# Cantonese

/ˌkæntəˈniz/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cantonese
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

relating to the language or people of Guangzhou in southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau. You use this to describe the food, culture, or speech from that region.

For teachers: relating to the Yue Chinese language or the people and culture of the Pearl River Delta region. Often used attributively to describe linguistic or cultural exports from southern China.

## Examples

- We went to a great Cantonese restaurant last night.
- The film was shot entirely in Cantonese to maintain the cultural authenticity of its Hong Kong setting.
- The Cantonese diaspora has established vibrant communities worldwide, ensuring that the region's distinct culinary traditions and linguistic heritage remain influential far beyond the borders of southern China.

## Usage notes

- Typically capitalised; functions as a relational adjective that precedes the noun it modifies.

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