jyun4 jam1元音
Jyutpingjyun4 jam1
Yaleyùhn yām
Definition
Vowel; a speech sound produced without constriction of the vocal tract, typically voiced and serving as a syllable nucleus.
neutralschoolcommunication
How it's used
Linguists and educators use this term to describe the core sound of a syllable, but it is rarely used in casual daily conversation. Most native speakers prefer the term 母音 when discussing language learning or phonetics in a classroom setting. It is strictly a technical term for phonetic analysis rather than a word you would hear in a market or restaurant.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The vowel sound in this word is very short.
Do you know how many vowels there are in Cantonese?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the English word vowel, but in Cantonese, the distinction between long and short vowels is crucial for meaning, so ensure you focus on the duration when practicing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
