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Cantonese for beginners

5.0 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star
Based on 7 ratings
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Alisa Tsang

This is a systematic Cantonese courses that help beginners mastering Cantonese.

Each lesson is basically divided into three parts. In the first part, I will introduce you new words or phrases or grammars that a Hongkonger using in their daily life. In the second part, I will pronounce each words or phrases again and you can repeat after me or pause whenever necessary. In the third part, there are some sample conversations that shows you how to use those words or phrases and how to speak them naturally.

Read more

This is a systematic Cantonese courses that help beginners mastering Cantonese.

Each lesson is basically divided into three parts. In the first part, I will introduce you new words or phrases or grammars that a Hongkonger using in their daily life. In the second part, I will pronounce each words or phrases again and you can repeat after me or pause whenever necessary. In the third part, there are some sample conversations that shows you how to use those words or phrases and how to speak them naturally.

Many people may start learning Cantonese from learning Jyutping. Our teaching materials also have Jyutping under each Chinese characters. However, if you have not learned Jyutping before, you can ignore it. As I have mentioned in the introduction video, it is not necessary to learn Jyutping. If you can try to remember the Chinese characters, you will be able to read the map or menu, etc. You will have a lot of fun when you are travelling to Hong Kong or watching Hong Kong movie.

Notes for each lesson are available for download. Basically, everything taught in the lesson are included in the notes, for example new vocabularies and phrases with explanations and sample conversations. You can also try the review quiz and Chinese practice in the notes.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn over 600 cantonese words and phrases
  • Participate in basic cantonese conversations
  • Read and write in cantonese
  • Pronunciation practice

Syllabus

Learn Cantonese - Level One
Course Introduction
Hello. How are you?
Good-bye. See you.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides downloadable notes that include new vocabularies, phrases with explanations, sample conversations, review quizzes, and Chinese practice, which reinforces learning
Focuses on practical, everyday Cantonese used by Hongkongers, which is useful for travelers and those interested in Hong Kong media
Includes bonus lessons with extra vocabularies, common surnames, country names, local food, shopping items, and useful phrases, which enriches cultural understanding
Teaches traditional Chinese characters alongside Jyutping, but emphasizes that character recognition is sufficient for basic reading, which is helpful for visual learners

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Reviews summary

Practical beginner cantonese foundation

according to learners, this course offers a solid and practical foundation for beginners wishing to learn Cantonese for everyday use. Many appreciate the clear teaching style and the instructor's patience and encouragement. The focus on daily conversations and vocabulary is a major strength, making the content feel relevant and immediately applicable. Some find the pace moves quickly, particularly when learning characters, and suggest supplementing with outside practice. While the course helps with basic speaking and listening, developing writing and reading skills requires significant extra effort beyond the course material. Overall, it's seen as a great starting point for basic communication.
Good focus on pronunciation and speaking.
"Being able to hear and repeat phrases after the instructor really helped my pronunciation."
"The pronunciation practice sections are incredibly useful for speaking confidently."
"I appreciate the emphasis on speaking naturally and practicing pronunciation."
"The audio examples are clear and great for practicing saying the words correctly."
"Helped me get over my fear of speaking and improved my tones."
Instructor's teaching is clear and easy to follow.
"The instructor explains concepts very clearly and is easy to understand."
"I found the teaching style very patient and encouraging, which helped me keep going."
"The lessons were well-structured and the explanations were clear."
"Instructor's pronunciation is very clear and easy to imitate."
"Teaching method is clear and suitable for absolute beginners like me."
Focuses on useful daily dialogue and phrases.
"I loved how the course taught me practical, everyday phrases I could use right away."
"The conversations and vocabulary taught felt very relevant to real life situations."
"Getting to learn useful phrases for daily life and travel was the most valuable part."
"This course provides useful vocabulary and phrases for daily conversations and travel."
"It helped me start understanding simple conversations and common words used daily in Hong Kong."
Learning characters is challenging and requires effort.
"Trying to remember all the characters without relying on Jyutping was hard work."
"The focus on characters is good, but it's definitely the most challenging part."
"While Jyutping is provided, trying to grasp the characters solely from sight was tough."
"It's difficult to read and write just from the course; more practice is needed."
"Learning characters alongside pronunciation and conversation felt overwhelming at times."
Moves quickly for true beginners, needs extra practice.
"Sometimes the pace felt a bit fast, especially when new characters were introduced."
"While a good introduction, it feels like you need significant extra practice to truly master the material."
"The course is a great starting point, but don't expect to be fluent after just this."
"It's a lot of information packed into a beginner course; requires consistent review."
"Might be too fast if you have absolutely no prior exposure to Cantonese or Chinese characters."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cantonese for beginners with these activities:
Review Basic Mandarin Pronunciation
Familiarize yourself with the basic sounds and tones of Mandarin Chinese, as it can help you better understand the nuances of Cantonese pronunciation and avoid common beginner mistakes.
Browse courses on Cantonese Pronunciation
Show steps
  • Watch videos explaining Mandarin pronunciation.
  • Practice saying basic Mandarin sounds and tones.
  • Compare Mandarin and Cantonese sounds.
Read 'Colloquial Cantonese: The Complete Course for Beginners'
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook that provides additional explanations, examples, and exercises to reinforce your understanding of Cantonese grammar and vocabulary.
View Colloquial Cantonese (Colloquial Series) on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Colloquial Cantonese'.
  • Work through the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Complete the exercises in the book.
Practice Cantonese Tones with Online Exercises
Improve your pronunciation by practicing Cantonese tones using online resources and exercises, focusing on distinguishing between the six tones to avoid misunderstandings.
Show steps
  • Find online resources for Cantonese tone practice.
  • Listen to audio examples of each tone.
  • Record yourself and compare to native speakers.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create Flashcards for New Vocabulary
Reinforce your vocabulary learning by creating flashcards with Cantonese words and phrases on one side and their English translations on the other, using them regularly to test your memory and improve recall.
Show steps
  • Gather new vocabulary from each lesson.
  • Create flashcards with Cantonese and English.
  • Review flashcards regularly.
Practice Conversations with a Language Partner
Enhance your speaking skills by finding a language partner and practicing basic Cantonese conversations, focusing on using the vocabulary and phrases learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions.
  • Role-play common scenarios in Cantonese.
Explore 'Cantonese: A Comprehensive Grammar'
Deepen your understanding of Cantonese grammar by consulting a comprehensive grammar guide that provides detailed explanations and examples of grammatical structures.
View Basic Cantonese (Routledge Grammar Workbooks) on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Cantonese: A Comprehensive Grammar'.
  • Refer to the book when encountering grammatical difficulties.
  • Study specific grammar points in detail.
Translate English Sentences into Cantonese
Test your understanding of Cantonese grammar and vocabulary by translating English sentences into Cantonese, focusing on using the correct word order and grammatical structures.
Show steps
  • Find English sentences to translate.
  • Translate the sentences into Cantonese.
  • Check your translations with a native speaker.

Career center

Learners who complete Cantonese for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Interpreter
An interpreter facilitates communication between individuals who speak different languages. In this role, one must have a strong grasp of both languages involved. This course is helpful for a career as an interpreter by teaching basic Cantonese vocabulary, phrases, and grammar, which allows learners to engage in conversations. The course's focus on pronunciation and sample conversations can also simulate real world scenarios that an interpreter might encounter. This course is particularly useful for anyone looking to gain a foundation in day to day Cantonese.
See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter
Translator
Translators work with written text to convert materials from one language into another. This role requires a deep understanding of both the source and target languages. This Cantonese course may be useful to a translator who needs a strong base in Cantonese. The course's inclusion of written materials, such as lesson notes and vocabulary lists, may help those who desire to translate written Cantonese documents and allows them to better understand Cantonese sentence structure. A translator must also understand the cultural context of the language, and exposure to common phrases and situations is helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Translator
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads individuals or groups of tourists through a particular location, sharing information about the area's history, culture, and attractions. This course may benefit a tour guide who needs to communicate effectively with Cantonese speaking visitors. The course's lessons on greetings, introductions, and common phrases helps build a foundation for a tour guide. The vocabulary on shopping, restaurants, and local attractions is particularly useful for someone who leads tours in Hong Kong. Those who might wish to work in tourism might find this course very helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Guide
Language Teacher
A language teacher instructs students in a particular language. This involves lesson planning, teaching grammar, vocabulary, and culture, and assessing student progress. This course may be useful to a new teacher of Cantonese because it focuses on systematic teaching of the language. The course may provide a good foundation in Cantonese pronunciation, basic vocabularly, and conversation. The instructor may also be able to use some of the teaching methods in this course, such as vocabulary and pronunciation drills, in their own teaching practice. While it may not be enough to be a sole resource for teaching, it can augment existing practice.
See salaries and explore the career path for Language Teacher
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative typically interacts with customers to provide information, answer questions, and resolve issues. This role benefits from an ability to communicate clearly and effectively in multiple languages. The basic conversational skills practiced in this course may help a customer service representative who interacts with Cantonese speaking customers. The course's lessons on common phrases, greetings, and introductions are useful for customer service interactions. A customer service representative who also wishes to advance might find this course to be particularly useful to learn specific practical phrases.
See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions to assess the potential sales of a product or service. This role often requires analyzing information in different languages depending on targeted demographics. This course can be valuable to a market research analyst who hopes to analyze data collected from Cantonese-speaking markets or those who wish to conduct interviews in Cantonese. Learning fundamental vocabulary, phrases, and grammar in Cantonese helps interpret the information more accurately. The course's structured approach to learning the language, along with the inclusion of practical phrases and cultural context, makes it particularly useful for those in market research.
See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst
Travel Agent
A travel agent assists clients with planning and booking travel arrangements, including flights, accommodations, and activities. A travel agent must be able to communicate effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. This course introduces basic Cantonese phrases used in daily life and can be helpful to a travel agent working with Cantonese speakers. The course also includes practical vocabulary related to shopping, restaurants and accommodations. The agent can use the course's structured approach to learn the vocabulary effectively and quickly. Anyone who wishes to work in travel might find this course very useful in interacting with clients.
See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Agent
Content Creator
A content creator develops material for various media platforms, and this can include video, audio or text based content. This role requires a strong ability to engage an audience, adapt to new mediums, and in this case, use language effectively. This course may be useful for a content creator who wishes to target a Cantonese speaking audience. The course's systematic approach along with lessons focused on daily conversation helps develop a base understanding of everyday Cantonese. The course also covers a number of topics such as shopping or dining which can help the creator in developing targeted content. One who wishes to create language focused content might find this course very helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer processes visa applications, conducts interviews, and enforces immigration laws and regulations. This role requires strong communication skills in multiple languages. The basic Cantonese taught in this course may be useful to an immigration officer who interacts with Cantonese speaking individuals. This course helps introduce the basic vocabulary and grammar of spoken Cantonese that may be used by an immigrant. While more advanced study would likely be required, this course provides a good base. Anyone who works with the public or is involved in immigration may find this course useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Immigration Officer
Social Worker
A social worker provides support to individuals and families facing a range of challenges, including poverty, mental health issues, or family conflict. This role requires a strong ability to communicate effectively, including when using multiple languages. This course provides a base understanding of Cantonese, and social workers who commonly interact with individuals who speak Cantonese may find it useful. The course's systematic approach allows one to pick up on not only vocabulary and grammar, but also cultural usage of the language. This can be a great starting point for anyone working as a social worker or in community outreach.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker
Hotel Concierge
A hotel concierge provides assistance to hotel guests, including making reservations, arranging transportation, and providing information about local attractions. This role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to assist people from other cultures. The basic Cantonese provided in this course may be helpful for a hotel concierge who interacts with Cantonese speaking guests. The course's lessons on common phrases, greetings, and introductions are helpful for guest interactions. The course also provides some helpful vocabulary for tourist related activities. Any hotel professional may find that this course helps improve client interaction.
See salaries and explore the career path for Hotel Concierge
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant ensures the safety and comfort of airline passengers. This role requires excellent communication skills, and this can involve speaking in multiple languages. The basic Cantonese taught in this course may be valuable to a flight attendant who interacts with Cantonese speaking passengers. The course's focus on pronunciation and conversation helps a flight attendant better assist passengers. The course may also help develop a basic vocabulary to respond to passenger needs. Any professional in the airline industry may find a course in conversational Cantonese useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Flight Attendant
Journalist
A journalist researches and reports on current events, whether that be for newspapers, television, or online publications. This role requires a strong ability to communicate and adapt to new situations and cultures. This course may be helpful to a journalist who needs to conduct interviews or research in a Cantonese speaking region. The course provides a basic foundation in Cantonese vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation, and can be useful for those who need to interact with the public. The course may also be particularly useful for a journalist who needs to read local news or other media. Those in the media and journalism fields may find this course helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist
Librarian
A librarian assists library users with finding information and resources, and also manages library collections. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to assist individuals from diverse backgrounds. This basic Cantonese course may fit into the toolkit of a librarian who works with Cantonese speaking patrons. The course introduces basic vocabulary, phrases, and grammar, which can help a librarian interact with more patrons. The course gives a foundation in conversational Cantonese. This may help to foster a more inclusive and comfortable learning environment in the library. Anyone in the public service sector may find this course helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian
Event Planner
An event planner organizes and coordinates various events such as weddings, conferences, and parties. This role requires a strong ability to communicate effectively and manage logistics. This course may be useful to an event planner who is organizing events for or with a Cantonese speaking client. The basic conversational skills provided by the course can enhance communication with the client. The course also introduces useful vocabulary for daily life as well as shopping and dining. Anyone in logistics or in the service industry may find this course helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cantonese for beginners.
Cover image
Colloquial Cantonese
Save
Provides a comprehensive introduction to Cantonese, covering grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights. It is particularly useful for beginners as it offers clear explanations and practical exercises. The book complements the course by providing additional examples and practice opportunities. It valuable resource for reinforcing the concepts taught in the lessons.
Colloquial Cantonese (Colloquial Series)
Paperback
$$$
Colloquial Cantonese: The Complete Course for...
Hardcover
$$$$
Colloquial Cantonese: The Complete Course for...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Basic Cantonese
Save
Offers an in-depth analysis of Cantonese grammar, suitable for learners who want to delve deeper into the structure of the language. While not essential for beginners, it can be a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles of Cantonese. It is best used as a reference book to clarify specific grammatical points encountered during the course. This book provides a more academic and detailed perspective on Cantonese grammar.
Basic Cantonese (Routledge Grammar Workbooks)
Paperback
$$
Basic Cantonese: A Grammar and Workbook (Routledge...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Rating
5.0 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star
Effort
2.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Alisa Tsang
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides downloadable notes that include new vocabularies, phrases with explanations, sample conversations, review quizzes, and Chinese practice, which reinforces learning
Focuses on practical, everyday Cantonese used by Hongkongers, which is useful for travelers and those interested in Hong Kong media
Includes bonus lessons with extra vocabularies, common surnames, country names, local food, shopping items, and useful phrases, which enriches cultural understanding
Teaches traditional Chinese characters alongside Jyutping, but emphasizes that character recognition is sufficient for basic reading, which is helpful for visual learners
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