Do you speak Cantonese? If so, when did you start speaking it and why?

Unfortunately, I do not. I’ve had over three years of Mandarin lessons because I assumed it would enable me to better communicate with Chinese people. But what I have found, to my amusement, is that most of the people I know speak Cantonese or Hokkien. This seems to be the case whether they are in the U.S. or abroad.

Now that I’ve started with Mandarin I feel I should go the rest of the way and try to achieve eventual fluency. It will probably take the rest of my life! I’d also like to also learn some Cantonese. My biggest concern is that it seems even more overwhelming than Mandarin. I’m not sure that I’m intelligent enough for it!

Leave a Comment