Complete Guide to the Jyutping Dictionary
What is Jyutping Lookup?
Jyutping lookup lets you quickly find the standard Cantonese pronunciation of Chinese characters via a dictionary tool. Unlike Mandarin pinyin, Cantonese Jyutping has its own initials, finals, and tone system. This dictionary offers instant lookup for over 20,000 characters, with full Jyutping and tone numbers so you can master correct pronunciation.
Why Use a Jyutping Dictionary?
Cantonese has rich tones and many polyphonic characters. For example, 行 can be hang4 (walk) or hong4 (bank), and 好 can be hou2 (good) or hou3 (to like). With this tool you get all candidate readings at once and can choose the right one by context. It is an essential reference for learners, teachers, voice actors, and translators.
How to Use the Dictionary
Type the character(s) you want to look up in the input box (traditional, simplified, or mixed). Results appear instantly. You can enter multiple characters for batch lookup; each card shows the character and all possible Jyutping readings in standard format with initials, finals, and tone numbers.
Polyphonic Characters in Cantonese
Polyphonic characters are very common in Cantonese. This dictionary lists all candidate readings so you can pick by context. For example, 重 has cung5 (weight) and zung6 (repeat); 長 has coeng4 (long) and zoeng2 (principal, grow). Using the dictionary helps you compare readings and avoid mispronunciation.
Data Sources
Pronunciation data is based on authoritative sources such as the Hong Kong Education Bureau Primary School Word List, Wong Sik-ling's Cantonese rhyme dictionaries, and Ho Man-wai's pronunciation guides, combined with modern usage. For disputed readings we prioritise the most widely accepted standard. All data is checked for accuracy.
Use Cases
- Daily learning: Look up character readings and master correct pronunciation.
- Teaching materials: Confirm standard Jyutping for words when creating resources.
- Voice prep: Voice actors and hosts look up readings for rare characters in scripts.
- Input method: Check Jyutping when using Jyutping input method for uncertain characters.
- Linguistic research: Scholars use the dictionary for phonological analysis.
Understanding Polyphonic Characters
What are polyphonic characters?
A polyphonic character has two or more different readings. In Cantonese, this often comes from literary vs colloquial readings, different word classes or meanings, or historical sound change. For example, 樂 has lok6 (happy) and ngok6 (music), a classic literary/colloquial pair.
Literary vs colloquial readings
Cantonese keeps many Old Chinese features, so many characters have a "literary" (formal) and "colloquial" (everyday) reading. For example, 學 is hok6 in literary and gaau3 in colloquial (e.g. 學徒 hok6 tau4, 返學 faan1 gaau3). This dictionary lists all readings so you can choose by context.
Common polyphonic examples
- 行: hang4 (walk) / hong4 (bank) / haang4 (street, colloquial)
- 度: dou6 (degree) / dok6 (measure, literary)
- 落: lok6 (fall, literary) / lok3 (rain, colloquial)
- 差: caai1 (difference) / caa1 (poor) / caai3 (business trip)
- 切: cit3 (cut) / cai3 (all)
- 說: syut3 (speak, literary) / seoi3 (persuade)
How to choose the right reading?
Understanding the meaning and word class in context is key. Look up all candidates in this dictionary and decide from context. If unsure, consult other authoritative sources or listen to native speakers. With practice you will develop a feel for polyphonic characters.
Standard Pronunciation vs Lazy Pronunciation
What is lazy pronunciation?
Lazy pronunciation is a colloquial simplification that deviates from standard Cantonese, common among younger speakers in Hong Kong. Typical cases: merging n and l (e.g. 你 as lei5 instead of nei5), dropping the ng initial (e.g. 我 as o5 instead of ngo5), or simplifying gw/kw to g/k (e.g. 果 as go2 instead of gwo2). This dictionary gives standard readings to help you build a correct foundation.
Official pronunciation standards
Since the 1990s the Hong Kong Education Bureau has promoted standard Cantonese pronunciation and published resources such as the Primary School Word List. This dictionary uses these official standards to provide certified readings. You can be sure you are learning the most widely accepted pronunciation.
n/l confusion
Merging n and l is one of the most common lazy habits. In standard Cantonese, n is a nasal (tongue tip at alveolar ridge, airflow through nose) and l is a lateral (airflow along sides of tongue). Many people pronounce all n-initial characters with l. Use this dictionary and practice to correct this.
Dropping the ng initial or coda
The ng [ŋ] initial and coda are distinctive in Cantonese and absent in Mandarin. Many learners and younger speakers drop the ng initial (e.g. 我 o5 instead of ngo5, 牙 aa4 instead of ngaa4) or simplify ng coda to n. This dictionary helps you identify and practice these sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the dictionary?
Data comes from multiple authoritative sources and corpora, covering over 99% of common characters. For rare and variant characters we provide readings where available. All data is professionally checked for reliability.
How to remember polyphonic characters?
Link each reading to specific words. For example, remember 行走 hang4 and 銀行 hong4 rather than "行 has two readings." Build your sense of polyphonic characters through reading and listening.
Does the dictionary support simplified characters?
Yes. You can input simplified Chinese; the system will recognise and show the corresponding Cantonese readings. Note that some simplified forms map to multiple traditional characters (e.g. 干 to 乾 or 干), so the dictionary may list multiple readings.
Can I look up rare characters?
Yes. The dictionary includes many rare and dialect characters. If a character is not found, it may be very rare or a dialect variant; you can double-check with other specialised resources.