Doing Business in Hong Kong? Why Should You Learn Cantonese?

Have you recently shifted to Hong Kong and started your business? There is a study showing that thinking in a foreign language makes decisions more rational. When you speak English to local Hong Kongers, they probably respond rationally. But remember, buying decisions are usually emotional decisions. If you are not able to speak in the customers’ mother tongue, you may face difficulties when promoting your business.

Therefore, if you want to convey your business message, learn Cantonese, the official language of Hong Kong. According to research, around 60 million people across Southeast Asia use Cantonese as their primary business language. Below are the reasons why learning Cantones is crucial for business.

Importance of Learning Cantonese for Business

Unlocks Career Options

Hong Kong has become one of the richest cities in the world. It positions third as a global financial centre. Hong Kong is not only an important financial hub in Asia, but it also has the highest Financial Development Index score. The headquarters of most international businesses are located in Hong Kong. So, being familiar with this language, business environment, and culture can open up new career opportunities. These can be key in making major deals and settling negotiations.

Broadens Your Horizon

Hong Kong is an administrative region of Chine where you can have greater freedom of speech. It has its own government and customs. It has a diverse mix of cultures that facilitate travellers and expats from all over the world. Here, you will meet people of all religions. Therefore, if you can attract people to your business, the day is not so far when you will start gaining massive profit in this city. But to broaden your horizon, be familiar with their official language.

Helps You Navigate the City

You definitely face difficulties in finding a place while travelling, right? But if you know their local language, you can ask for directions. Though English is a widely spoken language in Hong Kong, learning Cantonese can benefit you a lot for navigating the city. Learning Cantonese can serve as a conversation starter with the local people and help you understand their culture better.

You Can Speak with the World’s Most Influential Communities

Learning Cantonese will allow you to communicate with the Chinese business world. This language has already become one of the most spoken languages in the world. Therefore, if you want to conduct your business briskly, learning Cantonese can be easy to go ahead. Cantonese is also a regional language in Macau, Guangdong province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, etc. These areas have a heavy influence on finance. Hence, understanding their native language can give you a competitive advantage.

It’s quite easy to express yourself in Cantonese. Cantonese grammar rules are simpler than in other languages. It doesn’t have tenses and genders.

So, what's holding you back? If you are looking for a language learning centre, enrol your name with us! We offer Cantonese and Mandarin courses for business professionals designed by our native teachers. These are truly useful for daily communication and business purpose. So, drop your message immediately and see our other blog posts.

How Should Kids Learn Cantonese? 4 Efficient Ways!

Learning a new language is not as easy as it seems. It requires a lot of effort and time, especially for children. According to studies, children start comprehending words and phrases within a week with 15-30 minutes of practice each day. And they can name everyday objects within three months of practice.

Are you planning to admit your kid to a Cantonese course? There are several ways that will allow children to learn Cantonese easily. And these are what we have introduced in this blog. So, keep reading!

How Children Can Learn Cantonese Easily

The most important thing about teaching Cantonese is repetition. Besides, the environment of a language learning centre should be perfect, which boosts progress. Now, let’s have a look at a few efficient ways to learn this language.

Listening to Song

We always recommend listening to Cantonese songs repeatedly. It’s truly a good and effective way to learn this language quickly. Listening to the lyrics will help learners to be familiar with different words. And children will be more interested in learning with this approach. That is why many language learning centers in Hong Kong nowadays are learning towards this smart move.

Watching Cartoons

Watching and listening to their favourite animate stories is easier for children to focus on what they are learning. Here, the repetition of vocabulary and phrases will make it easier for them to recall everything they learn. Hence, many language learning centres structure their classes by watching videos with English subtitles.

Book Activities

Who doesn’t love stories and adventures? Hence, reading Cantonese children's books and stories can be a great resource for learners to learn faster. Audiobooks can help them distinguish and compare the difference in sound and tones in both English and Cantonese. For younger beginners, reading books and doing role plays with cartoon characters will encourage them to learn more. Besides, the instructors of many language learning centres organize various games to boost their memory.

Creating an Appropriate Cantonese Environment

Creating a Cantonese environment in a home is simple. It includes playing audiobooks, videos, Cantonese cartoons, and more. The best option is to talk to each other in Cantonese. And this can be highly beneficial if you also join this class with your kid.

So, wait no more! If you and your kid want to learn Cantonese, contact us immediately! We provide group and 1 to 1 lessons. So, fill out our enrolment form. And keep reading our other blogs.

What Are the Major Differences Between Cantonese and Mandarin?

Are Chinese and Mandarin the same? What about Cantonese? Chinese is actually the name of a group of languages that include these commonly spoken dialects. And if you have recently settled in Hong Kong, Cantonese and Mandarin are the two languages you should learn to converse with others. But the question is, what are the major differences between these two? Continue reading to get your answer!

Difference Between Cantonese and Mandarin

Cantonese and Mandarin are the two most studied languages in Hong Kong. But before you look for a reliable language learning centre, you must have a clear idea about the difference between them. And in the following passage, we have introduced a few points on which the difference has been discussed. So, keep scrolling down!

Tonal Difference

Each Chinese dialect has a tonal system. But the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin lies in the number of tones the dialect uses. Cantonese has three major tones and three high, mid, and low-level tones. On the flip, Mandarin comes with four major tones. But some linguists consider the neutral tone as a fifth.

Grammatical Structure

According to many non-native speakers, Cantonese is easy to learn and understand. It follows a logical and set pattern. But Mandarin changes the structure of a sentence depending on its meaning.

Where the Languages Are Spoken

Cantonese is one of the most commonly spoken languages in Hong Kong. Here, most organizations ask for language abilities in Cantonese. So, whether it’s you or your child, Cantonese abilities can be a great asset for developing careers. This language is also popular in Malaysia and Macau.

Mandarin is a commonly spoken dialect in China. But this language comes in a few regional varieties, which are understandable by any Mandarin Speakers. But as a learner, you have to put emphasis on listening to identify different accents and understand them.

The Use of Characters

The characters used in these two languages come from the same root in ancient Chinese. But recently, Mandarin uses simplified characters, while Cantonese still sticks to traditional ones. Simplified characters are less complex. They have fewer character strokes. Hence, if you read traditional characters, you can figure out simplified characters easily.

Whether it’s Cantonese or Mandarin, both languages will help you navigate the city. So, contact us to enrol yourself in our language learning centre. We provide Cantonese and Mandarin courses for both kids and parents. Here, your kid can learn in a funny environment. And read other blogs to know more about us.