--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as…" description: "\"Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the five in Mandarin, is much more versatile and one of the richest dialects in Chinese.\" — David Tang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg" --- # Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the… ![“Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the five in Mandarin, is much more versatile and one of the richest dialects in Chinese.” quote by David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg) > “Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the five in Mandarin, is much more versatile and one of the richest dialects in Chinese.” [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cantonese has nine tones, making it more expressive than Mandarin’s five, contributing to its richness. **In simple terms:** Cantonese is very expressive due to many tones. Key Takeaway Appreciate tonal diversity in language. Themes language culture diversity Mood curious appreciative Type informative educational When to use this quote - learning Cantonese - teaching dialects - comparative linguistics - translation - speech therapy Key Concepts phonetics linguistic richness Questions to Reflect On - How does tonal variety affect communication? - What challenges arise when learning Cantonese? A Different Perspective Tone complexity can hinder learners unfamiliar with tonal languages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cantonese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cantonese/) [Cantonese Tones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cantonese-tones-724668/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Dialect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dialect/) [Dialects Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dialects-chinese-724670/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Mandarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandarin-702491/) [Mandarin Versatile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandarin-versatile-724669/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Versatile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/versatile/) ## Related quotes > [There are a lot of colloquialisms in the Cantonese language that can never be represented aptly in Mandarin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/there-are-a-lot-of-colloquialisms-in-the-cantonese-language-that-can/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I was born in Scotland and have lived there all my life. I speak conversational Cantonese with my dad when I'm at home, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-was-born-in-scotland-and-have-lived-there-all-my-life-i-speak/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I can speak Cantonese, but I can't speak about fashion - I learnt all my fashion in Europe, so often, during interviews in Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-can-speak-cantonese-but-i-can-t-speak-about-fashion-i-learnt-all-my/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I don't speak Cantonese. My grandparents always spoke Cantonese together and my mother speaks a bit of Cantonese, but unfortunately I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-don-t-speak-cantonese-my-grandparents-always-spoke-cantonese/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [I always count in Cantonese because that's my first language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-wang/i-always-count-in-cantonese-because-that-s-my-first-language/) [Jackson Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-wang/) > [“I pass the bakery on the corner, the smells hitting me before I reach the shop itself. They are thick and sweet. Cars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-tunnicliffe/i-pass-the-bakery-on-the-corner-the-smells-hitting-me-before-i-reach/) [Hannah Tunnicliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-tunnicliffe/) > [I use Mandarin, Korean and English on a daily basis and usually only use Cantonese when I'm speaking with my relatives. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lau/i-use-mandarin-korean-and-english-on-a-daily-basis-and-usually-only/) [Henry Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lau/) > [I speak Cantonese, and I speak Tagalog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-speak-cantonese-and-i-speak-tagalog/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-has-got-four-legs-and-it-is-not-a-chair-if-it-has-got-two-wings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If it has four legs and is not a chair, has wings and is not an aeroplane, or swims and is not a submarine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/if-it-has-four-legs-and-is-not-a-chair-has-wings-and-is-not-an/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [Sundays are for Dim Sum. While the rest of America goes to church, Sunday School, or NFL games, you can find Chinese people eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-huang/sundays-are-for-dim-sum-while-the-rest-of-america-goes-to-church/) [Eddie Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-huang/) > [I'm about to start working with a singer I met on my last trip: she'll get international exposure, and I'll have a song out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-oakenfold/i-m-about-to-start-working-with-a-singer-i-met-on-my-last-trip-she-ll/) [Paul Oakenfold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-oakenfold/) > [Cantonese will eat anything in the sky but airplanes, anything in the sea but submarines, and anything with four legs but the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bennett/cantonese-will-eat-anything-in-the-sky-but-airplanes-anything-in-the/) [Amanda Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bennett/) > [The most sensible skill that I can give to somebody born in 2003 is a perfect command of Mandarin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rogers/the-most-sensible-skill-that-i-can-give-to-somebody-born-in-2003-is-a/) [Jim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rogers/) > [I am taking Chinese lessons and I practice speaking Mandarin almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/choi-si-won/i-am-taking-chinese-lessons-and-i-practice-speaking-mandarin-almost/) [Choi Si-won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/choi-si-won/) ## More by David Tang > [The idea that there is a difference between East and West is nonsense. You both hand over your card with two hands. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/the-idea-that-there-is-a-difference-between-east-and-west-is-nonsense/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Chairman Mao not only introduced Pinyin in China, but also simplified half the Chinese characters, believing that fewer strokes would enable more people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/chairman-mao-not-only-introduced-pinyin-in-china-but-also-simplified/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [My existence is fuller of other people's experiences than my own. If they cut open my brain, these are what I would retain most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/my-existence-is-fuller-of-other-people-s-experiences-than-my-own-if/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [The beauty of the Internet is that there's no space limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/the-beauty-of-the-internet-is-that-there-s-no-space-limit/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [I'm not surprised about the lack of women on boardrooms. They were only emancipated 200 years ago, and historically, men have dominated. I welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/i-m-not-surprised-about-the-lack-of-women-on-boardrooms-they-were/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [It's very important to be curious in a very universal way. Whether someone is poor or rich, I'm curious about everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/it-s-very-important-to-be-curious-in-a-very-universal-way-whether/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [I'm not terribly technological. I'm awfully backward about iPads and BlackBerries and suchlike; I still have a great fondness for Teletext, and I clung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/i-m-not-terribly-technological-i-m-awfully-backward-about-ipads-and/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Entrepreneurs should never work with big corporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/entrepreneurs-should-never-work-with-big-corporations/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [The crux of the matter was... the partnership between Richemont and myself was going sour for personal reasons, and you know, you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/the-crux-of-the-matter-was-the-partnership-between-richemont-and/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [It's going to be impossible in the 21st century for anyone to think about anything without a Chinese aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/it-s-going-to-be-impossible-in-the-21st-century-for-anyone-to-think/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [I didn't like law. Every client had a problem, and I didn't want to listen to people's problems; I had enough of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/i-didn-t-like-law-every-client-had-a-problem-and-i-didn-t-want-to/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [I can't establish the veracity of what people say because only they know whether they are telling the truth. I can't look into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/i-can-t-establish-the-veracity-of-what-people-say-because-only-they/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [It was something of a personal challenge for me to come up with a business suitable for the Internet world and the Internet age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/it-was-something-of-a-personal-challenge-for-me-to-come-up-with-a/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [There is no point mucking around and saying we are just going to have one or two shops and that's it... we are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/there-is-no-point-mucking-around-and-saying-we-are-just-going-to-have/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Twitter is very impulsive and impermanent and you only have 140 characters. There is no greater 'Emperor' of Twitter than Stephen Fry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/twitter-is-very-impulsive-and-impermanent-and-you-only-have-140/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) [Explore all 25 David Tang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) ## More Cantonese quotes > [I was born in Scotland and have lived there all my life. I speak conversational Cantonese with my dad when I'm at home, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-was-born-in-scotland-and-have-lived-there-all-my-life-i-speak/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [Cantonese will eat anything in the sky but airplanes, anything in the sea but submarines, and anything with four legs but the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bennett/cantonese-will-eat-anything-in-the-sky-but-airplanes-anything-in-the/) [Amanda Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bennett/) > [I'm about to start working with a singer I met on my last trip: she'll get international exposure, and I'll have a song out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-oakenfold/i-m-about-to-start-working-with-a-singer-i-met-on-my-last-trip-she-ll/) [Paul Oakenfold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-oakenfold/) > [Sundays are for Dim Sum. While the rest of America goes to church, Sunday School, or NFL games, you can find Chinese people eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-huang/sundays-are-for-dim-sum-while-the-rest-of-america-goes-to-church/) [Eddie Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-huang/) > [If it has four legs and is not a chair, has wings and is not an aeroplane, or swims and is not a submarine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/if-it-has-four-legs-and-is-not-a-chair-has-wings-and-is-not-an/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-has-got-four-legs-and-it-is-not-a-chair-if-it-has-got-two-wings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I speak Cantonese, and I speak Tagalog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-speak-cantonese-and-i-speak-tagalog/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [I use Mandarin, Korean and English on a daily basis and usually only use Cantonese when I'm speaking with my relatives. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lau/i-use-mandarin-korean-and-english-on-a-daily-basis-and-usually-only/) [Henry Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lau/) > [“I pass the bakery on the corner, the smells hitting me before I reach the shop itself. They are thick and sweet. Cars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-tunnicliffe/i-pass-the-bakery-on-the-corner-the-smells-hitting-me-before-i-reach/) [Hannah Tunnicliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-tunnicliffe/) > [I always count in Cantonese because that's my first language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-wang/i-always-count-in-cantonese-because-that-s-my-first-language/) [Jackson Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-wang/) > [I don't speak Cantonese. My grandparents always spoke Cantonese together and my mother speaks a bit of Cantonese, but unfortunately I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-don-t-speak-cantonese-my-grandparents-always-spoke-cantonese/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [I can speak Cantonese, but I can't speak about fashion - I learnt all my fashion in Europe, so often, during interviews in Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-can-speak-cantonese-but-i-can-t-speak-about-fashion-i-learnt-all-my/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [There are a lot of colloquialisms in the Cantonese language that can never be represented aptly in Mandarin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/there-are-a-lot-of-colloquialisms-in-the-cantonese-language-that-can/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) [Browse all 14 Cantonese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cantonese/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the five in Mandarin, is much more versatile and one of the richest dialects in Chinese.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Tang" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as-opposed-to-the-five-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cantonese" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as-opposed-to-the-five-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/david-tang-23720_chinese_cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as_1657783.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cantonese, which has up to nine tones as opposed to the five in Mandarin, is much more versatile and one of…” — David Tang", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Tang", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cantonese, which has up to nine...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as-opposed-to-the-five-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/cantonese-which-has-up-to-nine-tones-as-opposed-to-the-five-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```