Cantonese

[ kan-tn-eez, -ees ]

noun

, plural Can·ton·ese.

1. a Chinese language spoken in Canton, the surrounding area of southern China, and Hong Kong.
2. a native or inhabitant of Canton, China.

adjective

1. pertaining to Canton, China, its inhabitants, or their language.

Cantonese

/ ˌkæntəˈniːz /

noun

1. the Chinese language spoken in the city of Canton, Guangdong and Guanxi provinces, Hong Kong, and elsewhere outside China
2. -ese a native or inhabitant of the city of Canton or Guangdong province

adjective

1. of or relating to the city of Canton, Guangdong province, or the Chinese language spoken there

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cantonese¹

First recorded in 1855–60; Canton + -ese

Example Sentences

Claudia Mo, known affectionately in Cantonese as Auntie Mo, used to be a prominent opposition lawmaker.

From BBC

NPC, often referred to as 'Cantonese Cancer', affects predominantly 30- to 60-year-old men in southern China, including Guangdong and Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

From Science Daily

The woman asked in Cantonese if Mungnee knew a specific Chinese traditional healer in the area, as her husband was sick.

From BBC

"For the Asian students, we have some colleagues that can speak Japanese, they also can speak Korean or Cantonese so they can chat with them," she tells me.

From BBC

When she refused, the wife stretched her legs and put them on the armrests of her seat, then started scolding her in Cantonese and slapping her arm, the woman said.

From BBC