Make the next word a little easier.

Cantonese Jyutping practice.

Practice Jyutping readings for useful Cantonese words. Enter letters and tone numbers, use a hint when needed, and check your answers as you learn.

Every syllable. Every tone.

Small words, useful connections

Recall a Cantonese reading and write it in Jyutping. No timer, no account.

Progress lasts until you leave or reload this page. “Unaided first check” counts a correct first answer without opening the reading hint.

What this checks

Spellings and six tone numbers

Use ordinary letters and the digits 1–6. Unlike Mandarin Pinyin, Jyutping uses a tone number after every syllable; it does not use tone accents or a neutral-tone 0. Keep the digits on the same line as the letters.

Each exercise checks one selected study reading. Cantonese speakers use pronunciation variants and changed tones in some words. Open the hint to see the reading expected here; this is a spelling exercise, not a test of your spoken pronunciation.

Listen uses an installed local Cantonese voice when available. A device voice may choose a different reading for a character and should be treated as a study aid.

From study to everyday use

Make the next word your own

Use the phrase guide for short expressions in context, or review the sound chart when a spelling feels unfamiliar. Return to the tone guide to connect each number to its pitch pattern.

Ready to write Chinese characters? The Cantonese keyboard uses Jyutping to find candidates. Its typing lesson explains the input controls and how to choose the word you need.

Explore everyday Cantonese →Open the Jyutping chart →Review the six tones →Follow the typing lesson →Open the Cantonese keyboard →

24 useful words and expressions

Review the study set

Try the reading first, then open a word to check. Traditional characters are used throughout.

你好hello

nei5 hou2

Use nei5 for 你 and hou2 for 好 in this greeting. The tone numbers belong after each syllable.

早晨good morning

zou2 san4

Start with z in zou2. In san4, a is shorter than the aa spelling in words such as saan1.

唔該please; thanks for a service

m4 goi1

The first syllable is just m4: a humming nasal sound can form a syllable by itself.

多謝thank you, especially for a gift

do1 ze6

Write do1, then ze6. The two expressions for thanks are useful in different situations.

再見goodbye

zoi3 gin3

Both syllables have tone 3. Keep the oi ending in zoi3.

對唔住sorry

deoi3 m4 zyu6

This three-syllable apology includes the final eoi, a syllabic m, and the rounded vowel yu.

唔緊要it is all right; never mind

m4 gan2 jiu3

Use three complete syllables: m4, gan2 and jiu3.

我I; me

ngo5

The initial ng is two letters representing one consonant. This exercise keeps the ng spelling.

你you

nei5

The study reading here begins with n and has tone 5.

佢he; she; they (singular)

keoi5

Use k followed by eoi, then tone 5. This pronoun does not mark gender.

我哋we; us

ngo5 dei6

Keep ngo5 for 我 and add dei6 for the plural pronoun.

係to be; yes

hai6

For this use of 係, the target reading is hai6.

唔係not to be; no

m4 hai6

The negative m4 is a separate syllable before hai6.

有to have; there is

jau5

Jyutping j is a consonant. Keep the au final and tone 5.

冇not to have; there is not

mou5

This word has the ou final, unlike the syllabic m in 唔.

食飯to eat a meal

sik6 faan6

The first syllable ends in k. The second has aa and ends in n. Both target tones are 6.

返屋企to go home

faan1 uk1 kei2

There are three syllables. Uk1 has no written initial and ends in k.

而家now

ji4 gaa1

Use ji4 followed by gaa1. The aa spelling is part of the second syllable.

幾多how much; how many

gei2 do1

Keep ei in gei2. The second syllable is do1.

邊度where

bin1 dou6

The target reading is bin1 dou6. Keep in and ou as different finals.

點解why

dim2 gaai2

Both syllables have tone 2. Dim2 ends in m; gaai2 includes aa followed by i.

今日today

gam1 jat6

Keep the m ending in gam1 and the t ending in jat6.

聽日tomorrow

ting1 jat6

For the word meaning tomorrow, use ting1 for 聽. The character has other readings in other words.

廣東話Cantonese

gwong2 dung1 waa2

This word uses the common changed-tone reading waa2 for 話. The single character also has a waa6 reading in other uses.

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. Everyday Cantonese phrasesStudy useful Cantonese greetings and everyday phrases with Jyutping readings, meanings and context. Hide the readings to practise recall or print your study cards.