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I am Cantonese and I usually don't understand what people are talking about when they speak in Mandarin. So the answer is no.

You wouldn't be able to understand completely until you've learnt mandarin but you can sometimes make out what people are saying in mandarin. But if you do learn either of them, learning mandarin and already knowing Cantonese would make it easy to learn but it wouldn't be the case the other way round. This is probably because Cantonese has more tones and is harder?

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13y ago
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2w ago

Yes, Cantonese speakers can typically understand Mandarin to some extent, as they are both dialects of Chinese. However, there are significant differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar between the two languages which may make full comprehension difficult without prior exposure or study.

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14y ago

some mandarin people can understand cantonese but not all of them.

hope this helps!

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Q: Can cantonese understand mandarin
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Can Mandarin Chinese Be Understood By Cantonese Chinese People?

Cantonese speakers may be able to understand some Mandarin Chinese due to similarities in vocabulary and grammar, but the two languages are distinct. Differences in pronunciation and tones can make it challenging for Cantonese speakers to fully understand Mandarin, and vice versa.


Can People who speak Mandarin Chinese understand people who speak Cantonese Chinese?

While both Mandarin and Cantonese are part of the Chinese language family, they are distinct dialects with different pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammatical structures. As a result, Mandarin speakers may have difficulty understanding Cantonese speakers and vice versa, especially if they are not familiar with the other dialect.


How different are mandarin and cantonese?

Mandarin and Cantonese are two distinct Chinese languages with different pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammar structures. Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in China and is the official language, while Cantonese is mainly spoken in the southern regions of China, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau. Additionally, they use different writing systems: Mandarin is written using simplified Chinese characters, while Cantonese traditionally uses traditional Chinese characters.


Did Mandarin or Cantonese come first?

Mandarin is the most widely spoken dialect in China and has its origins in Northern China. Cantonese, on the other hand, is a dialect spoken in Southern China. Historically, Mandarin as a dialect has been around longer than Cantonese.


Can cantenese Chinese understand mandarin Chinese?

Yes, Cantonese speakers can generally understand Mandarin speakers to some extent due to similarities between the two languages, especially in formal contexts. However, the spoken and written forms are different, so fluency may vary.

Related questions

Can Mandarin Chinese Be Understood By Cantonese Chinese People?

Cantonese speakers may be able to understand some Mandarin Chinese due to similarities in vocabulary and grammar, but the two languages are distinct. Differences in pronunciation and tones can make it challenging for Cantonese speakers to fully understand Mandarin, and vice versa.


Is TVB a Cantonese or Mandarin channel?

TVB is a Cantonese channel, but occasionally will broadcast Cantonese dubbed Mandarin drama shows.


Can People who speak Mandarin Chinese understand people who speak Cantonese Chinese?

While both Mandarin and Cantonese are part of the Chinese language family, they are distinct dialects with different pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammatical structures. As a result, Mandarin speakers may have difficulty understanding Cantonese speakers and vice versa, especially if they are not familiar with the other dialect.


What are the main differences between mandarin and cantonese?

the differences are mandarin only has 4 tones but cantonese has 9 tones.


How do you say tiger in Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese?

In Mandarin tiger is 老虎 (Lǎohǔ), But I cannot help you with Cantonese, I do not know very much Cantonese. Sorry!


How different are mandarin and cantonese?

Mandarin and Cantonese are two distinct Chinese languages with different pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammar structures. Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in China and is the official language, while Cantonese is mainly spoken in the southern regions of China, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau. Additionally, they use different writing systems: Mandarin is written using simplified Chinese characters, while Cantonese traditionally uses traditional Chinese characters.


Did Mandarin or Cantonese come first?

Mandarin is the most widely spoken dialect in China and has its origins in Northern China. Cantonese, on the other hand, is a dialect spoken in Southern China. Historically, Mandarin as a dialect has been around longer than Cantonese.


Can cantenese Chinese understand mandarin Chinese?

Yes, Cantonese speakers can generally understand Mandarin speakers to some extent due to similarities between the two languages, especially in formal contexts. However, the spoken and written forms are different, so fluency may vary.


What is more popular Cantonese or Mandarin?

Mandarin is more popular than Cantonese, as it is the official language of China and is spoken by the majority of the population. Cantonese is mainly spoken in Guangdong province and Hong Kong, and is not as widely used as Mandarin.


Is Cantonese and mandarin the same?

Cantonese is one of the dialects of Chinese. Cantonese only has a spoken form which is different from Mandarin Chinese. Its writing form is also the same Chinese characters.


How do you say red in Mandarin or Cantonese?

In Mandarin, "red" is 红色 (hóng sè). In Cantonese, "red" is pronounced as hùhng sīk.


Which is more used cantonese or mandarin?

Mandarin is more widely used than Cantonese, both within China and internationally. Mandarin is the official language of China and is spoken by the majority of the population, while Cantonese is predominantly spoken in the Guangdong province and Hong Kong.