cantonese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, neutral
Quick answer
What does “cantonese” mean?
A Chinese language primarily spoken in Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Macau, and among overseas Chinese communities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Chinese language primarily spoken in Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Macau, and among overseas Chinese communities.
Pertaining to the language, people, culture, or cuisine originating from the region where Cantonese is spoken, especially the Pearl River Delta area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term 'Cantonese cuisine' is slightly more common in US contexts, while 'Chinese (Cantonese)' may appear on older UK menus to specify the regional style.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'Cantonese' often carries connotations of authentic, traditional southern Chinese culture, distinct from the official Mandarin (Putonghua).
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to historical colonial ties to Hong Kong.
Grammar
How to Use “cantonese” in a Sentence
[speak/understand/learn] + CantoneseCantonese + [is spoken/originates from][adjective] + Cantonese + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cantonese” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The Cantonese community in London is very vibrant.
- We ordered a classic Cantonese roast duck.
American English
- She is taking a Cantonese cooking class.
- The film featured subtitles in Cantonese.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to language requirements for the Hong Kong or Guangdong market (e.g., 'We need a Cantonese-speaking representative').
Academic
Used in linguistics, anthropology, or cultural studies to denote a specific Sinitic language and its associated culture.
Everyday
Commonly used when discussing food, language ability, or cultural background (e.g., 'My favourite is Cantonese dim sum').
Technical
In linguistics, refers to the Yue branch of Chinese, with specific phonological and grammatical features.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cantonese”
- Using 'Cantonese' to refer to all of China or Chinese people.
- Writing it in lowercase ('cantonese').
- Confusing it with 'Mandarin'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Linguistically, Cantonese (Yue) is a separate language within the Sinitic branch, mutually unintelligible with Mandarin. However, for political and historical reasons, it is often called a dialect of Chinese.
Primarily in Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Macau, and among overseas Chinese communities worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.
Standard Cantonese has six contrastive lexical tones in unchecked syllables, and three in checked syllables (entering tones), often described as having six to nine tones depending on the analysis.
It primarily uses Standard Chinese characters for formal writing. For colloquial written Cantonese, it uses a mixture of standard characters and hundreds of dialect-specific characters not used in Standard Written Chinese.
A Chinese language primarily spoken in Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Macau, and among overseas Chinese communities.
Cantonese is usually formal, neutral in register.
Cantonese: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæn.təˈniːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæn.təˈniːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all Cantonese to me.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CANTONese = CAN TONe of voice (referring to its distinctive tonal system, with 6-9 tones).
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A KEY (Cantonese is the key to understanding Southern Chinese culture and business).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary region associated with the Cantonese language?