What Language Is Spoken in Hong Kong? 2027 Guide for Expats

Hong Kong's main language is Cantonese, spoken at home by 88.2% of residents aged 5 and over in the 2021 Population Census. Chinese and English are both official languages under Article 9 of the Basic Law, and 58.7% of residents say they can speak English, while 54.2% can speak Putonghua (Mandarin). Written Chinese in Hong Kong uses traditional characters, and government signs, forms and laws are bilingual in Chinese and English.

This guide explains who speaks what, where English works and where it doesn't, how Cantonese differs from Mandarin, and what it all means if you are moving to Hong Kong for work. If your real question is whether you need Cantonese to get hired, read our guide on whether you need Cantonese to work in Hong Kong.

What Are the Official Languages of Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has two official languages: Chinese and English. Article 9 of the Basic Law says that, in addition to Chinese, English may also be used as an official language by the executive authorities, legislature and judiciary.

"Chinese" in the law doesn't name a spoken variety. In practice, spoken official business happens in Cantonese, written Chinese uses traditional characters, and Putonghua is used when dealing with mainland visitors or officials.

The Official Languages Ordinance (Cap. 5) puts this into practice. According to the Community Legal Information Centre (CLIC), it lets a court use either or both official languages, and witnesses can give evidence in the language they choose.

If you're looking for an English-speaking job in Hong Kong, check out ExpatJobBoard.com. We list thousands of jobs that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.

How Many People in Hong Kong Speak Cantonese, English and Mandarin?

The best numbers come from the 2021 Population Census run by the Census and Statistics Department. It asked two separate questions: which language people usually speak at home, and which languages they can speak at all. Mixing these up is the most common mistake in other guides.

Source: Census and Statistics Department, 2021 Population Census Summary Results (population aged 5 and over).

Two things stand out. English ability has risen sharply in a decade, from 46.1% to 58.7%. Putonghua has also grown, but Cantonese is still the language almost everyone uses at home.

Reading and writing tell a similar story. According to the same census, 70.6% of residents can read English and 67.7% can write it, against 90.1% and 87.8% for Chinese.

When Is the Next Census Data Due?

The 2026 Population Census is collecting data from about 10% of households throughout 2026. The Census and Statistics Department expects to release summary results in August 2027, so the 2021 figures above remain the latest official numbers until then.

Is Hong Kong Cantonese or Mandarin?

Hong Kong is a Cantonese-speaking city. Cantonese is what you hear on the MTR, in restaurants, on local TV and in most offices run by local companies.

Mandarin (called Putonghua in Hong Kong) is the official spoken language of mainland China. It's taught in schools and widely understood, especially by younger people and in finance, retail and tourism, where mainland clients matter. But most Hong Kongers don't speak it at home.

Is Cantonese the Same as Chinese?

No. "Chinese" covers a family of spoken varieties. Cantonese and Mandarin share most written characters but sound very different, with different tones, vocabulary and grammar. A Mandarin speaker who has never studied Cantonese will struggle to follow a conversation in a Hong Kong café.

Traditional or Simplified Characters?

Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese characters for signs, newspapers, menus and government documents. Mainland China uses simplified characters. You'll still see simplified characters in shops in tourist areas, but if you're learning to read, traditional is what you'll need for daily life here.

Can You Get By in Hong Kong With Only English?

Yes, in most of the places an expat spends time. In Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and on Hong Kong Island's south side, you can work, shop, bank and eat in English without much friction.

Here's where English works well, and where it gets harder.

Taxis are the one place most newcomers get stuck. Save your home and office address in Chinese on your phone and show it to the driver.

What Language Do People Use at Work in Hong Kong?

In multinational companies, banks, law firms, international schools and most of the financial district, English is the working language for email, documents and meetings. Small talk at lunch often switches to Cantonese.

In local firms, Cantonese dominates speech, and written Chinese is common for internal documents. Job ads that say "good command of written and spoken English and Chinese" usually mean Cantonese and traditional Chinese.

Mandarin is a plus in roles that face mainland clients: private banking, wealth management, luxury retail and some legal work. Our Hong Kong work culture guide covers how language plays out day to day in the office.

What Other Languages Are Spoken in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is more multilingual than its census headline suggests. According to the Census and Statistics Department's 2021 report on ethnic minorities, 619,568 residents (8.4% of the population) were of non-Chinese ethnicity.

Source: Census and Statistics Department, 2021 Population Census thematic report on ethnic minorities.

That means you'll hear Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia every Sunday in Central and Causeway Bay, when many domestic helpers spend their day off together. Hindi, Urdu, Nepali and Punjabi are common in parts of Yau Tsim Mong and Yuen Long.

The same report found that 83.6% of ethnic minority residents aged 5 and over could speak English, compared with 43.7% who could speak Cantonese. English is the shared language for many of these communities.

There are also older Chinese varieties with deep roots in the New Territories, such as Hakka and the Weitou dialect, though few young people speak them now.

What Language Do Schools Teach In?

The government's language policy aims for residents to be "biliterate and trilingual": able to write Chinese and English, and speak Cantonese, Putonghua and English. That goal comes from the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research under the Education Bureau.

Local schools teach in either Chinese (Cantonese) or English depending on the school, with Putonghua taught as a subject. International schools teach mainly in English, with Mandarin as the usual second language. If you're moving with children, see our guide to international schools in Hong Kong.

Should You Learn Cantonese Before Moving to Hong Kong?

You don't need to, but a little goes a long way. Thirty or forty words will change how your neighbours, building security and the local restaurant treat you.

Start with these:

• Neih hou (你好): hello
• M̀h'gōi (唔該): thanks for a service, excuse me, the bill please
• Dōjeh (多謝): thank you for a gift or compliment
• Géi dō chín? (幾多錢): how much is it?
• Mh'sái (唔使): no need, no thanks
• Hái nī douh lohk (喺呢度落): I'll get off here (useful on minibuses)

Cantonese has six main tones, so don't be discouraged if people don't understand you at first. Many expats take a part-time course in their first year, and employers in client-facing roles sometimes pay for it.

If you already speak Mandarin, use it. Most people under 40 will understand you, even if they reply in English.

Common Mistakes Expats Make About Language in Hong Kong

• Assuming everyone speaks Mandarin. Many do, but leading with Mandarin in a local shop can come across badly. Try English first.
• Assuming English means fluent English. 58.7% can speak English, but comfort varies. Keep sentences short and avoid slang.
• Writing "Chinese" on your CV without saying which. Recruiters want to know if you speak Cantonese, Mandarin, or read traditional characters.
• Ignoring traditional characters. If you learned simplified characters, budget time to learn the traditional forms used here.

FAQs: Languages in Hong Kong

What language is spoken in Hong Kong?

Cantonese is the main spoken language, used at home by 88.2% of residents aged 5 and over in the 2021 census. English and Chinese are the official languages, and Putonghua (Mandarin) is widely understood.

Is English widely spoken in Hong Kong?

Yes. According to the 2021 census, 58.7% of residents can speak English, up from 46.1% in 2011. English is the working language of most multinational offices and is used on all government signs and websites.

Is it Mandarin or Cantonese in Hong Kong?

Cantonese. Mandarin is taught in schools and spoken by 54.2% of residents as an ability, but very few use it at home. On the street, in shops and on local TV, you'll hear Cantonese.

Do I need to speak Cantonese to live in Hong Kong?

No. Many expats live here for years with only English. You'll find taxis, wet markets and some public services easier with basic Cantonese, but it's not required for daily life in central districts.

How do you say hello in Hong Kong?

"Neih hou" (你好) is the standard greeting. On the phone, people answer with "wái". Most people will also respond happily to "hello".

Can I get by in Hong Kong with Mandarin and English?

Yes, very comfortably. Between English and Mandarin you can handle almost every situation. Older residents and some New Territories shopkeepers may only speak Cantonese.

Does Hong Kong use traditional or simplified Chinese?

Traditional. Government documents, road signs, newspapers and most menus use traditional characters. Simplified characters appear in some shops serving mainland visitors.

What languages do domestic helpers in Hong Kong speak?

Most foreign domestic helpers come from the Philippines and Indonesia and speak Tagalog or Bahasa Indonesia, plus English. Many Indonesian helpers also learn Cantonese before or after arriving.

Are Hong Kong courts in English?

Courts can use either or both official languages. Higher courts still hear many cases in English, while magistrates' courts and tribunals increasingly use Cantonese. You can ask for an interpreter.

When will new language figures be published?

The 2026 Population Census summary results are due in August 2027. Until then, the 2021 census figures are the most recent official data.

Key Takeaways

• Cantonese is spoken at home by 88.2% of Hong Kong residents aged 5 and over (2021 census).
• Chinese and English are the official languages under Article 9 of the Basic Law.
• 58.7% of residents can speak English, up from 46.1% in 2011.
• 54.2% can speak Putonghua (Mandarin), but few use it at home.
• Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese characters, not simplified.
• 619,568 residents (8.4%) are of non-Chinese ethnicity, and Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia are widely spoken.
• New census results on language are due in August 2027.

Find an English-Speaking Job in Hong Kong

Most expat roles in Hong Kong run in English, and many employers never ask for Cantonese. Browse English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard.com and filter for roles that don't need Chinese.