posted by drummerboy on October 7, 2012 | 2 comments
So it is looking highly likely that our family will be relocating to HK in the next few months. I'd like some advice from mandarin speakers that have learned cantonese. I'm at an upper intermediate level of mandarin but speak absolutely no cantonese whatsoever and am curious about the best way tackle this. I'm certainly intrigued with the possibility of popup cantonese. Xiaohu, if I'm not mistaken you also use that site, so I'd love to hear your feedback or any other suggestions as to how to get some basic skills under my belt. I'm also a bit concerned with continuing to improve my mandarin at the same time as I've spent too many years getting to my current level just to let it slip or have my pronunciation decline. I do read, which will help, although I know traditional characters are used in HK, which I actually like. Any suggestions are welcome! :-)
Hi drummerboy,
I think, there isn't a near way from mandarin to cantonese, the only benefit is the grammer is almost the same, so you don't need to spend much time to learn it.
So just trade it as a new language, more listening and more speaking.
(My native language is mandarin and i have been living in GuangZhou about twenty years, so i hope my answer will help you.)
Thanks, Will
HiI think that the pronounciation is the most important part when you speak Cantonese..hmm you dont have to know how to write it..but you better make sure you are pronouncing it correctly.just like mandarin, the meaning of the word will be different if the tone(i mean shengdiao) is different..esp there are more tones in cantonese..wish you good luck anywayi was born in guangzhou and thats just my personal suggestion as a native who will hear from foreigners.i hope my answer will help you^^