[Andrew W Scott]

I have recently been doing a bit of self-study on Cantonese and I would love to meet up with someone who speaks Cantonese (preferably someone whose mother tongue is Cantonese) to ask a long list of questions I have.

So far I have memorised the English names of all 214 radicals (部首), and listed out the 100 most commonly used characters. I have searched the internet and found the meanings and pronunciation (in Cantonese and Putonghua) of all top 100 characters and also of all the radicals (部首) that are not in the top 100 but are characters in their own right as well as being radicals (部首).

But the problem is that different websites have different pronunciations, usually the difference is tone but sometimes the difference is in the the spelling of the whole syllable (for example the character 說 is pronounced as either syut, seoi or jyuht depending on where you look). I do realise that some characters have more than one meaning and different meanings have different pronunciations. Another problem is that quite a few characters are difficult to define as characters on their own - it becomes much easier when you put them with another character to make a proper compound word.

Nevertheless, for memorisation purposes I would like to memorise a "best definition" of each character on its own if I can, and also establish the correct Cantonese pronunciation. Also I would like to know the most commonly used (or at least a very commonly used) compound word for each character. When I say compound word I mean like a two character word that has a more specific meaning. These compound words help me to memorise the individual characters.

For example, there is something you see absolutely everywhere in Hong Kong, especially on the MTR. It is 小心, which is pronounced síusām. So when I memorise that 小心 (síusām) means "be careful", and that the phrase "be careful" is literally "small heart", I just instantly memorised the characters that mean "small", "heart" and "be careful", and their correct pronunciation.

I don't know how long it would take, but it would be well over an hour I think, maybe even several hours. Is anyone who speak Cantonese willing to help me? Of course I'll pay for lunch or dinner or whatever while we do it. And if you need any English help at all of course I'll help. I'm just looking for something friendly and informal with someone who likes to help others (as I do), not an actual Cantonese teacher, because at the moment I don't have time to take proper lessons on a structured basis. Any native or fluent Cantonese speaker would definitely know the answers I am looking for.

Of course this Cantonese speaker would have to speak a bit of English too so that we can communicate, but if you can read this post I just made, your English is definitely good enough. I guess owning a dictionary would help too, although I think I have all the definition possibilities already on my laptop.

[vivianc]

hey, I'm a local. I haven't seen any foregin guy can have so much intested to Cantoese like you. Even though my BBC fds. Ha ha ha. So, let's try if there is anything I can help.

[justmehk]

I'm a native Cantonese speaker. Would be happy to try if I'm able to help you. You don't need to pay just teach me English in return. DD

Anny

[vivianc]

hi Andrew,

I have sent you a private reply. Pls check

[Amygelloson]

Hi Andrew,

I m a local. Can you teach me Aussie Slang and I teach you cantonese. Of course I'll pay for lunch or dinner or whatever while we do it. Wa haha.

[zeroth]

hey, i relate about the 'siu sam' thingy. i'm trying to learn cantonese myself but haven't gone through any decent progress recently 'cause busy working and studying. cantonese is really different that sometimes when you combine two words it would mean a whole lot different just like the 'siu sam' you mentioned. also, one most common thing we see is 出口 (chut hau) which means exit or literally 'out mouth' (correct me if i'm wrong..)

it made me to think, how about if we want to express these words literally. how do we say 'small heart' and 'out mouth', then? is it the same thing? wouldn't they get confuse?

[Andrew W Scott]

Originally Posted by zeroth

hey, i relate about the 'siu sam' thingy. i'm trying to learn cantonese myself but haven't gone through any decent progress recently 'cause busy working and studying. cantonese is really different that sometimes when you combine two words it would mean a whole lot different just like the 'siu sam' you mentioned. also, one most common thing we see is 出口 (chut hau) which means exit or literally 'out mouth' (correct me if i'm wrong..)

it made me to think, how about if we want to express these words literally. how do we say 'small heart' and 'out mouth', then? is it the same thing? wouldn't they get confuse?

I'm guessing there would be a separate two character compound word that meant "out" specifically, rather than "out" in generally terms; and then another separate two character compound word that meant "mouth" specifically, rather than "mouth" in general terms. You would then say the 4 characters (i.e. 2 "words).

[Andrew W Scott]

Sorry for the double post but it won't let me edit the previous one.

Originally Posted by zeroth

cantonese is really different that sometimes when you combine two words it would mean a whole lot different just like the 'siu sam' you mentioned. also, one most common thing we see is 出口 (chut hau) which means exit or literally 'out mouth' (correct me if i'm wrong..)

By the way "out" it is "chēut" not "chut". There are 51 finals in Cantonese, "-eut" and "-ut" being two of them. "-eut" is pronounced like the "ut" in the English word "utility" but with a very underemphasised "y" sound at the start. "-ut" is pronounced like the "oot" in the English word "foot".

[Andrew W Scott]

Sorry for the TRIPLE post but there is something wrong with the software.

KIA, you better take a look at this. When I try to edit a post, instead of editing the post, it deletes it!!

Anyway I just wanted to say that those spellings in the previous post are using the Yale romanisation system, which I find to be the easiest.

[niccy]

Hi Andrew,

First of all, I wonder if you remember the mini Cha Chaan Ten cantonese I posted previously in the coffee thread. Your concern in the spelling varies from difference sources in one character does happen all the time, I can't even explain why but as a cantonese speaker myself I found the difference annoying needless to say for a foreigner.


"But the problem is that different websites have different pronunciations, usually the difference is tone but sometimes the difference is in the the spelling of the whole syllable (for example the character 說 is pronounced as either syut, seoi or jyuht depending on where you look). I do realise that some characters have more than one meaning and different meanings have different pronunciations. Another problem is that quite a few characters are difficult to define as characters on their own - it becomes much easier when you put them with another character to make a proper compound word. "


It takes time for the below, and how well your power in memorizing stuff... just like me learning french and my french teacher can't explain why C'est beau is always masculine not feminine!!

"Nevertheless, for memorisation purposes I would like to memorise a "best definition" of each character on its own if I can, and also establish the correct Cantonese pronunciation. Also I would like to know the most commonly used (or at least a very commonly used) compound word for each character. When I say compound word I mean like a two character word that has a more specific meaning. These compound words help me to memorise the individual characters."

For example, there is something you see absolutely everywhere in Hong Kong, especially on the MTR. It is 小心, which is pronounced síusām. So when I memorise that 小心 (síusām) means "be careful", and that the phrase "be careful" is literally "small heart", I just instantly memorised the characters that mean "small", "heart" and "be careful", and their correct pronunciation.

As for your example above, you can sure use the 2 character separately - i.e. siu siu = little | kwan sum = to care about sthg or someone

I don't know how long it would take, but it would be well over an hour I think, maybe even several hours. Is anyone who speak Cantonese willing to help me? Of course I'll pay for lunch or dinner or whatever while we do it. And if you need any English help at all of course I'll help. I'm just looking for something friendly and informal with someone who likes to help others (as I do), not an actual Cantonese teacher, because at the moment I don't have time to take proper lessons on a structured basis. Any native or fluent Cantonese speaker would definitely know the answers I am looking for.

feel free to PM or email me if you have any questions

Of course this Cantonese speaker would have to speak a bit of English too so that we can communicate, but if you can read this post I just made, your English is definitely good enough. I guess owning a dictionary would help too, although I think I have all the definition possibilities already on my laptop.[/quote]