Reading is one of the important way to learn a new language. However, many people may find learning Cantonese difficult, because most resources are in Modern Written Chinese (現代書面中文), making it hard to learn Cantonese through reading and leading many to believe that Cantonese cannot be written.
This table shows the relationship between Mandarin, Cantonese and Modern Written Chinese.
Mandarin | Cantonese | |
|---|---|---|
Spoken Form | Spoken Mandarin | Spoken Cantonese |
Example |
|
|
Written Form | Written Vernacular Mandarin | Written Vernacular Cantonese |
Example | 你吃飯了沒？ | 你食咗飯未？ |
Modern Written Chinese
Modern Written Chinese is "the written form that corresponds to the vocabulary and grammar of spoken Mandarin" and can be known as the written vernacular Mandarin (官話白話文). It is basically the written form of spoken Mandarin. However, it is worth noting that even in that form, articles can still be pronounced or recited in Cantonese as each Chinese character has its own Cantonese pronunciation(s).
Example:
你吃飯了沒？(Have you had your meal yet?)
In Mandarin pronunciation:
你吃飯了沒
In Cantonese pronunciation:
你吃飯了沒
Note that this sentence can be pronounced in both mandarin and cantonese. However, it only corresponds to the vocabulary and grammar of spoken Mandarin, but not that of spoken Cantonese. Therefore, it would sound very strange if someone said it in Cantonese in real life.
Due to the influence of the culturally dominant Mandarin and for the convenience of communication with users of various languages sharing the Chinese characters system, Cantonese speakers currently use Modern Written Chinese when writing articles.
Common uses include formal documents, newspapers, subtitles for movies and television, etc. In fact, all of these texts can be pronounced and read in Cantonese. At one time, the oral part of the Chinese examination of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) included reading passages in Cantonese, all of which were in Modern Written Chinese.
However, speaking directly in Modern Written Chinese terms and grammar in daily life would sound very strange. It is therefore difficult to learn Cantonese by reading resources that are written in Modern Written Chinese.
Written Vernacular Cantonese
On the other hand, "the written form that corresponds to the vocabulary and grammar of spoken Cantonese", which can be perceived as the written vernacular Cantonese (粵語白話文), is often seen in daily communication such as text messages, forums, some YouTube subtitles, blogs, etc.
It shows that vernacular Cantonese or spoken Cantonese can indeed be written, but this type of writing appears less frequently in formal occasions. Learning cantonese by reading written vernacular Cantonese can help you learn the language more efficiently, especially if you learn better through reading.
Example:
Have you had your meal yet?
Modern Written Chinese: 你吃飯了沒？
Written Vernacular Cantonese: 你食咗飯未？
As mentioned before, both sentences can be pronounced in Cantonese, understood by Cantonese speakers in their written form. But the second sentence is the exact written form of how Cantonese speakers speak in daily life.
One myth that must be dispelled is that "written language equals formality, while spoken or vernacular language equals informality." In fact, people use spoken Cantonese even in official speeches by officials and news reports, while only subtitles and documents are presented in Modern Written Chinese.
Example: News report
受傷的途人獲送院治理 (Injured pedestrians were sent to hospital for treatment)
Subtitle: 受傷的途人獲送院治理 (in Modern Written Chinese)
Reporter: 受傷嘅途人獲送院治理 (in spoken Cantonese)
Cantonese Songs
A special example is Cantonese songs, where most lyrics are written in Modern Written Chinese, occasionally using specific Cantonese colloquial terms, but the entire song is sung in Cantonese pronunciation.
Example:
今夜到干諾道中一起瞓 - Tonight We'll Sleep Together on Connaught Road Central, My Little Airport
In Modern Written Chinese, it should be 一起睡 (sounds natural in spoken Mandarin)
In Written vernacular Cantonese, it should be 一齊瞓 (sounds natural in spoken Cantonese)
Given the dominance of Modern Written Chinese in learning resources, it's no surprise that Cantonese learners often struggle to find suitable written materials. If you find yourself in this situation, you might want to check out this blog: "Mastering Cantonese: 4 Key Challenges and 5 Effective Steps to Success"