Mandarin vs. Cantonese: 令 vs 讓 for making something happen In Cantonese, it's common to hear someone say 令 when referring to making something happen.

Example: 妳咁做令我開心 (You make me happy when you do this.)

Some friends claimed Mandarin doesn't use 令 this way and uses 讓 instead， making the equivalent sentence 妳這樣做讓我開心。

However, Pleco lists 令人難忘 as "creating an unforgettable impression." This suggests 令 can be used like this in Mandarin.

1) Is the use of 令 different in Canto vs Mandarin? Is 妳這樣做令我開心 not proper Mandarin grammar?

2) If there is a difference, when do you use 令 and when do you use 讓?
For the meaning of 'to make/ to cause',  the usage of 令 in colloquial Cantonese  cover the usage of 令(force/make), 使(cause/make) and 讓(allow/make) in Mandarin


Example:

令人唔開心 (Cantonese) = 令人不高興/ 使人不高興/ 讓人不高興 (Mandarin)

The difference between 令 使 and 讓 is in 'degree of emphasis'; colloquial Cantonese typically use final particles for emphasis 


  In literal Cantonese (SWC- Standard written Chinese) It is the same as Mandarin


Example:

令人不高興/ 使人不高興/ 讓人不高興 (Mandarin) = 令人不高興/ 使人不高興/ 讓人不高興 (SWC)


  Cantonese do not use 讓 (make/ cause) colloquially at all. However, there's a word we use in colloquial Cantonese for 'make/ cause'  that is not used by Mandarin. This word is '等', but it has to be used with a 'cause'


Example:

"(等)佢熟透" = "(wait) for it to be cooked completely"

"加猛火(等)佢快啲熟透" = "use high heat (to make) it cooked completely faster"

In Mandarin, it would be "加猛火(讓)它快點熟透"

One more note: Cantonese do use the compound words 使到 and 令到 colloquially. The same as Mandarin