ng5五
Jyutpingng5
Yaleńgh
Definition
Five.
neutralnumbers
How it's used
Numbers in Cantonese are frequently paired with specific measure words, and omitting them often sounds unnatural or incomplete. When counting, the number five is pronounced with a mid-level tone, but it can shift depending on the tone of the following syllable due to tone sandhi rules.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often forget to include the appropriate measure word after the number, which is essential for grammatical correctness in Cantonese. Unlike English, you cannot simply say five apple; you must include the classifier, such as 五個蘋果.
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).
