Subject: a question for you Cantonese speakers
JeSun
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 11810
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1951
Posts 1548
Karma 1933
Acceptance 358
Reading Access 50
Registered 29-5-2008
Location San Francisco Bay Area
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 11:59  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
a question for you Cantonese speakers

how much Mandarin can you speak?  The ball and chain (who can speak both) rags on me all the time about not being able to master it.  She claims that anyone who is fluent in Cantonese ought to know at least 75% Mandarin outright, especially for someone who can read and write Chinese (took 2 years of Chinese in college).  Studies have shown that 55% of the words are the same, but to me, on a good day I can probably understand only 50% of what these WGs say, and speak a helluva lot less.  I'd say that my Mandarin is probably 2nd or 3rd grade at best.

Am I the only stupid one here who can't hold a conversation in Mandarin?
Top
banger
Lustful Lord
Rank: 4



UID 22539
Digest Posts 0
Credits 533
Posts 454
Karma 531
Acceptance 45
Reading Access 40
Registered 27-3-2009
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 12:07  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #1 JeSun's post

not at all, bro.  you wouldn't believe how many locals i've met it HK who think they know their shit and are actually quite terrible.  i think picking up the listening part will be fine if you give it time.  the speaking part you would really need to practice/use on a regular if not daily basis to master.  having similar words is not all there is to it.  mandarin has a completely different flow to it, and the manner in which things are said is also extremely different.  even though i can hold my own in a conversation, it's still pretty obvious that i'm not native to taiwanese and mainlanders.  i think you have every right to tell the missus to fuck off in this regard b/c she's oversimplifying how difficult it can be to truly master a language.

[ Last edited by  banger at 10-8-2009 16:55 ]
Top
Marsupial (Saint Marsupial)
Throbbing Titan
Rank: 7Rank: 7Rank: 7


UID 2909
Digest Posts 0
Credits 3497
Posts 3164
Karma 3478
Acceptance 370
Reading Access 70
Registered 18-8-2007
Location Lost in Space
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 12:14  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
So you are a fluent Cantonese speaker who took 2 years of Mandarin classes in college?

I'm fluent in Mandarin, tho I'm not Chinese, but if it's any consolation, I can't understand fuck all in Cantonese. Anyway, a language is a behavior, i.e., it's something that you do. You can only learn it by doing it. Your wife probably learned Mandarin because she found herself in some situation where she had to speak it. It's unfair of her to expect the same of you if you've never had the opportunity to use it before.

Tho, I did have a Taiwanese girlfriend who spoke Taiwanese (Fujian dialect) and Mandarin, and she did say she could understand some Cantonese.




孔子曰: 君子不羞于舔屄也
Top
princeandnpg (Funk Junky)
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 5828
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1156
Posts 609
Karma 1149
Acceptance 133
Reading Access 50
Registered 12-12-2007
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 12:15  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Mandarin speakers regularly roll on the floor laughing when they hear Hong Kong people speak mandarin.

You will understand a lot more if yoiu listen more.  Most HK people can understand some mandarin because they grew up with some mandarin songs on the radio/TV etc... but for many of them their speaking is way off!  

Don't believe them when they tell you how they can speak the language.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qQNqUMo1_8&feature=related
Top
JeSun
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 11810
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1951
Posts 1548
Karma 1933
Acceptance 358
Reading Access 50
Registered 29-5-2008
Location San Francisco Bay Area
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 12:26  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
just to clarify I took two years of Chinese reading/writing in college, but interestingly enough it was taught in Cantonese.  Other that that my Chinese training consisted of the normal (for the U.S.) once a week Saturday classes until I was around 8 years old, when I became too preoccupied with other stuff.

To be quite honest I'm pretty uncomfortable in Shenzhen - the city has evolved over the last 10-15 years into a city where the majority of the people don't speak Cantonese.  I can barely get into a taxi anymore in SZ.
Top
Marsupial (Saint Marsupial)
Throbbing Titan
Rank: 7Rank: 7Rank: 7


UID 2909
Digest Posts 0
Credits 3497
Posts 3164
Karma 3478
Acceptance 370
Reading Access 70
Registered 18-8-2007
Location Lost in Space
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 12:43  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #5 JeSun's post

Interesting that when you say 'Chinese' you mean Mandarin. I would consider both Cantonese and Mandarin to be dialects of Chinese. Is this normal with Hong Kong people?




孔子曰: 君子不羞于舔屄也
Top
princeandnpg (Funk Junky)
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 5828
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1156
Posts 609
Karma 1149
Acceptance 133
Reading Access 50
Registered 12-12-2007
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 13:02  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #6 Marsupial's post

I think he's refering to Chinese as the written language, as he always says Cantonese and Mandarin when talking about speaking or the teaching method
Top
hunter (Real Slim Slapper-Status: 九叔 .)
Fucking Legend
Rank: 10Rank: 10Rank: 10


UID 2748
Digest Posts 0
Credits 16230
Posts 12435
Karma 16060
Acceptance 3408
Reading Access 100
Registered 5-8-2007
Location Pussy Paradise, Earth
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 13:51  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #7 princeandnpg's post

In china, we refer it as Putonghua.
In other part of Asia, e.g. SG, Taiwan, and most Asean countries, they refer it as Mandarin (Hua Yu).

Canto, mando or putonghua are branches of Chinese language.




Retired from pussy arena….Uncle 9

Top
DArtagnan (unofficial Mayor of the Forum)
Master Mongerer
Rank: 8Rank: 8


UID 12884
Digest Posts 0
Credits 5034
Posts 4392
Karma 4928
Acceptance 2111
Reading Access 80
Registered 10-7-2008
Location Pitcairn
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 14:32  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #1 JeSun's post

What Mars is really saying in post 3 is that your ball-and-chain is pushing you to spend more time talking Putonghua with native speakers ...

hmmm, let me see ... how might that be arranged?




Hear Ye!  The Mayor has spoken!
Top
grantbone
Lustful Lord
Rank: 4


UID 18269
Digest Posts 0
Credits 929
Posts 854
Karma 927
Acceptance 31
Reading Access 40
Registered 4-1-2009
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 19:55  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
jesun,
so i assume your ancestors are from guang dong province...what about your s.o.?  if she is from other provinces, then expecting you to speak mand or putong hua is a bit unfair...

i on the other hand speak mand...but is not good w/ canto...i can listen better in canto then speak...when all else fails either use sign language or just ask the girl to repeat...i do this all the time (tell them i dont understand...)...
Top
princeandnpg (Funk Junky)
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 5828
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1156
Posts 609
Karma 1149
Acceptance 133
Reading Access 50
Registered 12-12-2007
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 20:01  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
My SO is "encouraging" me to learn Korean. By being exposed to the language every day your listening really improves.

I've just started to realise, however, that family gatherings were more relaxed when I DIDN'T understand what her mother was saying.
Top
paka
Erotic Emperor
Rank: 6Rank: 6


UID 5446
Digest Posts 0
Credits 2929
Posts 2101
Karma 2916
Acceptance 254
Reading Access 60
Registered 2-12-2007
Location Hong Kong!
Status Offline
Post at 10-8-2009 22:27  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Most people in china refer to Cantanoese as "Bi Hua" as well if I remember correctly

As for me...when I say Chinese I usually mean Mandarin since Mandarin is the 'main' dialect of Chinese....
Top
JeSun
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 11810
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1951
Posts 1548
Karma 1933
Acceptance 358
Reading Access 50
Registered 29-5-2008
Location San Francisco Bay Area
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 00:31  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
actually she only rags on me when I ask her to interpret something that she's told me over and over again.  I think I'm more hard on myself for not picking up the language (Mandarin) faster.  I was just just curious more than anything as to whether others are fluent in Cantonese but struggles like crazy in Mandarin.
Top
nycazn
Musky Member
Rank: 2



UID 2104
Digest Posts 0
Credits 164
Posts 142
Karma 164
Acceptance 1
Reading Access 20
Registered 29-6-2007
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 00:37  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #14 JeSun's post

i was like that at first with my ex she only spoke mandrian, and i haven't gotten a clue how to say anything. just give it time the more you practice with her the better you get. for me i could understand more than speaking it. i don't think is that hard to pick up. is like english the more you speak it the better you get at it.
Top
comatose67
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 26006
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1151
Posts 245
Karma 1136
Acceptance 305
Reading Access 50
Registered 8-6-2009
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 01:21  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Speak fluent English, Cantonese and my native language but can't read nor write chinese characters...I wish I took Mandarin now instead of bloody French!
Top
jyeung23
Carnal Conqueror
Rank: 3Rank: 3



UID 16135
Digest Posts 0
Credits 342
Posts 333
Karma 341
Acceptance 25
Reading Access 30
Registered 23-11-2008
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 05:57  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #1 JeSun's post

i am a fluent cantonese speaker and cud only speak mando after taking basic class

the difference is greater than u can imagine, but once u take some classes/self study you start to comprehend and can easily geuss the meanings
Top
jyeung23
Carnal Conqueror
Rank: 3Rank: 3



UID 16135
Digest Posts 0
Credits 342
Posts 333
Karma 341
Acceptance 25
Reading Access 30
Registered 23-11-2008
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 05:58  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #15 comatose67's post

lololol

french is the most useless langauge ever....oh man i feel your pain brother
Top
simplytheguest
Kinky King
Rank: 5Rank: 5


UID 15291
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1282
Posts 1235
Karma 1281
Acceptance 16
Reading Access 50
Registered 22-10-2008
Location here
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 09:27  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
i heard its actually alot harder for cantonese speakers to learn manderin than other language speakers?

dont seem to have much motivation to learn manderin atm but am tempted at times when ever i see nice looking chinese or taiwanese girls.

how much of an impact has them beautiful chinese/ taiwanese girls have on you guys in learning manderin???

i dont believe guys that learn that language and tell me it wasnt to woo the girls
Top
hunter (Real Slim Slapper-Status: 九叔 .)
Fucking Legend
Rank: 10Rank: 10Rank: 10


UID 2748
Digest Posts 0
Credits 16230
Posts 12435
Karma 16060
Acceptance 3408
Reading Access 100
Registered 5-8-2007
Location Pussy Paradise, Earth
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 09:38  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
Reply #18 simplytheguest's post

If you are going for the civi gals, it helps a lot........this will avoid misinterpretation and fustration to express yourself.

And you are right, why learn a new language? What else....




Retired from pussy arena….Uncle 9

Top
sex1
Carnal Conqueror
Rank: 3Rank: 3



UID 27693
Digest Posts 0
Credits 252
Posts 261
Karma 253
Acceptance -13
Reading Access 30
Registered 14-7-2009
Status Offline
Post at 11-8-2009 10:20  Profile P.M. 
Font size: S M L
I am a Cantonese speaker also.  Can move around HK easily, but not much in Shenzhen anymore like JeSun said.  They speak mostly Mandarin there now.  What's interesting about WGs is that they don't ever work in the city they grew up in.  So the Cantonese speakers will go to other provinces and the Mandarin speakers will go to Shenzhen.  The reason is because they want to be as far away from people they know as possible.  They they are mostly mandarin speakers in Shenzhen.  Most do understand a bit of Cantonese when you speak but can not speak Cantonese.  I can speak but not write Cantonese and I got to say.  I can't understand Mandarin much other than perhaps the numbers and a few phrases.
Top
 


All times are GMT+8, the time now is 16-11-2024 04:22

Powered by Discuz! 5.0.0 © 2001-2006 Comsenz Inc.
Processed in 0.043788 second(s), 9 queries , Gzip enabled

Clear Cookies - Contact Us - 141Love
Disclaimer: This forum is operated as a real-time bulletin board system. 141CLUB.COM carries no legal liability on its contents. All messages are solely composed and up-loaded by readers and their opinions do not represent our stand. Readers are reminded that the contents on this forum may not convey reliable information thus it is readers' own responsibility to judge the validity, completeness and truthfulness of the messages. For messages related to medical, legal or investment issues, readers should always seek advice from professionals. Due to the limitation of the forum's real-time up-loading nature, 141CLUB.com is not able to monitor all the messages posted. Should readers find any problems regarding the messages, do contact us. 141CLUB.COM reserves the rights to delete or preserve any messages and reject anyone from joining this forum. 141CLUB.COM reserves all the legal rights.