or [55] to transcribe it (where ‘5’ is measured against ‘1’ in transcribing high pitch). Its pitch quality is more or less like the 1 st tone of Putonghua.
For example:
1. /1/ of Cantonese derives primarily from the ‘level’ tone of Middle Chinese, but also its ‘entering’ tone. The pitch remains high and level throughout, with the IPA using
or [55] to transcribe it (where ‘5’ is measured against ‘1’ in transcribing high pitch). Its pitch quality is more or less like the 1 st tone of Putonghua.
For example:
| 詩 | 他 | 錶 | 黑 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si1 | taa1 | biu1 | haak1 |
2. /2/ of Cantonese derives primarily from the Middle Chinese ‘rising’ tone. The pitch starts mid-level and rises high, with the IPA using 
or [35] to transcribe it. Its pitch quality is exactly like the 2nd tone of Putonghua.
For example:
| 史 | 普 | 估 | 院 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si2 | pou2 | gu2 | jyun2 |
3. /3/ of Cantonese derives primarily from the Middle Chinese ‘departing’ tone, but also its ‘entering’ tone. The pitch remains mid-level throughout, with the IPA using 
or [33] to transcribe it. Since there is no equivalent in Putonghua, beginners must pay careful attention to how it is produced and imitate it.
For example:
| 試 | 菜 | 喊 | 作 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si3 | coi3 | haam3 | zok3 |
/1/ and /3/ as well as /4/ and /6/ that follow are all level tones, but Putonghua only has one tone that is level. Therefore, beginners often find the Cantonese tones difficult to distinguish and these tones should be practised often.
4. Like /1/, /4/ of Cantonese also derives primarily from the Middle Chinese ‘level’ tone. But unlike /1/, the pitch remains low and level throughout, with the IPA using 
or [11] (alternatively 
or [21] to transcribe it.) Its pitch quality is almost like the first half of the 3rd tone of Putonghua.
For example:
| 時 | 平 | 期 | 場 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si4 | ping4 | kei4 | coeng4 |
5. Like /2/, /5/ of Cantonese also derives primarily from the Middle Chinese ‘rising’ tone. But unlike /2/, the pitch starts low and rises to mid-level, with the IPA using
or [13] to transcribe it. Since there is no equivalent in Putonghua, beginners must pay careful attention to how it is produced and imitate it.
For example:
| 市 | 有 | 似 | 你 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si5 | jau5 | ci5 | nei5 |
/2/ and /5/ are both rising tones, but Putonghua only has one tone that rises. Therefore, beginners often find the Cantonese tones difficult to distinguish and these tones should be practised often.
6. Like /3/, /6/ of Cantonese derives primarily from the Middle Chinese ‘departing’ tone, but also its ‘entering’ tone. But unlike /3/, the pitch remains mid-low throughout, with the IPA using
or [33] to transcribe it. Since there is no equivalent in Putonghua, beginners must pay careful attention to how it is produced and imitate it.
For example:
| 事 | 大 | 鼻 | 別 |
|---|---|---|---|
| si6 | daai6 | bei6 | bit6 |