Like Tree20Likes

should i learn cantonese if i wont to live in hong kong?

Closed Thread
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast
  1. #11

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Tuen Mun
    Posts
    2,105
    Quote Originally Posted by hello_there:
    Also, you need to be realistic with your expectations regarding you being able to 'learn Cantonese' (rather than just being able to order from a menu or give directions to a cab driver) - it is a very difficult language. I speak several languages and even after several years and quite a few classes I still only really get the basics in Cantonese. The amount of time one would need to spend to really master the language is immense.
    Obviously horses for courses - Canto was the first non-European language I studied, and I found the spoken form SOOOO much easier than any of the European languages I had worked on over the years!! Those included Romance, Germanic, and Finno-Ugric ones, in the unlikely event that anyone is interested. One 3 week intensive course taught me all there is to know about the grammar, tones, and enough basic vocab for me to pick up the rest on my own Written Chinese is a whole 'nother ball game.
    Anyway, different people's brains work differently, but I'd certainly at least give Cantonese a chance.
    Gatts likes this.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    7,390

    Same with shenwen. Zero canto but would use mandarin when needed but no where near fluent.you can get by in hk without learning an Asian language and still make a ton of cash.

    Most business is done in English but lower support staff and retail you need Canto and less extent Mandarin.

    If you are looking for an entry level job or even mid level Canto is a must.


  3. #13

    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    106

    definitely cantonese over mandarin in HK.


  4. #14

    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Tai Wai
    Posts
    1,386

    I speak Canto when I want to get shit done. English when I want to avoid hassle. But when signing a contract, for example, I'd rather they struggle with their English than I struggling with their complicated formal Cantonese.

    dear giant likes this.

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tai Po, HK
    Posts
    2

    There are foreigners that have been in HK for 20+ years without speaking a single word of Canto, and get along just fine. If anything, learn Mandarin. Canto does ease things up when it comes to shopping and paperwork (disposition is better when they see you're trying). Never hurts to learn basic phrases like "thank you," "hello," "my name is X," and others.


  6. #16

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Gold Coast Marina
    Posts
    17,862

    Been here nearly 5 years and find that provided you can give the name of our home in Canto to a taxi driver, say good morning and thank you, and are reasonably relaxed about sign language (I mean the arm waving "make it up as you go along" kind of game, not the real language deaf ppl use) you'll be fine.
    For China, I learnt a minimal number of Mandarin phrases and it improved my trips immensely, but not in HK.


  7. #17

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Tsim Sha Tsui
    Posts
    3,942

    You can definitely get by living in HK without knowing Cantonese but, not to tread on anyone's toes, there is a lot of HK life these people are missing out on. Being fluent in Cantonese, I can understand so much more of the culture and what goes on around me. Life is so much easier to be able to switch between the two.


  8. #18

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    88

    What makes more sense to learn? Cantonese because we live in a canto speaking place or Mandarin because there are more places that speak it( Taiwan, Singapore..) and seems to be the language to know in the future?

    I took some Cantonese lessons when we moved here and found it extremly difficult. I like it a lot and i want to be able to use what i learned but i just can't hear the tones. And i fluently speak 3 european languages and understand 2 more. I know they are different, i just wanted to say i am not new to learning another language


  9. #19

    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay
    Posts
    1,520

    sure some people will be indifferent - but personally as someone with reasonable canto conversational - I think it can help immensely.. on the whole people will react postively - and it can be very direct....

    also I think that speaking canto will teach u to recognise tones.. additionally you may understand some mandarin just from learning cantonese.. altho I wouldnt say I could speak mandarin at all...


  10. #20

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    France
    Posts
    5

    I don't understand some points of view here... When I was at university or in a sport team I felt really lonely since I was the only foreigner and, even though people will make the effort to speak English to you, they will always speak Cantonese with each others. If you want to have local friends, it's not so fun to hang out with them and ask "what did he say?" every two minutes when everyone is laughing to a joke.

    Creative83 and Gatts like this.