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Cantonese

Cantonese
Cantonese is a southern Chinese dialect, which is an integral part of Hong Kong’s identity and culture.
Fredric Mao attends the launch of the Mao Chun-fai Performing Arts Charity Foundation at the Hong Kong Arts Centre on September 3, 2026. The performing arts veteran set up the foundation to strengthen and expand Hong Kong’s theatre ecosystem – the development of which he says has been “far too slow”. Photo: Mao Chun-fai Performing Arts Charity Foundation
Performing arts in Hong Kong

‘Far too slow’: Hong Kong theatre legend on boosting city’s performing arts

Fredric Mao has launched a new foundation to strengthen Hong Kong theatre as mainland China’s arts scene grows at ‘incredible speed’.

Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | A Singaporean in Guangzhou wonders: why do I feel so at home here?

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Social media

Want to learn Cantonese? These influencers are sparking a Canto revival

Singapore

Do Singapore ministers watch films? Joke raises hackles amid dialect debate

The culture minister’s quip about being too busy to go to the cinema has some critics jumping up from their seats.

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Women take a photo with “Dear You” posters during its premiere in Singapore on June 17. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong society

How to say ‘tomato sauce’ in Cantonese? Miss Hong Kong hopeful sparks debate

Clips of mainland contestants’ attempts to speak Cantonese go viral, triggering criticism and debate over cultural identity.

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Food and Drinks

A food critic’s top Hong Kong restaurants for sushi, Cantonese and Chiu Chow

Entertainment journalist Eileen Cha, who grew up on Cantonese and Hunanese food, says she has a split personality palate.

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Chinese culture

This Cantonese language course is 85% Mandarin speakers. Here’s why

Originally targeting heritage speakers, the University of British Columbia’s language programme is proving more popular among another group.

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A Cantonese language course at the University of British Columbia that was originally geared towards heritage speakers is proving far more popular among Mandarin-speaking students. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong property

How a European agent won one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive luxury flat listings

A Finnish national turned a two-week trip into a new career, and now manages high-end listings in one of the world’s top real estate markets.

Asia travel

The Chinese city where waffles, watchtowers and world history meet

Guangdong’s ‘hometown of overseas Chinese’ is where architecture and cuisine created by returning émigrés reveal how culture flows both ways.

Lunar New Year

Being Chinese | The great Chinese New Year divide and how I bridged it

After sitting through the Spring Festival Gala with mainland Chinese friends, I had to introduce them to a delightful ritual from Singapore.

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Children hold up calligraphy banners they have just received for Chinese New Year in Singapore on January 29, ahead of the holiday. Photo: Xinhua
My Life

He thought his life was a failure. Then he wrote it down.

The author of I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, a viral account of China’s gig economy, will appear at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival in March.

Chinese writer Hu Anyan pictured in People’s Park, Chengdu, China. Photo: Eric Mast
Food and Drinks

10 great Lunar New Year food and drink gifts available in Hong Kong

From chic hampers with abalone and nuts to local gin, these gifts are great for giving – and sharing – to ring in the Year of the Horse 2026.

Education in Hong Kong

Will allowing more Hong Kong schools to use English be too testing for pupils?

After decades of debate, authorities and schools sector say time is right to adjust the language policy but some argue move is mainly political.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Vulnerable families in Hong Kong simply must master Cantonese

Readers discuss the transformative power of a trilingual skill set, public awareness of the shark fin problem, and how to increase public participation in recycling.

People attend the Building a Multicultural Workplace Job Fair at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on July 24. Photo: Nora Tam
Chinese culture

7 horse-themed Chinese idioms to use during the Year of the Horse

Horses symbolise strength, speed and health in Chinese culture. Here are seven sayings based on the animal, with Cantonese pronunciations.

Horses are the subject of many Chinese idioms. Here are seven of the most popular horse-related expressions in Chinese, how to pronounce them in Cantonese and the stories behind them. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture

Lunar New Year greetings in Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hokkien

The Year of the Horse 2026 will be welcomed across China with blessings for money, health and more. Here are common ones and their meanings.

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On Our Radar

A Napa legend, a Cantonese feast and a very bold pairing

The Californian vineyard that stunned the wine world 50 years ago is being paired with Cantonese cuisine.

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Hong Kong

7 stories from 2025 that made us feel good, including a Jimmy O. Yang interview

Need a feel-good boost? We revisit seven uplifting stories from the year, showcasing Hong Kong artists, adorable Cantonese teachers and more.

Jimmy O. Yang poses at The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Jimmy was interviewed ahead of his sold-out shows in Hong Kong. Photo: Sun Yeung
Performing arts in Hong Kong

Wicked songs in Cantonese? New online series champions Hong Kong talent

Songs like ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling’ have been painstakingly translated for the ‘Wicked in Canto’ series on YouTube and Instagram.

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | Simplified Chinese for tests? Rigid education system needs proper reform

School’s aim to provide a ‘more friendly assessment system’ is ironic, given Hong Kong’s failure to provide an inclusive environment for ethnic minority students.

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Food and Drinks

Chinese restaurant owner Amy Poon gets steamy at her new London joint

With open flames banned in the 18th-century building overlooking the Thames that houses Poon’s at Somerset House, Poon had to get creative.

Steamed pork belly with shrimp paste is one of Poon’s favourite dishes, and is on the menu at Poon’s at Somerset House. Photo: Joe Woodhouse
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why new documentary on Beyond’s Wong Ka-kui only tells part of the story

Because of You – Ka Kui, about the life of the Hong Kong frontman, is marred by the same issues that tore Beyond apart after his death.

Wong Ka-kui in a still from Because of You – Ka Kui. The new documentary tells the story – albeit an incomplete one – of the late frontman of Beyond, widely considered Hong Kong’s most influential band ever.
Food and Drinks

What is Shandong cuisine? Chefs’ Hong Kong dinners bring out food’s best

Chef Wang Haoquan’s Shandong cuisine and Tsang Chiu-King’s Cantonese dishes were a match made in heaven at recent dinners in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong culture

Want to learn Cantonese? Take lessons from this 8-year-old from Hong Kong

Aiden Tsang makes learning Cantonese fun with his cute Instagram videos that get likes from Jimmy O. Yang and other Hong Kong celebrities.

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Hong Kong politics

From Stephen Chow films to Beyond hits: PLA sailors share Hong Kong affinity

Crew from Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Shan recount experience in city as residents enjoy final open day.

(From left) Navy trainees Cheng Jiaming, Zhang Zihan, Luo Jiayi and Li Chunliang. Photo: Leopold Chen
Hong Kong society

Letters | Handle integration of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority children with care

Readers discuss Chinese language acquisition among children from the city’s ethnic minority communities, and the harm social media causes children.

Children from Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities return to the city after a three-day trip to Guangzhou and Foshan, on August 14. Photo: Pool
Chinese culture

Being Chinese | Life and finance lessons from my Hong Kong mahjong parties

I was a hit with my mahjong buddies because I didn’t play like a typical Chinese person. The years since have taught me better.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Success of Hong Kong’s top talent scheme must go deeper than numbers

The city must attract talent willing to develop careers and raise families here, instead of those just staying long enough to secure residency benefits.

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