Learn Hakka Chinese
Learn Hakka Chinese fast with an app that gets you speaking in minutes. Build the confidence to connect with Hakka-speaking family, friends and communities across the world with our recording of the Meizhou dialect, widely considered the standard variety of Hakka.
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Learn to speak Hakka like a local
Many people want to learn Hakka Chinese to reconnect with heritage, talk with family members, or help preserve a language spoken by Hakka communities across mainland China, Taiwan and beyond. But most Chinese language resources default to Mandarin, leaving Hakka learners with very little to work with.
uTalk is the solution. We’ll help you avoid:
- Searching for Hakka lessons and finding generic Mandarin courses instead
- Missing out on conversations with grandparents and relatives who speak Hakka at home
- Losing confidence because you're unsure of Hakka pronunciation
Learn Hakka online today and start understanding your family's language.
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Three steps to learn Chinese (Hakka) fast
No classes to schedule. No confusing jargon. Just a clear path to learning Hakka.
Start in minutes
Subscribe now, download the app or open the web app. Choose Hakka Chinese and select your first category.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Work through short lessons with native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on the words you find hardest, so you learn faster.
Speak like a local
Try your Hakka in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners can build practical spoken language and start enjoying real conversations with Hakka-speaking family and friends.
Why uTalk is the best Chinese (Hakka) learning app
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise a wide variety of Hakka words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Speak first
Practical content covering greetings, travel, family and everyday scenarios. Everything you need to start speaking from day one.
Authentic speakers
Learn from real Hakka speakers, not computer voices. Hear the language as it's spoken in Hakka communities.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Game-like practice builds your confidence. Lessons are short, focused and based on real-life situations.
Learn Chinese (Hakka) online (common phrases and audio)
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
我要一杯咖啡，多谢。
ngai12 oi4 yit5 bui1 ka1 fe1, do1 cia4.
I’d like a coffee, please.
你好。
ngi2 hau3.
Hello.
是。
he4.
Yes.
要，多谢。
oi4, do1 cia4.
Yes please.
不是。.
m1 he4.
No.
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不要，多谢。
m1 moi4, do1 cia4.
No thanks.
麻烦你。
ma2 fan2 ngi2.
Please.
多谢。
do1 cia4.
Thank you.
多谢多谢。
do1 cia4 do1 cia4.
Thank you very much.
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唔使客气。
m1 su3 hak5 hi4.
You’re welcome.
麻烦你，两杯啤酒。
ma2 fan2 ngi2, liong3 bui1 bia1 ziu3.
Two beers, please.
公交车
gung1 gau1 ca1
bus
小汽车
siau3 hi4 ca1
car
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的士
dit6 si3
taxi
火车
fo3 ca1
train
火车站
fo3 ca1 cam4
railway station
机场
gi1 cong2
airport
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酒店
ziu3 diam4
hotel
护照
fu4 zau4
passport
电话
ten4 wa4
telephone
打扰一下。
ma2 fan2 ngi2.
Excuse me.
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几多点了？
git5 do1 diam3 o1?
What time is it?
再讲一遍好吗？
zoi4 gong3 yit5 cu4 hau3 mo1?
Can you repeat that please?
请讲慢一点。
ciang3 ngi2 gong3 man4 dit6.
Please speak more slowly.
我唔明白。
ngai2 m1 min2 pak6.
I don’t understand.
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对唔起。
dui4 m1 cu4.
Sorry.
厕所在哪里？
ci4 so3 coi1 lai4 di1?
Where are the toilets?
女厕所
ngi3 ci4 so3
Ladies’ Toilet
男厕所
lam2 ci4 so3
Gents’ Toilet
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沙滩在哪里？
sa1 tan1 coi1 lai4 di1?
Where is the beach?
银行在哪里？
ngiun2 hong2 coi1 lai4 di1?
Where is the bank?
这个几多钱？
ngia3 zak5 git5 do1 cien2?
How much does this cost?
信用卡
sin4 yung4 kat6
credit card
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取款机
ci3 kon1 gi1
cash machine
再见。
zai4 gen4.
Goodbye.
扑热息痛
tui4 sau1 zi3 tung4
paracetamol
锁匙
so3 si2
keys
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地图
ti4 tu2
map
左
zo3
left
右
yiu4
right
一
yit5
one
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二
ngi4
two
三
sam1
three
Where is it spoken?
China
Number of speakers
36,600,000
Language family
Sino-Tibetan
Chinese
Fun facts | Chinese (Hakka)
- The language is believed to be a very old form of Chinese because some ancient Chinese poems rhyme when read in Hakka but don’t when read in Mandarin.
- There is a Hakka saying, "有陽光的地方就有華人，有華人的地方就有客家人", which means “wherever there is sunshine, there are Chinese; wherever there are Chinese, there are Hakka”.
- Hakka is a tonal language and is written using Chinese characters.
- The Hakka regions of China are famous for their ‘tulou’ (土楼), round earthen buildings which were originally built more than 300 years ago to defend against bandits.
- A Hakka proverb – 入莊問俗,入港隨灣 – says “when you enter a village, you must ask their custom, when you enter a port, you must follow its bay”.
- Hakka is not generally mutually intelligible with Mandarin, has only a small degree of mutual intelligibility with Cantonese and a much lesser degree of mutual intelligibility with Hokkien.
How our Hakka Chinese lessons work
Learning the Hakka language should feel manageable from the start. Begin with greetings and high-frequency words, then move into practical categories covering family, travel and everyday phrases. Native speaker audio and memory-boosting tests reinforce what you learn, and reviews adapt to focus more on the words you find trickiest.
Pick a category and the app organises the content so you get a good start early on. Follow a guided learning path or choose for yourself what to learn and when, whatever best fits your needs. Switch categories any time, learn online or offline, on mobile or desktop. If you have questions, contact support. We're a friendly UK-based team and we're here to help.
Key points
- Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin are all Chinese languages, but they're distinct spoken varieties with different pronunciation, vocabulary and, in some cases, grammar.
- Speakers of one usually can't understand the others without learning them separately.
- They share a common writing system using Chinese characters, which can lead to the impression that they are regional varieties of the same spoken language.
- In uTalk, Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin are each taught as separate languages.
Hakka and other Sinitic languages
- Hakka is spoken by communities across mainland China, Taiwan and beyond, and the wider Sinitic language group includes a number of related varieties.
- Whether you have connections elsewhere in the region or simply want to explore further, uTalk also offers Cantonese, Wu Chinese (Shanghainese), and Penang Hokkien.
“We help make learning Chinese (Hakka) easy”
“We understand how frustrating it can be to search for Hakka resources and find generic Mandarin courses instead. At uTalk, we believe every language matters, including varieties that often get overlooked, which is why we recorded native Hakka speakers so you can learn the language exactly as it's spoken in Hakka communities.”
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Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk for Chinese (Hakka)
At uTalk, we are passionate about supporting Chinese language varieties that other apps often ignore. Our Hakka content is recorded by native speakers, so every lesson gives you audio you can trust. The app works for English speakers and for speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check our reviews and see how learners are turning daily practice into real progress.
Your Chinese (Hakka) language learning journey
Maybe you want to understand grandparents or relatives who speak Hakka at home, reconnect with your heritage, or simply explore a Chinese variety often overlooked by mainstream resources. Hakka is spoken by communities scattered across the world, and finding lessons that treat it as its own language can be hard.
Get StarteduTalk can help. Take your first proper look at Hakka with First Words and everyday greetings, then build phrases you can use in real conversations. You'll listen to native Hakka speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. Game-like practice makes it fun for beginners, while practical content helps more experienced learners fill gaps in their knowledge. Learn online or offline, follow a guided path or choose what to work on and when.
The outcome is simple. You'll speak Hakka with confidence and understand more of what people say around you. You'll use your new skills with family and Hakka-speaking communities. You'll be supporting a language deeply rooted in Chinese history and culture.
Learn real-life categories in Hakka
Explore the Chinese language family
Hakka belongs to the Chinese language family, alongside several other major spoken varieties. If you're curious to compare words, sounds or everyday phrases across the family, check out: Cantonese, Mandarin and Wu Chinese (Shanghainese).
These varieties share a common written system and historical roots, so learning one can help you recognise patterns in the others.
Get StartedYour Chinese (Hakka) questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1–A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real-life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Is Hakka the same as Cantonese or Mandarin?
No. Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin are all distinct Chinese languages with their own pronunciation and vocabulary. Speakers of one generally can't understand the others without learning them. In uTalk, you'll find Hakka listed as its own language.
Is Hakka a language or a dialect?
Linguists usually treat Hakka as its own language within the Chinese language family, rather than a dialect of Mandarin, since speakers of Hakka and Mandarin can't generally understand each other without study.
How fast can I learn to speak Hakka?
Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after a few weeks of steady practice. Your progress depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.
Can I learn Hakka for free with uTalk?
Yes. Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we even offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied.
Where can I learn Hakka with uTalk?
We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Topics
- Accommodation
- Adjectives
- Animals' Bodies
- Animals
- Bathroom
- Body
- Business
- Calendar
- Camping
- Military Peace Keeping
- Clothes
- Colours
- Military Commands
- Football Commentary
- Cooking
- Countries
- Directions
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
- Doctor
- Driving
- Emergencies
- Family
- Farming
- First Words
- Food and Drink
- Fruit
- Golf
- Holiday
- Home
- Illness
- Ingredients
- Military Intelligence
- Kitchen
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Occupations
- Olympics
- Outdoors
- Places
- Prepositions
- Restaurant
- Sailing
- School
- Shopping Phrases
- Shopping Words
- Essential Phrases
- Skiing
- Social Phrases
- Sports
- Free Starter Words
- Summer Olympics
- Technology
- Time
- Timetable
- Tools
- Transport
- Travelling
- Vegetables
- Winter Olympics
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.