Language, Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, Cantonese dialect is most widely spoken and taught in schools. Mandarin is being learnt but Hong Kongers have difficulty with pronounciations as Cantonese language has many more tones than Mandarin. So Hong Kong people, especially new speakers, speak Mandarin with a distinct and "funny" accent.

While many Cantonese and Mandarin used the same characters. Some words in Cantonese have no direct Mandarin translation. Say like UK English and American English.

Whether "Nei hou" (Cantonese), or "Ni hao" (Mandarin) for "How are you?", have fun trying your Cantonese and Mandarin while in Hong Kong.

For us it's rude to should when you are talking but for the chinese in HongKong, it's just their way of communicating. It may give you the impression that they are just disgusted with you the foreigner, but it's just the way they are!

One wouldn't expect it after more than 150 years of British annexation but Hong Kong's overall English skills are not considerably good.

There are three main reasons:
a) The British annexation was not necessarily well perceived among HK's population and lead to an inevitable lack of interest in learning the language.
b) Honk Kong's education system mainly focuses on reading and writing skills rather than listening and speaking. Hence, most people might be able to write and read fluently but are almost unable to converse or understand.
c) After the handover in 1997 streams of mainland Chinese were flooding into HK. Since most people from mainland China have only little or no command of English, the overall skills kept declining.

In most tourist areas, however, the skills are usually good and shouldn't cause any problems.

Bascially everyone can speak some english and little mandarian. Yes, funny huh? I learn english since 5 years old, and learn mandarian in high school.

So my mandarian is worse than my english, yeah and i travel to China, and people make fun at my mandarian, hoorah!

Not everyone speaks english in HK especially if you venture out into non-tourist areas. Learning at least one phrase whether it be good morning, thank you, or in my case Happy New Year will go a long way. Your attempt at the language will be appreciated.

You hear it everywhere in Hong Kong from the moment you enter the airport. In shops, on the subway, in movies or on local TV, among close friends and relatives as well as between strangers; this phrase is by far the most popular among Hong Kong natives:
"Nay yommo GAO choe waaaaaah!"
(Emphasis on GAO, which rhymes with cow; usually followed by 'cheeeeee sing!')
So what does it mean?
It's versatile and can mean both "You just did something wrong (or stupid) and you know it, don't you!" or "You must be kidding!"
(The follow up phrase 'cheeeeee sing!' means "you're crazy!")
Memorize this phrase and impress people you meet in Hong Kong or just try it out on the street if somebody bumps into you.
Hey! "Nay yommo GAO choe waaaaaah!"
You can't help smirking after the follow-up phrase and it also happens to be useful for prompting smiles from people when taking photos.
"Say Cheeeeee sing!" Click.

In Hong Kong, the majority of people speak Chinese, including Cantonese & Mandarin (official language of Mainland China). However, as Hong Kong had been an English Colony for over a century, many people know English & will be willing to help you if you have any questions..

Many foreigners mix up Hong Kong locals with the people from China and think that our mother tongue is Mandarin. This is a BIG misunderstanding.

The locals speak Cantonese, which is a type of Chinese language mainly spoken in Guangzhou but is definitely different from Mandarin.

However, Cantonese is only a spoken language but not a written one.

In short, our native language is Cantonese when speaking and Chinese when writing.