What Languages Do People Speak in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a melting pot of cultural diversity where languages meet and mix. Its history and culture shape how people speak every day. Three main languages: Cantonese, English, and Mandarin, influence day-to-day communication, as well as school and work settings.
The three languages reflect the city’s colonial history. This history connects to the United Kingdom in the 19th century.
Cantonese: The Heart of Language and Culture
A large number of people speak Cantonese (廣東話; 广东话; guǎng dōng huà). Over 88% of Hong Kong’s population are native speakers of it. More than just a language, it’s a key part of local identity. You’ll hear it everywhere: in markets, on buses, at local eateries, and family dinners.
Cantonese is also a significant part of media and cultural influences. From TV dramas to Cantopop, it is the heart of local entertainment.
Where you’ll hear Cantonese:
- Daily life: Used in local markets, public transport, and informal conversations. Learning Cantonese is useful for people who want to study in Hongkong or work in Hongkong.
- Media & entertainment: Dominates TV shows, films (especially Hong Kong cinema), and Cantopop music.
- Education: Primary schools’ main instruction medium, although some secondary schools use English.
Hong Kong is also known as the “epicenter of Cantonese”, preserving its use even as other regions adopt Mandarin.
Is Mandarin and Cantonese the Same Thing?
Cantonese and Mandarin are part of the Sino-Tibetan language family. This family includes many languages spoken in East and Southeast Asia. But there are significant differences:
- Tones: Cantonese is much more tonal, with six basic tones (nine in total). A word’s tone can change its meaning.
- Characters: Mandarin uses simplified (简体字), while Cantonese uses traditional (繁體字).
Basic Cantonese:
| English | Cantonese (Jyutping) |
| Hello | 你好 (nei5 hou2) |
| How are you? | 你好嗎? (nei5 hou2 maa3?) |
| I’m fine, thank you | 我好，多謝 (ngo5 hou2, do1 ze6) |
| Thank you | 多謝 (do1 ze6) |
| You’re welcome | 不用謝 (bat1 jung6 ze6) |
| Sorry | 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) |
| Goodbye | 再見 (zoi3 gin3) |
| Please | 請 (cing2) |
| Excuse me | 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) |
| Where is the bathroom? | 洗手間喺邊度? (si2 siu1 din1 hai5 bin1 dou6?) |
| I don’t understand | 我唔明 (ngo5 m4 ming4) |
| Do you speak English? | 你講唔講英文? (nei5 gong2 m4 gong2 jan1 man4?) |
| I’m hungry | 我肚餓 (ngo5 tou6 ngo5) |
| I’m thirsty | 我渴 (ngo5 kat1) |
| Can I have…? | 我可以有…嗎? (ngo5 ho2 ji5 jau5… maa1?) |
| What is this? | 呢個係咩? (nei1 go3 hai6 me1?) |
| How much is this? | 呢個幾多錢? (nei1 go3 gei2 dou1 cin4?) |
Mandarin: Bridging with the Mainland
After Hong Kong’s return to China, Mandarin (普通话 / pǔ tōng huà) became more common. Schools now widely teach it, and businesses use it to connect with the mainland.
Mandarin is the world’s most spoken language — more than 1 billion of the global population speaks Mandarin. Also one of the six official UN languages, it plays an essential role in diplomacy, trade, and culture.
Where Mandarin matters:
- Politics: Encouraged by the central government, sparking discussions on language and identity.
- Education: Since 1997, it has been a mandatory subject in schools, although proficiency levels differ. Learning the Chinese language is also good for people who want to study in China.
- Business & tourism: Its usage is on the rise because of investors and tourists from mainland China.
Some people worry that Mandarin might overshadow Cantonese. Others see it as a tool for better job opportunities. Either way, learning Mandarin opens many doors. No matter what, being fluent in more languages is always better.
To master Mandarin, you need to understand the fundamentals. Like Cantonese, Mandarin is a tonal language, meaning every tone is significant. Nonetheless, Mandarin consists of just four primary tones.
Basic Mandarin:
| English | Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin |
| Hello! | 你好！ | Nǐ hǎo! |
| Thanks! | 谢谢！ | Xièxie! |
| You’re welcome | 不客气 | Bú kèqi. |
| Sorry | 对不起 | Duìbùqǐ. |
| It’s okay | 没关系 | Méi guānxi. |
| Goodbye! | 再见！ | Zàijiàn! |
| Please | 请 | Qǐng. |
| Yes | 是 | Shì. |
| No | 不是 | Bú shì. |
| Okay | 好的 | Hǎo de. |
| Where is the toilet? | 厕所在哪里？ | Cèsuǒ zài nǎli? |
| Don’t understand (listening) | 听不懂 | Tīng bù dǒng |
| I can speak a little Chinese | 我会说一点点中文 | Wǒ huì shuō yì diǎndiǎn Zhōngwén |
English: The Bridge for Business and Learning
English is Hong Kong’s second official language. Governments, courts, businesses, and higher education use it. Many schools and universities even use English to teach. Mastery of the English language is a huge plus for career advancement.
Areas where people use English in Hong Kong:
- Business & Finance: Widely used in banking, international trade, and legal documents.
- Education: Many elite schools teach in English, and universities offer English-taught programs.
- Signage & Government: All official signs and government documents are bilingual (Chinese and English).
Only about 4.3% of people speak English as their first language. It can also sometimes reflect social class. In Hong Kong, people often view speaking English as a sign of higher status. It also leads to better education and job opportunities.
Mastering English also helps many people achieve their dreams of studying in the United States. Many students from Hong Kong want to study in the US because they find the western culture intriguing.
While only about 4.3% of the population speaks English as a first language, it remains a key language for upward mobility and global connectivity.
Multilingual Dynamics in Society
Hong Kong is a place where languages mix. People seamlessly switch between Cantonese, English, and Mandarin in the same conversation — a skill known as code-switching.
This flexibility shows Hong Kong’s global outlook. Each language serves a role:
- Cantonese – everyday communication and local identity, keep local culture alive.
- English – global business and education, opens global door.
- Mandarin – regional connection and diplomacy, connect Hong Kong with mainland China.
Together, they shape Hong Kong’s unique character and make it one of the world’s most linguistically diverse cities.