Cantonese interpreters and translation services.
Cantonese is a distinct language from Mandarin and is the heritage language of much of the historic Chinatown population in San Francisco and Los Angeles. AMS supplies California court-certified Cantonese interpreters for depositions, IMEs, and hospital interpreting, plus qualified Cantonese translators for documents from Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong-province sources.
Cantonese varieties and dialects we handle
Hong Kong Cantonese
The prestige variety, with English-influenced vocabulary and Traditional Chinese writing.
Guangdong (Mainland) Cantonese
The mainland variety; somewhat closer to standard written Chinese in vocabulary. Simplified Chinese writing in Mainland contexts.
Taishanese (Toisanese)
A related but distinct Yue Chinese variety historically spoken by much of the early U.S. Cantonese diaspora. Not fully mutually intelligible with standard Cantonese; ask about ancestry when scheduling for older U.S.-born Chinese-American clients.
What we do in Cantonese
Legal interpreting
Depositions, EUOs, IMEs, arbitrations, mediations, and trials in state and federal court.
Medical interpreting
IMEs, AME and QME panels, psychological evaluations, hospital interpreting, and workers-compensation medical appointments.
Document translation
Certified translation of legal documents, medical records, USCIS submissions, academic transcripts, and corporate materials.
Audio transcription
Verbatim transcription of depositions, recorded statements, surveillance audio, and recorded interviews.
Video remote interpreting (VRI)
Same-day VRI for telehealth, remote depositions, and any matter where on-site is not practical.
Conference and corporate interpreting
Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting for trade shows, internal meetings, and major events.
Cities and metros where AMS supplies Cantonese
Los Angeles
HQ since 1999. Daily dispatch across the LA basin, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Cantonese in Los AngelesSan Francisco
Bay Area office covering San Francisco, Oakland, Silicon Valley, and the East Bay.
Cantonese in San FranciscoLas Vegas
Southern Nevada office covering Clark County and the broader Las Vegas Valley.
Cantonese in Las VegasSan Diego
Cantonese interpreting and translation across San Diego-Chula Vista metro and the South Bay border region.
Cantonese in San DiegoOrange County
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Orange County metro and the greater Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine area of Southern California.
Cantonese in Orange CountyOakland
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Oakland and the East Bay across Alameda County.
Cantonese in OaklandSan Jose
Cantonese interpreting and translation across San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro and the wider Silicon Valley.
Cantonese in San JoseSacramento
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Sacramento, the California state capital, and the broader Sacramento Valley.
Cantonese in Sacramentothe Inland Empire
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro and the broader Inland Empire.
Cantonese in the Inland EmpireStockton
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Stockton-Lodi metro and San Joaquin County in California's northern San Joaquin Valley.
Cantonese in StocktonLong Beach
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Long Beach, the Harbor area, and the southern Los Angeles County coast.
Cantonese in Long BeachSalinas
Cantonese interpreting and translation across Salinas-Monterey metro and the Salinas Valley on California's Central Coast.
Cantonese in SalinasCantonese services AMS provides
Why AMS for Cantonese
Local presence since 1999
27 years of California and Nevada courthouse, IME, and hospital relationships.
Same-day requests
We accept requests around the clock. For same-day availability, call our office at (800) 919-2029.
One point of contact
One scheduling contact from quote through invoice. No phone trees, no offshored call centers.
Cantonese interpreting questions, answered
Is Cantonese the same as Mandarin?
No. Cantonese and Mandarin are not mutually intelligible. They are distinct languages (or distinct varieties of Chinese, depending on terminology) with different phonology, vocabulary, and grammar. A Cantonese speaker typically cannot follow a Mandarin proceeding without separate interpretation.
Does AMS supply California court-certified Cantonese interpreters?
Yes. The California Court Interpreter Program certifies Cantonese court interpreters. AMS maintains a certified Cantonese bench primarily through the San Francisco office, with LA coverage as well.
How do I know whether my client speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, or Taishanese?
Ask. If they emigrated from Hong Kong, Macau, or Guangdong, they likely speak Cantonese natively. If they emigrated from Mainland China outside Guangdong or from Taiwan, they likely speak Mandarin. Older U.S.-born Chinese-Americans of historic Chinatown ancestry may speak Taishanese. Many speakers are bilingual; confirm the preferred language for the proceeding.
How fast can AMS schedule a Cantonese interpreter?
Availability depends on language, location, and timing. Call our office at (800) 919-2029 and we will confirm what is available for your date. LA and Las Vegas have smaller Cantonese benches; advance notice is helpful for those markets.
Does AMS translate documents from Cantonese-script materials?
Yes. Cantonese is usually written in Chinese characters (Traditional in Hong Kong, Simplified in Mainland). AMS handles both scripts. For colloquial Cantonese writing (common in Hong Kong media), specify at quote time.
Can AMS coordinate Cantonese ASL or Cantonese-language Deaf interpretation?
For Cantonese-speaking Deaf clients, AMS coordinates a CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) team. The hearing interpreter renders English to Hong Kong Sign Language or another appropriate signed language, and the CDI bridges to the client's actual signing pattern. See our CDI article.
Further reading
What is a certified court interpreter, and why does it matter?
The three working tiers of court interpreter, and the consequences of hiring the wrong one.
California Court Interpreter Program: what counts as certified
How California certifies court interpreters, what languages are covered.
Court interpreter ethics: the four canons
The ethical standards that govern interpreter conduct in legal proceedings.
How to hire a medical interpreter for an IME
A practical checklist for scheduling medical interpretation.
Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI): when one is required and why
For Cantonese-speaking Deaf clients, a CDI team may be required.
Video remote interpreting (VRI): when it works and when it does not
A practical guide to choosing between on-site, telephonic, and video remote interpreting.
Schedule a Cantonese interpreter
Same-day Cantonese interpreting is available. Request a quote or call our scheduling team.