CantoneseClass101.com Blog

The Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong stretches down into history as far as the Han Dynasty, and is an integral part of Hong Kong’s culture and identity. This holiday comprises largely of two concepts: warding off ill luck and respecting one’s ancestors. In this article, you’ll learn about the various Chung Yeung Festival traditions and the meaning behind them—including why HongKongers drink chrysanthemum wine and climb mountains on this day! You’ll soon see how essential knowing about the Chung Yeung Festival is to really understanding Cantonese culture today. And at CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative! 1. What is Chung Yeung Festival? The Chung... Show more

In Hong Kong, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an annual holiday that corresponds with the full moon, which represents unity. This is a time of family fun, fire games, mooncakes, and mythology! In this article, you’ll learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival story and how HongKongers celebrate this special evening today. You may be surprised how much cultural insight you can glean in studying this holiday—and understanding a country’s culture is an essential step in mastering the language. At CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative! So let’s get started. 1. What is Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong? On the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is very round, because it's a full moon.... Show more

Have you ever heard of Albert Mehrabian’s famous "7%-38%-55% Rule"? According to this rule, tones of voice and body language account for 38% and 55% of personal communication respectively, with words taking up the remaining 7%. Non-verbal language is truly the key to successful communication. Therefore, in addition to teaching you new Cantonese words and phrases here at CantoneseClass101.com, we’re here to teach you the common Hong Kong body gestures to help you better communicate with locals! Truly, Cantonese nonverbal communication is just as important, if not more so, as the words you speak. We’re introducing four different types of body gestures here, namely: Body Posture Hand Gestures Facial Expressions Physical... Show more

HongKongers believe that once a year, hell’s gates open, allowing the spirits to wander the earth. They call this day The Hungry Ghost Festival (or simply Ghost Festival). In this article, you’ll learn about the Hungry Ghost Festival origin and how Hong Kong observes this holiday today. Hong Kong is a place rooted in strong religious and spiritual belief, and the Hungry Ghost Festival Hong Kong observes is one of many holidays to vividly portray this. Come along with us at CantoneseClass101.com and delve into some of Hong Kong’s most fascinating beliefs and traditions. After all, culture immersion is one of the best ways to master any language! 1. What is the Hungry Ghost Festival? So, what is the Hungry Ghost Festival... Show more

If you chat with your Cantonese-speaking friends online or use social media, such as Facebook, you might struggle to understand Cantonese internet slang. However, most Cantonese slang words aren’t exclusive to the internet; you may also come across them in magazines and in daily conversations. Thus, it’s vital to learn Cantonese text slang and internet slang. The problem is that your teachers and textbooks won’t teach you this Hong Kong slang because they aren’t official Cantonese. Cantonese slang might be very confusing to language-learners because they were developed very uniquely. Don’t worry, though—here at CantoneseClass101.com, we’ll provide you with a complete guide for popular Cantonese internet and text slang. Ready to... Show more

You’re bound to come across untranslatable words in learning Cantonese, and understanding untranslatable words will help you know more about the culture of a place and the mindset of its native speakers. It also facilitates conversation with locals. What are you waiting for? Let’s check out the ten most common untranslatable Cantonese words below together! Table of Contents 面 (min6 or min2) 加油 (gaa1 jau2) 人山人海 (jan4 saan1 jan4 hoi2) 老屎忽 (lou5 si2 fat1) 熱氣 (jit6 hei3) 手尾 (sau2 mei5) 走數 (zau2 sou3) 無交帶 (mou5 gaau1 daai3) 圍威喂 (wai4 wai1 wai3) 舉手之勞 (geoi2 sau2 zi1 lou4) Bonus: Learn More Untranslatable Words from around the World Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101 can Help You Learn More... Show more

When did Hong Kong go back to China? For Hong Kong, 1997 is one of the most significant years in its history; this is the year that British Hong Kong was reunified with China after many years of British rule. In the article, we’ll be discussing the Hong Kong protests, go more into the history of the question "When was Hong Kong given back to China?" and tell you about the day following Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. In learning about this important holiday in Hong Kong, you’re allowing yourself to better understand the full extent of its culture. With this knowledge in mind, you’re also more likely to succeed in your Cantonese language studies! At CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make your learning... Show more

Knowing how to introduce yourself in Cantonese comes in handy when you meet someone new in Hong Kong, whether at a party, a business meeting, a date, or a job interview. Here at CantoneseClass101.com, we’d like to share with you the most common ways of introducing oneself in Hong Kong so that you’re well-prepared for greeting and meeting new friends! The most common way to get introduced to a new acquaintance is through a common friend, but remember that it’s also acceptable to walk up to a complete stranger and introduce yourself politely if you have the courage to—awkward perhaps, but definitely not seen as rude. To draw someone’s attention, you can say 你好 (nei5 hou2), and if it’s a business setting, it’s a good idea to add a... Show more

Perhaps one of the most well-known Hong Kong celebrations around the world, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is held in commemoration of a poet’s suicide. This facet of the Dragon Boat Festival history may seem odd, and even dark, but it provides great insight into past and current Hong Kong culture. At CantoneseClass101.com, we hope to make learning about Hong Kong culture and the Cantonese language both fun and informative. Any successful language learner can tell you that comprehending and respecting a country’s culture is a vital step in mastering its language. That said, we hope you enjoy delving into the Dragon Boat Festival with us! 1. What is the Dragon Boat Festival? What is Dragon Boat Festival? The... Show more

Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Stephen Chow… Even though Hong Kong is a really small city (roughly one-twelfth the size of New York), it gave birth to quite a few good movies and movie stars. Do you want to learn Cantonese in a fun way while also understanding more about Hong Kong culture? Here are ten famous Cantonese movies for you to work through in your spare time! We’ve even gone to the effort of translating some of the most memorable Cantonese movie quotes so that you can get a taste of what each film’s about before picking and choosing your favorites! Here are some tips to improve your pronunciation while watching movies in Cantonese. Table of Contents In the Mood for Love Infernal Affairs Shaolin Soccer Fist of... Show more