0 in Cantonese = 零 (ling⁴)

The number 0 in Cantonese is 零 (ling) pronounced "ling" with a low falling tone (tone 4).

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Ling (零) with tone 4:

Step by step:

1. Say "ling" (like English "ling" in "lingering")
2. Start low and fall even lower (tone 4)
3. Low falling tone - one of the lowest pitches

Cantonese tone 4:

• Low falling tone
• Start at low pitch, drop lower
• One of the three low tones
• Like saying "ling" with a disappointed voice

Common mistakes:

• Using a high or mid tone
• Not falling low enough
• Pronouncing it like Mandarin líng (rising tone)

The Character 零

Character: 零

• Traditional character (same in simplified)
• Also means "fragmentary" or "odd" (as in odd numbers)
• Same character as Mandarin

Origin: Same etymology as Mandarin - from "drizzle" or "fragmentary"

Cantonese Tones Overview

Cantonese has 6-9 tones (depending on how you count):

• Tone 1: High level (55)
• Tone 2: High rising (25)
• Tone 3: Mid level (33)
• Tone 4: Low falling (21) ← 零 uses this
• Tone 5: Low rising (23)
• Tone 6: Low level (22)

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting: 零、一、二、三、四、五... (ling, yat, yi, saam, sei, ng...)

Phone numbers: Each digit is pronounced separately:

• 0 = 零 (ling⁴)
• Example: 9012 = gau² ling⁴ yat¹ yi⁶

Prices:

• HK$0 = 零蚊 (ling⁴ man¹) - though rare
• More commonly just indicates no amount

Times:

• 00:00 = 零點 (ling⁴ dim²) or 午夜 (ng⁵ ye⁶) = midnight
• 12:05 = 十二點零五分 (sap⁶ yi⁶ dim² ling⁴ ng⁵ fan¹)

Temperature:

• 0°C = 零度 (ling⁴ dou⁶)
• Below zero = 零下 (ling⁴ haa⁶)

Common Phrases

零錢 (ling⁴ cin⁴²): Small change, loose coins

零食 (ling⁴ sik⁶): Snacks (literally "fragmentary food")

零售 (ling⁴ sau⁶): Retail

零件 (ling⁴ gin⁶²): Parts, components

零星 (ling⁴ sing¹): Scattered, sporadic

零下 (ling⁴ haa⁶): Below zero (temperature)

Writing

Traditional Chinese: 零 (used in Hong Kong, Macau) Simplified Chinese: 零 (same character)

Cantonese typically uses traditional characters in Hong Kong and Macau.

Tone Practice

Tone 4 (low falling) examples:

• 零 (ling⁴) = zero
• 時 (si⁴) = time
• 是 (si⁶) = is (actually tone 6, but both are low)

Practice: Start at a low pitch and drop even lower.

Regional Variations

Hong Kong: ling⁴ (standard Cantonese) Guangzhou: ling⁴ (same) Macau: ling⁴ (same)

Pronunciation is consistent across Cantonese-speaking regions.

Quick Takeaways

• 0 in Cantonese is 零 (ling⁴)
• Tone 4: low falling tone
• Pronounced "ling" starting low and dropping
• Same character as Mandarin but different tone
• Used in 零錢 (small change), 零食 (snacks)
• Traditional character: 零
• Jyutping romanization: ling⁴

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If you're in Hong Kong or Cantonese-speaking areas, TravelNum shows you how numbers are pronounced in Cantonese.