sing1 diu6聲調声调
Jyutpingsing1 diu6
Yalesīng diuh
Definition
Tone; the pitch pattern of a syllable used to distinguish meaning in tonal languages.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
Focus on the pitch contour of each syllable to distinguish meaning, as Cantonese is a tonal language. While linguists often count nine tones by including checked syllables, most native speakers refer to the six main tones in daily life. Mastering these is essential because changing the pitch can completely alter the word being spoken.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Cantonese tones are really hard to learn.
Do you know how many tones Cantonese has?
Related words
Common phrases
tonal change
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the term with 語氣, which refers to the emotional tone or attitude conveyed in a sentence. Remember that 聲調 specifically refers to the linguistic pitch of individual syllables.
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.
