Cantonese Name Pronunciation
Look up Jyutping, tone numbers, and Mandarin Pinyin side by side for Chinese names—using only verified Cantonese data.
Jyutping and Tone Numbers
Jyutping writes each Cantonese syllable with letters plus a tone number from 1 to 6. For names, read surname and given-name characters in order. Treat Mandarin Pinyin as a separate column for Mandarin contexts—not as a substitute for Cantonese sound.
Tone is part of the reading
Can4 and a different tone on the same letters would not be the same syllable in Cantonese.
Surname first
Full names are usually surname + given name. Pronounce each character; do not collapse them into one English word.
Hong Kong usage
People may also use an English spelling on cards and documents. That spelling is romanization habit, not Jyutping.
Common Hong Kong Surname Pronunciation
Examples below come from the verified Cantonese surname catalog. Jyutping is the Cantonese reading; Hong Kong romanization is the common English spelling when curated.
| Character | Jyutping | Mandarin Pinyin | HK Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 陳陈 | Can4 | Chén | Chan |
| 李 | Lei5 | Lǐ | Lee / Li |
| 黃黄 | Wong4 | Huáng | Wong |
| 張张 | Zoeng1 | Zhāng | Cheung |
| 王 | Wong4 | Wáng | Wong |
| 梁 | Loeng4 | Liáng | Leung |
| 吳吴 | Ng4 | Wú | Ng |
| 林 | Lam4 | Lín | Lam |
| 鄭郑 | Zeng6 | Zhèng | Cheng |
| 何 | Ho4 | Hé | Ho |
| 謝谢 | Ze6 | Xiè | Tse |
| 馬马 | Maa5 | Mǎ | Ma |
| 葉叶 | Jip6 | Yè | Yip / Ip |
| 羅罗 | Lo4 | Luó | Lo / Law |
| 蔡 | Coi3 | Cài | Choi |
| 鄧邓 | Dang6 | Dèng | Tang |
| 馮冯 | Fung4 | Féng | Fung |
| 許许 | Heoi2 | Xǔ | Hui |
| 鍾钟 | Zung1 | Zhōng | Chung |
| 譚谭 | Taam4 | Tán | Tam |
| 劉刘 | Lau4 | Liú | Lau |
| 楊杨 | Joeng4 | Yáng | Yeung |
| 趙赵 | Ziu6 | Zhào | Chiu |
| 周 | Zau1 | Zhōu | Chow |
| 朱 | Zyu1 | Zhū | Chu |
| 郭 | Gwok3 | Guō | Kwok |
| 曾 | Zang1 | Zēng | Tsang |
| 潘 | Pun1 | Pān | Poon |
| 胡 | Wu4 | Hú | Wu / Woo |
| 余 | Jyu4 | Yú | Yu / Yue |
| 蘇苏 | Sou1 | Sū | So |
| 黎 | Lai4 | Lí | Lai |
| 盧卢 | Lou4 | Lú | Lo |
| 邱 | Jau1 | Qiū | Yau |
| 袁 | Jyun4 | Yuán | Yuen |
| 唐 | Tong4 | Táng | Tong |
| 溫温 | Wan1 | Wēn | Wan |
| 蕭萧 | Siu1 | Xiāo | Siu |
| 莫 | Mok6 | Mò | Mok |
| 呂吕 | Leoi5 | Lǚ | Lui |
| 區区 | Au1 | Ōu | Au |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pronounce a Chinese name in Cantonese?
Use Jyutping for each character, including the tone number. Do not rely on Mandarin Pinyin—it describes a different spoken system.
What do Jyutping tone numbers mean?
Cantonese Jyutping uses tones 1–6. The number is part of the reading (for example Can4 for 陳). Tone changes meaning and naturalness of a name.
Can I use Mandarin Pinyin for Cantonese pronunciation?
No. Pinyin is for Mandarin. A name that looks familiar in Pinyin may sound quite different in Cantonese.
How are surnames pronounced in Hong Kong?
Spoken Cantonese follows Jyutping-style readings; English documents often use conventional spellings such as Chan, Cheung, or Wong. Those English forms are not Jyutping.
Why are some characters missing pronunciation here?
This guide only shows readings from the verified Cantonese catalog. Unknown characters are marked instead of inventing Jyutping.