Why do Cantonese and Mandarin sound so different?

Answer 1

indeed they are, because they are different languages altogether.

Answer 2

Mandarin - now known more properly as "Putonghua" - and Cantonese are two of the many dialects of the Chinese language. Putonghua is by far the most spoken of all the Chinese dialects, and is common throughout the Chinese mainland and Taiwan (where it is known as "Guo Yu"). Cantonese is the dialect of Southern China - principally Guangdong (or Canton) Province - and Hong Kong. Although Cantonese speakers may not be able to understand Putonguah, and vice versa, the written Chinese characters are the same, and thus Putonghua and Cantonese speakers can both read and understand the written language (although there are some differences in that simplified Chinese characters are often used in the mainland). Although there are some similarities, the pronunciation and intonation of both dialects are mostly different, and Hong Kong Cantonese, or "Boon Dei Wah", uses some versions of words not present in mainland Cantonese.

Answer 3

My parents speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. They sound different, but they sometimes use the same words.

Answer 4

the pronunciation is completely different. the basic workin of the sounds is also different. they arent the same language. while they do share the same written form(ie a mandarin person could communicate with a cantonese person through writing) they are completely different dialects of chinese(when u say chinese language ure clumpin a lot of very different dialects tied togeth mostly by writing).

btw note *ash 7* they arent different languages, theyre both chinese @_@

Answer 5

well because they are completely different languages...Cantonese sounds much harsher because it has argueably up to 9 tones in it....mandarin has only four tones and a neutral...I can understand mandarin...but beyond bok choy and dim sum...I'm completely lost in Cantonese.

Answer 6

because they are different localed, eating different food,

Answer 7

diffrent tribes