Numbers and Counting
Numbers 0-100 in Cantonese
I can count to 100 and use numbers.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我今年二十五歲。
I am 25 years old.
我要兩杯咖啡。
I want two cups of coffee.
呢個幾多錢？五十蚊。
How much is this? Fifty dollars.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Numbers 0-10
| Number | Character | Jyutping |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 零 | ling4 |
| 1 | 一 | jat1 |
| 2 | 二 | ji6 |
| 3 | 三 | saam1 |
| 4 | 四 | sei3 |
| 5 | 五 | ng5 |
| 6 | 六 | luk6 |
| 7 | 七 | cat1 |
| 8 | 八 | baat3 |
| 9 | 九 | gau2 |
| 10 | 十 | sap6 |
11-99 Pattern
十一 sap6 jat1 = 11, 二十 ji6 sap6 = 20, 三十五 saam1 sap6 ng5 = 35
Note: When counting or using classifiers, 2 becomes 兩 loeng5 (not 二): 兩個人 (two people).
Using 二 instead of 兩 before classifiers.
我今年二十五歲。
I am 25 years old.
ji6 sap6 ng5 — 二十五 (25). Age: number + 歲 (years old).
我要兩杯咖啡。
I want two cups of coffee.
兩 loeng5 (NOT 二) before classifier 杯 (cup). Always 兩 when counting items.
呢個幾多錢？五十蚊。
How much is this? Fifty dollars.
五十蚊 = ng5 sap6 man1. 蚊 = colloquial for HK dollars.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises