jat1一
one
ngo5我jiu3要jat1一bui1杯caa4茶
I want one cup of tea
Learn
Numbers 1-5
Learn to count from one to five
This is where counting in Cantonese begins. You will learn the first five numbers, 一 (jat1) through 五 (ng5), and hear how each tone sits, since 三 (saam1) and 四 (sei3) sound close until you practice them. By the end you can count a small group of things out loud and recognise these digits when you see them.
What you'll learn
- Say “one” with 一 (jat1)
- Say “two” with 二 (ji6)
- Count “three” with 三 (saam1)
- Say “four” with 四 (sei3)
- Reach “five” with 五 (ng5)
- Count a small group from one to five out loud
Let's learn to count in Cantonese! Numbers are essential for shopping, telling time, and everyday conversations. Pay attention to the tones, they're important!
ji6二
two
ji6二lau2樓hai2喺bin1邊dou6度？
Where is the second floor?
saam1三
three
m4唔goi1該，saam1三go3個daan6蛋taat1撻
Excuse me, three egg tarts please
sei3四
four
ngo5我uk1屋kei2企jau5有sei3四go3個jan4人
My family has four people
ng5五
five
ng5五hou6號baa1巴si2士heoi3去bin1邊dou6度？
Where does bus number five go?
Frequently asked questions
How do you say one, two, three in Cantonese?
Say 一 (jat1) for one, 二 (ji6) for two, and 三 (saam1) for three. These are the building blocks for every larger number.
How do you say five in Cantonese?
Five is 五 (ng5). It has no vowel sound, just the “ng,” which trips up a lot of beginners, so the audio in this lesson is worth copying a few times.
Why do three and four sound similar in Cantonese?
三 (saam1) and 四 (sei3) both start with an “s,” so they feel close at first. Listening and repeating them back to back is the quickest way to tell them apart.