Cantonese everyday language

As a dialect of Chinese, Cantonese is very similar to Mandarin. It is estimated that the vocabulary that is the same as Mandarin is close to 70%. If the content is politics, economy and culture, the vocabulary consistency is higher, at least 90%.

The vocabulary that does not conform to Putonghua has many sources and complex structures, which also forms the characteristics of Cantonese. According to their origins, these words can be divided into the following categories:

First, ancient characters

Cantonese was separated from the Chinese mother earlier, far away from the Central Plains, and could not keep up with the changes of Chinese. Many words that are no longer used in modern Mandarin are still commonly used in Cantonese. For example:

Give (him) a pen (give him a pen)

Sticky cakes are easy to handle (these cakes are sticky)

Yiya (breathing) Yiya (taking a deep breath)

He (Ancient Qu) and He Bian Ge (Who is He) Second, the ancient Vietnamese word.

Ancient Vietnamese is the language spoken by South Vietnamese (Guangdong) people who lived in Lingnan area in ancient times. The original people moved to Lingnan, and their language was not affected by it. Most ancient Vietnamese were gradually assimilated. When they gave up their mother tongue and used Chinese, they unconsciously brought the words of ancient Vietnamese. These words can be found in the languages of ethnic minorities, such as Zhuang and Dong, descendants of today's Guyue people. Here are some examples:

Which book has a bookshelf (whose book is this)

Pick up a book (pick up a book)

Shrimp (bullying) is not good Shrimp will do (don't bully your brother).

Loanwords in Guangdong mainly come from English. Guangdong was one of the earliest places forced to set up trading ports, and Hong Kong was occupied by Britain. With the introduction of foreign new things, English words and phrases have entered Cantonese in large numbers. Some of them have been absorbed by Mandarin, while others have not, only Cantonese.

Fourth, the innovation of dialect words

Most Cantonese dialect words belong to their own innovation. With the emergence of new things and new ideas, vocabulary needs constant development and innovation. Because Guangdong and the Central Plains are far apart, their respective development will inevitably lead to differences, which will lead to some differences in vocabulary between Cantonese and Mandarin. For example:

Refrigerator (refrigerator) snow stick (popsicle) (Cantonese usually don't distinguish between ice and snow)

Cooking (cooking) porridge (cooking porridge)

Pig red (pig blood) Guangdong people dare not say "blood", but say "red"

Hit the board (nail) If you don't listen to the old man, hit the board in front of you (if you don't listen to your elders, you will inevitably hit the nail)