Cantonese family titles show which side of the family a person is on, and many show who is older. Under each word, the Jyutping spells how it sounds, and the last number of each syllable is its tone, from 1 to 6. The words are Hong Kong Cantonese.
| Cantonese | English | Which grandparent |
|---|---|---|
| 爺爺je4 je2 | Grandpa | Your father's father |
| 嫲嫲maa4 maa4 | Grandma | Your father's mother |
| 公公gung4 gung1 | Grandpa | Your mother's father |
| 婆婆po4 po2 | Grandma | Your mother's mother |
Many families put 阿 (aa3) in front, as in 阿爺 (aa3 je4) and 阿嫲 (aa3 maa4) for your father's parents, and 阿公 (aa3 gung1) and 阿婆 (aa3 po4) for your mother's. You may also hear 外公 (ngoi6 gung1) and 外婆 (ngoi6 po4) for your mother's parents. Those two are the written-style words. 公公 and 婆婆 are also what people call an older man or woman they do not know. Families differ, so listen to what the family you are with says, and say the same.
| Cantonese | English |
|---|---|
| 屋企人uk1 kei2 jan4 | Family |
| 爸爸baa4 baa1 | Dad |
| 媽媽maa4 maa1 | Mom |
| 哥哥go4 go1 | Older brother |
| 家姐gaa1 ze1 | Older sister |
| 細佬sai3 lou2 | Younger brother |
| 細妹sai3 mui2 | Younger sister |
| 叔叔suk1 suk1 | Uncle, your father's younger brother |
| 姑媽gu1 maa1 | Aunt, your father's older sister |
| 姨媽ji4 maa1 | Aunt, your mother's older sister |
| 阿姨aa3 ji1 | Aunt, your mother's younger sister, and a polite word for a woman about your parents' age |
At home, many families say 阿爸 (aa3 baa4) and 阿媽 (aa3 maa1) for Dad and Mom.
Some doubled family words change one sound when spoken. In 媽媽, 爸爸, 哥哥 and 公公, the first sound drops to tone 4. In 爺爺 and 婆婆, the second sound rises to tone 2. 叔叔 and 嫲嫲 stay the same.
Spoken Cantonese uses words that standard written Chinese does not. Standard written Chinese read out loud sounds stiff at a family table.
| Spoken Cantonese | Written Chinese | English |
|---|---|---|
| 係hai6 | 是 | Is |
| 唔m4 | 不 | Not |
| 冇mou5 | 沒有 | Do not have |
| 咗zo2 | 了 | Marks a finished action |
| 嘅ge3 | 的 | 's, of |
| 佢keoi5 | 他, 她 | He, she |
| 啲di1 | 些 | A little, some |
| Cantonese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| 開飯喇！hoi1 faan6 laa3! | Dinner is ready! | Someone calls everyone to the table |
| 你返嚟喇？食咗晚飯未呀？nei5 faan1 lai4 laa3? sik6 zo2 maan5 faan6 mei6 aa3? | You're back? Have you had dinner yet? | A family member asks you when you get home |
| 我食咗喇。ngo5 sik6 zo2 laa3. | I've eaten already. | Your answer |
| 呢碟餸咁好味，邊個煮㗎？ni1 dip6 sung3 gam3 hou2 mei6, bin1 go3 zyu2 gaa3? | This dish is so good. Who cooked it? | You praise the cook |
| 呢個係咩嚟㗎？ni1 go3 hai6 me1 lai4 gaa3? | What is this? | You ask about a dish |
| 食多啲啦！sik6 do1 di1 laa1! | Eat more! | The host says it to guests |
| 我飽喇，多謝。ngo5 baau2 laa3, do1 ze6. | I'm full, thank you. | You politely stop eating |
When someone passes you a dish, say 唔該 (m4 goi1). 多謝 (do1 ze6) usually fits a gift or a compliment, and it is what you say to a host who welcomes you. Our thank-you guide explains the difference.
| Cantonese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| 我哋嚟咗！ngo5 dei6 lai4 zo2! | We're here! | You arrive at the door |
| 入嚟坐啦。jap6 lai4 co5 laa1. | Come in and sit down. | The host welcomes you |
| 飲杯茶先啦。jam2 bui1 caa4 sin1 laa1. | Have some tea first. | The host offers a drink |
| 多謝你哋招呼。do1 ze6 nei5 dei6 ziu1 fu1. | Thanks for having us. | You thank the host |
| 時間唔早喇，我哋要返去喇。si4 gaan3 m4 zou2 laa3, ngo5 dei6 jiu3 faan1 heoi3 laa3. | It's getting late, so we have to go home. | You get ready to leave |
| 下次再嚟探你哋。haa6 ci3 zoi3 lai4 taam3 nei5 dei6. | We'll visit you again next time. | You say goodbye |
| 路上小心啲。lou6 soeng6 siu2 sam1 di1. | Be careful on the way. | The host says it at the door |
| Cantonese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| 喂，阿嫲呀？我係阿明。wai2, aa3 maa4 aa3? ngo5 hai6 aa3 ming4. | Hello, Grandma? It's Ah Ming. | You call your father's mother and give your own name |
| 你呢排身體好唔好呀？nei5 ni1 paai2 san1 tai2 hou2 m4 hou2 aa3? | Have you been well lately? | A family member asks you |
| 幾好呀，你呢？gei2 hou2 aa3, nei5 ne1? | I'm doing fine. And you? | Your answer |
| 你幾時再嚟呀？nei5 gei2 si4 zoi3 lai4 aa3? | When will you come again? | A family member asks you |
| 星期日我哋一齊食飯，好唔好呀？sing1 kei4 jat6 ngo5 dei6 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6, hou2 m4 hou2 aa3? | Let's eat together on Sunday, okay? | You make a plan |
| 遲啲再打俾你。ci4 di1 zoi3 daa2 bei2 nei5. | I'll call you later. | You end the call |
| Cantonese | English |
|---|---|
| 唔該你講慢啲呀。m4 goi1 nei5 gong2 maan6 di1 aa3. | Please speak a bit more slowly. |
| 唔該大聲啲，我聽唔到喎。m4 goi1 daai6 seng1 di1, ngo5 teng1 m4 dou2 wo3. | Please speak up a little. I can't hear you. |
| 我唔明，可唔可以再講一次？ngo5 m4 ming4, ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 zoi3 gong2 jat1 ci3? | I don't understand. Can you say it again? |
| 呢句用廣東話點講？ni1 geoi3 jung6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 dim2 gong2? | How do you say this in Cantonese? |
CantoneseClass101
CantoneseClass101 teaches Cantonese with audio and video lessons. Start with Connecting with Cantonese-Speaking Family or Can Talk About Your Family.
- A six-lesson pathway, Connecting with Cantonese-Speaking Family, is made for meeting in-laws and relatives.
- A second pathway, Can Talk About Your Family, includes a video of 20 family words.
- Flashcards
- Teaches Jyutping
MobileWeb
words.hk 粵典
words.hk (粵典) is a Cantonese dictionary that volunteers write together, and its iPhone and Android apps are free. CantoWords.com is its English site.
- Look up a word by Jyutping, English or a character you draw.
- Hear words and example sentences read aloud.
- Example sentences, some taken from Hong Kong writing, show how people really use a word.
- Traditional characters
MobileWeb
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Cantonese. You learn from Cantonese you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Type a topic, like dinner with your partner's family in Hong Kong, and Poppy, your AI tutor, writes you a Cantonese lesson about it.
- Lessons are written in everyday spoken Cantonese, in traditional characters.
- Jyutping or Yale shows the reading above every word.
- Read and listen to news from Hong Kong and stories about things you like.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, so you review them by reading. You can also export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Bubblegum has no shows or videos. However, you can paste a page or send a photo, and Poppy will break it down. The app is built around the lessons she writes for you.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
- Teaches Jyutping
- Traditional characters
Mobile
How Do I Read the Numbers After Each Word?
The number tells you the tone, and Cantonese has six. The same letters with a different last number are a different word: 嫲嫲 (maa4 maa4) is your father's mother, and 媽媽 (maa4 maa1) is your mom. Our Jyutping tones guide shows how each tone sounds.
Where Can I Hear Spoken Cantonese?
Two of our Cantonese guides come closest to family talk. The dim sum guide has audio at four levels, from ordering at a restaurant to choosing tea and washing tableware. The guide to chatting with friends goes from favorite movies at Level 1 to after-work plans at Level 3.
Which Cantonese App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Cantonese, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our Cantonese app comparison covers more choices and what each one is good for.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 爺爺: grandfather; father's father (je4 je2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 嫲嫲: grandmother; father's mother (maa4 maa4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 公公: maternal grandfather, and used to address or refer to old men (gung4 gung1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 婆婆: grandmother, and a form of address to an old woman (po4 po2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 外婆: grandmother; mother's mother; labelled as the written register, 書面語 (ngoi6 po4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿爺: paternal grandfather (aa3 je4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿嫲: grandmother; father's mother (aa3 maa4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿公: grandfather; mother's father (aa3 gung1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿婆: grandmother; mother's mother (aa3 po4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿爸: father (aa3 baa4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿媽: mother (aa3 maa1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 爸爸: father (baa4 baa1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 媽媽: mother (maa4 maa1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 哥哥: elder brother (go4 go1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 家姐: elder sister (gaa1 ze1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 細佬: younger brother (sai3 lou2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 細妹: younger sister (sai3 mui2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 叔叔: uncle; father's younger brother (suk1 suk1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 姑媽: aunt; father's elder sister (gu1 maa1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 姨媽: aunt; mother's elder sister (ji4 maa1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 阿姨: aunt; mother's younger sister, and a form of address to a middle-aged woman (aa3 ji1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 屋企人: family; family members (uk1 kei2 jan4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 係: is; means (hai6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 唔: not (m4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 冇: do not have; have not done (mou5)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 咗: perfective aspect marker for completed actions (zo2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 嘅: possession, like English 's (ge3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 佢: he, she, him, her (keoi5)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 啲: a little bit; quantifier for plurals (di1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 食飯: to have a meal (sik6 faan6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 咩: what (me1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 好味: delicious (hou2 mei6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 碟: a plate of (dip6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 唔該: thanks; excuse me (m4 goi1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 多謝: thank you, usually used when receiving a gift or compliment (do1 ze6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 嚟: to come; to arrive (lai4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 未: not yet (mei6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 招呼: to entertain; to serve the guests (ziu1 fu1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 呢排: recently; these days (ni1 paai2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 幾: quite; fairly (gei2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 用: to use (jung6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 餸: dish or food that goes with rice (sung3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 飽: full (baau2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 返去: to leave and go home (faan1 heoi3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 探: to visit; to pay a call (taam3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 幾時: when; at what time (gei2 si4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 一齊: together (jat1 cai4)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 遲啲: later; after a while (ci4 di1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 星期日: Sunday (sing1 kei4 jat6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 俾: to give (bei2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 喂: hello, the standard greeting on the telephone (wai2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 坐: to sit (co5)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 大聲: loud; in a loud voice (daai6 seng1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 廣東話: Cantonese language, as spoken in Hong Kong and Macau (gwong2 dung1 waa2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 晚飯: dinner; supper (maan5 faan6)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 聽: to listen; to hear (teng1)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 到: used after verbs to show the result of an action succeeded (dou2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 喎: added to an utterance to show the speaker's own realization (wo3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 咁: so; used in front of an adjective (gam3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 時間: time (si4 gaan3)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 早: early (zou2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 煮: to cook; to prepare the dishes (zyu2)
- words.hk (Hong Kong Lexicography), 身體: body; health (san1 tai2)
- Wiktionary, 開飯: to start eating; to serve a meal (Chinese verb; Cantonese hoi1 faan6)
- Wiktionary, 外公: maternal grandfather (Cantonese ngoi6 gung1)
- The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, Jyutping Cantonese romanization scheme (tone numbers 1 to 6)
- Wikipedia, Chinese kinship (different Chinese languages, dialects and even families can have distinct words for the same person; titles show the side of the family and the relative age)
- Wikipedia, Written Cantonese (written Cantonese uses extra characters for Cantonese words, and standard written Chinese dominates formal writing in Hong Kong)
- Bubblegum guide: How to Order Dim Sum (Cantonese lessons at Levels 1 to 4, with audio)
- Bubblegum guide: Chatting About Daily Life and Hobbies in Cantonese (Cantonese lessons at Levels 1 to 3, with audio)
- CantoneseClass101, Connecting with Cantonese-Speaking Family (a six-lesson Beginner pathway: three audio and three video lessons, for Cantonese-speaking in-laws or relatives)
- CantoneseClass101, Can Talk About Your Family (an Absolute Beginner pathway with a 20 Must-Know Family Words video)
- CantoneseClass101, Pricing (the free plan includes the first three lessons in every pathway)
- words.hk 粵典 on the App Store (free; search by English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Jyutping or Yale; handwriting search; pronunciations for words and example sentences)
- words.hk 粵典 on Google Play (free; no in-app purchases listed)
- words.hk 粵典, 關於我哋 (a crowd-sourced Cantonese dictionary written in Cantonese; some example sentences are taken from local articles)
- CantoWords.com, About (a Cantonese dictionary based on words.hk, in English)
- CantoneseClass101
- words.hk 粵典
