Cantonese facts for kids

Cantonese is a name that can mean a few different things. Most often, it refers to a special Chinese language spoken by millions of people. It can also refer to the city of Guangzhou in China, which used to be called Canton in English. And sometimes, it means the tasty food that comes from that region.

The Cantonese Language

Cantonese is an important language spoken by about 85 million people around the world. It's one of the main languages in China, especially in the southern part of the country. You'll hear it a lot in Guangdong province, and it's the official language of Hong Kong and Macau. Many Chinese communities in other countries, like the Chinatowns in the Western world, also speak Cantonese.

Where Cantonese is Spoken

Cantonese is mostly spoken in southern China, in a province called Guangdong. The capital city of Guangdong is Guangzhou, which was once known as Canton. This is where the name "Cantonese" comes from. Besides mainland China, Cantonese is also the main language in:

• Hong Kong: A very busy and modern city.
• Macau: Famous for its unique mix of Chinese and Portuguese cultures.

Many people who moved from these areas to other countries, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, also speak Cantonese. This is why you often hear Cantonese in Chinatowns around the world.

How Cantonese is Different

Cantonese is part of the Chinese language family, but it's quite different from Mandarin, which is the most widely spoken Chinese language. Here are some key differences:

• Sounds (Tones): Cantonese has six different tones, or ways to say a word that change its meaning. Mandarin usually has four. This means the same word can have many different meanings depending on how you say it!
• Pronunciation: Cantonese keeps some older sounds that Mandarin has lost. For example, it still has "ending sounds" like -m, -p, -t, and -k, which were common in ancient Chinese. This makes it sound different from Mandarin.
• Grammar and Words: While they share many words, Cantonese also has its own unique words and ways of putting sentences together.

A Rich History

Cantonese has a long history. It developed from Middle Chinese, which was spoken during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). Because Cantonese has kept many features of Middle Chinese, studying it can help us understand ancient Chinese poetry and texts better. For a long time, Cantonese was the main language for Chinese people who moved to Western countries. This helped spread the language and culture around the world.

Cantonese Food

When people talk about "Cantonese," they might also be thinking about Cantonese cuisine, which is a very popular style of Chinese cooking. It comes from the Guangdong province. Cantonese food is known for its fresh ingredients, mild flavors, and delicious dishes like dim sum, char siu (barbecue pork), and stir-fries. It's one of the most famous types of Chinese food globally.

Images for kids

• 

  This is a Chinese dictionary from the Tang dynasty. Modern Cantonese pronunciation keeps many of the old sounds from Middle Chinese.

• 

  A street in Chinatown, San Francisco. Cantonese has been the main Chinese language spoken by many Chinese communities in Western countries for a long time.

See also

In Spanish: Chino yue para niños