Cantonese Text to Speech: What a Mandarin Reader Can and Cannot Do
If you came here for Cantonese text to speech: this reader does not provide Cantonese voices. It speaks Mandarin. This page explains the difference, why a Mandarin voice reads Cantonese text badly, and how to choose a tool that really supports Cantonese.
Mandarin and Cantonese are different spoken languages
They share a large body of characters but are pronounced differently and differ in vocabulary and grammar, so one voice cannot be swapped for the other.
Mandarin is the language this reader speaks, with pinyin as its romanisation. Cantonese uses a different sound system, and it has its own romanisation systems. Standard written Chinese is largely shared, but everyday written Cantonese uses characters that Mandarin speakers do not use, such as 嘅, 咗 and 唔.
What happens if you paste Cantonese text here
A Mandarin voice will read the characters with Mandarin pronunciation, which is not Cantonese and may sound wrong or confusing.
Standard written text may come out understandable, because Mandarin readers can read it. Colloquial Cantonese written with Cantonese-only characters will often be read incorrectly or awkwardly. The pinyin shown above the characters is Mandarin pinyin, not Cantonese romanisation.
How to choose a Cantonese tool
Check that the tool names Cantonese (or Yue, or Hong Kong Chinese) explicitly, offers a sample, and says what romanisation it displays.
- The language list says Cantonese, not just Chinese.
- It provides a sound sample you can judge yourself.
- It shows the romanisation you want, such as Jyutping, or none.
- It states its limits and privacy handling.
When this reader is the right tool
It is the right tool when you want Mandarin: reading Chinese text aloud, studying pinyin and tones, or saving an MP3 of a Mandarin passage.
If you are learning Mandarin, or the text is standard written Chinese you want to hear in Mandarin, the web reader and Chrome extension are designed for that.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this reader have a Cantonese voice?
- No. Only Mandarin female and male voices are available.
- Will Cantonese characters be read in Cantonese?
- No. They will be read with Mandarin pronunciation.
- Is Cantonese support planned?
- No Cantonese support is announced. Check the current product description for changes.
Related reading
- Chinese Text to Speech vs Accent Generator vs Speech to Text
- Mandarin Text to Speech: Voices, Speed and Practice
- How to Use Chinese Text to Speech: Voices, Pinyin, Speed, PDF and Chrome
Return to the online reader. Review the privacy policy and terms before using sensitive or published material.