In Cantonese, two words can share every sound except the pitch. Si1 is 詩 (poem), and si4 is 時 (time), so the number is part of the spelling.
What Are the Six Cantonese Tones?
Each tone is a pitch your voice holds or moves through. The course says si six ways, one after another, so you can hear each pitch.
| Number | How Your Voice Moves | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High and flat | 詩 si1 | poem |
| 2 | Rises from the middle to high | 史 si2 | history |
| 3 | Flat, in the middle | 試 si3 | to try |
| 4 | Falls low | 時 si4 | time |
| 5 | Rises from low to the middle | 市 si5 | market |
| 6 | Low and flat | 事 si6 | matter |
The numbers don't change the letters. You say s and i the same way every time, on a different melody. Tones 1, 3 and 6 are the three flat ones: high, middle and low.
What Are the Short P, T and K Syllables?
Some syllables end on a quick p, t or k and stop right there, with no puff of air after it. Jyutping gives these short syllables only three numbers: 1, 3 and 6.
| Ending | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -p | 濕 sap1 | wet |
| -t | 八 baat3 | eight |
| -k | 食 sik6 | to eat |
Which Jyutping Spellings Surprise English Readers?
A few letters don't make the sound an English reader would guess.
- jat1一 onejyu4魚 fishJ is the y in yes, so jat1 starts like yes. The yu in jyu4 is a vowel English doesn't have.
- saam1三 threesam1心 heartA long aa and a short a are different vowels, so these two are different words.
- ceot1出 to go outhoeng1香 fragrantEo and oe are two different vowels, and English has neither of them. Listen to both before you say them.
How Do You Type Jyutping?
Jyutping uses only letters and numbers, so any keyboard can type it. Write the number right after the last letter of each syllable, with a space between syllables, as in nei5 hou2 (你好, hello). To type the characters themselves on an iPhone, add one of the Cantonese (Traditional) keyboards in Settings.
Where Did Jyutping Come From?
The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong designed Jyutping and published it in 1993. The name Jyutping is how Jyutping spells 粵拼 (jyut6 ping3), the short Chinese name for the scheme. It means Cantonese spelling.
How Can You Learn the Tones?
The Jyutping course plays all six tones on the same syllable, then the short endings and the new sounds. The same course is in the Bubblegum app, where Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Cantonese lessons that use the tones you just heard. To plan what comes next, read the best way to learn Cantonese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jyutping the Same as Pinyin?
No. Pinyin spells Mandarin and puts marks over the vowels, and Jyutping spells Cantonese and puts a number at the end. The same character often sounds different in each language, like 好, which is hǎo in Mandarin and hou2 in Cantonese.
Which Cantonese App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Cantonese, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Its Jyutping course plays the six tones and shows how everyday Cantonese is written. Our Cantonese app comparison covers more choices and what each one is good for.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, Jyutping scheme (designed by the LSHK in 1993; tones written as numbers 1–6 at the end of the syllable; p, t and k endings take tones 1, 3 and 6)
- jyutping.org, Jyutping Scheme (the six tones with the example characters 詩 史 試 時 市 事 and their pitch levels, citing the LSHK scheme)
- Apple, iOS and iPadOS feature availability (keyboards include Cantonese (Traditional))
