Numbers
Learn to count from 1-10 and use measure words
Numbers come up the moment you start using Cantonese in real life: asking prices, ordering a couple of dishes, telling someone your age, or saying how many of something you want. This unit takes you from counting one to ten through to the measure words that sit between a number and the thing you are counting.
You will also pick up the question words for asking “how many,” plus the everyday pronouns (我, 你, 佢 and their plurals) that show up in almost every sentence. By the end you can count, quantify, and point to people, which is a huge step early in any Cantonese course.
- 1
Numbers 1-5Learn to count from one to five - 2
Numbers 6-10Complete counting from six to ten - 3Bigger numbersCount from eleven to ninety-nine
- 4
Counting ThingsLearn measure words for counting objects - 5
How Many?Learn to ask about quantities - 6
I, You & TheyThe pronouns you need for every sentence 
Counting with classifiersGrammar
Test your knowledgeQuiz
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to ten in Cantonese?
Count 一 (jat1), 二 (ji6), 三 (saam1), 四 (sei3), 五 (ng5), 六 (luk6), 七 (cat1), 八 (baat3), 九 (gau2), 十 (sap6). This unit teaches all ten with audio so the tones stick.
What is a measure word in Cantonese?
A measure word, or classifier, goes between a number and a noun, so you say a number plus a classifier plus the thing. The general one is 個 (go3), and you will meet a few more in this unit.
What are the basic Cantonese pronouns?
The singular pronouns are 我 (ngo5) for I, 你 (nei5) for you, and 佢 (keoi5) for he or she. Add 哋 (dei6) to make them plural: 我哋, 你哋, 佢哋.
Is this Cantonese numbers unit free?
Yes. Counting, classifiers, and pronouns are all free to read here at your own pace. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and flashcards and vocabulary practice are free to keep drilling the numbers. A subscription unlocks the rest of the lesson path.