantonese? Real milestones

Collage of a smiling woman climbing sand-coloured concrete steps in front of a blush torn-paper patch on cream paper, about to step up to a single red step at the top.

Language

10 min read

How long does it take to learn Cantonese? Real milestones

Illustration of a gold lucky cat, with the Cantoflow logo displayed on its coin

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From the Journal

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy

Quick links

Home

Learning pathways

Workshops

Book lessons

Contact us

Learning pathways

Complete Cantonese

Survival Cantonese

Business Cantonese

All learning pathways

From the Journal

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy

Quick links

Home

Learning pathways

Workshops

Book lessons

Contact us

Learning pathways

Complete Cantonese

Survival Cantonese

Business Cantonese

All learning pathways

From the Journal

Chinese idioms in Cantonese: the four-character sayings Hong Kongers actually use

Chinese New Year greetings in Cantonese: what to say, and to whom

How to get off a Hong Kong minibus: say 有落 like a local

Is Cantonese a dialect? Five Cantonese language myths, busted

Add oil meaning: what 加油 really means in Hong Kong

The Cantoflow letter, sent once a month. Join and get our free tone cheat sheet. Unsubscribe any time.

© 2026 Cantoflow

Privacy policy

Terms and conditions

Cookie policy