How to Say "Zero" in Cantonese

零

ling⁴

The English phrase "zero" is translated into Cantonese as 零 (ling⁴).

零 is the cardinal number used to denote nothing or the value before 1.

Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)

How do you pronounce it?

ling⁴

The character 零 originally referred to 'falling rain' or 'tiny drops' before it was adopted to represent the mathematical concept of zero.
In casual Cantonese street slang, if someone describes a situation as 零點點 (ling4 dim2 dim2), they aren't just saying 'zero point zero', but are often implying something is 'extremely tiny' or 'hardly any' in a hyperbolic way.
While 零 is used for calculations, if a Cantonese speaker is describing having 'zero' of something in a physical sense, they will almost always prefer the word 冇 (mou5) over the number 零.

因為冇得俾零粒星，所以我先俾半粒咋。
I'm only giving this half a star because zero stars isn't an option.
This sentence is useful for expressing that zero stars is not a possible option using 零.
Tatoeba #7022352 by nickyeow, translation #7022350 by nickyeow
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Two friends are checking the score of a game.

俊傑 Chun Kit

而家比分係幾多？
ji4 ga2 bei2 fan1 hai6 gei2 do1?
What is the score right now?
雅婷 Nga Ting

兩零，我哋贏緊！
loeng2 ling4, ngo5 dei6 jeng4 gan2!
Two zero, we are winning!
俊傑 Chun Kit

對方真係零分。
deoi3 fong1 zan1 hai6 ling4 fan1.
The other side really has zero points.
雅婷 Nga Ting

係呀，佢哋完全冇機會。
hai6 aa3, keoi5 dei6 jyun4 cyun4 mou5 gei1 hui6.
Yes, they have no chance at all.

Sources

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