✦Tushuo Lab

A LITTLE CANTONESE · 21 DAYS

Learn Cantonese in 21 Days

Go from your first greeting to ordering, asking for directions and keeping a simple exchange going. Build useful Cantonese in about 10 minutes a day.

21-day path About 10 min/day Progress stays on this device

Build a beginner foundation for everyday situations—not a promise of fluency. Repetition and real conversations are what make Cantonese stick.

Continue to Day 1

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Choose today’s lesson

The sequence builds step by step, but you can jump straight to a situation you need.

DAY 01 / 21

Hello: start reading Jyutping

Today’s goal

See Jyutping as a pronunciation guide and read two useful syllables.

Useful phrases

Try reading the Cantonese and Jyutping first, then tap a card to reveal its meaning.

Learn the idea, not just the phrase

Jyutping is a pronunciation guide, not English phonics. The number after a syllable marks its tone. Read each syllable clearly, then join nei5 hou2 into one greeting.

Pattern breakdown

Greeting + introduction: nei5 hou2 + ngo5 giu3 + name. Say the whole line, then swap in your own name.

Mini conversation

A
你好！nei5 hou2!Hello!
B
你好，我叫阿明。nei5 hou2, ngo5 giu3 aa3 ming4.Hello, my name is Ming.

Today’s small challenge

Read “nei5 hou2” three times, then replace Ming with your own name and say the full introduction.

Guided practice

1) Clap twice as you say nei5 and hou2 separately. 2) Read nei5 hou2 without looking at the Chinese. 3) Introduce yourself with your name three times, slowing down to check the tones.

Try it before checking

In “nei5 hou2, ngo5 giu3 Ming”, which part can you replace with your own information?

Show a sample answer

Replace “Ming” with your name. Keep nei5 hou2 and ngo5 giu3 unchanged.

Spaced review

Say it from memory at the end of today and before tomorrow’s lesson; repeat a 20-second introduction in three days.

How to use this 21-day path

Speak first; refine as you go

Read the Jyutping, then cover the meaning and retrieve it from memory. Put each short phrase into a real situation and say it aloud. Return to Day 2’s tone contours when a tone feels difficult.

Spoken Cantonese is not the same as written Chinese

The path prioritizes common Hong Kong spoken expressions. Cantonese varies by region and speaker, so vocabulary, particles and accents may differ; follow local speakers in real conversations.

Changing the interface language only changes the lesson guidance; Cantonese examples remain in traditional characters with Jyutping.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be fluent in Cantonese after 21 days?

Fluency is not guaranteed. The 21-day goal is a foundation in pronunciation and sentence patterns, plus practice with frequent situations such as greetings, introductions, ordering, directions and asking someone to repeat. Daily speaking and review matter more than simply reading the lessons.

Can a complete beginner use this course?

Yes. It starts with Jyutping, tones and short useful phrases. If you do not know how to pronounce a character, start with the Jyutping number and compare it with a recorded reference.

Why are the examples in traditional characters?

Examples mainly use traditional written Cantonese common in Hong Kong contexts. Cantonese has regional variation, and you can adapt the written forms to your learning goals.

Jyutping scheme & sound examples ↗Scenario-based Cantonese lessons ↗

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