cantonese
cantonese — noun
1. one of the major Chinese languages, spoken across the southern parts of the coun
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.
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)
Learning Cantonese helps travellers communicate more easily in Hong Kong.
Cantonese has six tones, which can be difficult for new learners.
Ravi picked up some Cantonese phrases during his trip to Guangzhou.
- Yue
the formal linguistic name for the Cantonese language group; rarely used by everyday speakers
文法句型
speak + Cantonese
in + Cantonese
Cantonese + is + adjective
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. someone who speaks Cantonese as their first language or who comes from Guangdong
someone who speaks Cantonese as their first language or who comes from Guangdong in southern China.
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)
The restaurant employs several Cantonese who prepare traditional dishes from the south.
Tomás asked if he was from Hong Kong, and she said she was Cantonese.
- Guangdong person
more geographically specific; refers to someone from Guangdong province regardless of language
文法句型
a + Cantonese
the + Cantonese (plural/collective)
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
cantonese — adjective
1. connected with the Cantonese language, its speakers, or the culture and region o
connected with the Cantonese language, its speakers, or the culture and region of southern China where it is spoken.
Kofi ordered Cantonese roast duck from the takeaway shop around the corner.
Cantonese + food item
Leila enjoys watching Cantonese films because of their distinctive storytelling style.
Cantonese + film / movie
The museum held a special exhibition on Cantonese opera costumes.
Hana learned several Cantonese dishes from her grandmother's handwritten recipe book.
Cantonese pop music has a large following across parts of Southeast Asia.
文法句型
Cantonese + noun (food / culture / language / tradition)
用法筆記
This adjective is typically used before a noun (attributive position), as in 'Cantonese cuisine.' It does not have a comparative form (you would not say 'more Cantonese').