How tones vary across Cantonese, Wu, and Hakka
Tones vary notably across Cantonese, Wu, and Hakka Chinese dialects in number, pitch contours, and tone sandhi complexity.
Cantonese has six main tones (sometimes counted as nine with entering tones), including three level tones (high, mid, low) and three contour tones (two rising, one falling). The six tones are crucial to meaning, with a pitch pattern such as high-level tone 1, high rising tone 2, mid-level tone 3, low falling tone 4, low rising tone 5, and low-level tone 6. The entering tones end in stop consonants (-p, -t, -k) and share pitch contours with some main tones. 1, 2, 3
Wu Chinese dialects (such as Shanghainese) typically have 5 to 8 tones, with some varieties having up to 12 tones. Wu is characterized by complex tone sandhi that affects tones in polysyllabic words or compound phrases, unlike Cantonese where tone sandhi is limited. Wu dialects often preserve historical voiced initials and have a variety of vowel qualities affecting tonal realization. Tone categories like checked tones may be realized as glottal stops. Wu tones include breathy and creaky voice effects in certain varieties. 4, 5, 6
Hakka dialects generally have six tones, divided into yin and yang categories based on historical voicing distinctions. Typical tones include high-level, low-level, low-falling, high-falling, and two checked tones (short, ending in stop consonants). Hakka tones correspond roughly to Mandarin tones but have distinct pitch contours. Tone splits in Hakka are influenced by historical voiced versus voiceless initials. Like Cantonese, entering tones in Hakka end with stop consonants and are counted separately. 7, 8, 9
| Feature | Cantonese | Wu | Hakka |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Tones | 6 (or 9 with entering tones) | 5-8 (up to 12 in some dialects) | 6 |
| Tone Types | Level (3) + Contour (3) | Complex, includes tone sandhi | Level and checked tones |
| Entering Tones | Yes, ending in -p, -t, -k | Yes, often as glottal stops | Yes, counted separately |
| Tone Sandhi | Limited | Extensive and complex | Moderate |
| Voice Quality | No notable breathy/creaky | Breathy and creaky voices in some dialects | Not prominently noted |
In summary, Cantonese tones are well-defined with clear level and contour categories, Wu tones are more complex with significant sandhi and voice qualities, while Hakka tones share some features with Cantonese but have their own distinctions based on historical phonology. 1, 4, 7