Chinese, Yue

A language of China

Cantonese, Guangdong, Gwong Dung, Yue, Yueh, Yuet, Yuet Yue, Yueyu, Yuht Yúh

粵語‎ (Yueyu)

73,300,000 in China (2019). Total users in all countries: 85,576,570 (as L1: 85,174,570; as L2: 402,000).

Guangdong province: most except Hakka-speaking areas northeast, and Min Nan-speaking areas east; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: east; Hainan and Hunan provinces.

Language Maps

Southeastern China

Language Status

2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Guangdong Province. Language of recognized nationality: Han.

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Dialects

Siyi (Hoisan, Schleiyip, Seiyap, Taishan, Toisan), Gao-Yang (Gaolei), Qin-Lian, Guangfu (Shatou, Shiqi, Wenchang, Yuehai), Wu-Hua, Gou-Lou, Yong-Xun. The Guangzhou variety considered the standard. A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; genitives, relatives, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; noun classifiers; no articles; 18 consonants, 7 vowels; tonal (6 tones: 3 level, 3 contour).

Language Use

Second only to Mandarin [cmn] in use. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], which many understand, speaking it only with difficulty. Used as L2 by Biao [byk], Chadong [cdy], E [eee], Lianshan Zhuang [zln], Min Nan Chinese [nan], Vietnamese [vie], Yang Zhuang [zyg], Yongnan Zhuang [zyn], Zuojiang Zhuang [zzj].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Speakers are highly literate in Chinese. Fully developed. Bible: 1894–1981.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Yue

Writing

Braille script [Brai], used in Hong Kong. Han script, Simplified variant [Hans]. Han script, Traditional variant [Hant], official usage in Hong Kong and Macau, also used elsewhere. Latin script [Latn], used since mid-19th century.

Other Comments

Many members of other nationalities in Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan also speak Yue dialects.

Also spoken in:

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Australia

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

281,000 in Australia (2016 census).

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Many Chinese people migrated to Australia during the 1850s gold rushes.

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Brunei

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

5,760 in Brunei (2019).

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Cantonese

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Cambodia

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

20,000 in Cambodia (2011 SIL).

Location

Battambang and Kampong Cham provinces.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

565,000 in Canada (2016 census).

Location

British Columbia: Vancouver area; Ontario: Toronto area.

Alternate Names

Guangfu

Dialects

Vancouver Cantonese.

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Language Development

Taught as subject in some primary schools, per provincial curriculum in Ontario.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Came to Canada several decades ago from Vietnam, Guyana, or Cuba.

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China–Hong Kong

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

6,662,000 in China–Hong Kong, all users. L1 users: 6,260,000 in China–Hong Kong (2016 census). L2 users: 402,000 (2016 census).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Cantonese, Hong Kong Cantonese, Shatou, Shiqi, Wancheng

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1997, Basic Law, Article 9).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Hakka Chinese [hak], Macanese [mzs].

Language Development

Taught in most primary schools; taught as subject in the others. Taught as subject in secondary schools. Taught in some tertiary schools.

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China–Macao

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

507,000 in China–Macao (2016 census).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Macau Cantonese

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Macao Special Administrative Region (1999, Basic Law, Article 9).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Macanese [mzs].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Taught in tertiary schools.

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Costa Rica

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

4,500 in Costa Rica (2011 J. Leclerc).

Location

Guanacaste, Limón, Puntarenas, and San José provinces.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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El Salvador

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

1,500 in El Salvador (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Honduras

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

1,000 in Honduras (1999).

Location

Tegucigalpa.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Indonesia

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

182,000 in Indonesia (2005 J. Leclerc).

Location

Jakarta Raya, Kalimantan, and central Sumatra: Scattered.

Alternate Names

Cantonese, Konghu, Yue, Yueh

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Language Use

Older adults only. Shifted to Indonesian [ind].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Japan

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

36,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Laos

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

18,000 in Laos (2018 J. Leclerc), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Malaysia

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

1,460,000 in Malaysia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Ethnic population: 3,220,000 (2014).

Location

Peninsular: Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, and Selangor states; Kuala Lumpur and other major cities and towns.

Alternate Names

Cantonese, Yue, Yueh

Dialects

Cantonese, Toishanese.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). The main lingua france among the Chinese in the cities and towns of central Peninsular Malaysia.

Language Use

All also use Hakka Chinese [hak]. Used as L2 by Hakka Chinese [hak].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mexico

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

26,000 in Mexico (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

44,600 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Nigeria

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

9,400 in Nigeria (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Panama

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

34,000 in Panama (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Location

Panamá City, Colón, larger towns of interior.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Philippines

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

9,780 in Philippines (2000).

Location

National Capital Region: Manila.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Puerto Rico

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

1,680 in Puerto Rico (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Réunion

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

14,000 in Réunion (2017).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Singapore

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

227,000 in Singapore (2015 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 409,000 (2010 census).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Cantonese

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Home, church, friends. Used as L2 by Baba Malay [mbf].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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South Africa

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

15,000 in South Africa (1993).

Location

KwaZulu-Natal coast.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Suriname

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

6,700 in Suriname (2018).

Location

Para, Paramaribo, and Wanica districts.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Sranan Tongo [srn].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

21,000 in Sweden (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Thailand

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

40,000 in Thailand (Leclerc 2019a), based on ethnicity.

Location

Scattered in Suphan Buri province.

Alternate Names

Cantonese, Yue, Yueh

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

44,400 in United Kingdom (2011 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2004).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

1,290,000 in United States (2015 census). United States Census figure for all Chinese varieties: 2,900,000 (2015).

Location

California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose areas; Illinois: Chicago area; Massachusetts: Boston area; New York: New York City area; Texas: Dallas and Houston areas; Washington: Seattle area.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Vietnam

Language NameChinese, Yue

User Population

749,000 in Vietnam (2019 census), based on ethnicity.

Location

Mekong river delta area, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Dong Nai, and Kien Giang provinces; Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, and Hai Phong cities; north Vietnam-China border regions.

Alternate Names

Chinese Nung, Ha Xa Phang, Hai Nam, Han, Hoa, Kién, Liem Chau, Lowland Nung, Minh Huong, Nung, Phúc, Quang Dong, Samg Phang, Suòng Phóng, Trièu Chau

Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Language of recognized ethnic group: Hoa.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Part of the official Hoa 823,071 (2009 census) ethnic community. Renowned fighters. Came from Canton, China as railroad workers and soldiers several decades ago. Distinct from Nung in the Tai family or Tibeto-Burman Nung (Nu) of China and Myanmar. Daoist, Christian.

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Chinese, Yue

Primary tabs

A language of China

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