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Cantonese Jyutping sound chart.

Explore Jyutping initials and common finals with Cantonese word examples. Search the reference, open spelling notes and print a study sheet.

A study reference for 19 initials, 51 common finals and the syllabic nasals m and ng. Each card shows a complete Cantonese example with its tone number. This is a selected beginner chart, not a complete syllable table: not every initial combines with every final, and less common finals are outside this selection.

Jyutping sounds at a glance

19 initials · 51 selected common finals · syllabic m/ng · i2Bopomo

19 initials

The beginning of a syllable

51 common finals

A selected study reference, not every possible final

Syllabic nasals

A nasal sound can form a whole syllable

The digit after a syllable is its tone. b/p, d/t, g/k, gw/kw and z/c contrast aspiration. aa and a represent distinct vowels. Final p/t/k close a syllable without an added vowel. This selection omits less common finals; the full Jyutping scheme also includes forms such as a and oet. i2Bopomo · Cantonese chart

Three contrasts worth noticing

Aspiration: b/p, d/t, g/k, gw/kw and z/c differ in the puff of air. Do not learn them as simple English voiced/unvoiced pairs.
Vowels: aa and a differ in quality as well as usual length. Keep oe and eo separate, and treat yu as one front rounded vowel.
Endings: m, n and ng are distinct nasal endings. Final p, t and k end in a closure; do not add another vowel.

Use the chart as a study sheet

Choose a group or search for a word, then open a card for its note. Arrow keys move between cards; inside the detail view they move to the previous or next visible example.

Print the full reference or your filtered selection. Keep it beside a listening lesson and mark the contrasts you want to hear again.

The full Jyutping scheme includes less common finals beyond this chart, including a and oet, added in 2018. An omitted final is not an impossible one.

Reference checks: Linguistic Society of Hong Kong · Jyutping scheme, Jyutping questions and Jyutping sound reference. Explanations, study activities and diagrams here are original i2Bopomo learning material.

Keep going

Learn Cantonese

Cantonese tonesLearn the six Jyutping tone numbers with simple pitch diagrams, understand short p, t and k endings, and check your reading with small exercises. Cantonese typing lessonType your first Cantonese words using Jyutping. Enter a reading, choose the Chinese characters and learn the shortcuts used by the i2Bopomo keyboard. Cantonese practicePractice Jyutping readings for useful Cantonese words. Enter letters and tone numbers, use a hint when needed, and check your answers as you learn.