Learning Mandarin in Hong Kong: My Journey So Far

I moved to Hong Kong in 2024 for a variety of reasons—to be closer to family, raise my children in an environment that aligned with our beliefs, and to be on the front lines of China’s rise as it becomes the world’s largest economy, projected around 2030. After all, it would be embarrassing if I moved here for those reasons and couldn’t speak Chinese. So, learning Mandarin has been a key part of my journey.

Here are my impressions so far:

The Lingering Language Divide in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is, without a doubt, a Cantonese and English-speaking city. The period of hostility towards Mandarin during the 2019-2020 protests was palpable, and I witnessed it firsthand on several visits. However, that hostility seems to have dissipated, replaced by an economic eagerness to return Hong Kong to its glory days—whatever language that requires.

Today, there is a growing mainland Chinese presence in Hong Kong, particularly in tourist neighborhoods, and it's common to hear Mandarin spoken there. But outside of these areas, Mandarin remains relatively rare. I’ve met Hong Kongers in their 60s and 70s who don’t understand even the most basic Mandarin phrases, like "你在哪里" ("Where are you?"). This was surprising to me as an American—especially one who’d lived abroad before. I had always thought of Chinese people as an ethnic and linguistic monolith, with some exceptions. Of course, I knew about Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Hakka dialects, but I assumed Mandarin was spoken across the board. I was wrong.

A Unique Challenge for a Non-Asian Speaking Mandarin in Hong Kong

Another surprising discovery was just how inhospitable Hong Kong can be to a non-Asian speaking the Mandarin language. For example, I once went to a coffee shop where two girls in front of me from mainland China ordered their drinks in fluent Mandarin. When it was my turn, I said, "杯冰抹茶咖啡latte，不太甜" ("One iced matcha coffee latte, not too sweet"). The barista whipped his head around and replied with a sassy "Excussssse me?" It’s my impression that because many Hong Kongers speak English, they take me speaking Mandarin as an insult—a suggestion that I don’t respect their English.

In this way, learning Mandarin in Hong Kong isn’t much different from trying to learn it in New York or London. While you are surrounded by Chinese culture, the opportunities for Mandarin immersion are limited unless you actively seek out communities of mainland immigrants or students.

The Ease of Learning Spoken Mandarin

On the flip side, I’ve found that learning to speak Mandarin is much easier than I initially expected. The grammar is simple—there’s no conjugation to worry about, and the tones can be learned in a short period of time. One of the most encouraging things is that Chinese people are forgiving of tone or pronunciation mistakes, far more so than French speakers. During my short time in Quebec, French speakers would often demand that I speak French, only to pretend they didn’t understand me if I made a mistake. Mandarin speakers, in my experience, are much more patient.

The Difficulty of Reading and Writing

However, reading and writing Mandarin is an entirely different beast. After roughly 150 hours of Chinese instruction, I decided to give up on reading and writing. It’s just so difficult that it doesn’t seem worth the effort. Speaking, on the other hand, will always be a valuable skill—a cultural currency, a sign of respect, and a way to be included in the conversation. Thankfully, you can always rely on colleagues and increasingly on AI to help with reading and writing.

Looking Forward

Despite these challenges, I’m really enjoying my Mandarin language learning journey. I look forward to continuing this path and practicing with you!