What is the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese?

Mandarin and Cantonese are two different dialects of the Chinese language. Mandarin is the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, while Cantonese is primarily spoken in the Guangdong province of China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

The most significant difference between Mandarin and Cantonese is their spoken language. Mandarin is a tonal language with four tones, while Cantonese has nine tones. Mandarin has simpler grammar and pronunciation rules, making it easier to learn for non-native speakers. In contrast, Cantonese has more complex grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Cantonese also incorporates more slang and colloquialisms than Mandarin, making it a more expressive language.

Written Chinese is the same for both Mandarin and Cantonese, using the same characters. However, Cantonese speakers use a different set of characters when writing colloquialisms and slang words.