General Information » Culture & Lifestyle » Language

The official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, with spoken announcements typically repeated in both the Cantonese and Putonghua dialects of Chinese. In business, English is widely understood, though meetings will often use a mix of Chinese and English, depending on who is talking to whom. Note that although not everyone in a meeting will speak to you in English, you should assume that everyone can understand it to avoid any embarrassing situations. Shops and restaurants in the business district and tourist areas will usually have English-speaking staff available, and English menus are available in most restaurants. If you venture out to the residential areas, or out of the city altogether, you may have more trouble finding an English speaker. Your best bet is to collar someone dressed in business clothes and ask if they speak English. If you are worried about finding your way (eg. when hiking in the countryside, or visiting a customer in a remote industrial estate) it’s worth getting the address and directions written out in Chinese so you can show them to your taxi driver, or a helpful stranger.

So should you learn Chinese? Unfortunately, most foreigners find Chinese, and especially Cantonese, difficult to learn. Your first attempts to pronounce Cantonese words will almost surely be misunderstood, as it is a tonal language and also has sounds that are not commonly used in western languages. But if you plan to live here for a year or more, then persevere. Learning Cantonese will definitely give you a better understanding of life in Hong Kong, and a richer experience during your time here.

For the words and phrases in the following table we've given a phonetic equivalent of the Cantonese, although it has to be said that you’re not likely to be understood if you try to pronounce them. You'll notice there are no entries for yes and no, as in Cantonese you ask and answer questions differently from English. The words 'yes' and 'no' are widely understood however, so just use those with a nod or shake of the head as appropriate.