So you are a new Chinese learner and the important question that you have in mind is should you learn Mandarin or Cantonese?
Mandarin and Cantonese are both dialects of the Chinese language and spoken in China. Even though Mandarin and Cantonese share the same base alphabet, they are different languages. Mandarin is the state language of Chin, similarly to Chinese, and is the primary spoken language in most of the country, including Beijing and Shanghai. Mandarin is also the main dialect in Taiwan and Singapore.
Now let us see Which language is more difficult to learn Cantonese or Mandarin
The short answer is that learning Mandarin is easier when compared to Cantonese. Ok, first let us explain in more detail along with the differences between the two languages.
Speakers across the world
The Mandarin language has become the language of business, and education, with more people learning Mandarin as a second language. There are more than 960 million Mandarin speakers across the world.
Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong and the Guangdong regions. Chinese communities in cities like London speak Cantonese because many Chinese immigrants came from Guangdong. There are nearly 60 million native Cantonese speakers worldwide.
Tones of the language
Even though both the languages have different tones, the use of tones in the Cantonese language is more challenging than Mandarin, as Cantonese has 6 and 9 different tones, but Mandarin only has 4 tones.
Characters and grammar
The characters and grammar are the same between Mandarin and Cantonese. If you are able to read one language, then you will understand the other language a little. But some of the characters will also have different meanings and the sounds of spoken Mandarin and Cantonese are different. You cannot understand or speak one language, as you know the other.
Language selection
As Mandarin is considered easier it is better to learn Mandarin than Cantonese. Moreover, Mandarin is the native language of China and is taught by most Chinese schools, colleges, and universities. Mandarin will give you that capability widely understood, that is widely spoken language in the world.
Deciding the language
When you are planning to learn either Mandarin or Cantonese, consider the language that will benefit you the most. When you are in the process of deciding, consider the place you are going to study the language. If you are planning to reach China then select the Mandarin language.
Learning Mandarin will allow you to connect with hundreds of people every year and you can gain fluency soon.
If you select the Mandarin language to learn then you can easily practice your language and there are also many benefits to learning the Mandarin language. Many professionals are giving ongoing training to help students gain a deeper understanding of the language, and all are customizable as per the student’s needs. There are also many platforms to learn Cantonese or Mandarin, to learn the language with the best platform choose Multibhashi, and enhance your language easily. All the best!!!
