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Pronunciation Lesson 6
1. The Initial Pair gw and kw
The initials gw and kw are similar to the initials g and k combined with the initial w respectively.
The Initial gw
Step 1 Listen to the initial gw.
gw
Step 2 Listen and repeat.
gw
Soft palate: The back of the roof of your mouth
The Initial kw
Step 1 Listen to the initial kw.
kw
Step 2 Listen and repeat.
kw
Soft palate: The back of the roof of your mouth
Practice Practice saying the initials gw and kw with different finals. Listen and repeat.
-
gw ‒ aa ‒ gwaa1
kw ‒ aa ‒ kwaa1
gwaa1 kwaa1 -
gw ‒ ai ‒ gwai1
kw ‒ ai ‒ kwai1
gwai1 kwai1 -
gw ‒ an ‒ gwan2
kw ‒ an ‒ kwan2
gwan2 kwan2 -
gw ‒ ok ‒ gwok3
kw ‒ ok ‒ kwok3
gwok3 kwok3
2. Tone 1 to Tone 6
Let’s revise the six tones.
| Tone Number | Tone 1 | Tone 2 | Tone 3 | Tone 4 | Tone 5 | Tone 6 |
| Tone Name | High level | Mid rising | Mid level | Low falling | Low rising | Low level |
| Diagram |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Step 1 Listen to the syllable si in Tone 1 to Tone 6 together. Pay attention to the pitch.
si1
si1 si2
si1 si2 si3
si1 si2 si3 si4
si1 si2 si3 si4 si5
si1 si2 si3 si4 si5 si6
Step 2 Practice saying the syllable si in Tone 1 to Tone 6. Listen and repeat.
si1
si1 si2
si1 si2 si3
si1 si2 si3 si4
si1 si2 si3 si4 si5
si1 si2 si3 si4 si5 si6
Practice Say the following syllables from Tone 1 to Tone 6. Try it yourself before listening to the recording.
- jan1 jan2 jan3 jan4 jan5 jan6
- ze1 ze2 ze3 ze4 ze5 ze6
- ji1 ji2 ji3 ji4 ji5 ji6
- wai1 wai2 wai3 wai4 wai5 wai6
- jyun1 jyun2 jyun3 jyun4 jyun5 jyun6
3. Similar Tones
💭 Think!
Do some of the tones sound very similar to another tone to you?
We will practice saying and differentiating the following groups of similar tones:
- Level tones (Tone 1, Tone 3 and Tone 6)
- Rising tones (Tone 2 and Tone 5)
- Tones at the high pitch (Tone 1 and Tone 2)
- Tones at the low pitch (Tone 4, Tone 5 and Tone 6)
We will focus on the first group in this lesson and the other three groups in the next lesson.
4. Level Tones
There are three level tones in Cantonese:
| Tone Number | Tone 1 | Tone 3 | Tone 6 |
| Tone Name | High level | Mid level | Low level |
| Diagram | | | |
Step 1 Listen to the syllable si in Tone 1, Tone 3 and Tone 6 together. Pay attention to the pitch.
si1 si3 si6
Step 2 Practice saying the syllable si in Tone 1, Tone 3 and Tone 6. Listen and repeat.
si1 si3 si6
Practice
Question 1
Practice saying Tone 1, Tone 3 and Tone 6 with other syllables. Listen and repeat.
- fan1 fan3 fan6
- fu1 fu3 fu6
- bou1 bou3 bou6
- daan1 daan3 daan6
- gwai1 gwai3 gwai6
Question 2
You will hear two syllables each time. Are their tones the same (S) or different (D)?
💡 Tips: Click the choices to see the answers.
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
Question 3
You will hear four syllables each time. The first three syllables are Tone 1, Tone 3 and Tone 6 respectively. Which tone is the last syllable?
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- fan ____
- fu ____
- bou ____
- daan ____
- gwai ____
- fan ____
Question 4
You will hear one syllable each time. Which tone is the syllable?
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- fan ____
- fu ____
- bou ____
- daan ____
- gwai ____
- fan ____
5. The Finals with Only a Consonant
There are two finals which are formed by only one consonant.
m
ng
These two finals are never combined with an initial. They always form a syllable on their own. Also, both of them only appear in very few words.
6. The Final m
The final m is formed by the consonant m alone.
Step 1 Listen to the final m.
m
Step 2 Listen and repeat.
m
Practice Practice saying the syllable with the final m. Listen and repeat.
m4
6. The Final ng
The final ng is formed by the consonant ng alone.
Step 1 Listen to the final ng.
ng
Step 2 Listen and repeat.
ng
Soft palate: The back of the roof of your mouth
Practice Practice saying the syllables with the final ng. Listen and repeat.
- ng4
- ng5
- ng6
8. Revision Section A
Instructions for Questions 1 to 3
Follow the steps below to complete each question.
Step 1: Say the syllable, word or sentence aloud yourself.
Step 2: Listen to the recording and compare your pronunciation to the recording.
Step 3: Follow the recording and say the syllable, word or sentence again.
Question 1
Say the syllables below.
- jap6
- got3
- waan5
- haam2
- puk1
- zek6
- goet4
- ng5
- but6
- gwo2
- naai5
- loi4
- doek3
- soeng1
- cyu4
- doe2
- kwai5
- meng2
- deu6
- kyut3
- mung6
- wu4
- fan5
- ngon6
- zam3
- jyun2
- heoi1
- teon5
- kwik1
- seot6
- la3
If you find this question challenging, practice with the additional recording below.
- j ‒ ap ‒ jap ‒ jap1 jap2 jap3 jap4 jap5 jap6 ‒ jap6
- g ‒ ot ‒ got ‒ got1 got2 got3 ‒ got3
- w ‒ aan ‒ waan ‒ waan1 waan2 waan3 waan4 waan5 ‒ waan5
- h ‒ aam ‒ haam ‒ haam1 haam2 ‒ haam2
- p ‒ uk ‒ puk ‒ puk1 ‒ puk1
- z ‒ ek ‒ zek ‒ zek1 zek2 zek3 zek4 zek5 zek6 ‒ zek6
- g ‒ oet ‒ goet ‒ goet1 goet2 goet3 goet4 ‒ goet4
- ng ‒ ng1 ng2 ng3 ng4 ng5 ‒ ng5
- b ‒ ut ‒ but ‒ but1 but2 but3 but4 but5 but6 ‒ but6
- gw ‒ o ‒ gwo ‒ gwo1 gwo2 ‒ gwo2
- n ‒ aai ‒ naai ‒ naai1 naai2 naai3 naai4 naai5 ‒ naai5
- l ‒ oi ‒ loi ‒ loi1 loi2 loi3 loi4 ‒ loi4
- d ‒ oek ‒ doek ‒ doek1 doek2 doek3 ‒ doek3
- s ‒ oeng ‒ soeng ‒ soeng1 ‒ soeng1
- c ‒ yu ‒ cyu ‒ cyu1 cyu2 cyu3 cyu4 ‒ cyu4
- d ‒ oe ‒ doe ‒ doe1 doe2 ‒ doe2
- kw ‒ ai ‒ kwai ‒ kwai1 kwai2 kwai3 kwai4 kwai5 ‒ kwai5
- m ‒ eng ‒ meng ‒ meng1 meng2 ‒ meng2
- d ‒ eu ‒ deu ‒ deu1 deu2 deu3 deu4 deu5 deu6 ‒ deu6
- k ‒ yut ‒ kyut ‒ kyut1 kyut2 kyut3 ‒ kyut3
- m ‒ ung ‒ mung ‒ mung1 mung2 mung3 mung4 mung5 mung6 ‒ mung6
- w ‒ u ‒ wu ‒ wu1 wu2 wu3 wu4 ‒ wu4
- f ‒ an ‒ fan ‒ fan1 fan2 fan3 fan4 fan5 ‒ fan5
- ng ‒ on ‒ ngon ‒ ngon1 ngon2 ngon3 ngon4 ngon5 ngon6 ‒ ngon6
- z ‒ am ‒ zam ‒ zam1 zam2 zam3 ‒ zam3
- j ‒ yun ‒ jyun ‒ jyun1 jyun2 ‒ jyun2
- h ‒ eoi ‒ heoi ‒ heoi1 ‒ heoi1
- t ‒ eon ‒ teon ‒ teon1 teon2 teon3 teon4 teon5 ‒ teon5
- kw ‒ ik ‒ kwik ‒ kwik1 ‒ kwik1
- s ‒ eot ‒ seot ‒ seot1 seot2 seot3 seot4 seot5 seot6 ‒ seot6
- l ‒ a ‒ la ‒ la1 la2 la3 ‒ la3
Question 2
Say the words below.
- 單車 daan1 ce1 bicycle
- 銀行 ngan4 hong4 bank
- 博物館 bok3 mat6 gun2 museum
- 牛油果 ngau4 jau4 gwo2 avocado
- 生菜 saang1 coi3 lettuce
- 蜜瓜 mat6 gwaa1 melon
- 麵包 min6 baau1 bread
- 熱狗 jit6 gau2 hot dog
Question 3
Say the sentences below.
- 我係法國人嚟嘅。
ngo5 hai6 faat3 gwok3 jan4 lai4 ge3.
I am French. - 我識講英文同德文。
ngo5 sik1 gong2 jing1 man2 tung4 dak1 man2.
I speak English and German. - 我宜家學緊廣東話。
ngo5 ji4 gaa1 hok6 gan2 gwong2 dung1 waa2.
I am learning Cantonese now.
9. Revision Section B
Instructions for Questions 1 to 6
Follow the steps below to complete each question.
Step 1: Say the sound, syllable, word or sentence aloud yourself.
Step 2: Listen to the recording and compare your pronunciation to the recording.
Step 3: Follow the recording and say the sound, syllable, word or sentence again.
Question 1
Say the initials below. Click the initials to hear the sounds. Click + to go to the page of each initial.
Question 2
Say the finals below. Click the finals to hear the sounds. Click + to go to the page of each final.
Question 3
Say the syllable si with the tones below. Click the tones to hear the sounds. Click + to go to the page of each tone.
Question 4
Say the syllables below.
- tip3
- lik6
- siu3
- ngaa5
- ng6
- kwaang1
- jit6
- lem2
- je5
- m4
- waak6
- mang4
- kau3
- tin1
- nok6
- fei1
- gep6
- fuk1
- ning4
- pun2
- ngong4
- zou2
- ci5
- bak1
- gwat1
- caap3
- him2
- gwaat3
- wui5
- paau4
- pet6
If you find this question challenging, practice with the additional recording below.
- t ‒ ip ‒ tip ‒ tip1 tip2 tip3 ‒ tip3
- l ‒ ik ‒ lik ‒ lik1 lik2 lik3 lik4 lik5 lik6 ‒ lik6
- s ‒ iu ‒ siu ‒ siu1 siu2 siu3 ‒ siu3
- ng ‒ aa ‒ ngaa ‒ ngaa1 ngaa2 ngaa3 ngaa4 ngaa5 ‒ ngaa5
- ng ‒ ng1 ng2 ng3 ng4 ng5 ng6 ‒ ng6
- kw ‒ aang ‒ kwaang ‒ kwaang1 ‒ kwaang1
- j ‒ it ‒ jit ‒ jit1 jit2 jit3 jit4 jit5 jit6 ‒ jit6
- l ‒ em ‒ lem ‒ lem1 lem2 ‒ lem2
- j ‒ e ‒ je ‒ je1 je2 je3 je4 je5 ‒ je5
- m ‒ m1 m2 m3 m4 ‒ m4
- w ‒ aak ‒ waak ‒ waak1 waak2 waak3 waak4 waak5 waak6 ‒ waak6
- m ‒ ang ‒ mang ‒ mang1 mang2 mang3 mang4 ‒ mang4
- k ‒ au ‒ kau ‒ kau1 kau2 kau3 ‒ kau3
- t ‒ in ‒ tin ‒ tin1 ‒ tin1
- n ‒ ok ‒ nok ‒ nok1 nok2 nok3 nok4 nok5 nok6 ‒ nok6
- f ‒ ei ‒ fei ‒ fei1 ‒ fei1
- g ‒ ep ‒ gep ‒ gep1 gep2 gep3 gep4 gep5 gep6 ‒ gep6
- f ‒ uk ‒ fuk ‒ fuk1 ‒ fuk1
- n ‒ ing ‒ ning ‒ ning1 ning2 ning3 ning4 ‒ ning4
- p ‒ un ‒ pun ‒ pun1 pun2 ‒ pun2
- ng ‒ ong ‒ ngong ‒ ngong1 ngnong2 ngong3 ngong4 ‒ ngong4
- z ‒ ou ‒ zou ‒ zou1 zou2 ‒ zou2
- c ‒ i ‒ ci ‒ ci1 ci2 ci3 ci4 ci5 ‒ ci5
- b ‒ ak ‒ bak ‒ bak1 ‒ bak1
- gw ‒ at ‒ gwat ‒ gwat1 ‒ gwat1
- c ‒ aap ‒ caap ‒ caap1 caap2 caap3 ‒ caap3
- h ‒ im ‒ him ‒ him1 him2 ‒ him2
- gw ‒ aat ‒ gwaat ‒ gwaat1 gwaat2 gwaat3 ‒ gwaat3
- w ‒ ui ‒ wui ‒ wui1 wui2 wui3 wui4 wui5 ‒ wui5
- p ‒ aau ‒ paau ‒ paau1 paau2 paau3 paau4 ‒ paau4
- p ‒ et ‒ pet ‒ pet1 pet2 pet3 pet4 pet5 pet6 ‒ pet6
Question 5
Say the words below.
- 電車 din6 ce1 tram
- 圖書館 tou4 syu1 gun2 library
- 超級市場 ciu1 kap1 si5 coeng4 supermarket
- 翠玉瓜 ceoi3 juk6 gwaa1 zucchini
- 秋葵 cau1 kwai4 okra
- 乳酪 jyu5 lok6 yogurt
- 蛋糕 daan6 gou1 cake
- 玫瑰 mui4 gwai3 rose
Question 6
Say the sentences below.
-
我十一月廿五號生日。
ngo5 sap6 jat1 jyut6 jaa6 ng5 hou6 saang1 jat6.
My birthday is 25th November. -
我結咗婚喇。
ngo5 git3 zo2 fan1 laa3.
I am married. -
我有一個仔同一個女。
ngo5 jau5 jat1 go3 zai2 tung4 jat1 go3 neoi2.
I have a son and a daughter.
Question 7
The word for not in Cantonese is 唔 m4. Listen to the following song. How many times 唔 m4 is sung in the first two verses (0:20 - 0:55)?
大懶堂 daai6 laan5 tong4
LMF