Is Hakka still broadly used in Meizhou? What's the current situation? Or are younger folks moving to Mandarin and/or Cantonese?

i am about to learn Hakka, which is in my town (in Western Borneo, Indonesia) this dialect is called Khek, for those who don't know, the dialect is spoken by most that live in rural places or by small percentages by shop owners around me apart from the Teochew dialect.

I am no mandarin speaker, but learnt some when i was in primary to highschool, my mom doesnt really taught me that much, just some vocabs to call me out, i just need to know if across the south-east-asia, this dialect changed that much or pretty much the same (like thailand, malaysia, or vietnam). For context, here's some words that i've known (forgive my spelling)

1. Sit fan = Eat rice
2. Sei shin = Shower
3. Tiam-tiam = Calm down
4. Mo = No
5. Bu-bu = Black / (or dark?)
6. Oshi = pooping
7. Kiung-hi-xin-nian = Happy chinese new year ( i guess )
8. Ma'ai / co-mai = asking what/why
9. An-saw = Hot (as in high temperature)
10. Nyi = You
11. Khon = Look

Hi where is it best to learn Hakka? I live in the UK if that means anything.

I’ve been searching online and I just can’t seem to find resources to teach Hakka.

Hi there,

I have about 2hrs of audio of two people speaking mostly Hakka but some Cantonese together as part of a research project. I'm looking for someone who could transcribe this into English? I can offer payment! Let me know if you might be able to help me. Thanks.

Trying to learn Hakka, 梅州/梅县 dialect and I am looking to find long hakka videos such as movies and tv shows on youTube, bilibili, iqiyi, netflix, etc. I've tried searching for Hakka content but most of the results were vloggers visiting meizhou, streamers trying hakka food or guangdong people comparing a random word in hakka to another dialect which is interesting however I want to hear natives speaking with each other in Hakka.

My taste I enjoy watching a variety of genres to increase exposure to new, practical vocabulary. Comedy, thriller and romance are my favourites and also seem quite useful. I tend to avoid fantasy and ancient genres because the language is less useful in modern day life. Hopefully I can find some mix of recent content (within the last 2 years) and highly rated classics which can be older.

Which movies and tv shows would you recommend (which are mainly Hakka and preferably moiyin or similar to 梅州 dialect)?

My maternal grandparents are from the Xingning county in Meizhou and spoke Hakka most of their life and only really learned to speak Cantonese when they moved out to Guangzhou in the mid 70s and to this day it’s still sometimes hard to understand what they’re saying when they get super excited 😆 I grew up listening to my mom speak Hakka to them over the phone and over the years, I learned to understand some things, or at least understood enough to know when they were talking about me lol

It’s just my grandmother now, but I’d like to learn to speak Hakka and specifically their dialect if it’s possible. Are there any resources available where I can get started or just learn to speak a little bit?

Thanks!

Hi all.. we are trying to give our baby a Hakka name. However, hubby ( who is Hakka ) is not fluent in Hakka. Would anyone happen to know some characters in Hakka that sound like Rui Han? We found these characters but I’m not sure if they read out as Rui Han in Hakka - 瑞 晗 I would appreciate your help very much!!

At my university where nobody except one professor speaks Hakka, we have a joke about a word "bun", presumable second tone. But nobody knows the real meaning and character. I believe it is a curse word. Can you recognise it?

Which dialect of Hakka in taiwan is the closest to Huiyang/ Huizhou Hakka? Which one of the Hakka courses glossika offers are the closest to huiyang Hakka? Is the hakka taught in Taiwanese education close to huizhou hakka? Asking this cus im kinda interested in the language now since i found out i have ancestry from huiyang.

NOTE: I am NOT talking about the "Huizhou Bendihua" often spoken in huicheng that some linguists call "a dialect of Hakka" while it's likely a separate language.

Is it still commonly spoken, especially in the New Territories? I am curious to know what will happen if you try speaking only Hakka in Hong Kong nowadays? Would people be able to at least understand Hakka even if they don’t speak it?

https://holychina.wordpress.com/2023/06/19/being-both-chinese-and-taiwanese-authored-by-dr-lin-pao-chun-and-translated-by-rivolia-chen-xiao-yu/

Google Drive Version (谷歌文檔版): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yEc_E_aQveTi927s7qJ8X6p6mdj_iaDKJ4ZBeWWL7M8/edit?pli=1

Being Both Chinese and Taiwanese
Author: Dr. Lin Pao-chun
Translator: Rivolia Chen Xiao-Yu

Dr. Lin Pao-chun (alternatively Lin Baochun, et cetera) is a Taiwanese scholar, author, and educator, in addition to a past Professor at the Department of Chinese Literature of Tamkang University as well as a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Chinese Literature of Taiwan Normal University. The original of this article by Dr. Lin has been initially published in the Taiwan-based China Times (https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20230403001763-262110?&chdtv).

As of when did “being a Chinese person” become a taboo in Taiwan, I do not know, yet I find this situation to be intolerable: when one’s heart is immersed in their self-identification as Chinese, one swallows one’s words reflecting such immersion and hesitates to pronounce them, while one is checking one’s surroundings cautiously — one is deeply fearful since such words might provoke some angry and discontented looks. I teach Chinese; what I read are mostly archaic books of China. I have a fervent love toward the culture of China. I care about the density of China. Why should I be so timid and so frightened that I stop speaking out that “I am Chinese”? Has not there been a saying: “Nobody should apologize for their identities”? Why do some people refuse to allow my self-identifications? 

I am from Xinzhu. Xinzhu is a Taiwanese city, therefore, undoubtedly, I am Taiwanese. Taiwan is a province of the Republic of China. While being Taiwanese, why cannot I say “I am Chinese”? From my childhood to my adulthood, I have been taught and instructed that my state is the “Republic of China,” abbreviated “China,” which has been in accordance with the Constitution. How could my mindful obedience to laws ever become a crime? 

I know that on another side of the strait, there is a “People’s Republic of China,” also referred to as “China.” The “Republic of China” is my “mother state”; my mother state’s name is “China.” In the same way by which I call my mother, who has given birth to me and raised me, as “mother,” the commoners on the other side of the strait also have mothers whom they call “mothers.” Has there been any reason for us to stop calling our mothers because other people are calling “mothers”? 

Since I was little, I have been experiencing and identifying the situation in which my veins have been flowing with the fresh red blood of “China.” Although because of the repeated political disruptions, this “China” has different names, nothing could ever change the truth of my bloodlines. I was born and I have grown up in Taiwan; therefore, I love Taiwan. The blood of China flows within me; therefore, I love China. The political difficulties and obstacles do not make me separate one from another since I know that my heart turns to the same and the one “China.” 

This “China” has the flourishing beautiful Taiwan, which is also called “Formosa,” in addition to the strong, powerful, and mighty China possessing vast lands, various ethnic groups, magnificent and beauteous rivers, mountains, and natural landscapes, in addition to an extensive history. For me, both of them are equally important, adored, loved, and longed for. 

I still remember that in 1990, I took a train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. At the checkpoint of the train station, for the first time, I stepped on the earth of “China” that has been separated from me for several decades, about which I often — repeatedly — dreamed about amidst the archaic books and the history. I was immersed in the exact joy that a voyager, who has long been troubled by their unsettlement, is immersed in when they ultimately return to their native land. It was lamentable that my feet were stepping on an ice-cold concrete floor. Otherwise, I would have picked up a small batch of soil, embraced it and treasured it inside my heart. 

At this point, the melody of “Giving You a Batch of Soil” sang by Fei Yuqing in 1981 haunted my hearing — “This batch of soil, this batch of soil / Has been struck by spring thunders, immolated by wild flames, / And covered by layers of azaleas descended from the above with breezes.” In fact, far beyond the spring thunders, the wild flames, and the azaleas — for how many years, and for countless times, my mornings and evenings have been spent in my yearning for this soil — for countless times, I have craved for this soil in my dreams! 

I consider my being Taiwanese as an honor since this is the land on which I was born, and which has raised me; here, I have sweated, I have wept, I have experienced bitterness, and I have tasted joys. Nobody is qualified to ask me to be out of her arms. I am also proud of being Chinese since China is the source of my blood and the cultural fountain — in which I have been immersed — of my acts, behaviors, views, and ideologies. China — for her, I have wept, laughed, and mourned; for her, felt outrage and passion; for her, boldly, and sorrowfully sung; for her, optimistically hoped. How could anyone be ever qualified to deny my profound care and yearning for her? 

I am Taiwanese. I love this land on which I was born, and which has raised me. I hope that everyone living on this land can be immersed in a harmonious bliss in addition to peaceful joys, while having beneficial future developments within a boundless brilliance. However, how could this hope ever interfere with my conviction as a Chinese person rejoicing that on the other side of the strait, that vaster land gradually becomes wealthy, abundant, and strong? I firmly guard my duties bound to my identity as a Taiwanese person: I am willing to devote my entire heart and my full energies for Taiwan. It is also delightful for me to selflessly devote myself to the prosperous power of the future “China.” The reason is very simple: because I am Taiwanese, and Taiwanese people are Chinese people. 

During Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to the mainland, he returned to his ancestral home where he offered reverent ceremonies in veneration of his ancestors; he sobbed several times. An orchid blossom which has lost its roots is now returned to its native land — how could this not make people tearful and weep in quietude? Ma’s ancestral home is Xiangtan, yet he has grown up in Taiwan — both Chinese and Taiwanese. The skeletons, the flesh, as well as the bloodlines — despite regional differences, these remain the same. This could never be cut off or abandoned; and why should anyone ever attempt to cut off or to abandon? 

In the past, my father repeatedly told me: my ancestral home is Raoping, Guangdong. More than three hundred years ago, my entire family arrived in Taiwan to farm. Ultimately, my family settled in Liujia, Xinzhu. We began to possess massive household properties. Yet, the Raoping Hakka tongue has remained to be passed down consecutively through generations. Ten years ago, I had the honor to visit the Yellow Emperor Mausoleum in Shanxi where I participated in the magnificent ceremony in veneration of the Yellow Emperor. I saw higher and lower mountains resembling massive waves, as well as woods extended into a profound, flourishing greenness — my heart and my reflections soared across grand mountains, plains, flowing creeks, as well as cities and rural regions. I have not yet returned to Raoping. However, I know that this was where my ancestors used to live. Southwards, there is the land alternatively called the island of beauty, where my family has lived, rested, and been nurtured for more than three hundred years. 

When hearts and hearts are in a connection and are bound together by the same thread, who cares about the shorter or the longer time of the relocation or the changes of the political powers? I only know that from my bones, blood, and veins, I am absolutely both Chinese and Taiwanese. 

Hi, this is on the front of my grandad's sketchbook.

Hi! Would anyone mind checking the pronunciation of 官 for me? I know it's sometime's pronounced like guan or kuan but am not sure if that's more Mandarin or Cantonese and if the same would hold in Hakka. Thanks!

Hello everyone, I am learning Hakka because my gf is Hakka from Huizhou. She doesn’t know I’m learning it.

I had my first lesson with an online tutor yesterday from Malaysia and it was great. Very fun learning to introduce myself. She said that her Hakka is intelligible with Hakka from huizhou

I have another lesson tomorrow with someone who grew up next to huizhou

Is anyone familiar with huizhou?

We have paid opportunites for native speakers of Hakka.

All you need to do is express your interest in becoming a course contributor through the link below and you may be contacted if your language is chosen.

https://forms.gle/StDpt9pyNNwZNAzi7

Can someone confirm if this is a Hakka girl name? If not what is the alternative?

Hi all,

I'm based in the UK and whilst we historically had a large number of Hakka people migrate from Hong Kong, I am the only 2nd generation person I know (except my brothers) who speak Hakka.

I am teaching and talking to my children in Hakka and they are picking it up no problem whilst my partner is speaking/teaching mandarin because of their background.

Is anyone else doing this? Will we lose our language and culture in a generation? I'd like to know what the experiences are around the world.

Thanks.

(dropping by on this subreddit, don't know what to say)

Can I check what type of hakka am I in? I don't know the proper classification but here is some of the thing I can speak.

... ...

ngai hie hak ga ngin. dan hie you xi ngai gok det ng ga gong gai hak ga yong qi you dit jiu yim. hao qiong cong fa yi fan yi guo loi, dan hie ngai bun xin fan yi hie yong guong dong yong qi loi fan yi. ng di hie ngai hok dao ng biao jun an di hie nga diu hie ng tong gai hak ga liu pai. cham si guong gin an duo zhang. tang dao chu ngai yin goi hok lai zhong hak ga mao?

Edit: 我是客家人。但是有时我觉得人家讲的客家用词有点走音。好像从华语翻译过来，但是我本身翻译是用广东用词来翻译。不知是我学到不标准还是我们不同的客家流派。暂时讲着这（么）多先。听到出来我应该学哪种客家（了）没？

Hello everyone !

If possible, I have a request for your community. Can any of you identify the hakka dialect spoken in this audio file ?

Thank you very much.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14P9y2dxJhTTDCDszF5PirWU8t_9HAXsn/view?usp=sharing

I've been learning a bit of Hakka and I've noticed a pattern. Hakka has merged 上聲 and 去聲, but plosive- (b, p, d, t, g, k) or affricate-initial (z, c in Mandarin Pinyin) syllables in 陽上 and 陽去 seem to always be aspirated (I haven't found an exception, at least), and this pattern seems to extend to 陽平 and 陽入 as well. I'm using Prof. Lau Chun-Fat's romanization for Hong Kong Hakka and Jyutping for Hong Kong Cantonese in the following examples.

陳（陽平） Hong Kong Hakka: cīn; Hong Kong Cantonese: can4

逞（陽上） Hakka: cĭn; Cantonese: cing5

大（陽去） Hakka: tài; Cantonese: daai6

唱（陽去） Hakka: còng; Cantonese: coeng6

白（陽入） Hakka: pàk; Cantonese: baak6

賊（陽入） Hakka: cèt; Cantonese: caak6

The only exception I could find is the third person singular pronoun 佢/其 (gī), having a ⟨g⟩ while being 陽平, but apart from that, does the pattern hold?

The words Hakka literally means "guest families", which I interpret as people who are "guests" of other countries. It means we are people who are constantly traveling around, we are constantly the "guest" of other people and places... kind of like nomads. Looking at my own Hakka family, I have relatives in Trinidad, England, US, and Australia. My own family moved to Canada when I was young. Looking at my parent's cousins, uncles and other relatives, nobody seems to want to stay put in one place.

I have a friend who is Hakka and he has moved to 3 different countries in the past 10 years. I love Canada, but I also want to move and live and visit other countries in my lifetime. Is it just me and my family or is this something that's in the blood of the Hakka people?