Here's why:
* Different tones: Mandarin and Cantonese have different tones, which are crucial for understanding meaning. A single word can have multiple meanings depending on the tone.
* Vocabulary differences: While there are some shared words, there are also many words that are completely different in the two languages.
* Grammar variations: There are some differences in grammar and sentence structure between Mandarin and Cantonese.
However, there are some similarities:
* Shared written characters: Both languages use the same written characters (though pronunciation differs). This can be helpful for understanding written texts.
* Some shared vocabulary: Some words are shared, particularly in the areas of basic vocabulary and concepts.
* Cultural connections: Because of their shared culture and history, speakers of Mandarin and Cantonese can often understand the general context of a conversation even if they don't understand the specific words.
Therefore, while Mandarin and Cantonese speakers may not understand each other perfectly, they may be able to pick up some information from the context or through shared vocabulary.
However, for true understanding, it's essential to learn the other language.