Cantonese.
Cantonese remains dominant with 96% percent. As for Mandarin, 48% of Hong Kong’s population can speak it, compared to 46% of population that can speak English. Previously, English was the second most spoken language.
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Is English widely spoken in Hong Kong?
The proportion of the Hong Kong population who report using English (that is, all forms) as their “usual spoken language” increased from 2.8% in 2006 to 4.3% in 2016, while 51.1%, 63.5% and 65.6% respectively, reported being able to speak, write and read the language.
Is Cantonese a dying language?
According to these experts, Cantonese isn’t dying at all. For now. “From a linguistic point of view, it’s not endangered at all. It’s doing quite well compared to other languages in the China region,” said Mr Lau.
Is it better 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.
Can I speak Mandarin in Hong Kong?
Of course you can. Most HKers speak Mandarin these days, they have to. Prior to 1990, most did not, after 1990, government workers were required to learn Mandarin.
Do Hong Kongers speak good English?
Only 6 percent of Hongkongers speak English well, although they tend to over-report their proficiency, a study by HKU’s Social Sciences Research Centre showed. The results showed that 6 percent of respondents speak English well and 1.5 percent have a native-like command of the language.
Can you live in Hong Kong without knowing Chinese?
You don’t need Cantonese or Mandarin to live and work in Hong Kong in most cases.However, if you want to know the place you call home and interact with the people that share it with you, then you should learn Cantonese, at the very least. Perhaps focus on Mandarin if you go to the Mainland for business.
Is Welsh dying?
Almost everyone in Wales will be able to speak Welsh within the next 300 years, according to new research. Scientists in New Zealand have studied the language and say there is no danger of it dying out.There have been fears traditional Welsh-speaking communities are under threat.
Is Welsh going extinct?
IS WELSH AN ENDANGERED LANGUAGE?However, the number of speakers – 582,368 reported in the 2001 Census – makes linguists consider Welsh a language threatened with extinction. For instance, in the UNESCO Red Book on Endangered Languages (Salminen 1993- 1999), Welsh is classified as an endangered language.
Which languages are dying out?
8 Endangered Languages That Could Soon Disappear
- Irish Gaelic. Irish Gaelic currently has over 40,000 estimated native speakers.
- Krymchak. Also spelled Krimchak and known as Judeo-Crimean Tatar, this language is spoken by people in Crimea, a peninsula of Ukraine.
- Okanagan-Colville.
- Ts’ixa.
- Ainu.
- Rapa Nui.
- Yagan.
What’s the hardest language?
Mandarin
Mandarin
As mentioned before, Mandarin is unanimously considered the toughest language to master in the world! Spoken by over a billion people in the world, the language can be extremely difficult for people whose native languages use the Latin writing system.
Can you understand Cantonese if you speak Mandarin?
However, the two languages are distinct when spoken. Mandarin speakers typically cannot understand Cantonese speakers, and vice versa.
What is hello in Cantonese?
哈囉 is “hello” with a Cantonese pronunciation. We use it to greet people casually, just like you would use “hi” in English.哈囉，你好呀 (haa1 lo3，nei5 hou2 aa3), meaning “hello,” is usually used when you want to greet someone that you aren’t close with in a friendly way. It’s a more formal Cantonese greeting.
Should I learn Cantonese or Mandarin Hong Kong?
If you want to be more widely understood, you should learn Mandarin. Nowadays with more and more trade and communication between Hong Kong and mainland China, more and more Cantonese speakers are learning Mandarin. Of course, if you plan to travel or work in China in the future, you can learn Mandarin.
Is Cantonese still spoken in Hong Kong?
The principal language of Hong Kong is standard Cantonese (粵語, 廣州話, 廣東話, 廣府話, 白話, 本地話), spoken by 88.9% of the population at home daily. As an official language, it is used in education, broadcasting, government administration, legislation and judiciary, as well as for daily communication.
How do you say hello in Hong Kong?
Neih hou (pronounced “nay-ho”) is used to say hello in Hong Kong. The pronunciation of hou is something between “ho” and “how.” But realistically, saying a simple hello (same as in English but with a little more “haaa-lo”) is extremely common for informal situations!
What is the official language in Hong Kong?
ChineseEnglish
How important is English in Hong Kong?
One hundred years of British ruling has cemented the importance of English in Hong Kong as a functional lingua franca – judging that English is paramount for international trade and business, and central to Hong Kong’s economic and social wellbeing.
How safe is Hong Kong?
OVERALL RISK : LOW
Hong Kong is quite safe with some petty crimes like thefts, vandalism, and burglaries. Serious crime acts are rare in Hong Kong, especially against tourists. Because there is no place in the world with 100 safety rates, it is always recommended to be watchful to avoid becoming a victim.
Can you live in Hong Kong with English?
Yes, very easily. English is an official language of Hong Kong, used on all signs, taught in schools, widely understood even by people who don’t speak it well. Anyone you meet in an official capacity will speak good English.
How much English do they speak in Hong Kong?
Actually, according to a recent census report, less than 50% of Hong Kong’s residents speak fluent English. It is thus not surprising that only 3% of locals prefer to use English as their usual, everyday language.
