What exactly is a tone?

A tone is a form of pitch contour (e.g. keeping your pitch high or low, or increasing your pitch from low to high like a question). In tonal languages such as Cantonese and Mandarin, each word has an associated tone and changing the tone can change the meaning.

How many tones are there in Cantonese?

Whilst there is actually some debate as to whether there are six or nine tones in Cantonese, it is now generally accepted that there are six tones in Cantonese.

How important are tones in Cantonese?

The short answer: very! Different tones can completely change the meaning of a word, so if your sentences are less than pitch perfect, you may have some difficulties interacting with natives. Mastering these tones is crucial for accurate pronunciation and comprehension.

I find it challenging to differentiate between similar Cantonese tones. What can I do to improve my perception?

Developing your perception of the Cantonese tones takes time and exposure. Active listening exercises, such as identifying tone patterns in sentences or dialogues, can train your ear to distinguish subtle pitch variations. Consistent practice and exposure to authentic Cantonese audio materials will gradually enhance your perception skills.

Where can I practice Cantonese tones with a native speaker?

On LTL's Flexi Classes platform, you can learn Cantonese with fully qualified, native-speaker teachers anytime, anywhere!

Category: Chinese Dialects

Chinese Dialects

6 Cantonese Tones || Learn and Speak Cantonese like a Native!
10 Greetings in Cantonese || Useful Phrases to Use in Hong Kong
Shanghai Language 🗣 Shanghainese or Mandarin?
What Are The 7 Main Differences Between Learning Cantonese and Mandarin?
Learning Shanghainese 📖 Alex's Journey

Beijing

Shanghai

Beihai

Xi'an

Chengdu

Chengde

Taipei

Tainan

Kaohsiung

Taichung

Singapore

Seoul

Tokyo

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Hanoi

Online

Programs (Mandarin Only)

About LTL

Chinese Dialects

6 Cantonese Tones || Learn and Speak Cantonese like a Native!

10 Greetings in Cantonese || Useful Phrases to Use in Hong Kong

Shanghai Language 🗣 Shanghainese or Mandarin?

What Are The 7 Main Differences Between Learning Cantonese and Mandarin?

Learning Shanghainese 📖 Alex's Journey

LTL Mandarin School Beijing

LTL Mandarin School Shanghai

LTL Mandarin School Taipei

LTL Mandarin School Beihai

LTL Mandarin School Chengdu

LTL Korean School Seoul

LTL Vietnamese School Saigon