Vertical Short Drama

I would presume that's what the subtitles are for. To learn more I asked AI

Why Chinese Dramas Have Chinese Subtitles

Chinese subtitles exist primarily because China has enormous linguistic diversity. While "Chinese" is often thought of as one language, it's actually a family of related but often mutually unintelligible spoken languages/dialects. Someone speaking Shanghainese, Cantonese, or Hokkien cannot understand spoken Mandarin without learning it. The written script, however, is largely unified and understood across regions, so subtitles allow everyone to follow along regardless of their native spoken variety.

Even within Mandarin itself, there are significant regional accents and sub-dialects. A person from Sichuan may have difficulty understanding someone from Beijing. Standard Mandarin (Putonghua) is the official language, but many actors and speakers retain regional accents. Subtitles ensure clarity for all viewers.

Mandarin vs. Cantonese Script

Mandarin and Cantonese use the same fundamental Chinese character system—they're not different scripts. The difference is between **Simplified Chinese** (used in Mainland China, Singapore) and **Traditional Chinese** (used in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan). Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong use Traditional characters, while Cantonese speakers in Guangdong province typically use Simplified.

Can They Read Each Other's Script?

Yes, with some adjustment. Many characters are identical or very similar. An educated Cantonese speaker using Traditional can generally read Simplified Chinese, though some characters look quite different and require familiarity. The reverse is also true—Mainland Chinese can learn to read Traditional with moderate effort. The grammar and meaning remain the same; only the character forms differ.

I don't speak Chinese, but in the past I took Chinese language course, 9 levels, similar to elementary school grade 2 or 3, never practice it, mostly forgotten.

For a vertical drama, I have low expectation, but I read that He Jian Qi learn cantonese for a month before filming Love at First Sight. That's admirable of him. And they mostly recruited actor that's suitable for the setting. Like My Sweet Home has southeners being casted.

For normal-length drama, I have high expectation. After all, I'm going to spend 20-30 hours or more watching them. Professional voice actor is the best choice if the actor's voice is not suitable or lacking.. Zeng Shun Xi has self-awareness and mostly used voice actor, for example in Justice is Mine as a Hongkonger (not that I watch it). He's smart, knowing to borrow other people's strength to become his best self.

I don't really pay attention to intonation or accent, but Beijingers love to add 儿 (er/r) on everything. That's kinda nice to listen to. Just play it by ears. Shanghai people doesn't seem to have accent, but a lot people from every regions comes to Shanghai to work, study, or shopping. So they'll probably will talk in standard Chinese? since everyone comes from different places and it'll be hard to understand each others with accents. Hongkongers speaks cantonese passionately with high spirit so it's easy to differentiate them. And they sounds harsher, like maybe a bit rude? Taiwanese seems to speak slower and more soft-spoken as compared to mainland China or Hongkong's people. I don't know if it's because I only watch their romance drama. Well, I could be wrong. But I do replay mainland China dramas a lot because I can't catch up, but I never replay any Taiwanese drama midway.

 RilakkumasBubbleTea:

I don' think this is true. He Jian Qi is from Guangdong so Cantonese is most likely his first language and he spoke without an accent. In Zhao Zhen Dong's version, he spoke with an accent. Zeng Shun Xi  also knows Cantonese so I don't think he was dubbed in Justice is mine. More likely he was dubbed when speaking Mandarin, like William Chan.

https://youtu.be/YG-ZqdTO4eY?si=DBzMVUqafGStgYTt

Zeng Shun Xi started talking from 21:xx. I don't think he used his own voice.

About He Jian Qi, I read it on gossip news: https://min.news/en/entertainment/434416ffae9ac92aa6fab6fae60bb5e8.html

It's actually 3 months of learning, remember it wrong. It's an old news, even if the date shows today's date.

 autumn iris:

Zeng Shun Xi started talking from 21:xx. I don't think he used his own voice.

About He Jian Qi, I read it on gossip news: https://min.news/en/entertainment/434416ffae9ac92aa6fab6fae60bb5e8.html

It's actually 3 months of learning, remember it wrong. It's an old news, even if the date shows today's date.

Maybe they meant brushing up on his Cantonese because he sounds like a native speaker. I'm a native speaker but I don't use it often so my Cantonese is very rusty. ZZD's Cantonese is decent but I can clearly hear he's not a native speaker.

I haven't heard Joseph Zeng speak in Cantonese in any of his other dramas so I don't know how he sounds like but I know for a fact he speaks Cantonese so not sure why they would need to dub him.

She thought he was dull and old-fashioned, but after marriage he spoiled her like a princess. - YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJvQoBuDDmQ

《渐入佳婚2》 "Marriage Progressing 2 " ML: Xia Ning Jun/夏宁骏 FL: Yu Yu Tong/于雨桐 

It was removed while I was in the middle of watching it 😭
Hopefully it will be reuploaded soon. It's really good.

 ASTER:

She thought he was dull and old-fashioned, but after marriage he spoiled her like a princess. - YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJvQoBuDDmQ

《渐入佳婚2》 "Marriage Progressing 2 " ML: Xia Ning Jun/夏宁骏 FL: Yu Yu Tong/于雨桐 

Can someone provide me English subbed version of ( into the breeze ) and ( alchemy! No, I cook ) by ma ruize. I tried and didn't find anywhere.