Cantonese vs Mandarin: Words That Sound Different
The same everyday object can have a completely different name in Cantonese and Mandarin. Here are 17 common words from our flashcard library where the two differ — helpful to know if your child moves between a Cantonese-speaking home and a Mandarin-speaking classroom (or the other way around). Tap any word to hear both pronunciations.
Fruits
Farm Animals
Vegetables
Mandarin 卷心菜 vs Cantonese 包菜
Cabbage Listen → 
Mandarin 胡萝卜 vs Cantonese 红萝卜
Carrot Listen → 
Mandarin 玉米 vs Cantonese 粟米
Corn Listen → 
Mandarin 黄瓜 vs Cantonese 青瓜
Cucumber Listen → 
Mandarin 茄子 vs Cantonese 矮瓜
Eggplant Listen → 
Mandarin 土豆 vs Cantonese 薯仔
Potato Listen → 
Mandarin 红薯 vs Cantonese 番薯
Sweet potato Listen → 
Mandarin 西红柿 vs Cantonese 番茄
Tomato Listen → Food
Want your child to know both?
Every word in the App has native Mandarin, Cantonese, and English audio, ready to compare anytime.
