Counting to ten in Cantonese
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers. Play the ten Cantonese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Cantonese phrases in this lesson
- 一yat
- One
- 兩LEUNG
- Two
- 三saam
- Three
- 四sei
- Four
- 五ng
- Five
- 六luk
- Six
- 七chat
- Seven
- 八baat
- Eight
- 九gau
- Nine
- 十sap
- Ten
The base number, but when counting objects you add a measure word: 一個 (yat-GO) for general items, 一杯 (yat-BUI) for drinks, 一碗 (yat-WUN) for bowls. Most objects use 個 when you are unsure.
兩 is used before measure words (兩個, two of them). The standalone arithmetic number two is 二 (yi). Use 兩 when ordering or asking for quantities.
Four is considered unlucky because its pronunciation is similar to 死 (sei, to die). Many buildings in Hong Kong skip floors with 4, 14, and 24.
Sounds like 祿 (luk), good fortune.
Lucky, because it rhymes with 發 (faat), to prosper. Phone numbers full of eights cost extra.
Sounds like 久 (gau), long-lasting.
Eleven is 十一 (sap-yat), twenty is 二十 (yi-sap), twenty-one is 二十一 (yi-sap-yat). The pattern is consistent and easy once you know the single digits.