In recent years, former TVB artist Choi Ki-Chun, who switched to live streaming in mainland China, has faced criticism from mainland netizens for not speaking Mandarin. Choi Ki-Chun, known for his roles in TV dramas such as “Triumph in the Skies” and “Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles,” as well as supporting roles in popular series like “Beyond the Realm of Conscience” and “Forensic Heroes,” left TVB ten years ago when his acting career was not progressing as desired, focusing his career in mainland China.
Choi Ki-Chun has been doing live streaming e-commerce in Guangdong in recent years, but his inability to speak Mandarin has become a point of contention among mainland netizens. Acknowledging that he mainly has fans in the Guangdong area, Choi Ki-Chun humbly expressed, “I’m just a small actor. I have some fans in Guangdong, but outside the Pearl River Delta, hardly anyone knows me.”
Explaining his language preference, Choi Ki-Chun clarified that it’s not that he doesn’t speak Mandarin, but rather that he doesn’t understand it well. Growing up in Guangdong, he is more fluent in Cantonese, making communication in Mandarin more challenging for him.
Furthermore, Choi Ki-Chun, who is approaching 40, mentioned that relearning Mandarin would be too difficult for him. He expressed a contentment with focusing on his own strengths, acknowledging his limitations while striving to expand his career within his capabilities.
His explanation resonated with many netizens, with some expressing support for Cantonese, stating that if everyone only speaks Mandarin to cater to the market, Cantonese could gradually fade away. While some criticized his language choice, others defended the use of Cantonese, emphasizing that it is also a Chinese language and should be respected.
This issue of language preference has also been highlighted in the past, such as during a concert in Macau where singer Eason Chan encountered a similar situation. When asked to speak Mandarin by an audience member, Chan responded in a mix of Thai and English, emphasizing his right to choose which language to use. The incident sparked discussions on attitudes towards language choices and audience expectations.
The debate surrounding language choices reflects broader discussions on cultural identity and linguistic diversity. While some argue for accommodating audience preferences, others advocate for the preservation of regional languages as part of China’s diverse linguistic heritage.