Cantonese

noun

Can·​ton·​ese ˌkan-tə-ˈnēz How to pronounce Cantonese (audio)
-ˈnēs
plural Cantonese
1
: a native or inhabitant of Guangzhou, China
2
: the dialect of Chinese spoken in Guangzhou and Hong Kong
3
: a style of Chinese cooking that emphasizes fresh ingredients, subtle tastes, and relatively mild sauces
Cantonese adjective

Examples of Cantonese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Beijing hotel features elevated food and beverage options, including Cantonese and Chaozhou cuisine at Yan Garden by Chef Fei, all-day Italian dining at VICINI, historically inspired cocktails at the lively two-story TIAO cocktail bar and afternoon tea at Maple Lounge. Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 Gee grieves the early loss of her biological mother tongue, Mandarin, which was supplanted by the Cantonese of her adoptive parents. Terry Nguyen july 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025 The Hard Rock hosts speak a variety of Asian languages, including Cantonese, Taishanese, Mandarin and Vietnamese. Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 There is a joyous moment for the women when Sarah finally gets the hang of Cantonese. George Gene Gustines, New York Times, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Cantonese

Word History

Etymology

Canton Guangzhou, ultimately from Portuguese Cantão, from Chinese (Guangzhou) Gwóngdūng Guangdong

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cantonese was in 1857

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Cite this Entry

“Cantonese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cantonese. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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