Here's why:
* Number of speakers: Mandarin has over 1 billion speakers worldwide, making it the most spoken language in the world. Cantonese has about 60 million speakers.
* Official language: Mandarin is the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Cantonese is not an official language of any country, although it is the primary language in Hong Kong and Macau.
* Media and education: Mandarin dominates the media and education systems in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Cantonese is less prevalent in these areas.
* Government and business: Mandarin is the language of government and business in China and most of the world. Cantonese is primarily used in the Cantonese-speaking regions of China.
While Cantonese is a vibrant and important language, its reach and popularity are dwarfed by Mandarin's global dominance.