Cantonese culture is more than just a collection of traditions – it’s a living, breathing part of people’s daily lives in regions like Guangdong and Hong Kong.
It’s in the way people talk, the food they eat, the festivals they celebrate, and even in how they do business. But what exactly is it that makes Cantonese culture so unique?
In this blog post, we’ll be covering some key cultural concepts along with the traditions associated with the Cantonese with plenty more valuable tidbits in between!
If you’re keen to find out more, you’ve come to the right place.
Cantonese Cultural Concepts
Lung Mo (The Dragon Mother)
The term Lung Mo, captures an archetype that’s both admired and, at times, met with a knowing smile.
A Lung Mo is a mother who embodies strength, determination, and a fierce love for her children. She’s a protective force, always ready to defend her family and ensure their well-being.
Drawing from the imagery of the dragon, a symbol of power, vitality, and nobility in Chinese culture, a Lung Mo carries herself with a certain authority. She’s often seen as a pillar in the family, guiding her children with wisdom and instilling in them values and ethics.
But at the same time a Lung Mo may be perceived as overbearing and even excessively involved in her children’s lives, especially in matters of education and career.
Her intentions come from a place of love, but they can sometimes create pressure and high expectations. Have you ever seen the movie “Turning Red?” It’s a classic example of a Lung Mo, except I guess this time it’s a Red Panda instead of a Dragon!
Wai Sek (Love for Food)
There’s a reason why the Cantonese culinary culture is so rich. That’s all due to Wai Sek which embodies the love for food, and it’s something that’s celebrated daily.
Wai Sek translates to “food greedy,” not in a gluttony sense; it’s about an unapologetic appreciation for food in all its glorious forms.
From savoring delicate dim sum to enjoying a hearty bowl of wonton noodles, being Wai Sek means embracing the culinary adventure!
You see, in Cantonese culture, food is more than just sustenance. It’s an expression of identity, creativity, and community.
Family gatherings often center around a feast, and sharing a meal with friends is a cherished social activity.
Being Wai Sek also means exploring flavors and textures, seeking out hidden eateries, and not being afraid to try something new. The night markets are a playground for the food-curious!
I’m sure you have experienced Wai Sek as well whether it’s the nightmarkets of Bangkok or Hanoi, Wai Sek connects us all as human beings, don’t you think?
Siu Yeh (Late-Night Eating)
Siu Yeh is another cultural concept that branches off of Wai Sek because it’s a word that stirs up late-night cravings for many in the Cantonese-speaking world.
In Cantonese culture, Siu Yeh refers to having a late-night meal, but it’s much more than that. Siu Yeh is a special occasion that involves food and friendship.
Starting around 9 PM, when most people might be winding down, the Siu Yeh crowd is just getting started. It’s all about gathering at local eateries, be it a humble street stall or a lively restaurant, and diving into a feast of beloved dishes.
It’s a time to catch up with friends, share stories with family, or even make new acquaintances over shared plates. It’s not a hurried affair; people take their time, enjoying the food and each other’s company.
In places like Hong Kong, Siu Yeh is a cherished tradition and I noticed plenty of restaurants that are open late into the night.
Jook Sing (Bamboo Pole)
Jook Sing translates to “Bamboo Pole” and it might seem like an odd term if you take it literally.
In reality, Jook Sing refers to a person who may be of Chinese descent but is more attuned to Western culture and values.
Imagine a bamboo pole floating on the water; it’s touching the surface but not deeply rooted. That’s the metaphor behind Jook Sing.
It describes a person who may seem out of touch with their traditional Chinese heritage, perhaps due to growing up abroad or embracing more Westernized ways.
Jook Sing itself isn’t as a derogatory term. It’s more of an observation, a way to describe the delicate balancing act that some face between two distinct worlds.
Many who identify with the Jook Sing experience find it to be both a challenge and an opportunity. They navigate the nuances of both Eastern and Western cultures, often blending them into a unique personal identity.
In a world that’s constantly evolving, the concept of Jook Sing resonates with many I think, not just the Cantonese. Jook Sing captures a very human experience, one that’s shared by many who find themselves betwixt and between.
What is the Difference Between Cantonese and Chinese Culture?
Cantonese culture, concentrated in the Guangdong province and Hong Kong, has unique features distinct from the broader Chinese cultural context.
The Cantonese language, one of the Yue Chinese languages, has its roots dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and it retains many traditional aspects of pronunciation and vocabulary.
Historically, Guangdong’s early interactions with the West during the 16th century influenced aspects like architecture and art.
Furthermore, the socio-political dynamics, particularly in Hong Kong, have created a distinct identity. The 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China and the region’s continued autonomy under the “one country, two systems” principle contribute greatly to these differences.
If you want to explore more about what sets Cantonese culture apart from the broader Chinese heritage you can jump on my article on that goes through the differences between Cantonese and Chinese culture.
What is the Religion of the Cantonese?
Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism are prominent quite prominent amongst the Cantonese, alongside the moral principles of Confucianism.
Which is why in Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin temple, you can find all three religions co-existing in harmony, a classic example of religious syncretism!
I even found an idol cemetery where all different idols from various religions are laid to rest, it was such a surreal sight.
Another example would be the famous Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island which is dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Meanwhile, the nearby Tian Tan Buddha is the Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and the central figure of Theravada Buddhism!
Folk religions and ancestor worship are also deeply rooted in Cantonese culture much like Chinese traditional beliefs.
Christianity has also found a following among some Cantonese people, particularly in Hong Kong.
Interestingly, a considerable portion of the Cantonese population (Hong Kong), claim no religious affiliation, with a 2020 survey showing about 53% of the population identifying with having no religion at all.
What are the Traditions of Cantonese Culture?
Dim Sum
Dim Sum is a cornerstone of Cantonese culture!
Translating literally to “touch the heart.” This timeless tradition encompasses a wide array of mouth-watering bite-sized dishes!
Typically enjoyed as brunch, Dim Sum can consist of everything from dumplings and buns filled with meat, seafood, or vegetables, to rice noodle rolls, spring rolls, and sweet pastries.
Served in small steamer baskets, the portions are designed to be shared and savored slowly, allowing people to try many different flavors and textures in one meal.
The best part of Dim Sum is that they are meant to be shared, creating a sense of connection with everyone around the table.
Yum Cha
Yum Cha is a cherished tradition that literally translates to “drink tea,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s a joyful gathering, a time to sit back, sip on delicious tea, and catch up with friends and family.
Traditionally, Yum Cha is associated with enjoying Dim Sum dishes, as tea is often served alongside these tasty treats.
However, Yum Cha itself emphasizes the art of tea drinking and the experience of leisurely appreciating the various flavors and aromas of Chinese tea such as the classic Jasmine and Oolong.
In Cantonese communities, Yum Cha is often a weekend ritual.
Families and friends will head to their favorite tea house, selecting their preferred tea and spending hours chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
The tea used in Yum Cha is carefully brewed, and there’s even a particular etiquette involved! For example, tapping two fingers on the table is a way of silently thanking someone for pouring your tea.
Feng Shui
Feng Shui, a concept deeply rooted in both Chinese and Cantonese cultures, is far more than just interior design; it’s an ancient art and dare I say, even a science that dates back over 3,000 years!
Literally translating to “wind” (Feng) and “water” (Shui), this tradition is all about balancing and harmonizing the energies in a given space, be it a home, office, or even a garden.
Feng Shui operates on the principle that everything around us, including objects, colors, and spatial arrangements, is filled with energy, known as “Chi.”
When Chi flows freely and positively, it brings about good fortune, health, and happiness. Conversely, negative or stagnant Chi can lead to the opposite.
In a typical Cantonese home, you’ll notice certain Feng Shui practices. There might be a carefully positioned mirror to deflect negative energy, or a water feature placed in a specific area to enhance prosperity.
The layout of furniture, the use of colors, and even the direction of the entrance door all play a role in creating a harmonious environment.
Feng Shui is often consulted for significant life decisions and changes.
For example, choosing a new home, reorganizing an office space, or even planning a wedding might involve consulting a Feng Shui expert. The Feng Shui expert uses a complex system of compass directions, elements, and energy maps to offer guidance.
Feng Shui extends to our personal lives as well. It emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world, one’s surroundings, and oneself. If you’re interested in learning more about Feng Shui, click here!
Hair Combing Ceremony
The Hair Combing Ceremony, known as “Shu Tou” in Cantonese, is a symbolic tradition that plays an essential role in traditional Cantonese weddings.
Rooted in ancient customs, this ritual signifies the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the readiness for marriage.
Performed typically the night before the wedding, the ceremony takes place in the bride’s and groom’s respective homes. Both parties are dressed in a traditional red robe, and the ritual is conducted in a carefully chosen auspicious hour.
Here’s how the ceremony unfolds:
- Lighting the Way: Red candles are lit, symbolizing good luck and driving away evil spirits.
- Offering Sweet Tea: Sweet tea is served to represent a sweet and harmonious life.
- Combing Through Life’s Stages: An elder person (often a female relative who has a successful marriage) uses a special wooden comb to comb the hair four times, each with a specific blessing:
- First combing: To ensure a good beginning from youth to the end of life.
- Second combing: To bless the couple with harmony in marriage.
- Third combing: To bless the couple with many children and grandchildren.
- Fourth combing: To bless the couple with good health and lasting togetherness.
- Securing the Hair: The bride’s hair is then styled into a bun, signifying her new marital status.
The Hair Combing Ceremony is laden with symbolism and reflects the importance of family, continuity, and harmony in Cantonese culture. Isn’t it a beautiful rite of passage?
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the body. These points are believed to be connected to pathways known as meridians (which is quite similar to the Chakra systems from the Hindu tradition), through which the “Qi” flows.
By stimulating these points, acupuncture aims to promote balance and healing within the body.
Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of ailments, from chronic pain to digestive issues to emotional stress. It’s again, based on the principle that illness occurs when the Qi is out of balance.
Through the precise placement of needles, an acupuncture practitioner can redirect the flow of energy and restore harmony in the body. I’ve had acupuncture treatments here in Japan for relaxation and I must admit that it’s pretty great!
In Cantonese society, it’s not uncommon to turn to acupuncture for preventive care or as a complement to Western medical treatments.
Qi Gong
Qi Gong is a practice that involves slow and graceful movements, deep breathing, and meditation to guide the flow of “Qi,” the vital life energy within the body. And yes, this is the same with the “Chi” that we talked about in Feng Shui.
The belief is that the vitality of a person is closely connected to the balance and flow of this Qi energy so Qi Gong is like a holistic approach that promotes well-being.
Regular Qi Gong practice can lead to improved physical strength, relaxation, focus, and healing from specific health problems. I always describe Qi Gong as a mix between Yoga and Reiki (the Ki from Reiki also refers to Qi, it’s just in Japanese.)
I often saw people practicing Qi Gong at the parks in Hong Kong, the fluid movements can be quite relaxing to watch!
Cantonese Traditional Dance
First up is the Yue Opera which has its roots in Guangdong province and is performed in the Cantonese dialect. It is a blend of music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
Cantonese dance incorporates elements of martial arts, creating a combination of fluid and forceful movements. You might already be familiar with the lion and dragon dances as it’s quite common in Chinese cultures but they are classic examples of this.
Cantonese Traditional Music
One of the most well-known traditional performances is the Cantonese opera, which is a mix of music, singing, and acting that tells tales of yonder.
Instruments like the erhu, pipa, and percussion are used, and the unique vocal techniques make it very distinct from China’s Peking opera.
Cantonese music also includes instrumental pieces played on traditional instruments like the guzheng and yangqin.
There’s teahouse music (yes, this is a thing), often played during Yum Cha, which provides the perfect BGM for a relaxing outing.
What is Cantonese Cuisine like?
Cantonese cuisine is often seen as the jewel in the crown of Chinese culinary traditions, known for its focus on fresh ingredients, subtle and balanced flavors.
Cantonese cuisine, sometimes called Yue cuisine, hails from Guangdong province and Hong Kong.
The hallmark of Cantonese cuisine is its emphasis on preserving the natural flavors of the ingredients. Dishes are often lightly seasoned, and cooking methods such as steaming and stir-frying are popular to keep the original taste intact.
Must Try Cantonese Dishes
Here’s a list of some must-try dishes when you find yourself in Hong Kong or Guangdong:
- Roast Goose: A special dish often served with plum sauce, showcasing crispy skin and succulent meat. It’s considered by many to be the national dish of Hong Kong!
- Char Siu: Barbecued pork with a sweet and savory glaze.
- Wonton Noodles: Thin noodles served with delicious pork and shrimp dumplings.
- Sweet and Sour Pork: A classic combination of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors.
- Congee: A comforting rice porridge often served with different toppings like meat, fish, or pickled vegetables.
- Mango Pudding: A popular dessert, often served chilled.
- Siu Mei: A selection of roasted meats, including pork, chicken, and duck, often found in markets and specialty shops.
What is Cantonese Language like?
The Cantonese language is a variety of Chinese spoken in the Guangdong province, the capital city being Guangzhou which is historically known as Canton.
It’s one of the major dialects in China and has its own unique characteristics that set it apart from Mandarin, the official language of China.
Here are some unique aspects of the Cantonese language:
Tones: Cantonese is a tonal language with six to nine tones (depending on the dialect), meaning that the tone in which a word is spoken can change its meaning. This contrasts with Mandarin, which has four tones (or five if you count the neutral tone).
Vocabulary: While sharing many words with Mandarin, Cantonese also has its own unique vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that might not be understood by Mandarin speakers. Cantonese is actually considered more colloquial by some.
Character Writing: Cantonese has some unique characters that are not used in Mandarin. Though the written form can be quite similar, there are instances where different characters are used to represent the same word.
Romanization: There are several Romanization systems for Cantonese, such as Jyutping and Yale, which help in representing the sounds of Cantonese using the Latin alphabet.
Useful Cantonese Phrases for Travel
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Cantonese
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English
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Neih hou
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Hello
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Dojeh
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Thank you
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Momentai
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No problem
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Hai
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Yes
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Mh hai
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No
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Cheng
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Please
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Mh hou yih si
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Excuse me
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Gei do chin
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How much?
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Ngoh mh ming
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I don't understand
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Gau mihng
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Help
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Joi gin
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Good bye
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Traditional Cantonese Festivals
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Chinese New Year is the most celebrated festival in Cantonese cultures, marking the arrival of the Lunar New Year. It falls on the first day of the first lunar month, while the exact dates varies but it’s usually around January 21 to February 20.
It’s a time when the city streets are ablaze with color, filled with the resonant beats of drums and the dazzling spectacle of lion and dragon dances.
Families come together, often traveling long distances, to share in festive meals replete with symbolic foods. Dumplings, fish, and long noodles grace tables, each representing good fortune, abundance, and longevity.
Homes are adorned with red decorations, and red envelopes containing money are gifted to children as tokens of prosperity.
The festival continues for fifteen days, culminating in the Lantern Festival. Firecrackers explode, scaring away evil spirits, and the skies are painted with the glow of colorful fireworks!
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is typically observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month so that would be around late May or June.
As you may have guessed, central to the festival is the thrilling spectacle of dragon boat races.
Teams paddle vigorously in elaborately decorated boats, their dragon heads raised proudly at the front, eyes wide and fierce.
The beat of drums guides the rowers, creating a symphony of power and precision, all in a spirited competition to reach the finish line.
If you ever find yourself in Hong Kong around June, you have to check out Tai O Fishing Village as they hold the Dragon Boat Festival there!
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a cherished tradition that’s celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival usually occurs in late September or early October and when the moon is at its brightest.
Mooncakes, the traditional delicacy of the festival, are shared among family and friends.
These rich pastries, filled with red bean paste and often containing a salted egg yolk to represent the moon, are more than just a treat; they’re a symbol of unity.
There’s also a really interesting legend you can read about surrounding the mooncake.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is one of the most unique and lively traditional festivals in Hong Kong!
It’s usually held in April or May, depending on the lunar calendar.
The festival is known for the “Bun Scrambling Competition,” where participants climb up towers made of bamboo and buns, racing to grab as many buns as possible. From the description alone, it sounds like a hoot!
The festival begins with Taoist ceremonies and includes parades with children dressed as legendary heroes suspended above the crowd on hidden metal rods. The buns on the towers are considered to bring good luck, and many people take them home after the festival.
Tin Hau Festival
Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, is widely revered among the Cantonese, especially by fishermen. The Tin Hau Festival is held on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, usually falling in either April or May.
In coastal regions, large celebrations mark this day, with processions of decorated boats taking to the water, and colorful parades on land.
If Tin Hau doesn’t ring a bell, the Goddess of the Sea also goes by the name of Mazu.
If you’ve ever been to the beautiful Thean Hou Temple in Malaysia or Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore, you might be surprised to find out these are temples dedicated to Tin Hau as well.
Customs in Cantonese Countries
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Even in sweltering weather, I was surprised to still be served hot drinks with hot meals while in Hong Kong. Apparently hot drinks are believed to aid digestion, while the cold drinks usually cost money to order.
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If you find yourself on an escalator in Hong Kong, be aware of the unspoken rule: stand on the right, walk on the left.
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Whistling or jingling keys at night is said to attract ghosts. While it may not be a strictly followed rule, it’s quite a funny superstition.
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Cantonese culture often emphasizes fresh ingredients. So in the wet markets, live fish are chosen and prepared on the spot.
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Gifting shoes is often avoided, as the word for “shoes” sounds like evil. On the contrary, trousers are all the rage as gifts as they sound like good!
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You might see mirrors placed above entrances in shops and homes to deflect negative energy and the evil eye.
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Some numbers, such as four (sounds like “death” in Cantonese and in Mandarin), are considered unlucky, while eight (sounds like “prosper” or “wealth”) is considered lucky. This is why you’ll never find a 4th floor in the hospitals of Chinese countries.
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