gyun2 sit3 jam1卷舌音
Jyutpinggyun2 sit3 jam1
Yalegyún sit yām
Definition
Retroflex consonant; a consonant pronounced with the tongue curled back against the roof of the mouth.
neutralother
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the context of linguistics or when comparing Cantonese phonology to Mandarin. Because Cantonese lacks these sounds entirely, native speakers often find them challenging to produce or distinguish when learning other languages. You will rarely hear this term outside of a classroom or a discussion about language differences.
Examples
Actually, there are no retroflex consonants in Cantonese.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the term with the concept of tongue-twisters, which are called 繞口令. Do not use this term to describe someone who has trouble speaking clearly.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
