What someone looks like: Learn Cantonese

Learn the Cantonese for Appearance, looks, Tall, Short (in height), Chubby, fat, Thin, slim. This lesson gives you each word with a clear example and romanization, plus audio so you can hear exactly how it sounds.

What you'll learn

Appearance, looks: 樣 (joeng2)
Tall: 高 (gou1)
Short (in height): 矮 (ai2)
Chubby, fat: 肥 (fei4)
Thin, slim: 瘦 (sau3)

You can already describe things as big, small, or nice. Now let's describe people: whether someone is tall or short, chubby or thin, and what they look like overall.

joeng2樣

Appearance, looks

keoi5佢go3個joeng2樣hou2好si1斯man4文，seng4成jat6日daai3戴zyu6住fu3副ngaan5眼geng2鏡。

He looks really refined, and always wears a pair of glasses.

gou1高

Tall

keoi5佢go3個zai2仔zung6仲duk6讀gan2緊siu2小hok6學，zau6就ji5已ging1經hou2好gou1高。

His son is only in primary school but is already really tall.

ai2矮

Short (in height)

ngo5我mui6妹mui6妹hou2好ai2矮。

My younger sister is quite short.

fei4肥

Chubby, fat

keoi5佢sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣hou2好fei4肥，go3個joeng2樣hou2好dak1得ji3意。

When he was little he was quite chubby, and he looked really cute.

sau3瘦

Thin, slim

keoi5佢beng6病zo2咗，sau3瘦zo2咗hou2好do1多。

She was sick, so she has become a lot thinner.

Frequently asked questions

Is the What someone looks like lesson free?

Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.

Which words does What someone looks like teach in Cantonese?

This lesson covers Appearance, looks, Tall, Short (in height), Chubby, fat, Thin, slim.

What romanization is used?

Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.

Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?

No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.