In Cantonese, the six tones are indicated by Arabic numerals 1 to 6 placed after each syllable.
Planning Context
Phonetic Knowledge
Understanding Cantonese
Initials
Finals
Tones
Daily Communication
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Tones／
Understanding Tones
Tones
tone number |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
Examples |
three
|
nine
|
four
|
zero
|
five
|
two
|
|
poem
|
history
|
try
|
time
|
market
|
issue
|
Tones Examples
Examples(characters) |
||||||||
1st tone |
divide
|
reason
|
clothes
|
flood
|
injustice
|
smoke
|
warm
|
bend
|
2nd tone |
powder
|
hide
|
chair
|
cover up
|
park
|
shuttlecock
|
find
|
destroy
|
3rd tone |
teach
|
print
|
meaning
|
loathe
|
blame
|
swallow
|
indignant
|
feed
|
4th tone |
grave
|
man
|
and
|
salt
|
circle
|
speech
|
cloud
|
surround
|
5th tone |
anger
|
attract
|
ear
|
dye
|
soft
|
Look overcautiously
|
agree
|
great
|
6th tone |
classifer for documents
|
pregnant
|
two
|
colourful
|
wish
|
now
|
transport
|
胃
|
Examples (words)
Examples |
||||||||||||
1st tone |
plane
|
fireworks
|
Tsim Sha Tsui East
|
spring
|
northwest
|
rest
|
analyse
|
soldier
|
happy
|
centralised
|
effort
|
cricket
|
2nd tone |
good night
|
picture frame
|
maiden
|
dumpling
|
wash hands
|
drink wine
|
Confucius
|
take photos
|
fruits
|
harbour
|
chief
|
products
|
3rd tone |
seal
|
calculate
|
release
|
report
|
wealthy
|
opinion
|
case
|
vigour
|
France
|
generalise
|
goodbye
|
interest
|
4th tone |
complete
|
children
|
situation
|
trouble
|
popular
|
(ship's) crew
|
brown sugar
|
toebox
|
people
|
budget airline
|
ordinary
|
the Great Wall
|
5th tone |
lunch session
|
go online
|
social enterprise
|
beautiful girl
|
forever
|
mother tongue
|
lure
|
brave
|
unfriendly glance
|
ponytail
|
you and me
|
do you have
|
6th tone |
order
|
the sun and the moon
|
sports
|
mainland
|
identify
|
stand
|
table of contents
|
landform
|
art
|
practical
|
guide
|
tunnel
|
Examples(sentences)
Examples |
|
1 |
three, nine, four, zero, five, two
|
2 |
three small bowls of beef brisket noodles
|
3 |
The fruit stall has stopped selling fruits.
|
4 |
The twins should come.
|
5 |
A friendly agent.
|
6 |
The master goes to Yuen Long Road.
|
7 |
lamb tripe in tomato sauce with rice
|
8 |
Very clear, no problem at all.
|
9 |
Quality glutinous rice balls, sweet, soft and smooth.
|
10 |
Plus a plumpish lady
|