toi4 saan1 waa2台山話台山话
Jyutpingtoi4 saan1 waa2
Yaletòih sāan wá
Definition
Taishanese; the Yue Chinese dialect spoken in Taishan, Guangdong.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Historically, Taishanese held significant prestige in the Cantonese diaspora before the dominance of standard Guangzhou Cantonese. Many older generations in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities still use it as a primary language at home. It is distinct enough from standard Cantonese that mutual intelligibility is often limited, especially for those unfamiliar with its specific phonology.
Examples
His family usually speaks Taishanese.
Related words
Common phrases
speak Taishanese
cannot understand Taishanese
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
