Mmm goi. Jyutping, Yale or Cantonese Pinyin etc. It is often also referred to as Yue Yu or Guangdong Hua. If you are a non-native speaker, Hong Kongers will certainly prefer to speak to you in English than in Mandarin. Cantonese pronunciation: tones(聲調) Tones is the most important element for mastering Cantonese pronunciation. Cracking the tones are said to be the hardest part of learning Chinese. Mandarin and Cantonese are the two most commonly spoken dialects of Chinese. It’s spoken in Guangdong Province (capital Guangzhou, previously known as Canton, hence “Cantonese”) as well as in southern Guangxi Province to the west, and is also Hong Kong’s main language, as well as Macau’s. Cantonese (廣東話 Gwóng dōng wá) is a widely spoken Chinese language. They can be left out. Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, GuangZhou, and Southern parts of China in that vicinity. On top of this, Hong Kong cinema is legendary with huge names such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow. This language is mostly spoken in south-east China, notably in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong Province. Cantonese is spoken by the people of Hong Kong, Macau and the wider Guangdong province, including Guangzhou (previously Canton in English). It is the local language in current use within the province of Guangdong, China, official language in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, as well as in the Special Administrative Region of Macau, and used in many overseas Chinese communities in South-East Asia and elsewhere, with Kuala Lumpur and Ho … From tens to ten-thousands, each digit has a corresponding character. You learn all the vocabulary of the Cantonese course from the beginning and repeat it in a systematic way until it is stored in your long-term memory. Cantonese is the local dialect of the southeast corner of China. Our Philosophy for Learning Cantonese in Singapore. Additionally, Cantonese cuisine has quite a mild taste, unlike Szechuan cuisine, for example, which is spicy and flavorful. What Is the Official Language of Hong Kong? She insists that Cantonese is flourishing and cites her time with certain infamous Hong Kong politicians in New York's Chinatown as evidence of such Cantonese. “Nice to meet you” in Cantonese. Last fall, the New York Times published an article describing the rising importance of Mandarin in Chinatown.This seemed to offend travel writer Daisann McLane, an avid student of Cantonese. China increasingly uses simplified characters that rely on simpler brushstrokes and a smaller collection of symbols. Pronounced as: ho go hing ying sik ney; 3. The name Cantonese is often used for the whole group, but linguists prefer to reserve that name for the variety of Guangzhou (Canton), Wuzhou (Ngchow), Hong Kong and Macau, which is the prestige dialect. To read out the number, read the number of the value of the digit followed by the value of the digit. Mandarin is also the main dialect in Taiwan and Singapore. Unlike 係, there’s no distinction between written and spoken forms, so this is the only word you need for “to have”. In the classification of modern Han Chinese languages, Cantonese is one of seven major dialects (specifically, Yue in Mandarin or Yuht yuh in Cantonese) the others being Mandarin, Wu, Gan, Xiang, Hakka, and Min. How to say I have in Cantonese 有. Apart from mainland China, the language also has native speakers in Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the United States, Canada, … It continued to develop throughout the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, until the modern version emerged. Many people in Canada and Australia also speak it, as these are popular areas for Hong Kong and Macau students and emigrants. 好高興認識你; Hou2 go1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5; Nice to meet you. Throughout the world it is spoken by some 20 million more. Mandarin is the only official language of China. 有 jau5. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today 10Best, Michelin Guide, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Jetsetter. The Cantonese word for “to have” is . Cantonese is spoken in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, Hainan Island, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and many overseas Chinese communities. The language gets its name from the Canton which is the traditional name for the city of Guangzhou. Most Cantonese food tastes fresh, natural, and mild. Most foreign Chinese communities, such as those in London and San Francisco, also speak Cantonese because, historically, Chinese immigrants hailed from Guangdong. Mandarin is the official state language of China and is the lingua franca of the country. During the Sui dynasty, the influx of Han Chinese increased immensely, and the language gained even more hold. Guangdong province has seen an influx of Mandarin speakers and many people there now speak Mandarin. In truth, such is the complexity of written Chinese that some office workers will use basic English to communicate by email, while most schools teaching Chinese focus on the verbal language rather than reading and writing. The Cantonese pronunciation of “On9″ [sic: there seems to be a mix-up here] is similar to slang meaning “stupid”, and many are saying the new release is a … How to Beat the Language Barrier in China, There's No Such Thing as a "Chinese" Language, A Guide to Lantau Island, Hong Kong's Biggest Island, The 10 Best Reasons to Visit Shanghai Disneyland, Dragon Boat Racing in Hong Kong Gave Me a Sense of Peace, Community, and Stability, Why You Shouldn't be Scared of Asia's Wet Markets, Why Traveling Between Hong Kong and China Is Complicated, Getting Around Macao: Guide to Public Transportation, How to Say Hello in 10 Different Asian Languages, In Hong Kong, Use a Little Cantonese, the Locals' Language. The advice above is largely true in Macau as well, although locals there are a little less sensitive to speaking Mandarin. The formal version is somewhat closer to Mandarin, but colloquial speech is very different. You can, but no one will thank you for it. Most Mandarin speakers can't understand spoken Cantonese. Words are commonly modified with time words, words that indicate amounts, and sounds or words for negation. ), we encourage you to form your own phonics, so that you make an association … During the Tang dynasty, it returned to being more similar to central Chinese, but immediately afterwards, in the Song dynasty, it split even further. Boiling, charcoal grilling, and braising are other popular techniques in Cantonese cooking. Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, m = male, f = female, + = elder, - … At the same time, it began to exhibit differences from the Chinese spoken in central China. In order to show the original flavor of the main ingredient, Cantonese chefs are very cautious about seasonings. Today, people frequent Cantonese restaurants for special occasions such as family gatherings and company dinners — harkening back to the social function of yum cha. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. It … We empower you to type Chinese online anytime, anywhere with any computer for free! Good morning. Cantonese is a Chinese dialect spoken by people primarily in southeast China and Hong Kong, as well as by Chinese immigrants all over the world. Happy Jellyfish Cantocourse: Cecilie Gamst Berg is a Norwegian expat living in Hong Kong. The Cantonese expression 輸打贏要 came from Mahjong lingo 'Play Mahjong' in Cantonese is "打麻雀(麻将)' 輸 means 'lose' 輸打 means 'continue to play when losing' (so when the game ends, he will have the chance to promise a gambling debt instead of paying the cash). In much of the country, it is the primary spoken language, including Beijing and Shanghai, although many provinces still retain their own local dialect. Cantonese is spoken in mainland China as a lingua franca in … Word order is important for meaning, and is generally changed according to context. However, Cantonese continues to be the language of everyday communication both inside and outside of the home. Many other regions in China will also speak their regional language natively and knowledge of Mandarin may be patchy. Rory Boland is a guidebook author and travel writer who has lived and worked in Hong Kong and London. This is especially true in Tibet, northern regions near Mongolia and Korea and Xinjiang. Many consider Cantonese the prestige dialect of Yue. This language is thought to be one of the hardest for non-Asians to learn, because of its tonal nature, character-based writing system, and very different grammar from many non-Asian languages. Cantonese is a language spoken throughout south-eastern China and in some neighboring countries. Most foreign Chinese communities, such as those in London and San Francisco, also speak Cantonese because, historically, Chinese immigrants hailed … Cantonese is a tonal language, with between 6 and 9 tones, depending on how they're categorized. Cantonese and Mandarin are written in the same way, though Cantonese favors traditional Chinese characters rather than simplified. It's estimated that around half of Hong Kongers can speak Mandarin, but this is due to the necessity of doing business with China. NOTE: the numbers are tone markers in Jyutping romanisation. It is also used in electronic and print media. Until recent times, the word “Canton” referred to Guangzhou, the capital city of southern China’s Guangdong province. The same is true of Macau. Cantonese is spoken by the people of Hong Kong, Macau and the wider Guangdong province, including Guangzhou (previously Canton in English). The Chinese language as a result of their influence began to assimilate and supplant local languages. Cantonese is a major dialect of the Chinese language, spoken in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and many expatriate "Chinatowns" throughout the world. Taishanese, from the coastal area of Jiangmen (Kongmoon) located southwest of Guangzhou, was the language of most of the 19th-century emigrants from Guangdong to Southeast Asia and North America. Cantonese is a language widely spoken in China and particularly in the province of Guangdong where it is recognized as the lingua franca. For those who are familiar with Jyutping, please try our new Online Jyutping Input Method Compatible with Compare this with Mandarin, which is spoken by about 1 billion people worldwide. It takes an average of around 2,200 hours for native English speakers to become competent in it, though of course the amount of time varies according to personal ability and the intensity of a course. It is used for personal writing, poetry, magazines, diaries, literature, singing, and movies. 2. Jillian Dara is a freelance travel writer and fact checker. While it has many similarities with Mandarin, the primary dialect, there are some differences. No. Worldwide, there are about 66 million Cantonese speakers. Family words in Cantonese (廣東話 / 粵語) Words for family members and other relatives in Cantonese, a variety of Chinese spoken in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau and many parts of Southeast Asia. The vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation of the two languages are quite different as well, particularly in terms of colloquial speech. Much like English, Cantonese can be written both formally and informally. If you plan on doing business in China or traveling around the country, Mandarin is the language to learn. Though both are tonal languages, Mandarin only has four tones. Cantonese has six tones, whereas Mandarin has just four. Common loanwords include: Several Cantonese words have also been co-opted for use in other languages, including: Since the Qin dynasty, the area in which Cantonese is now spoken has been settled by Han Chinese. Examples of Cantonese Phrases. According to this article: Cantonese Slang of the Week: HEA To put it in the simplest of terms, to Hea means to procrastinate, be lazy, and basically try to kill time. Both Cantonese and Mandarin share the Chinese alphabet, but even here there is some diversion. Cantonese language, variety of Chinese spoken by more than 55 million people in Guangdong and southern Guangxi provinces of China, including the important cities of Canton, Hong Kong, and Macau. Cantonese and Mandarin are dialects of the Chinese language and are both spoken in China. RTHK Naked Cantonese: With more than 200 episodes about 10 minutes each, Naked Cantonese is a fun and engaging podcast about using Cantonese in daily situations in Hong Kong. Between 50 and 80 million people speak this language throughout the world, notably in south-east Asia, Australia, and Canada. The Cantonese long-term memory learning method is based on the latest findings from research on vocabulary learning. It is often also referred to as Yue Yu or Guangdong Hua. Though Cantonese speakers can usually read the simplified characters used to write Mandarin since they're based on the traditional characters used to write Cantonese, the reverse does not always apply. Do highlight to your Cantonese Translator when you are sourcing for translator or voice over to Translate Cantonese to English or rather Transcribe Cantonese to English. While many Hong Kongers are now learning Mandarin as a second language, they will, for the most part, not speak the language. A common mistake in Cantonese: Cantonese adjectives However, there is one exception that many foreigners learning Cantonese inevitably make when it comes to describing things with adjectives. 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