Alex,

又係咩？無留意㖭～～ ^o^““ 多謝你個提示呀！

(Really? Haven't noticed it. Thanks for your reminder!)

Cheers,

Habib

I learn it the hard way like you did at a very young age since it isn't my mother tongue, usually communicate with friends in chinese since elementary school and picked it up from there.

Another method is what Kanmuri suggested but at least I can read most chinese words and meanings without English subtitles now.

Honestly, learning Cantonese is no different from learning Mandarin - step by step, absorbing it much as possible. I have a habit of remembering each character and the phrase linked to it by heart day by day but if you cannot remember all the characters like locals do, only a handful several thousands of words is already considered “standard” by most academics here - importantly, it's the grammar, usage and terms that you need to focus at an intermediate to advanced level. Sadly, I am still at a learning phase till death to fully capacitate and embody in mastering the whole dialect.

However, learning the dialect orally is a lot easier than reading first, like most minorities and expatriates do here in Hong Kong but a few were able to read the basics. Easier said than done!

I was still considered lucky because I have Cantonese in-laws - speaking on a daily basis, backing from friends and school and an eager willingness to grasp each and every word uttered to fully equip myself.

A good habit is reading the dictionary daily, 5 or more words each day with all the different meanings and usage. I, myself has reached almost intermediate levels at the age of 34. 

Cantonese is simply too diverse and cannot be grasped in a mere few years and you need to adopt their lifestyle of speaking not to be alienated by them or live here learning it the harsh way!

Quote of Mandela:

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes into his head ”

“If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

「如果你同個人講嘅話佢明白架話，就會入咗佢嘅腦。」

「如果你同佢講佢嘅話，就會入到佢嘅心。」

I hope this helps, man can define as person = 人 or if you are definite it is a man, then use 男人.

The pronouns "He, she, It" is defined as 佢 in most cases in speech, the masculine is taken into account first or else you may have to define the person's name or gender after it.

勞力加油！

Work hard! :D