cantonese

cantonese — noun

IPA/ˌkæntəˈniːz/
KK[kˌæntənˈiz]IPA/ˌkæntəˈniːz/
  • cantonesesingular
  • cantonesesplural

1. one of the major Chinese languages, spoken across the southern parts of the coun

1.nounA2
Definition

one of the major Chinese languages, spoken across the southern parts of the country; it holds official status alongside English in Hong Kong and Macau, and its sound system is very different from Mandarin.

Example

Priya grew up speaking Cantonese at home with her grandparents.

speak + Cantonese (collocation for using the language)

The film is available in Cantonese with English subtitles.

in + Cantonese (prepositional pattern for language medium)

Common collocations
  • speak Cantonese
  • in Cantonese
  • Cantonese speaker
  • Cantonese opera
  • Cantonese cuisine
Synonyms
  • Yue

    the formal linguistic name for the Cantonese language group; rarely used by everyday speakers

Grammar Patterns

speak + Cantonese

in + Cantonese

Cantonese + is + adjective

Usage Note

Unlike Mandarin, Cantonese is a tonal language with six or seven tones (depending on analysis). It is written with traditional Chinese characters in formal contexts, though informal writing may use Cantonese-specific characters.

Common Mistakes

She speaks Cantonese and I cannot understand a single word of Mandarin.
She speaks Cantonese, which is different from Mandarin.
Cantonese and Mandarin are distinct spoken languages, not just accents of the same language.

2. someone who speaks Cantonese as their first language or who comes from Guangdong

2.nounB1
Definition

someone who speaks Cantonese as their first language or who comes from Guangdong in southern China.

Example

Many Cantonese have moved to cities in North America and Europe over the past century.

the + Cantonese (collective plural for an ethnic/regional group)

Aiko met a Cantonese from Guangzhou who taught her how to make dim sum.

a + Cantonese (countable singular)

Common collocations
  • the Cantonese
  • a Cantonese
  • Cantonese community
  • Cantonese diaspora
Synonyms
  • Guangdong person

    more geographically specific; refers to someone from Guangdong province regardless of language

Grammar Patterns

a + Cantonese

the + Cantonese (plural/collective)

Usage Note

When referring to the group as a whole, 'the Cantonese' is common (e.g. 'the Cantonese are known for their cuisine'). As a singular noun, it is sometimes avoided in favour of 'a Cantonese person' because the bare form can sound unusual to some English speakers.

Common Mistakes

She is a Cantonese person and speaks Cantonese language.
She is Cantonese and speaks Cantonese.
'Cantonese' can serve as both the adjective and the noun for the person; repeating both is redundant.

cantonese — adjective

IPA/kæn.təˈniːz/
KK[kˌæntənˈiz]IPA/kæn.təˈniːz/

Word family

  • Canton
    nounB1
  • Guangzhou
    nounB1
  • Guangdong
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cantonese is one of several major Chinese languages, not a dialect of Mandarin. While both are written with Chinese characters, they are not mutually intelligible when spoken — a speaker of Mandarin cannot understand Cantonese without study. The formal linguistic term 'Yue' is sometimes used in academic writing to refer to the language group that includes Cantonese, but everyday speakers overwhelmingly use 'Cantonese.' 'Chinese' is a broader category that encompasses all Sinitic languages including Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, and others. In daily conversation, 'speaking Chinese' often defaults to Mandarin among international learners, so being specific ('speaking Cantonese') avoids confusion.

Cantonese ↗Mandarin ↗Yue ↗Chinese ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • native Cantonese speaker
  • Cantonese-speaking family
  • written in Cantonese

Prepositions

  • in Cantonese
  • into Cantonese
  • from Cantonese

Etymology

LatinPortugueseEnglish

The word 'Cantonese' comes from 'Canton', the former English name for the city of Guangzhou in southern China. The Portuguese first transcribed the name as 'Cantão' in the 16th century, and English traders adapted it to 'Canton.' The suffix '-ese' (from Latin '-ensis', meaning 'belonging to') was added to form the adjective and demonym. The language was thus named after the region's major trading port.