There are 8 finals that have /-a-/:
Cantonese /-a-/ is like the Putonghua [e] in ‘的’ [de], and like the English ‘u’ in ‘gut’.
For example:
| 劑 | 周 |
|---|---|
| zai1 | zau1 |
| 針 | 真 | 爭 |
|---|---|---|
| zam1 | zan1 | zang1 |
| 汁 | 質 | 則 |
|---|---|---|
| zap1 | zat1 | zak1 |
Note that Cantonese /-a-/ does not appear in syllables on its own, but rather together with a coda.
For beginners, the 2 final sets of /-aa- -a-/ are not easily distinguishable. For more, see ‘Cantonese Characteristics – Vowels /-aa-/ & /-a-/’.