4 ms·
Fun facts I would like to add: 1. Even Cantonese in Guangzhou and Hong Kong is different. The way they formulate sentences makes it very easy to distinguish
by hkwedolfj 7y ago
Fun facts I would like to add:
1.
Even Cantonese in Guangzhou and Hong Kong is different. The way they formulate sentences makes it very easy to distinguish where one is from.
For example, Guangzhou people like to say, “Handsome brother, I got a question.” For Hong Kong people, it just sounds weird to call someone you don’t know handsome brother. Although, this would sound perfectly normal in China.
2.
Hong Kong/ Taiwan uses traditional Chinese, while mainland China uses simplified Chinese.
Simplified Chinese was actually discouraged because it is considered shorthand; therefore, improper for formal writing.
- seanmcdirmid 7y agoHandsome brother (or pretty woman) is more of a countryside thing. It isn’t uncommon to hear it in the big cities, but it immediately flags the speaker as a bumpkin. For us city folk, you hear it more often when touring (either from the local tour guides or between us ironically, but then I’m speaking as a foreigner).
- baybal2 7y agoHahaha I always get amazed by ability of locals guessing ones socioeconomic background just by looks. Allegedly locals can guess which major town around one fares from just by facial features.
- novok 7y agoYou can see it in SF, there is a certain Taishanese facial structure with many of the Chinese people there. They also call it Toisan themselves, which confuses the mandarin tech workers until you say Taishan.