What do Hong Kong people call Cantonese?
Hong Kong Cantonese is a dialect of the Cantonese language of the Sino-Tibetan family. It is the native and de facto standard language of Hong Kong. A similar dialect is also spoken in Macau….
| Hong Kong Cantonese | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 港式粵語 |
| showTranscriptions | |
| Hong Kong-Guangdong dialect | |
| Traditional Chinese | 香港廣東話 |
Is Cantonese and Mandarin the same?
Cantonese and Mandarin are forms of Chinese. Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, GuangZhou, and Southern parts of China in that vicinity. Cantonese and Mandarin are written in the same way, though Cantonese favors traditional Chinese characters rather than simplified. Mandarin has 4 tones.
Why do they speak Cantonese in Hong Kong?
Cantonese is believed to have originated after the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220AD, when long periods of war caused northern Chinese to flee south, taking their ancient language with them. Mandarin was documented much later in the Yuan Dynasty in 14th century China.
Is Cantonese a dying language?
It’s the native language of one out of every 112 people on the planet. There are more native speakers of Cantonese than there are of 99.64% of all of the languages on earth. Cantonese has more native speakers than Thai, Ukrainian and Dutch, and only slightly less than Italian. So, no, Cantonese is not a dying language.
Should I learn Mandarin or Cantonese first?
It really depends on what you want to do. If you’re in Hong Kong, then by all means learn Cantonese. If you want to read Tang poetry, then learn Cantonese, because the poems still rhyme in Cantonese, where they may not in Mandarin. But if you want a generally useful language, learn Mandarin.
Which is easier to learn Cantonese or Mandarin?
Mandarin is easier to learn Cantonese is seen to be more difficult because it has from 6 to 9 tones, each of which signify different things (while Mandarin only has 4 tones). In addition, because of its greater prevalence, it is easier to find Mandarin study materials than Cantonese study materials.
Is it better to learn Mandarin or Chinese?
Likewise, if you’re interested in working in most other parts of China, Mandarin will serve you better. This may explain why most students of Chinese language opt for Mandarin, as it opens up more opportunities. As a result, there are also more courses and materials available for learning to speak Mandarin Chinese.
Can you understand Cantonese if you speak Mandarin?
No. Although Cantonese and Mandarin have many similarities, they are not mutually intelligible. This means that, presuming one has no significant exposure or training, a speaker of Mandarin will understand little to nothing of Cantonese and vice-versa.
What is the best way to learn Mandarin?
Here are some of the best resources available today for learning Chinese by yourself.
- Use music videos. Using music is one of the best ways to learn a new language because it’s fun and interesting!
- Regularly meet with a conversation partner.
- Watch Chinese shows with subtitles.
- Listen to audiobooks.
- Listen to podcasts.
How many years does it take to learn Mandarin?
It takes a learner with average aptitude only 15 weeks to reach level 2 for Spanish or French, but about 50 weeks to reach a similar level of the Chinese language. If you want to be fully fluent in Mandarin, you’d better plan to spend about 230 weeks, which is about 4 years.
Can you learn Mandarin in 3 months?
With the right work and attitude, you can make massive progress in your Chinese learning in three months. And if having a conversation in Mandarin Chinese is your primary goal, it can be achievable with just three months of study, even if you’re starting from zero.
Can I teach myself Mandarin?
Learning Chinese on your own is definitely possible, but it depends on what you mean by “on my own.” If, for you, this means “without a formal teacher/tutor,” then yes, it’s more difficult but still reasonable. If “learning Chinese on my own” means “without any Chinese friends,” then it’s very unlikely.
How do beginners learn Chinese?
The Best Way to Learn Chinese
- Start with some basic vocabulary and phrases. Before you start mimicking tones in Mandarin, you’ll want to learn some conversational words and phrases to use in your practice.
- Focus on Chinese pronunciation and tones.
- Speak Chinese daily.
- Immerse yourself in Chinese.
What is the hardest Chinese dialect to learn?
The phonology of Hokkien is the most difficult to learn, given its complexity. If you already learned the Chinese character through Mandarin, learning Hokkien’s Chinese character would be considered easier.
Is Chinese hard to learn?
The Chinese language is often considered one of the world’s most difficult languages to learn, but this sentiment is a major oversimplification. Like any language, learning Chinese has its challenges. As a language learner, placing yourself in an ideal learning environment is key to learning Chinese.