5 Reasons Why You Should Learn Cantonese
Some people might say Cantonese isn’t as widely spoken as Mandarin and it isn’t as appealing to new language learners. From a native Cantonese speaker’s perspective, I agree and disagree with this statement. In this article, I will evaluate objectively whether or not you should learn Cantonese.
Get Out of the Ex-Pat Bubble
1. You are an ex-pat living in Hong Kong
I have met many people who have spent years in Hong Kong without knowing the language. You know you are missing out, you know you are not living your life in Hong Kong to its fullest. Don’t you hate that you are stuck in the ex-pat bubble? Isn’t it annoying to always need to ask a native or local friend for help to translate? Isn’t it better to at least be able to speak some basic phrases to build a sense of belonging to this amazing city?
It’s not too late! Start now. Join our Cantonese Absolute Beginner’s Course to learn the basic phrases you need to survive in Hong Kong.
Learn Cantonese to Reconnect with Your Parents
2. You want to reconnect with your culture
Did you grow up in an English-speaking environment with Cantonese parents? Feeling embarrassed with your Cantonese level? Too shy to speak? You are not alone. Pick up Cantonese learning now and you will learn a lot more about your own culture. Most successful Cantonese learners started learning the language in their adulthood.
Statistics: More than half of Asian females and males in North America are married or in a relationship with a partner or spouse of a different racial background and language group.
3. Your spouse speaks Cantonese
There are even fewer excuses not to learn Cantonese if your spouse speaks Cantonese, natively or non-natively. It makes so much sense to learn your significant other’s language to gain a deeper understanding of their culture. Not to mention, it would be a huge plus if you need to communicate with relatives and in-laws.
Knowing French makes you a better chef.
Knowing Cantonese gives you superpowers in Kungfu.
4. You simply love the culture
TVB fans? Cantonese movie fans? There’s no denying that mainstream media such as music and movies in the 90s are in Cantonese. Some of you might even grow up to listen to the Four Heavenly Kings. Get better at Cantonese to understand the deeper meanings hidden in movie dialogs, music lyrics, and daily slang. Don’t forget to read this article to learn about the places you should visit in Hong Kong.
Already know Mandarin? Learning Cantonese will be a smooth ride for you and open up your other Chinese speaking world.
5. You already know how to speak Mandarin
If you are already a Mandarin speaker, learning Cantonese for you compared to people who don’t know Mandarin will be like playing video games in accessible mode. Cantonese shares a lot of phrases and words with Mandarin since both are under the umbrella of the Chinese language. Read this article to learn about the differences between Chinese Mandarin and Chinese Cantonese.
Here is how you can learn Cantonese starting TODAY. FREE.
We offer paid courses to speed up your Cantonese. Learning a new language is a commitment, it’s like going to the gym, and it requires consistency and discipline. If you are unsure about picking up a language, you can always check out our free resources.
Listen to these 10 bite-size podcast audio tracks, absolutely free:
(We are currently setting up a new system for you to access these audio clips, in the future, you can find these recordings on SoundCloud and Spotify)
Podcast Episode 01: How to say “Hello” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 02: How to say “I am fine” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 03: How to say “Good morning” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 04: How to say “Thank You” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 05: How to say “You are welcome” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 06: How to say “Sorry” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 07: How to say “You” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 08: How to say “I am fine” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 09: How to say “His” in Cantonese
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Podcast Episode 10: How to say “You have” in Cantonese
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