Learn how to count to ten
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| 大家好(daai6 gaa1 hou2)! Hello and welcome to Cantonese Survival phrases brought to you by cantoneseclass101.com, my name is Nicole and I will be your language teacher and culture guide throughout this course. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Hong Kong or anywhere else in the Cantonese world. You will be surprised at how far a little Cantonese will go. Now before we jump in, remember to stop by cantoneseclass101.com and there you will find the accompanying PDF and additional info in this post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. |
| Cantonese survival phrases, #16. Counting. This lesson is very straightforward as we are going to cover counting 0 through 10. Let’s jump right in. 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). All right that’s all from 0 to 10. Counting things in Cantonese can be a bit tricky as there are different measure words for different types of objects but don’t worry. So far, we have already learned two of them including the most common measure word 個(go3). Now let’s have a quick review. The first measure word we’ve learned is when we want to make a reservation 個(go3). 位(wai2) seat 位(wai2) seat. 兩位(loeng5 wai2) Two seat but it actually means two people as well and 位(wai2) is also a polite way and formal way of saying a person 位(wai2). 一位(jat1 wai2) one person 兩位(loeng5 wai2) two people 三位(saam1 wai2) three people and next we have the most common measure word in Cantonese 個(go3),個(go3). It’s a mid flat tone 個(go3). You can use it to describe both people and things. 一個人(jat1 go3 jan4) One person 兩個杯(loeng5 go3 bui1) two cups. Now let’s learn how to use the number to describe the quantity of the object. |
| First, we have the number let’s say one 一(jat1) followed by the measure word 個(go3) and then comes the noun 人(jan4) person. 一個人(jat1 go3 jan4) one person. Let’s hear it again 一個人(jat1 go3 jan4) one person. If there are five people you have 五個人(ng51 go3 jan4). First we have the number 五(ng5) five. Then we have the measure word 個(go3) and finally we have the noun 人(jan4) person. 五個人(ng51 go3 jan4) five people. Now in Cantonese, we don’t change the form of the noun. We don’t have singular or a plural form of the noun. So that should make it easier to remember. For five people, you only have to change the number 五個人(ng51 go3 jan4) instead of 一個人(jat1 go3 jan4). Now numbers can be very useful especially when shopping in Hong Kong or in the Hong Kong restaurant. |
| Let’s imagine you are sitting in a Hong Kong restaurant and you are ready to order. Now first you would like to order some drinks let’s say a bottle of beer. Now we’ve learned the word for beer before 啤酒(be1 zau2). Let’s hear it again 啤酒(be1 zau2). Now to order one bottle of beer, we first have the number one 一(jat1) and then the measure word for bottle 枝(zi1), 枝(zi1). Now this is a high flat tone 枝(zi1). Finally we have the word for beer 啤酒(be1 zau2),啤酒(be1 zau2). Now put all this together 一枝啤酒( jat1 zi1 be1 zau2) one bottle of beer 一枝啤酒( jat1 zi1 be1 zau2) one bottle of beer. Now what if you want two beers? What you have to do is you only need to change the word for the number. So instead of saying one 一(jat1) you say two 兩(loeng5), 兩(loeng5). Now this is a bit different from the word we learned for a regular 2 二( ji6) because when we order, instead of saying 二( ji6) we use the colloquial 2兩(loeng5). Now let’s hear it one more time 兩(loeng5), 兩(loeng5). It’s a mid rising tone. Say it like you are asking a question 兩(loeng5), 兩(loeng5). So we replace 一(jat1) with 兩(loeng5) and the phrase becomes 兩枝啤酒(loeng5 zi1 be1 zau2), 兩枝啤酒( loeng5 zi1 be1 zau2). That’s two bottle of beer and then you’d like to order some 點心(dim2 sam1). Let’s say 蝦餃(haa1 gaau2) Shrimp dumplings. That’s very delicious, I promise. Shrimp dumplings 蝦餃(haa1 gaau2), 蝦餃(haa1 gaau2) and it’s literally shrimp dumplings 蝦 餃(haa1 gaau2), 蝦餃(haa1 gaau2) . Now you like to order three. You can say 三個蝦餃(saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). Here we first have the number three 三(saam1) followed by the measure word 個(go3). That’s the most common Cantonese measure word 個(go3) and finally we have the noun 蝦餃(haa1 gaau2), 三個蝦餃(saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). And we’ve also learned this structure to order. That’s 我要(ngo5 jiu3) I like, 我要(ngo5 jiu3) I’d like. 我要三個蝦餃(ngo5 jiu3 saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). I like three shrimp dumplings 我要三個蝦餃(ngo5 jiu3 saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). Let’s hear it one more time 我要三個蝦餃(ngo5 jiu3 saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). And eventually when you are traveling to Hong Kong, you like to go shopping or maybe buy a T-Shirt for yourself. I love Hong Kong T-Shirts. |
| Now how do you say I want a T-Shirt or I’d like to buy a T-Shirt? Now first we have the word T-Shirt T-恤(T seut1). That sounds very similar to its English word T-Shirt. Now the Cantonese way of saying T-Shirt is T-恤(T seut1), T-恤(T seut1) and the measure word for all clothes is 件(gin6), 件(gin6). It’s a mid flat tone word 件(gin6). Let’s hear it again 件(gin6). So one T-Shirt is 一件T-恤(jat1 gin6 T seut1), 一件T-恤(jat1 gin6 T seut1). Two T-Shirts is 兩件T-恤(loeng5 gin6 T seut1), 兩件T-恤(loeng5 gin6 T seut1). Now three T-Shirts is 三件T-恤(saam1 gin6 T seut1), 三件T-恤(saam1 gin6 T seut1) and let’s use it with the structure we’ve learned before. I would like 我要(ngo5 jiu3) and the sentence would sound like 我要一件T-恤(ngo5 jiu3 jat1 gin6 T seut1). I’d like a T-Shirt 我要一件T-恤(ngo5 jiu3 jat1 gin6 T seut1). I’d like a T-Shirt. Okay to close our today’s lesson, we’d like you to practice what you’ve just learned. I will provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you are responsible for shouting it out loud. You have a few seconds before I give you the answers. So 加 油(gaa1 jau2)! One person 一個人(jat1 go3 jan4) five people 五個人(ng51 go3 jan4). I’d like two bottles of beer 我要兩枝啤酒(ngo5 jiu3 loeng5 zi1 be1 zau2). I’d like three shrimp dumplings 我要三個蝦餃(ngo5 jiu3 saam1 go3 haa1 gaau2). I’d like a T-Shirt 我要一件T-恤(ngo5 jiu3 jat1 gin6 T seut1). |
| Okay that about does it for today. Remember to stop by cantoneseclass101.com and pick up the PDF and if you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Bye bye. |
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