Numbers and Counting in Cantonese

Overview

Cardinal numbers 0-100. Special Cantonese pronunciations differ from Mandarin. 二 ji6 vs colloquial 兩 loeng5 for 'two' before classifiers.

At the CEFR A1 (beginner) level, this concept -- known as 數字 in Cantonese -- is an essential component of daily communication. Cantonese grammar does not rely on verb conjugation or noun declension as European languages do. Instead, it uses word order, particles, and aspect markers to convey grammatical relationships. Understanding numbers and counting gives you a practical tool for immediate use in conversations.

For English speakers, some aspects of this concept will feel intuitive while others require a new way of thinking about language. The key to success is practicing the patterns until they become automatic, rather than trying to translate from English word by word.

How It Works

The Base-10 System

Cantonese numbers follow a logical base-10 structure. Once you know 1-10, you can construct any number up to 99:

Number	Character	Jyutping	Number	Character	Jyutping
0	零	ling4	6	六	luk6
1	一	jat1	7	七	cat1
2	二	ji6	8	八	baat3
3	三	saam1	9	九	gau2
4	四	sei3	10	十	sap6
5	五	ng5	100	百	baak3

Forming Compound Numbers

• 11-19: 十 + digit → 十一 sap6 jat1 (11)
• Multiples of 10: digit + 十 → 三十 saam1 sap6 (30)
• Two digits: tens + ones → 四十五 sei3 sap6 ng5 (45)

The Critical 二 vs 兩 Rule

Use 二 ji6	Use 兩 loeng5
Counting: 一、二、三...	Before classifiers: 兩個人
In tens: 二十 (20)	Expressing quantity: 兩杯水
Phone digits: ...二...	Amount: 兩百蚊 (200 dollars)

Examples in Context

Cantonese	Jyutping	English	Note
一二三四五	jat1 ji6 saam1 sei3 ng5	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	core pattern
六七八九十	luk6 cat1 baat3 gau2 sap6	6, 7, 8, 9, 10	core pattern
兩個人	loeng5 go3 jan4	two people (use 兩 with classifiers)	core pattern
五十三	ng5 sap6 saam1	fifty-three	core pattern
十五	sap6 ng5	fifteen	compound number
二十	ji6 sap6	twenty	二 for tens
一百	jat1 baak3	one hundred	hundred
兩杯茶	loeng5 bui1 caa4	two cups of tea	兩 before classifier
第一	dai6 jat1	first (ordinal)	ordinal prefix 第
三十六	saam1 sap6 luk6	thirty-six	compound

Common Mistakes

Using 二 Before Classifiers

• Wrong: 二個人 (two people)
• Right: 兩個人 loeng5 go3 jan4
• Why: Before classifiers, always use 兩, not 二.

Mandarin Pronunciation Transfer

• Wrong: Saying si4 for 四 instead of sei3
• Right: 四 is sei3 in Cantonese
• Why: Many numbers have completely different pronunciations in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Dropping the ng- Initial on 五

• Wrong: Saying 'mm5' or 'wu5' for 五
• Right: 五 is ng5, starting with a velar nasal
• Why: The ng- initial is a distinctive Cantonese sound.

Wrong Tone on 九

• Wrong: Saying gau3 instead of gau2
• Right: 九 is gau2 (tone 2, mid rising)
• Why: Tone errors on numbers are especially problematic in transactions and addresses.

Usage Notes

This pattern is used across all registers of spoken Cantonese, from casual conversation to more careful speech. At the CEFR A1 (beginner) level, focus on the colloquial spoken forms, as these are what you will hear and need in daily life in Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Cantonese-speaking communities.

Cantonese distinguishes between spoken (口語) and written (書面語) forms. The patterns in this article represent spoken Cantonese. Formal written Cantonese may use different vocabulary derived from Standard Written Chinese. At this stage, spoken mastery is your priority.

In Hong Kong specifically, you will encounter this pattern dozens of times daily -- in shops, restaurants, on public transport, and in social interactions. The frequency of exposure will help reinforce the pattern naturally, but deliberate practice accelerates the process.

Practice Tips

• Substitution drills: Take the example sentences and replace one element at a time with new vocabulary while keeping the grammar constant. This builds productive fluency efficiently.
• Daily sentence creation: Create three original sentences each day using this pattern about your real life. Personal relevance makes practice more memorable.
• Active listening: When watching Cantonese media, listen specifically for this pattern. Pause, repeat, and tally instances to build recognition speed.
• Record and compare: Record yourself saying the example sentences and compare with native speaker recordings, focusing on tones, rhythm, and particle placement.

Related Concepts

• Next steps: Basic Classifiers (Measure Words) -- extends this concept further
• Next steps: Time Expressions -- extends this concept further
• Next steps: Money and Shopping -- extends this concept further
• Next steps: Days, Months, and Dates -- extends this concept further