While Mandarin and Cantonese are both Sinitic languages (part of the Chinese language family), they have significant differences in:
* Pronunciation: Many sounds are pronounced differently.
* Vocabulary: There are differences in words and phrases.
* Grammar: There are some grammatical variations.
It's similar to the relationship between English and German. They share some roots but are distinct languages requiring separate learning.
However, it's possible for:
* People with a high level of fluency in one language to pick up the other more easily. They might understand some basic phrases or recognize similar vocabulary.
* Cantonese speakers to understand some Mandarin, especially in written form. Written Chinese uses a common writing system, so some characters and concepts might be understood.
Overall, expecting a Mandarin speaker to understand Cantonese is like expecting an English speaker to understand French. While they may share some similarities, they are distinct languages requiring individual learning.