The pattern: number + classifier + noun
The formula is rigid: number + classifier + noun. Demonstratives (呢 this, 嗰 that) work the same way — 呢 + classifier + noun:
一個蘋果
Pronunciation jat1 go3 ping4 gwo2
one apple
個 go3 — the default people/thing classifier
兩本書
Pronunciation loeng5 bun2 syu1
two books
本 bun2 for bound things — books, magazines
三張紙
Pronunciation saam1 zoeng1 zi2
three sheets of paper
張 zoeng1 for flat things — paper, tables, tickets
呢杯茶
Pronunciation ni1 bui1 caa4
this cup of tea
杯 bui1 = cup/glass — the noun doubles as its own classifier
嗰架車
Pronunciation go2 gaa3 ce1
that car
架 gaa3 for machines/vehicles
Notice the demonstratives: 呢 ni1 = this, 嗰 go2 = that — and they always need a classifier after them too (呢個 "this one", 嗰杯 "that cup").
The everyday classifiers
| Classifier | Jyutping | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 個 | go3 | people, most everyday things (the default) | 三個人 saam1 go3 jan4 — three people |
| 本 | bun2 | books, magazines (bound volumes) | 兩本書 loeng5 bun2 syu1 |
| 張 | zoeng1 | flat things: paper, tables, tickets | 一張飛 jat1 zoeng1 fei1 — a ticket |
| 杯 | bui1 | cups/glasses of drink | 一杯水 jat1 bui1 seoi2 — a glass of water |
| 碗 | wun2 | bowls of food | 一碗飯 jat1 wun2 faan6 — a bowl of rice |
| 架 | gaa3 | machines: cars, planes, computers | 一架車 jat1 gaa3 ce1 |
| 隻 | zek3 | animals, one of a pair | 一隻貓 jat1 zek3 maau1 — a cat |
| 間 | gaan1 | buildings, rooms, shops, companies | 一間酒店 jat1 gaan1 zau2 dim3 — a hotel |
| 條 | tiu4 | long thin things: fish, roads, trousers | 一條魚 jat1 tiu4 jyu2 — a fish |
| 位 | wai2 | people (polite count) | 一位老師 jat1 wai2 lou5 si1 — a teacher (polite) |
| 雙 | soeng1 | pairs: shoes, chopsticks | 一雙鞋 jat1 soeng1 haai4 — a pair of shoes |
| 份 | fan6 | portions, documents, jobs | 一份報紙 jat1 fan6 bou3 zi2 — a newspaper |
Numbers and demonstratives with classifiers
Putting it all together — count and point:
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 呢個人 | ni1 go3 jan4 | this person |
| 嗰間餐廳 | go2 gaan1 caan1 teng1 | that restaurant |
| 呢啲嘢 | ni1 di1 je5 | these things / this stuff |
| 嗰啲人 | go2 di1 jan4 | those people |
| 兩杯茶 | loeng5 bui1 caa4 | two cups of tea |
| 三位 | saam1 wai2 | three people (polite — restaurant "a table for three?") |
Classified nouns you'll meet daily
一個三文治
Pronunciation jat1 go3 saam1 man4 zi6
one sandwich
兩碗雲吞麵
Pronunciation loeng5 wun2 wan4 tan1 min6
two bowls of wonton noodles
三張車飛
Pronunciation saam1 zoeng1 ce1 fei1
three transport tickets
一間酒店
Pronunciation jat1 gaan1 zau2 dim3
one hotel
幾位?
Pronunciation gei2 wai2
how many people? (at a restaurant)
Classifiers feel strange for about a week, then they click — each noun simply carries its counting word. By the restaurant article you'll use 杯/碗/個 without thinking.
Mini practice
Why can't you just say 一書 for "one book"?
Cantonese needs a classifier between number and noun: 一本書 (jat1 bun2 syu1). 本 is the volume classifier for bound things.
What's the fallback classifier when you don't know the right one?
個 (go3) — the universal classifier for people and most everyday things: 一個人, 一個蘋果.
呢個 vs 嗰個?
呢個 (ni1 go3) = "this one", 嗰個 (go2 go3) = "that one". Demonstratives also take classifiers.
"Two bowls of wonton noodles"?
兩碗雲吞麵 (loeng5 wun2 wan4 tan1 min6) — 碗 for bowls of food. And "two" before a classifier is 兩, not 二.
Which classifier for cars and machines?
架 (gaa3): 一架車 = a car, 一架飛機 = a plane.
