Cantonese Numbers

Welcome to the sixth Cantonese lesson about numbers. This time we will learn about cardinal and ordinal numbers, followed by grammar rules, then animal names, finally a conversation in Cantonese to help you practice your daily phrases. Click on the sound icon to hear the words.

Cardinal and Ordinal - Cantonese - Pronunciation
one 一 [jat1]
first 第一 [dai6 jat1]
two 二 [ji6]
second 第二 [dai6 ji6]
three 三 [saam1]
third 第三 [dai6 saam1]
four 四 [sei3]
fourth 第四 [dai6 sei3]
five 五 [ng5]
fifth 第五 [dai6 ng5]
six 六 [luk6]
sixth 第六 [dai6 luk6]
seven 七 [cat1]
seventh 第七 [dai6 cat1]
eight 八 [baat3]
eighth 第八 [dai6 baat3]
nine 九 [gau2]
ninth 第九 [dai6 gau2]
ten 十 [sap6]
tenth 第十 [dai6 sap6]
eleven 十一 [sap6 jat1]
eleventh 第十一 [dai6 sap6 jat1]
twelve 十二 [sap6 ji6]
twelfth 第十二 [dai6 sap6 ji6]
thirteen 十三 [sap6 saam1]
thirteenth 第十三 [dai6 sap6 saam1]
fourteen 十四 [sap6 sei3]
once 一次 [jat1 ci3]
fifteen 十五 [sap6 ng5]
twice 兩次 [loeng5 ci3]
sixteen 十六 [sap6 luk6]
Monday 星期一 [seng1 gei1 jat1]
seventeen 十七 [sap6 cat1]
Tuesday 星期二 [seng1 gei1 ji6]
eighteen 十八 [sap6 baat3]
Wednesday 星期三 [seng1 gei1 saam1]
nineteen 十九 [sap6 gau2]
Thursday 星期四 [seng1 gei1 sei3]
twenty 二十 [ji6 sap6]
Friday 星期五 [seng1 gei1 ng5]
seventy one 七十一 [cat1 sap6 jat1]
Saturday 星期六 [seng1 gei1 luk6]
one hundred 一百 [jat1 baak3]
Sunday 星期日 [seng1 gei1 jat6]

Numbers Grammar Rules

Cantonese cardinal numbers refer to the counting numbers, because they show quantity. For example: I speak two languages. Ordinal numbers on the other hand tell the order of things and their rank: my first language is Cantonese. The examples below use numbers in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.

Grammar + Rules - Cantonese + Pronunciation
I have three dogs [number + noun] 我有三頭狗 [ngo5 jau5 saam1 tau4 gau2]
my daughter has two cats [number + noun] 我的女兒有二隻猫 [ngo5 di1 jyu5 ji4 jau5 ji6 zek3 maau1]
she speaks seven languages [verb + number] 她會講七種語言 [ji1 kui2 gong2 cat1 zung2 jyu5 jin4]
my brother has one son [number + singular noun] 我的哥哥/弟弟 有一個兒子 [ngo5 di1 go1 go1 / dai6 dai6 jau5 jat1 go3 ji4 zi2]
this is my second lesson [ordinal number + noun] 這是我的第二課堂 [ze2 si6 ngo5 di1 dai6 ji6 fo3 tong4]
did you read the third book? [ordinal number + noun] 你有否讀過第三本書 [nei5 jau5 fau2 dau6 gwo1 dai6 saam1 bun2 syu1]

We're not done yet! The following is a list of animals.

cow 牛 [ngau4]

goat 羊 [joeng4]

donkey 驢 [leoi4]

horse 馬 [maa5]

dog 狗 [gau2]

cat 貓 [maau1]

mouse 老鼠 [lou5 syu2]

bird 鳥 [niu5]

Conversation in Cantonese

Now we finally reach the last part, the practice of the daily conversations. These phrases are used to get to know new people, and break the ice.

English - Cantonese - Pronunciation
Where are you from? 你是哪裡人？ [nei5 si6 naa1 lei5 jan4]
I'm from the U.S 我來自（美國 / 香港） [ngo5 lai4 zi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2]
I'm American 我是美藉華人 [ngo5 si6 mei5 ze3 faa1 jan4]
Where do you live? 你住在哪裡？ [nei5 zyu6 zoi6 naa1 lei5]
I live in the U.S 我住在（美國/香港） [ngo5 zyu6 zoi6 mei5 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2]
What do you do for a living? 你做姓行？ [nei5 zou6 seng3 haang4]
I'm a student 我是（教師 /學生 /工程師） [ngo5 si6 gaau1 si1 hok6 saang1 gung1 cing4 si1]

Did you enjoy this lesson about numbers in Cantonese? I hope so, if you have any problem with this lesson contact me with questions you have homepage. You can now check the next lesson below.