FAQs
1. Which Language is better? Cantonese or Mandarin?
Since Cantonese is the main language spoken in Hong Kong, learning it can be essential for daily life and getting by. That said, knowing Cantonese will certainly make your stay in Hong Kong more enjoyable and immersive.
If you are considering staying in or doing business with Mainland China, Mandarin would be a more suitable choice, as it is the official language there. For your information, Mandarin is referred to as “Putonghua” in Chinese. “Putong” means “common,” and “hua” means “language,” so Putonghua literally translates to the “common language” of Mainland China.
Cantonese and Mandarin are related but distinct languages. Mandarin is the official language of Mainland China, while Cantonese is the primary dialect spoken in Hong Kong. In terms of written Chinese, the grammatical structure used in formal writing in Hong Kong is the same as that used in Beijing. However, Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese characters, whereas simplified characters are used in Mainland China.
When it comes to spoken language, Cantonese and Mandarin differ significantly in grammatical structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation. While most people in Hong Kong can understand Mandarin fairly well, they may not speak it fluently without proper training.
2. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE UNTIL I CAN MANAGE THE LANGUAGE?
Upon completing an 80-hour beginner’s course, students can typically hold simple daily conversations covering topics such as greetings, hobbies, weather, time, shopping, directions, transportation, colors, likes and dislikes, family and friends, as well as ordering food at a local restaurant.
For more complex sentences and advanced communication, students will need to progress to the intermediate and advanced levels.
Of course, learning outcomes also depend on how hard you work and how much time you invest in studying the language. You can enhance your learning success by creating study posters, placing vocabulary stickers around your flat, writing flashcards, singing along to sounds, and practicing what you’ve learned in as many real-life situations as possible. Since Chinese is a tonal language, it is especially important to stay enthusiastic and committed to phonetic exercises.
3. What is the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin?
Actually, Cantonese and Mandarin are related but distinct languages. Mandarin is the official language used in Mainland China, while Cantonese is the dialect spoken in the Canton region (including Hong Kong).
In terms of written Chinese, the grammatical structure of official written Chinese in Hong Kong is the same as that used in Beijing. However, traditional characters are used for writing in Hong Kong, whereas simplified characters are used in Mainland China.
When it comes to spoken language, Cantonese and Mandarin differ significantly in grammatical structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Although most people in Hong Kong can understand Mandarin fairly well, they may not be able to speak it fluently without proper training.
