The Six Tones

Many words in Cantonese are spoken with two pitches. You begin a word at one pitch, and end at a higher pitch, or a lower pitch, as required by the word.

When you say 'yeah?' in English, note how the ending sound is at a higher pitch than the opening 'y' sound. This is similar to the Middle Rising tone in Cantonese. For contrast, say the same word 'yeah...' and listen to how the pitch remains even throughout.

Do you see how using a Middle Rising tone when you say 'yeah?' indicates to the user that you are asking a question? And how saying 'yeah' at an even pitch indicates to the user that you are making a statement of fact. That's an example of changing the meaning of a word by using the pitch, although the situation is far more radical in Cantonese, where yeah can mean 'darkness' and a rising yeah can mean 'countryside'.

Let us know return back to the first 6 tones and the Lau system. Let's also refer back to the musical notes do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti as an easy reference for how a word could be pronounced. We say 'could be' because, as mentioned before, Cantonese does not demand absolute pitch.

By appending a number at the end of each romanised Cantonese word, we can tell the tone that the word must be spoken at (must -- it is not voluntary). This notation of appending a number is the Lau system.

Tone 1 High Falling

Say such words as if the start is at the same pitch as the note fa and the final (lower) sound at
mi.

Tone 2 Middle Rising

This is the reverse of Tone 1. Say these words starting at a pitch of mi and ending at fa.

Tone 3 Middle Level

Speak the word at mi and remain at mi all throughout. You'd think this is easy, but remember not to change the tone even if you are asking a question!

Tone 4 Low Falling

Speak the word at re and end at the lower do.

Tone 5 Low Rising

The reverse of Tone 4. Speak the word at do and end at the lower re.

Tone 6 Low Level

Speak the word at do and remain at do all throughout the word.

That is all.

Don't worry about having to memorise the 6 tones; you will become familiar with them quite quickly. A useful memory device I use is to remember that the 'higher' numbers (1,2,3) have to do with High and Middle tones, and the 'lower' numbers (4,5,6) have to do with the lower tones.

Uh...1,2,3 are higher numbers? Yes, if you associate then with rank (1st place is higher than 2nd place is higher than 3rd place).

Next: Enough theory, let's start talking to neighbors!