why Hong Kong not Xiang Gang?
2008-06-06 4:04 pm
Why HK's chinese name and english name is so different? logically, it should be named Xiang Gang, isn't it ? why Hong Kong?
回答 (13)
2008-06-06 4:25 pm
✔ 最佳答案
Hong Kong is the anglicized name for the city, based on the Cantonese pronunciation of the city's name. The reason why Hong Kong is called such in English, is similar to why we say Prague instead of Praha; Athens instead of Athinai; Florence instead of Firenze; Manila instead of Maynila; and so on. Hong Kong is the English name for the city; Xiang Gang is its name in Mandarin. 
2014-02-14 3:17 am
Because Hong Kong isn't a part of China and we do not use Mandarin in Hong Kong. We use a different language called Cantonese.
2016-07-25 1:24 pm
Hong Kong in Cantonese, Xianggang in Madarin both share the same Chinese character 香港 which means Fragrant Harbour...and why has it been named Fragrant Harbour ?
2008-06-07 2:11 am
Hong Kong derives from the local name Heung Gong and is therefore correct. Xianggang is Mandarin, which is not naturally spoken in Southern China. Mandarin as "common language" exists only since about 60 years, well after Hong Kong was established.
Last century the Cantonese influence seems to be much stronger since even other area Chinese city names derived from Cantonese, example: Peking (Bak King), Nanking
Last century the Cantonese influence seems to be much stronger since even other area Chinese city names derived from Cantonese, example: Peking (Bak King), Nanking
2008-06-06 5:17 pm
Yes, what Mark R says is right, Hong Kong is the romanised word from Xiang Gang as Xiang Gang is in Mandarin Chinese and Hong Kong is in Cantonese as in Heung Gung in romanised cantonese. Since Hong Kongers speak Cantonese as their main language and not Mandarin (although Mandarin is currently their offical language apart from Cantonese), Hong Kong as its English name is more appropriate than Xiang Gang, which is in Mandarin's Pinyin.
2016-03-18 5:46 pm
No. I'm from Hong Kong, I love China Mainland, and I love Taiwan. But No, I do not want Hong Kong to be renamed Xiang Gang. The Chinese characters are the same anyway, so no worries.
2008-06-07 9:22 am
My question to you: Why is it 'logical' to name Hong Kong xianggang?? Do people in Hong Kong speak Mandarin? They speak Cantonese, so why shouldn't they name their city in the language that they speak? Just because China has colonized it doesn't mean that it has to follow everything that China does. It's like saying that a cultural invasion is logical. Why don't you call yourself "Zhongguo" in front of foreigners instead of China?? Sounds like a rape on the city's name..... Damn it, 'xianggang'.......... NEVER!
2008-06-07 7:19 am
Just a pointer for charles. The difference between Mandarin and Cantonese is similar to English and Scottish.
Do remember that china was united for more than one thousand of years ago. If Europe was united as one then only ONE language will be treated as the main language and all others will only be a local dialect.
Do remember that china was united for more than one thousand of years ago. If Europe was united as one then only ONE language will be treated as the main language and all others will only be a local dialect.
2015-08-16 7:24 pm
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
why Hong Kong not Xiang Gang?
Why HK's chinese name and english name is so different? logically, it should be named Xiang Gang, isn't it ? why Hong Kong?
RE:
why Hong Kong not Xiang Gang?
Why HK's chinese name and english name is so different? logically, it should be named Xiang Gang, isn't it ? why Hong Kong?
參考: hong kong xiang gang: https://shortly.im/Rd5gD
2008-06-08 8:45 am
Hong Kong is literally taken from the cantonese way of saying it: heung gong. But xiang gang is taken from the Mandarin way of saying it.
2008-06-07 3:54 am
These are all correct answers. I would like to add one more thing about the language. My wife was born and raised in Hong Kong and she speaks the Cantonese language. As for the Mandarin language she has a difficult time speaking. The language in China is also different in the various country sides.
2008-06-06 5:21 pm
cantonese accent.
2008-06-06 4:09 pm
cos the brits came in
收錄日期: 2021-04-19 01:15:32
原文連結 [永久失效]:
https://hk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080606080423AAROijd