Grammar library
Everything you need to understand how Cantonese works, from sentence particles and tones to aspect markers, negation, and questions. Every example comes with native audio, free for anyone learning Cantonese.
In 30 seconds
The whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- No tenses
- Word order
- 6 tones
- Particles
- No plurals
- Negation
Browse all grammar topics
Each guide is self contained, with native audio on every example. Start anywhere, in any order.
Particles
Sentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- laa1
- gaa3
- ge3
- lo1
Negation
How to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- m4
- mou5
- mei6
- mai5
Aspect markers
Cantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- zo2
- gwo3
- gan2
- hai2 dou6
Questions
From yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- A not A
- mat1 je5
- bin1 go3
- bin1 dou6
Tones
Cantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- si1
- si2
- si3
- si4
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Frequently asked questions
What Cantonese grammar should I learn first?
Start with word order and the idea that verbs never change form. Cantonese has no tenses, no plurals, and no conjugation, so most of grammar is about adding small words in the right place. After word order, learn the aspect markers zo2, gan2, and gwo3, then the sentence final particles that carry most of the nuance.
Does Cantonese have verb tenses?
No. Cantonese verbs stay the same in every situation. Time comes from context words like yesterday or tomorrow, and aspect markers attached to the verb show whether an action is completed, ongoing, or experienced. The system is smaller than English tenses, just different.
How many tones does Cantonese have?
Modern Hong Kong Cantonese has six tones. Tone is part of a word's meaning, so the same syllable said with a different tone is a different word. That is why every example on this site shows tone coloured romanization.
Is Cantonese grammar harder than Mandarin grammar?
They are broadly similar. Both drop tenses and plurals and rely on word order and particles. Cantonese has more sentence final particles and six tones rather than four, but neither language asks you to memorise conjugation tables.
What are sentence final particles?
Short words added to the end of a sentence that change its mood or emphasis, like laa1, gaa3, or ge3. They carry tone of voice in both speech and writing, and using them naturally is one of the biggest steps toward sounding fluent. See the particles guide for the common ones.