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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.

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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 cantonese understand mandarin?

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?


Can people who speak mandarin Chinese understand those who speak cantonese?

Generally, Mandarin Chinese speakers may not fully understand Cantonese speakers since the two languages are distinct and have different vocabulary, tones, and grammar structures. However, there may be some overlap in terms of basic vocabulary and phrases which could facilitate some level of communication between speakers of the two languages.


What is a more useful language to learn Mandarin or Cantonese?

Mandarin is an official language in Mainland China and Taiwan, but Cantonese is just a dialect in Guangdong province, Guangxi province (in some areas) and It's also an official language in Hong Kong. The Chinese people in several areas in China can understand what you say in Mandarin, in the other hand, if you choose to use Cantonese for communicating with Chinese people, you must use it in Guangdong, Guangxi or in Hong Kong only. I suggest you to learn Mandarin first, and then continue to learn Cantonese, it'll easy for your learning in Chinese.-From someone who's studying Mandarin in Thailand-


What languages are spoken by Cantonese people?

Cantonese people mainly speak Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. Additionally, many Cantonese people may also speak Mandarin, which is the official language of China, as well as English, due to Hong Kong's history as a British colony.

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.


Can cantonese understand mandarin?

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?


Can people who speak mandarin Chinese understand those who speak cantonese?

Generally, Mandarin Chinese speakers may not fully understand Cantonese speakers since the two languages are distinct and have different vocabulary, tones, and grammar structures. However, there may be some overlap in terms of basic vocabulary and phrases which could facilitate some level of communication between speakers of the two languages.


What is a more useful language to learn Mandarin or Cantonese?

Mandarin is an official language in Mainland China and Taiwan, but Cantonese is just a dialect in Guangdong province, Guangxi province (in some areas) and It's also an official language in Hong Kong. The Chinese people in several areas in China can understand what you say in Mandarin, in the other hand, if you choose to use Cantonese for communicating with Chinese people, you must use it in Guangdong, Guangxi or in Hong Kong only. I suggest you to learn Mandarin first, and then continue to learn Cantonese, it'll easy for your learning in Chinese.-From someone who's studying Mandarin in Thailand-


What languages are spoken by Cantonese people?

Cantonese people mainly speak Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. Additionally, many Cantonese people may also speak Mandarin, which is the official language of China, as well as English, due to Hong Kong's history as a British colony.


Can Chinese people who speak Mandarin Chinese be understood by those who speak Cantonese Chinese?

Chinese people who speak Mandarin Chinese may not be fully understood by those who speak Cantonese Chinese due to differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar between the two dialects. While there are some similarities, the two dialects are distinct enough that mutual intelligibility may be limited without additional effort to bridge the linguistic gap.


Is it true that people who speak mandarin Chinese cannot understad people who speak cantonese Chinese?

While Mandarin and Cantonese are two distinct Chinese languages, speakers of one can often understand basic phrases or context from the other language due to shared vocabulary and grammar. However, full mutual understanding may not be possible without prior exposure or learning of the other language.


What are two main Chinese languages?

Mandarin and Cantonese are the two main Chinese languages. Mandarin is the official language of China and is spoken by the majority of Chinese people, while Cantonese is mainly spoken in the southern part of China, particularly in Hong Kong and Guangdong province.


What does mandarin mean in Chinese?

In Chinese, "mandarin" refers to a high-ranking official or bureaucrat in the imperial Chinese government. It can also refer to the standard language of China, known as Mandarin Chinese, which is based on the Beijing dialect.


Main Chinese languages?

The main Chinese languages are Mandarin, Cantonese, and Min. Mandarin is the most widely spoken and is the official language of China. Cantonese is predominantly spoken in Hong Kong and Guangdong province, while Min is spoken in Fujian province.


What languages do they use in Beijing?

The main language spoken in Beijing is Mandarin Chinese. In addition to Mandarin, some people in Beijing may also speak other Chinese dialects or languages, such as Cantonese or English.


What is the main language spoken in Shanghai in China?

The main languages of China are Mandarin Chinese (by far the most common, the one normally taught in foreign countries), Wu (Shanghainese), Cantonese (Hong Kong) and Min (Southeast China).