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How to use the Pronunciation System
In these lessons we will be using the Yale romanization system, as it is one of the most widely-used romanization systems used in learning materials. Although I personally didn't like this system at first, due to the seemingly confusing representation of tones, it's actually easier than it initially seems.
N.B. Some resources may use different romanization systems, so I recommend becoming familiar with more than one.
N.B. Some resources may use different romanization systems, so I recommend becoming familiar with more than one.
Tones
First things first, Cantonese is a tonal language, and the general consensus is that there are six distinct tones (they may not seem distinct at first - but don't panic!).
Tone
|
Description
|
Mark
|
Example
|
1st
|
High-Level
|
-
|
sī
|
2nd
|
High-Rising
|
´
|
sí
|
3rd
|
Mid-Level
|
si
| |
4th
|
Low-Falling
|
`h
|
sìh
|
5th
|
Low-Rising
|
´h
|
síh
|
6th
|
Low-Level
|
h
|
sih
|
Initials and Finals
Initials are the beginning sounds of Cantonese syllables, and finals are are the rest of the syllable. To make this easier, I'll use an example from English: the word "star". The "st-" would be the initial, and "-ar" would be the final. In Cantonese, all initials must have a final, but not all finals require an initial.
Initials
Initial
|
Approximate Pronunciation
|
Example
|
Pronunciation
|
b
|
As in English
|
巴
|
bā
|
p
|
As in English
|
怕
|
pa
|
m
|
As in English
|
媽
|
mā
|
f
|
As in English
|
花
|
fā
|
d
|
As in English
|
打
|
dá
|
t
|
As in English
|
他
|
tā
|
n
|
As in English
|
那
|
náh
|
l
|
As in English
|
啦
|
lā
|
g
|
As in English
|
家
|
gā
|
k
|
As in English
|
卡
|
kā
|
ng
|
As in English
|
牙
|
ngàh
|
h
|
As in English
|
蝦
|
hā
|
gw
|
As in "Gwen"
|
瓜
|
gwā
|
kw
|
As in "quiet
|
誇
|
kwā
|
w
|
As in English
|
蛙
|
wā
|
j
|
Between j in "jury" and ds in "adds"
|
渣
|
jā
|
ch
|
Between ch in "cherry" and ts in "bats"
|
叉
|
chā
|
s
|
As in English
|
沙
|
sā
|
y
|
As in English
|
也
|
yáh
|
Finals
Final
|
Approximate Pronunciation
|
Example
|
Pronunciation
|
a
|
As in Father
|
沙
|
sā
|
ai
|
As in "height"
|
雞
|
gāi
|
aai
|
As in "mile"
|
街
|
gāai
|
au
|
As in "shout"
|
夠
|
gau
|
aau
|
As in "owl
|
教
|
gaau
|
am
|
As in "some"
|
心
|
sām
|
aam
|
As in "arm" (British English)
|
三
|
sāam
|
an
|
As in "under
|
身
|
sān
|
aan
|
As in "auntie"
|
山
|
sāan
|
ang
|
As in "ankle"
|
生
|
sāng
|
aang
|
Pronounced as "aan" with a "ng" sound
|
行
|
hàahng
|
ap
|
As in "up"
|
十
|
sahp
|
aap
|
As in "harp
|
垃
|
laahp
|
at
|
As in "shut"
|
實
|
saht
|
aat
|
As in "art"*
|
辣
|
laaht
|
ak
|
Between "luck" and "lack"
|
得
|
dāk
|
aak
|
As in "lark"
|
肋
|
laahk
|
e
|
As in "chair
|
遮
|
jē
|
ei
|
As in "weight"
|
記
|
gei
|
eng
|
As in "length"
|
靚
|
leng
|
ek
|
As in "trek"
|
隻
|
jek
|
i
|
As in "me"
|
紙
|
jí
|
iu
|
Betweek "il" in "milk" and "ew" in "chew"
|
笑
|
siu
|
im
|
As in "team"
|
甜
|
tìhm
|
in
|
As in "in"
|
天
|
tīn
|
ing
|
As in "sing
|
星
|
sīng
|
ip
|
As in "sip"
|
涉
|
sip
|
it
|
As in "sit"
|
洩
|
sit
|
ik
|
As in "sick"
|
識
|
sīk
|
o
|
As in "dog"
|
我
|
ngóh
|
oi
|
As in "boy"
|
開
|
hōi
|
ou
|
As in "bow"
|
好
|
hóu
|
on
|
As in "gone"
|
乾
|
gōn
|
ong
|
As in "gong"
|
江
|
gōng
|
ot
|
As in "hot"
|
渴
|
hot
|
ok
|
As in "Aukland"
|
各
|
gok
|
u
|
As in "fool
|
苦
|
fú
|
ui
|
As in "weak"
|
杯
|
būi
|
un
|
As in "balloon"
|
半
|
bun
|
ung
|
As in "jungle"
|
中
|
jūng
|
ut
|
As in "foot"
|
闊
|
fut
|
uk
|
As in "book"
|
讀
|
duhk
|
eu
|
As in "her" (British English)
|
靴
|
hēu
|
eui
|
As "oi" but with the mouth rounded, pronounced lower in the mouth
|
去
|
heui
|
eun
|
As "eu" above, + n
|
信
|
seun
|
eung
|
As "eu" above, + ng
|
香
|
hēung
|
eut
|
As "eu" above, + t
|
出
|
chēut
|
euk
|
As "eu" above, + k
|
腳
|
geuk
|
yu
|
Pronounce "you" with pursed lips
|
書
|
syū
|
yun
|
As "yu" above, + n
|
院
|
yún
|
yut
|
As "yu" above, + t
|
月
|
yuht
|
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