The move of a cannon when he does not take a piece is different from when he takes a piece. When a cannon moves without taking, this is just like a normal rook. However, when a cannon makes a capture, he moves horizontally or vertically, and must jump over another piece before making the capture. For example, a cannon on a1 can take a piece on f1 when exactly one of the squares b1, c1, d1, or e1 is occupied by a piece. It is not important what is the color of the piece that the cannon jumps over.
Cannons only capture when jumping, and only jump when capturing.
It can never jump over more than one piece in a turn. Pawns In Xiangqi, pawns take in the same way as they move without taking. When a pawn is at his own side of the board, he can move one square straight forward. When a pawn has the river crossed and hence is at the opponents side of the board, he can either move one square straight forward, or one square straight to the left or to the right. Again, there are different symbols for a white and a black pawn.