I want to speak Chinese. Any suggestions?

[DoOLiE11]

i'm chinese and i speak mandarin

but u should take some classes at your local community college, cuz the tones are really hard to pick up if u are new at it.

also if u get to know the professor at that class they might just let u go for free, for jsut the joy of learning the language.

some guy at my scholl did that, he was some walk-in guy that got to know our professor really and well, and started to come to class regulary just to learn

 

[Viper0329]

good luck

 

[bonkers325]

too bad i cant speak it

 

[Aihyah]

manderin by far.. it is used in mainland china, and taiwan. cantonese is only used in hk and one or two small pronvinces in china canton? hehe so about 90% of chinese atleast speak manderin.. and those that speak cantonese ussally can manderin now..... cantonese is dead. besides, cantonese sounds bad. not as bad as vietnamese which sounds like people talkwithing with balls in their mouths

 

[GhettoFob]

<< Just remember one thing. If you meet a Cantonese girl that you want to know better, go up to her and say, &quot;fong pai&quot;. It means I think you're beautiful. >>



hahahahahahah

 

[robotcholi]

Aihyah, what are u talking about &quot;vietnamese which sounds like people talkwithing with balls in their mouths?&quot; No they do not! I think Vietnamese is a sweet language. Of course, there are stupid a$$ people who speak like that but most are really sweet.

 

[Aihyah]

<< Just remember one thing. If you meet a Cantonese girl that you want to know better, go up to her and say, &quot;fong pai&quot;. It means I think you're beautiful. >>

your wrong its &quot;ding layh goh fai&quot; and say it like you mean it

 

[ibintegra]

If you plan to learn for casual speaking purposes in North America, the best bet if probably Cantonese. If you're going to do some business, Mandarin is probably the best bet. Even HK people who don't know Mandarin like to try. Even if it sounds awful, you can usually still make it out.

 

[IcemanJer]

mandarin's pretty much the only dialect that has a writing and reading aspect to it that is recognized internationally. learn that and you'll be set.

 

[WordSmith2000]

Have some one kick you square in the nuts with steel toed shoes. You will look and sound Chinese.
Think about it.

 

[lyric]

<< How long did it take you to learn mandarin? Or at least be able to have a basic conversation. >>



Not very long. It took me about two years.

 

[lyric]

<< besides, cantonese sounds bad. not as bad as vietnamese which sounds like people talkwithing with balls in their mouths >>



Hahahaha!! Exactly what I said!!!

 

[ace31216]

Mandarin is the official chinese language. I speak cantonese and that dialect is pretty common too.

 

[Aihyah]

<< besides, cantonese sounds bad. not as bad as vietnamese which sounds like people talkwithing with balls in their mouths >>



Hahahaha!! Exactly what I said!!!

funny part is they know it. some seem to admire cantonese as a more beautiful language.. funny when cantonese see manderin as better

 

[serialb]

No way in hell everyone is going to speak Mandarin in Hong Kong. If that is going to be the case, how come there are still tons of dialects in China?

If you are going to do business in Hong Kong, Mandarin will not help you a bit. However, if you just want to learn, this is the one to go with since it's way easier for English-speaker to start with. I have seen numerous British speak better Mandarin than I do.

 

[lyric]

<< << besides, cantonese sounds bad. not as bad as vietnamese which sounds like people talkwithing with balls in their mouths >>



Hahahaha!! Exactly what I said!!!

funny part is they know it. some seem to admire cantonese as a more beautiful language.. funny when cantonese see manderin as better >>



I actually know how to speak Vietnamese and I totally hate the language. I'm like pentlingual. Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, English and one other Chinese dialect called &quot;Chieu Chau&quot;. Chieu Chau is a providence in Canton. Out of all the Chinese dialects, I definitely think that Mandarin is the best. The worst language I know is definitely Vietnamese. I only speak it when it is necessary. When Vietnamese people are asking for a cup of water it sounds like &quot;Duck duck duck&quot;. A lot of non-Vietnamese speakers feel the same about the whole &quot;duck duck duck&quot; thing. =P It's hillarious.

 

[Omegachi]

mandarin is formal and cantonese is fun.... i prefer cantonese cause i use that more often

 

[Hyudra]

I used to know it all, now I know very little manderin, and some cantonese. I say cantonese is better, since the cooler people speak it , as for manderin, it's alright. It's all the same once you learn em both.

 

[b0mbrman]

I think you should just speak English and be satisfied with yourself

 

[gnoymyguy]

You'll probably find it easier to learn Mandarin first, as the other guys have said. The Pinyin, that is the sounds in Mandarin are translated to English quite accurately, but here in Hong Kong it's still regarded as a second language. Anyways, if all you wanna do is converse with Chinese in HK or abroad, I think Cantonese is more popular, plus their films are more popular than the Mainland ones.

BTW don't listen to those suggestions from the guys above, about saying those things to a Chinese girl, it'll land you with a slap most likely. What you're supposed to say is &quot;bat por&quot;

 

[gnoymyguy]

you can add a &quot;sey&quot; in front of &quot;bat por&quot; if you're that way inclined, just to let her know how sweet you think she is

 

[Aihyah]

yea hey there sexy bahk poah!

 

[Passions]

gan ni niang = hi, you got a nice tie on.

 

[creedog]

Learn Chinese in 5 minutes ........ (Please read them out loud)


That's not right ......... Sum Ting Wong

Are you harboring a fugitive?..... Hu Yu Hai Ding

See me ASAP..........Kum Hia Nao

Stupid Man ..............Dum Gai

Small Horse ............Tai Ni Po Ni

Did you go to the beach? .........Wai Yu So Tan

I bumped into a coffee table ........Ai Bang Mai Ni

I think you need a face lift .......Chin Tu Fat

It's very dark in here .....Wao So Dim

I thought you were on a diet ......Wai Yu Mun Ching?

It is a tow away zone .......No Pah King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week ..........Wai Yu Kum Nao?

Staying out of sight .........Lei Ying Lo

He's cleaning his automobile ..... Wa Shing Ka

Your body odor is offensive .......Yu Stin Ki Pu

Has your flight been delayed?........Hao Long Wei Ting?

That was an unauthorized execution ......Lin Ching

You are not very bright..........Yu So Dum

I got this for free.............Ai No Pei

I am not guilty.................Wai Hang Mi?

Please, stay a while longer...........Wai Go Nao?