Mandarin vs. Cantonese: What's the difference?

Vocabulary & grammar distinctions

Apart from pronunciation and characters, Mandarin and Cantonese also differ in terms of vocabulary and grammar. At this point, you might wonder why they are even classified within the same language family given their vast differences. Fortunately, there are some similarities in addition to the differences in these aspects! Let's explore the vocabulary and grammar variations and commonalities between Mandarin and Cantonese.

Vocabulary

In Mandarin and Cantonese, most words are written using the same characters. This provides a degree of mutual intelligibility, enabling Mandarin speakers to comprehend written Cantonese and vice-versa.

Nonetheless, this doesn't imply that both dialects always use identical words. Aside from the unique Cantonese words previously mentioned, some vocabulary words can differ between the two dialects.

Grammar

The grammar of Mandarin and Cantonese is quite similar, as demonstrated by their basic sentence structures:

Basic Mandarin sentence structure: Subject + Verb + Object (SVO structure)

Basic Cantonese sentence structure: Subject + Verb + Object (SVO structure)

At first glance, both Mandarin and Cantonese follow the same pattern. However, this doesn't mean that their grammar rules are identical. Each dialect is a distinct language with its own unique grammar rules.

Here are the most common grammar differences between Mandarin and Cantonese:

Adverb order. In Mandarin, adverbs typically precede the verb, while in Cantonese, they follow the verb.

Double objects. In Mandarin, the indirect object always appears before the direct object, whereas in Cantonese, the reverse is true.

To better illustrate these differences, consider the following example sentences comparing Mandarin and Cantonese sentences.

Choosing one to learn

Deciding between learning Mandarin or Cantonese largely hinges on your personal objectives. In terms of practicality, Mandarin offers greater utility than Cantonese, as it is the sole official language of mainland China and has over ten times the number of speakers. If your goal is to conduct business in mainland China, Mandarin is the ideal choice.

Mandarin also serves as the lingua franca in mainland China, with many individuals speaking it as a second language. For instance, while Shanghainese is often used for communication among Shanghai natives, nearly everyone in Shanghai can speak Mandarin. Therefore, even in non-Mandarin-speaking regions, knowing Mandarin may still facilitate communication with locals. This is not the case for Cantonese, as very few people outside Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau speak it unless it's their native language.

Nonetheless, Cantonese might be more beneficial if you plan to live in Guangdong, Hong Kong, or Macau. Although Mandarin will be helpful in Cantonese-speaking areas of mainland China, it doesn't hold true for the Chinese Special Administrative Regions (SARs). Thus, if your future involves Guangdong, Hong Kong, or Macau, learning Cantonese is likely the better option.

Is Cantonese more challenging than Mandarin?

You might be wondering whether Mandarin or Cantonese is more difficult to learn, which is a valid concern. Chinese is considered one of the most challenging languages for English speakers, so approaching it cautiously is reasonable.

Most individuals would agree that Mandarin is somewhat easier to learn than Cantonese. Cantonese has four additional tones compared to Mandarin, and traditional characters are more prevalent in Cantonese than in Mandarin. If you're seeking the dialect that requires the least effort to learn, then Mandarin is the choice for you.

However, the most effective strategies for learning Chinese characters involve a sustained interest in studying and mastering the language. Factors such as your personal interests, family and friends, business pursuits, and available learning opportunities can significantly influence your language learning success. So, if you have a passion for Hong Kong cinema or have discovered a lucrative business opportunity in Guangzhou, don't worry too much about Cantonese being slightly more challenging than Mandarin. Instead, trust your instincts and pursue what resonates with you!

Fun facts: Mandarin vs. Cantonese

1. Cantonese is prevalent in Chinatowns worldwide Cantonese is likely more familiar to those living near a Chinatown than Mandarin. The first Chinatown in the United States was even called Little Canton due to the majority of Chinese immigrants in the 20th century hailing from Hong Kong and Guangdong province, leading to the spread of Cantonese among the Chinese diaspora.

2. Mandarin has over 10 times more speakers than Cantonese With over 1.1 billion speakers globally and about 929 million native speakers, Mandarin is the language with the most native speakers and the second-most spoken language after English. In contrast, Cantonese has approximately 75 million speakers worldwide, making the Mandarin-to-Cantonese speaker ratio nearly 15-to-1!

3. Cantonese has more speakers than languages such as Korean or Persian Despite having significantly fewer speakers than Mandarin, Cantonese is still among the 20 largest languages globally, boasting more speakers than well-known languages like Korean and Persian.

4. Guangzhou locals never referred to the city as Canton While the city of Guangzhou was commonly romanized as Canton for centuries, locals never used this name. It originated from the Portuguese "Cidade de Cantão," with "Cantão" being a misinterpretation of a dialectical pronunciation of Guangdong.

The name Canton stuck among Europeans and later among most Western countries due to Portuguese establishing the first contact between Europe and East Asia in 1517. However, this name resulted from a misunderstanding and has since been mostly phased out. It might be time to consider renaming Cantonese to Guangdongnese or Guangzhousian!

Mandarin vs. Cantonese FAQs

Do all Chinese people speak Mandarin?

Not every Chinese speaker speaks Mandarin, but a vast majority do. It's estimated that around 80% of mainland China's population can speak Mandarin, with plans to raise this to 85% by 2025. The younger generation in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau is almost entirely fluent in Mandarin, as it has been incorporated into school curriculums.

Can Mandarin and Cantonese speakers understand each other?

Mandarin and Cantonese speakers cannot understand one another due to significant pronunciation differences. However, the written language differences are small enough for Mandarin and Cantonese speakers to comprehend each other when texting or writing letters.

Can I use Mandarin in Hong Kong?

About half of the people in Hong Kong (48%) can speak Mandarin, largely due to the rising number of mainland immigrants and tourists and the growing prevalence of Mandarin in education. However, if you’re a foreigner who speaks English and Mandarin but not Cantonese, your best bet is going to be to use English to communicate with the locals. English is still a very popular language and one of the official languages of Hong Kong, so you won’t run into any trouble with English.

Is Taiwanese Mandarin the same as Mainland China Mandarin?

Mandarin is the official language of both mainland China and Taiwan. While the Mandarin spoken in Taiwan and that on the mainland are very similar, there are key differences in pronunciation, grammar, writing style, and vocabulary. Most significantly, Taiwan uses traditional characters, while mainland China uses simplified characters. So, if you’ve learned simplified Chinese and find yourself in Taiwan, you may have some trouble reading signs on the street!