Here's a breakdown:
* Mutual intelligibility is limited: While Cantonese and Mandarin share a common root, they've diverged significantly over the centuries. They have different pronunciations, tones, vocabulary, and even grammatical structures. This means a Cantonese speaker might catch some general meaning from Mandarin, but they wouldn't fully understand everything.
* Exposure is a factor: If a Cantonese speaker has been exposed to Mandarin through media, education, or interactions with Mandarin speakers, they will likely have better comprehension.
* Context is key: In a casual setting, a Cantonese speaker might understand basic greetings and simple sentences. However, they'd likely struggle with complex conversations, technical topics, or regional slang.
Here's an analogy: Imagine two people speaking different dialects of English. They might recognize some words and understand the gist of the conversation, but they wouldn't understand every nuance.
In conclusion: Cantonese speakers can sometimes understand some basic Mandarin, but it depends heavily on their level of exposure and the context of the conversation. They would likely need to learn Mandarin specifically to achieve fluent understanding.