How to Say "Count" in Cantonese

數

sou

The Cantonese verb for 'to count' is 數 (sou).

The word 數 is used to describe the act of enumerating items or determining a quantity.

Meaning: to enumerate or determine number (verb)

Which one should you use?

While 數 is the standard form, you may encounter 計算 (gai3 syun3) in more formal contexts and 數數 (sou3 sou3) in informal speech.

sou

In Cantonese, 數 is used in the phrase 數錢 (sou3 cin4) to mean counting money, but the phrase 數人 (sou3 jan4) can mean counting people or, colloquially, listing someone's faults.
When counting items, Cantonese speakers use specific 'classifiers' or 'measure words' after the number. You cannot simply say 'three books', but must say 'three [volume] books'.
To say 'count me in' or 'count me as one of the group', Cantonese speakers do not use 數, but instead use the verb 算 (saan3).

計吓有幾個蘋果。
Count and see how many apples there are.
請你數吓入面有幾多件衫。
cing2 nei5 sou3 haa5 jap6 min6 jau5 gei2 do1 gin6 saam1.
Please count how many pieces of clothing are inside.

A mother asks her son to check the inventory of toys.

美玲 Mei Ling

子健，你可唔可以幫我數吓啲玩具？
zi2 gin3, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 sou3 haa5 di1 wan1 joi3?
Zi Kin, can you help me count the toys?
子健 Tsz Kin

好呀，等我數吓先。
hou2 aa3, dang2 ngo5 sou3 haa5 sin1.
Okay, let me count first.
美玲 Mei Ling

你數完之後話畀我知有幾多件。
nei5 sou3 jyun4 zi1 hau6 waa6 bei2 ngo5 zi1 jau5 gei2 do1 gin6.
Tell me how many pieces there are after you finish counting.
子健 Tsz Kin

我數完咗，總共有十件。
ngo5 sou3 jyun4 zo2, zung2 jau5 jat1 sap6 gin6.
I have finished counting, there are ten pieces in total.

Sources

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