aa6十
Jyutpingaa6
Yaleah
Definition
The number ten; a weakened pronunciation of '十' used between three and nine followed by a digit or classifier.
colloquialnumbers
How it's used
The pronunciation of this number shifts significantly in natural speech when it appears in the tens place. When followed by another digit or a measure word, the final consonant of the preceding number often elides, creating a smoother, faster flow. This reduction is a hallmark of fluent Cantonese and distinguishes a learner from a native speaker.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often struggle with the sandhi effect where the final consonant of the preceding digit, such as the 't' in 'baat3' (eight), drops before 'sap6'. Attempting to pronounce every single consonant clearly in fast speech sounds unnatural and robotic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
