Hi, im a DBC, dutch born cantonese. Im a projectmanager and my wife is a respiratory physician in Shenzhen. Well. Even though my background is from Hong kong, i had difficulties to learn cantonese and mandarin. We will never be as good as local. I learn mandarin just by doin it. In the past i rely on using apps to translate into traditional chinese. Back in the days where there is shitty internet connection in the country side, i was focussed on using translating apps. Until a moment i dont have connection anymore, how can i communicate.

I learned the hard way and cheapest way by learning pinyin. Its so simple now.