Learning Cantonese Part 1: 8 Reasons Why You Should Learn Cantonese!

By -
31 October 2018 | Veronica

Thinking about studying Cantonese? Check out these 8 reasons why you should learn Cantonese.

1. Investing in a foreign language is always beneficial

Have you ever heard someone say they regret learning a language? On the other hand, there are numerous benefits. Language skills open up connections and opportunities, save you from paying tourist prices, and set you apart when applying for a new job.

2. It's the local language.

Although English is an official language in Hong Kong, and it is possible to survive with only English, your experience in the city will be entirely different and a whole lot friendlier with a bit of survival Cantonese.

While Mandarin is beneficial for business purposes, going into local neighborhoods and speaking Mandarin would be a bit like going to a Spanish-speaking country and speaking Portuguese. Don’t be that guy!

3. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the culture

Language shapes the way we interact with and make sense of the world around us. Having trouble communicating with colleagues because of cultural differences? Understanding even the basics of Cantonese can help make sense of communication styles and cultural norms. You might even start to see the ways English/Western workplace communication can be annoyingly superfluous…

4. Daily errands become so much easier

Have you ever had a long day at work when you’re exhausted and have been on your feet all day? Then imagine someone arrives speaking your second or third language at you. Of course there are days that you couldn’t be bothered to help them.

On the other hand, as a non-Cantonese speaking foreigner it can be mentally exhausting at the end of a long day trying to process information and procedures for your errands when it’s all in Chinese. 
Learning Cantonese makes a world of difference in those situations!

5. Free stuff!

As a visible foreigner, using Cantonese has led to free foods added to purchases at the wet market and discounts given on GoGoVan and taxi rides. It’s so rare to see Western foreigners speaking Cantonese, there’s a lot of appreciation when you try. *Disclaimer: This has been the personal experience of the blogger. This blog does not guarantee free things. 

6. It’s not as hard as people say

Don’t get me wrong – Cantonese is difficult. But dismissing it like an impossible feat? That’s an easy excuse. Getting to a basic level – ordering at restaurants, shopping at the wet market – can be done in a matter of weeks!

7. It’s a really, really cool language

Once you get the hang of the tones, it’s pretty amazing that simply changing the register of a word can give it up to 9 different meanings. All with the same sound!

8. The grammar is comparatively easy

If you’ve learned English, French, Spanish, or any other language that has required memorizing verb endings for all types of pronouns and tenses… Cantonese will be a flat out blessing. Want to say something happened in the past? Add a single time indicator like saying "yesterday", or just one word that functions for most verbs, like 'jor (咗)' (equivalent of -ed). You’re all set!


Convinced? Check out Part 2: Where to Learn Cantonese in Hong Kong and Part 3: Useful Apps and Resources for Learning and Practising Cantonese.

Or get started right away by learning the basics!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Sculptural Book Coming Alive (Performance review of "Tree of Codes" @ New Vision Arts Festival)

By -
Image
13 Nov 2018 | Ashley There we go, the New Vision Arts Festival is back! One of its opening shows this year is Tree of Codes , a ballet performance performed by Company Wayne McGregor and guests. It was a multi-media performance, which incorporated not only dance, but visual arts, music and lights. Display @ Hong Kong Cultural Centre In fact, the name of the show,  Tree of Codes, is borrowed from a sculptural book by Jonathan Safran Foer, where he cut off words from the original book Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz and constructed another story. The show did a good job creating the illusion of layering, just as how Foer's book looks like. With colourful filters which separated the stage into a front section and a back section, and dancers moving behind and in front, mirroring one another a uniform choreography, it gave me the illusion that the dancers at the back were reflections of the ones in front. The bright colors chosen for the filters also gave this piece ...
Read more

How to: Eat at a Wet Market Cooked Food Center

By -
Image
12 Sep 2018 | Veronica They’re loud, they’re chaotic, and potentially very overwhelming (especially if you have bad memories of your high school cafeteria). They’re also very cheap, very fast, and usually delicious! 1. Getting There Cooked food centers are usually on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th floor of a wet market. So getting into a cooked food center might involve passing through the wet market. This means past the half-alive fish and hanging meat butchers’ stalls. Still have your appetite? Good. Read on. *TIP: most centers will have an entrance (stairwell or elevator area) that leads directly to the cooked food center. Use this to skip the wet market sensory overload! 2. Choosing a Restaurant and Finding a Table Inside, each restaurant has their own designated tables. Take a tour around and peer at what people are eating. When you find something that looks good to you, find a space at a table in that area and squeeze in! There’s no private dining in here – if there’s any spa...
Read more

4 Must-Have Apps for Life in Hong Kong

By -
Image
29 Aug 2018 | Veronica Delete those photos from 3 years ago, get rid of that ex’s phone number that is just bad news in your phone anyways, do whatever you need to make space for these 4 apps to get you through daily life in Hong Kong. 1. Google Translate Don’t be scared to walk into restaurants with all-Chinese menus! Download Google Translate and get live translations just by holding your phone over the characters. Granted, the translations are far from perfect but it can usually help to know the basic idea. 2. TakeTaxi-HK Taxi Translator This app lets you to type in your destination in English, and then get large print translation for you to show the taxi driver. Future update is promised to include phonetic pronunciation for you to learn the Cantonese names! 3. Moovit Bypass Google Maps for Moovit in Hong Kong. Get more accurate route suggestions and live updates about bus arrival time for all the different transit companies in the city (although you’re...
Read more