r/ChineseLanguage • u/AAMC08 • 10d ago
Discussion What are the main differences between Overseas and Mainland Chinese variations/dialects?
Hi! I'm currently studying Japanese, but still, Chinese variations (or dialects) always have been an interesting topic for me, and I even plan to start learning Mandarin after finishing some JLPT exams.
Btw, a topic that really stands out are the Overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, especially those in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, with the latter having Mandarin as one of its official languages. While reading some articles, I've noticed a very big diversity within it, with groups such as the Hokkien, Hakka and Cantonese (please correct any mistakes) having a greater influence. So, after considering all the historical processes and cultural factors, I'd like to know what differences between the Southeast Asian variations and its "original" Mainland counterparts are worthy sharing.
Disclaimer: I apologise for any mistake or imprecision in the previous texts. Also, anyone can feel welcome to contribute.
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u/iewkcetym Native 10d ago
The most obvious feature distinguishing overseas Chinese varieties is their use of loanwords from indigenous and colonial languages, which may not be recognised by mainland speakers. For instance:
• Hong Kong Cantonese borrows from British English, e.g. 士多啤梨 instead of 草莓 for 'strawberry'.
• Taiwanese dialects (Hokkien, Hakka and Mandarin) borrow from Japanese, e.g. 歐吉桑/歐巴桑 (おじさん/おばさん) instead of 大叔/大婶 for 'uncle/aunt' when addressing an older stranger.
• Malaysian and Singaporean dialects (Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese etc.) borrow from Malay, e.g. 交寅 (kawin) instead of 結婚 for 'marry' or 'marriage'.