In Japan or Korea, it's going to be super difficult to live there if you don't know their language, especially if it is outside of the main city.

China is even harder if it is not the key cities and even if it is, you might still struggle. Same goes for Vietnam.

In Malaysia, how hard is it to live here without knowing any BM?

Told my sons before

English and MY are non negotiable must haves. Mandarin is important to have. Dialects and other languages good to have

Depends on where in Malaysia.

Mont Kiara? Easy.

in the city no problem

Konlampon can, I have 2 friend who can speak mandarin and mandarin only, nothing else ... idup lagi that 2 fello.

Both running their own business.

Easy, mintak tolong sebelah can ady.

Have some shame, if you are going to live in a country for more than a few years, learn the local language. Its fine id you don't master it, but should be good enough to have simple conversations.

This post has been edited by dagnarus: Dec 14 2025, 02:49 PM

why not??

you think deaf people living in malaysia know the language? ts must be a deaf person

So many MM2H here not knowing BM.

yes. hire assistant that do all the things and translate for u. just don't simply sign documents.

owaii.

BM is based on english letters and syllables

haven't met one guy who said BM is hard to learn

in fact some of the modern BM words are direct translate from an english word you always see it around you.

mula apa bossku

Don't need to deal with gov agencies, easy

U know some banggala can speak better Bahasa Malaysia after few month of staying in Malaysia. Pundek that claim Malaysian stay in Malaysia but cannot speak even broken Bahasa Malaysia is just a farking disgrace.

Tatau malu ke

I quote the late Tun Sammy Vellu
"Ini perkara banyak memalukan saya. Sebenarnya, kemaluan saya sangat sangat besar"

Some expats have been living in Malaysia relying solely on English

i saw tourist speak english only

how do you think those japanese korean china chinese survive in malaysia?
All of them know melayu?

download app, any language also can translate.

I’ve a kolik who frequent kl, he only know 2 words.. lepak and bos ( calling everyone bos haha ) … even planning to migrate here. So I guess bm x tat important esp in cities…

Penguasaan bahasa Melayu yang lemah akan menyebabkan kesulitan pelbagai urusan terutamanya kerana ia adalaha bahasa rasmi negara dan digunakan sebagai bahasa pengantar di pejabat2 kerajaan.

Sama sahaja di negara2 maju yg asing seperti di Amerika, Jerman, Jepun, Korea Etc.

Amerika adalah negara yg dibina ratusan juta immigran dari pelbagai negara di serata dunia, namun begitu mereka menggunakana bahasa Inggeris untuk segala urusan rasmi. Mereka tidak menggunakan bahasa Sepanyol walaupun ada jutaan warga latina dari Amerika selatan, ataupun mandarin, jepun korea dan lain lagi.

Jika seseorang memilih untuk meninggalkan bahasa rasmi sesuatu negara dgn alasan seperti tidak ada manfaat ekonomi, ataupun lain2 alasan, anda masih perlu menggunakan bahasa itu apabila berdepan dengan pejabat2 rasmi kerajaan untuk urusan2 rasmi.

Kemudian jika anda berdepan dengan masalah2 disebabkan penguasaan BM yg lemah, maka kesalahan itu berbalik kepada diri and sendiri.

The mentality that government must serve me as best as it does towards the other citizens despite my failure to speak the common language smacks of extreme arrogance and entitlement.

Be realistic lah