Mandarin and Cantonese are often lumped together as 'Chinese', but they’re about as similar as Spanish and Italian. Both are Sinitic languages with shared roots, yet they’ve evolved into distinct dialects with different sounds, words, and even grammar. Here’s what sets them apart.
Tones: The biggest hurdle
Mandarin has four main tones (plus a neutral one), while Cantonese has six to nine, depending on who’s counting. Mispronounce a tone in Mandarin, and you might call your mother (妈, mā) a horse (马, mǎ). In Cantonese, the stakes are higher:
- Mandarin: mā (mother), má (hemp), mǎ (horse), mà (scold)
- Cantonese: si (poem), sí (try), si (history), sì (time), sī (city), síh (yes)
Vocabulary: Shared roots, different words
About 50-60% of Cantonese and Mandarin vocabulary overlaps, but the rest can be completely different. Some words are unrecognisable between the two:
| English | Mandarin | Cantonese |
|---|---|---|
| to eat | 吃 (chī) | 食 (sik) |
| to drink | 喝 (hē) | 饮 (yam) |
| how much? | 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián) | 几多钱 (gei do chin) |
Cantonese also preserves older Chinese words that Mandarin has replaced. For example, Cantonese uses 睇 (tai) for 'to look', while Mandarin uses 看 (kàn).
Grammar: Subtle but important differences
Both dialects follow similar sentence structures, but Cantonese has some quirks:
- Word order: Cantonese sometimes places adverbs after verbs (e.g., 'eat first' is 食先 / sik sin instead of Mandarin’s 先吃 / xiān chī).
- Negation: Cantonese uses 唔 (m) for general negation, while Mandarin uses 不 (bù).
- Measure words: Some are different, like 只 (zek) in Cantonese vs 个 (gè) in Mandarin for general objects.
白话
/baːk̚² waa²²/“Vernacular Cantonese”
Where they’re spoken
Mandarin is China’s official language, used in education, media, and government. Cantonese dominates in:
- Guangdong province (including Guangzhou)
- Hong Kong and Macau
- Overseas Chinese communities (e.g., Chinatowns in the US, UK, Canada)
Mandarin is more useful for business in mainland China, while Cantonese remains vital in Hong Kong’s cultural output (films, music).
Which should you learn?
It depends:
- Mandarin if you’re working in mainland China or Taiwan.
- Cantonese if you’re focusing on Hong Kong, Macau, or diaspora communities.
Mandarin is easier to start with due to fewer tones and more resources. If you’re struggling with tones, check out our guide on mastering Mandarin tones.
