Ability to speak Mandarin is something everyone needs in Taiwan, of course, but most Hakkas who do business in urban areas also learn to speak fluent Taiwanese in order to communicate with customers and, even more importantly, to hide their Hakka identity and avoid discrimination.
早年客家人為了追求較好的經濟條件，大多進入都會區做小生意，為了在外地討生活，尤其為了掩飾被福佬人輕蔑的「客郎」、「客婆仔」身份，除了國語非學不可外，還人人都練就一口流利的台語。