HSK Preparation Course in Hong Kong & Online

Prices for Cantonese lessons in Hong Kong start at HK$350 with a junior tutor, with top tutors charging up to HK$2,000 per hour. But at Cantonese Tutor HK, our rates start from just HK$250.

Travel Fee (if at your location): • Walkable from Central: HK$50 • MTR accessible: HK$100 • No MTR access: HK$150

Booking & Cancellation Policy:

Please book and cancel at least 24 hours in advance.

Digital materials are free, but not the printed materials.

Cantonese can be challenging for English speakers, but it's not impossible. Our lead Cantonese tutor, Aileen Ting designs lessons specifically for English speakers, focusing on practical speaking skills rather than Chinese characters. With her guidance, many learners achieve A1 conversational ability in just about 30 hours. Think of learning Cantonese like building muscle: consistent effort pays off.

📌 Most students reach B1 in under 80 hours—much faster than the standard 350+ hours.

📌 Revision, homework, and using the language are keys to success. Without practice, progress follows standard learning time.

Yes, but it requires an intensive plan.

• HSK 4 is officially aimed at about two academic years of study at 2–4 class hours per week, plus self-study. Doing it in 12 months means compressing that workload.

• A realistic one-year path means 8–12 study hours/week total (lessons + homework + practice), and mastering about 1,200 words.

What works

• Weekly 1–2 private lessons for feedback and speaking.

• Daily review (apps + graded reading + listening).

• Monthly mock tests from HSK 3 upward.

At Mandarin & Cantonese Tutor HK: most HSK students take 1–2 lessons/week plus structured homework. Packages (10/20/30 lessons) help you stay consistent.

• Aileen Ting, a trilingual Cantonese tutor with a degree in Applied Foreign Language.

• 10+ years of experience teaching adults in Hong Kong.

• Structured academic approach but adaptable to casual or fun learning styles.

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It depends on the role.

• HSK is widely recognized by schools and employers, but requirements vary (ChineseTest.cn).

• For Chinese-speaking office roles or work in Mainland China, most organizations expect HSK 5–6.

• HSK 4 can help with bilingual support roles that don’t require full professional Chinese.

Tip: Use HSK 4 to open doors, then keep studying toward HSK 5.

Treat HSK 4 as B1–B2.

• Some providers list HSK 4 ≈ B2, but the mapping is not 1:1.

• Many educators say HSK levels overstate CEFR. In practice, HSK 6 ≈ B2–C1, so HSK 4 feels like upper-B1 to low-B2.

How to use this: on resumes you can write “HSK 4 (intermediate, ~B1–B2)” and show writing or speaking samples.

For most people living or working in Hong Kong, Cantonese is more practical.

• More chance to use Cantonese than Mandarin

• Many companies in Hong Kong are now hiring more local Chinese staff

• We're seeing more Cantonese inquiries from major firms in finance, banking, and retail

• Professionals who already learned Mandarin often learn Cantonese later on and say it's useful at work

• Even in English-speaking offices, Cantonese helps build trust and responsibility

• Employees who speak Cantonese are more often assigned local clients or HK-based accounts

📌 If you're working or living in Hong Kong, learning Cantonese will help you connect, contribute, and stand out.

Choose Mandarin if...

• You want to learn a language that is more widely spoken globally

• Your focus is on doing business with mainland China

• You plan to travel, live, or work in mainland cities

• You want access to more structured learning resources and apps

• You’re preparing for exams like HSK or need Mandarin for professional certifications

Absolutely. Many students successfully learn Cantonese through online lessons. At Cantonese Tutor HK, we offer:

• Flexible online lessons identical to our in-person classes

• Interactive, tech-friendly learning (Quizlet, Kahoot, Anki)

• Extensive PDF resources and custom materials available upon request

• Lessons via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet

You’ll get personalized support and see real progress, just as you would in our Central office.

Yes. Hong Kong has multiple official test centers, including:

• CUHK Yale-China Chinese Language Centre

• HKU SPACE

Format: exams are taken in person (paper-based or computer-based at the center). Home/remote tests are not offered in Hong Kong.

Typical Hong Kong fees:

• HSK 1: HK$200

• HSK 2: HK$300

• HSK 3: HK$400

• HSK 4: HK$500

• HSK 5: HK$700

• HSK 6: HK$800

• HSKK (Speaking): Basic HK$300 | Intermediate HK$400 | Advanced HK$500

Source: CUHK YCCLC. Fees are standard across Hong Kong centres, but small admin differences can appear. (For example, some HKU SPACE sessions list HSK 4 at HK$560 to include postage/admin.)

No. Cantonese and Mandarin are two different languages.

• Different pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary

• Cantonese uses Traditional Chinese

• Mandarin may uses Simplified Chinese

• Cantonese includes unique words not used in Mandarin

• Learning Cantonese can make Mandarin easier to learn

• There are similarity, so you will know some words and cultural context

• Cantonese is harder

• It’s less structured and more colloquial as an older dialect

Pass = 60% overall.

• HSK 1–2: Maximum 200 points, pass at 120 points.

• HSK 3–6: Maximum 300 points, pass at 180 points.

• Even if you “pass,” a higher score shows stronger readiness for work or study. Source: ChineseTest.cn

At Cantonese Tutor HK, we keep group lessons small, typically 2–4 students per class, to ensure personal attention. If you prefer a larger group or custom corporate sessions, we can accommodate that too; please contact us directly for a tailored quote.

• Private lessons: one-on-one.

• Group classes: 2–4 students for better interaction yet effective learning.

• Large group: contact for details.

Lessons are available at:

• Your home or office

• My office in Central, Hong Kong

• Online

No. It is strong intermediate, not fluent.

• HSK 4 covers about 1,200 words and lets you handle daily life, travel, and workplace basics.

• Fluency usually means HSK 5–6, where you can read newspapers, join discussions, and work fully in Chinese.

• In practice: HSK 4 = comfortable conversations; HSK 5 = advanced/professional.

The certificate itself does not expire, but the score report is valid for 2 years.

• Universities and employers usually require a test taken within 2 years of application.

• For personal records, your HSK certificate is always valid. Source: ChineseTest.cn

• Take 1-on-1 lessons (2-3x per week) – Structured progress.

• Speak Cantonese daily – Even if you make mistakes, consistency is key.

• Immerse yourself – Listen to Cantonese music, TV shows, and use Chinese apps.

• Use real-world practice – The best learners use Cantonese every chance they get.

👉 The key? Speak, listen, and engage daily—progress comes from practice, not perfection! 🚀

• 1–2 hours per session.

• Best results: 2-3 lessons per week.

• If busy: 1 hour per week with homework, practice speaking with others or watching, etc., & revision helps maintain progress.

Often yes for undergraduate programs; sometimes no for top majors.

• Many Chinese universities accept HSK 5 as the entry requirement.

• Some schools or competitive majors (e.g. literature, law, journalism) require HSK 6.

• Example: top universities such as Tsinghua or Peking often ask for HSK 6 for humanities, but accept HSK 5 for sciences.

• Always check the program’s own admission page.

No official age limit.

• Anyone can register, from primary school students to retirees.

• Younger learners often take the Youth Chinese Test (YCT), but HSK is open to all ages. Source: ChineseTest.cn

Use whatever works best for you.

• Some bring a notebook or printed textbook

• Others use laptops, iPads, or just their phones

• A few prefer to show up with nothing, also fine

• We can store your textbook at our office if needed

• Our tutors can adjust based on your preference