If you’re learning Chinese, you might discover the many ways native Mandarin speakers can express gratitude beyond bowing or the basic (xiè xiè) — “Thank you.”
We’ll show you seven useful words and phrases to say “thank you” in Chinese, …
When you’re studying Chinese, learning to listen can be a bumpy road.
If you struggle with listening in Mandarin, you’re certainly not alone. But you’re also not out of luck!
This handful of stellar Chinese listening practice resources can …
If you’re interested in Chinese culture, you might have gotten into it through being captivated by Mandarin-language movies and television shows.
But unfortunately for beginner learners, watching Chinese films authentically usually isn’t possible.
Most Chinese films offer 汉字 (hàn zì)…
The smell of the holidays is in the air, whether you’re ready for it or not!
People are decorating for Christmas, prepping for cozy parties and preparing gifts for the ones they love.
And not just in the United States …
Music is the language of the soul.
It can also be a language learning tool!
Yep—if you do it right, music can be a powerful way to advance your language skills.
So, maybe you want to understand Chinese covers …
Do you work out?
Maybe you go to the gym with the aim to get swole (or at least stay fit).
Or maybe you jog around your block every morning for some light but effective cardio.
But do you work …
Who doesn’t love a good movie binge-watching session?
With streaming networks, it’s easier than ever to consume media from all over the world.
It’s no secret that watching films in Chinese can help learners improve their language skills. Watching a …
Writers know all about grammar.
We use it daily in our work, and we’re well aware of how much of a pain in the neck it can be.
And that’s just in our native language!
If you’re an English …
A key part of learning Chinese is learning how to write it.
For those of us that aren’t used to writing Chinese characters, this can be difficult to practice.
Lucky for you, there are programs out there that can help …
Are you at the point of your Chinese-learning journey where you’re learning 拼音 (pīn yīn) — Chinese romanization?
This is when a lot of learners check out.
Why?
Well, English is a non-tonal language, and it’s full …
Vocabulary is the foundation of any language.
We can’t deny that understanding grammar, context and sentence structure is crucial in any language. But nothing is more important than vocabulary.
We created a great list for you to discover helpful Chinese …
You may know how to write in Chinese, but how would you rate your Chinese typing skills?
Thanks to technology, typing is far easier than writing in Chinese. But how can you type in Chinese when your keyboard is in …
Chinese grammar is both extremely similar to and ridiculously different from English grammar, which can leave even advanced learners scratching their heads.
There’s a lot to absorb between word arrangement, morphology, sounds, tones, semantics and sentence structure—but it’s not …
It’s no secret that learning a new language takes time.
It’s also no secret that most of us don’t have a whole lot of time to spare.
It’s not even the actual coursework that takes so much time—it’s the practice. …
Learning Chinese through immersion is far from a new concept.
Think about it: Immersion is the perfect way to learn a language.
It’s the way many immigrants learn the language of their new country. When you’re thrown into a totally …
We’re lucky to live in a world where there are so many resources for learning Chinese.
Learners don’t have to shell out substantial tuition fees to attend a college course or study abroad to learn Mandarin anymore.
These days, people …
Remember when you were a bright-eyed, novice Chinese learner and first looked at 拼音 (pīn yīn) — Chinese romanization?
Pinyin might have seemed confusing at first, but it’s actually quite simple to get the hang of reading …
The HSK exam is also known as the Chinese Proficiency Test. It’s an official exam used to test the practical language ability of a Chinese speaker.
If you’re considering taking the HSK, you might be wondering how to …
What’s not to love about Taiwan?
There’s the incredible scenery, complete with the crystal-clear Sun Moon Lake and the jaw-dropping Elephant Mountain that overlooks Taipei.
There are the people, a melting pot of diversity and friendliness.
There are the hot …
If you’re struggling as a novice student of Mandarin, enjoying some Chinese-language cartoons may be more helpful than you ever imagined.
Utilizing Chinese cartoons is also the perfect introduction to Mandarin for kids, especially if they’re learning the language …
It doesn’t matter how strong of a student you are.
Taking a test is never fun. Especially if there’s something at stake.
Even if you enjoy a good challenge, there’s a lot of anxiety that builds up before an exam.…
Bless the day that Chinese variety shows first came to be.
How else were we going to learn Mandarin while feeding our need for instant gratification?
Jokes aside, Chinese entertainment is a solid tool for improving your listening, reading and …
Comic book nerds unite!
Love reading comic books? Love studying Chinese?
There’s a way to combine your two passions: Read Chinese manhua online!
Chinese 漫画 (màn huà) — manhua are Mandarin-language comic books that are heavily …
Your Twitter feed.
The morning paper on your doorstep.
Televisions in the doctor’s office waiting room.
The news is everywhere you look!
It isn’t surprising—the news is important. People want to know what’s happening in the world, …
Who knew that four or five Chinese words that all sound the same to the untrained ear could actually mean four or five wildly different things?
You have to really understand and memorize tones and their respective 拼音 (pīn yīn)…
If you’re a native English speaker, you’re enjoying a luxury.
Not only do many non-English speakers say that learning English is incredibly difficult, but native English speakers also don’t have to deal with tones.
If you’re an English speaker …
Just about each and every one of us grew up with a favorite sitcom.
Sitcoms are token markers of our eras.
The 80s kids loved “Family Ties.” 90s kids loved “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” We all got addicted to …
Music is in the air.
And it’s here to teach you Chinese!
We may not generally think of listening to music as a tangible and effective way to learn a new language.
But while supplementing music-listening with a course or …
If you’re learning Mandarin Chinese, being proficient at typing 拼音 (pīn yīn) — Chinese romanization and 汉字 (hàn zì) — Chinese characters is essential.
Being able to speak and understand Mandarin is important, but if you plan on really communicating …
It’s no secret that kids can pick up languages more quickly than adults. But how can we bridge the learning gap between the two?
Well, you can learn through Chinese cartoons!
Watching Chinese cartoons is a great way to learn …
If you go to a Chinese-speaking country, you’ll see them everywhere.
Those characters. You know the ones.
One big aspect of Chinese that leaves potential learners (and those who have been learning Mandarin for quite some time) stumped is 汉字 …
Non-English web series are becoming hugely popular around the world.
This is true even in primarily English-speaking countries.
Netflix has quite the variety of foreign films and series, and Asian media streaming websites like Crunchyroll now have millions of members …
In a world where there’s an app for everything…
…one brave piece of tech manages to be an app for everything.
微信 (wēi xìn), or “WeChat,” is a Chinese app that packs many features into the user experience, …
If you’re reading this, that probably means you did it.
You fought long and hard through learning basic sentence structure, hanzi stroke order and the dreaded tones.
You’ve officially graduated from beginner learner to intermediate learner! Woo …
It’s that time of year, readers!
Christmas is just around the corner.
You’re probably taking this holiday season to relax and maybe not go so hard on the Chinese studies.
After all, everybody needs a break and the holidays …
Adding a new hobby to your schedule can be tough, especially something as demanding as learning a brand new language.
But you don’t have to dedicate hours every day to learn how to speak and understand Mandarin Chinese. …
There’s a certain formula to “formal” learning.
You go to class, listen to the lecture, go home.
You practice reading, writing, speaking and listening for an hour or so.
Rinse and repeat.
Some Chinese learners might find this a bit …
Congratulations!
You’ve really leveled up.
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably feeling a little dizzy from the altitude.
And as an advanced learner, you may not know what to do next with your Chinese learning.
Chinese is often …
Love reading but bored with your current options?
Don’t worry, things are about to get more exciting. We’re going to get you hooked on some engaging e-book titles in Mandarin.
We put together a list of some fantastic Kindle e-books…
Chinese uses a system of measure words, where there are different quantifiers for different types of words.
For example, you would use 套 (tào) for clothes, 包 (bāo) for packages and 根 (gēn) …
Technology has created endless opportunities when it comes to language learning, and chat software is only one of them.
When it comes to Chinese, there are so many options available when it comes to chatrooms, chatbots, etc. that are sure …
Streaming television is all the rage now, isn’t it?
Who even has a cable account anymore?
With websites like Netflix and Hulu around, people can tune in to their favorite shows with nothing more than a laptop and a WiFi …
Ah, the cinema!
Our relationship with films has changed quite a bit over the years.
Once upon a time, people needed to purchase a ticket and climb into seats at a movie theater to catch a new release.
Now, we …
Emails are a form of formal communication in Chinese.
So if you find yourself in the position of needing to write an email in Chinese, you may be sweating a bit.
Still, it’s definitely doable, even for a beginner Mandarin …
Friends. Food. Feelings. Identities. Weather. Family.
Maybe you’re someone who believes labels are too restrictive.
That’s totally understandable and okay.
Lots of labels can be unnecessary and limiting!
But on a practical level, language irrevocably revolves around labeling just about …
How many times have you been told that Chinese has no grammar?
In reality, Mandarin Chinese just has sentence patterns that are radically different from the ones in English.
It’s a very logical language, and there’s actually a direct, …
The news keeps us in the loop, highlights culture and facilitates knowledge.
You can also benefit in a linguistic way from watching the news.
Mandarin-language news channels are abundantly available, and consuming Chinese news is incredibly valuable when it …
From reading books to watching television shows to browsing social media, absorbing Chinese media is a great way to brush up on your Mandarin reading and listening skills.
Enter the Chinese video game: a fun, interactive and entertaining way …
Roku has become a real game-changer.
It lets you customize your TV options in a way traditional cable hasn’t.
It’s also a massively useful way to learn Mandarin.
For those who need to be brought into the loop, Roku …
Reading will never go out of style.
While we spend more time staring at screens than ever before, for many people, there’s still nothing like the experience of reading a physical book.
And the right book can teach you …
Reading manga is a very chill way to learn Chinese.
That’s despite the fact that the characters are always getting into some crazy drama — everything from secret high school romances to warfare between gods and humanity.
If that sounds …
Ah, the art of learning.
Remember what it was like in middle school, high school or college?
No matter where you went for your studies, your classes were probably all arranged in a similar, rigid schedule.
Over the course of …
Music can help us learn languages and learn about different cultures.
Chinese is no exception: Watching Chinese music videos and listening to Chinese music can help us practice Mandarin and learn new words, and give us a peek into …
Imagine studying abroad in a city with fantastic food, vibrant history, and being able to work on your Mandarin skills.
All of these can be found in the enchanting city-state of 新加坡 (xīn jiā pō) — Singapore.
You get to …
Who doesn’t love making people laugh?
Now can you do it in a foreign language?
It’s so rewarding to make someone chuckle, and it’s especially rewarding if you can make someone from a totally different culture laugh in a …
Whether it’s an action or a moment, the small things matter.
But you know that already.
You’ve worked hard for every little bit of Chinese you know at this point.
You should definitely be proud of yourself!
And as we …
Had enough of the radio?
Done with being stuck in rush hour traffic with the same top 40 hits?
Do you take daily walks or work out regularly, finding yourself growing bored with the high-energy electronic music?
Or maybe you …
Hey, beginners.
It might seem like cheating, but it’s not.
Learning Mandarin Chinese while wearing your pajamas and lounging in your favorite chair is allowed.
While learning a language in a school setting has its merits, but …
Interviews are great, right?
We’re kidding, but we have put together a guide to introducing yourself in Mandarin for interviews that you might find useful.
With a little help, you can prove just how talented you really are at this …
Think your last ugly sweater party was fun?
It’s got nothing on Chinese New Year.
This massive annual celebration has everything you need for an awesome party: huge family feasts, parades, music, elaborate decorations and tons of fireworks, …
Documentaries , like “Super Size Me”, have proven they can have a large impact on the world.
By watching Chinese documentaries, you can brush up on your Mandarin listening skills, with English and Chinese subtitles to further boost your …
What’s the most basic conversation-starter you can think of?
Ah, yes. “How’s the weather?”
Sure, it may be a bit default and typical. But asking about the weather is one of the most common ways to break the ice with …
Remember, if you can, the days of the early internet.
When we were online but not yet connected by social media.
Before we carried super-smart communication devices in our pockets at all times.
This was the time when chatrooms …
Just about every ’90s kid can remember this type of glorious sick day:
Home from school, lying in bed, lazily watching talk show hosts chat about basically everything.
News, celebrity gossip, books, dubious lifestyle advice, you name it.
Shows like …
Children have a knack for grasping concepts quickly—and this is especially true with languages.
By using handy apps, fun games and other learning tools, we can absolutely teach children about the Chinese language.
The 18 resources below will help kids …
Ten years ago, I embarked on my journey to learn Mandarin Chinese in high school.
I had a very high-energy 老师 (lǎo shī) — teacher that made learning this seemingly impossible language actually pretty fun and interesting.
Going to her …
Having your dream job isn’t just a flighty wish.
It can become an absolute reality.
Do you want to travel abroad?
Do you want to find a job where you can use the skills you’ve worked so hard to hone—speaking …
Typing in Chinese can be tricky if you’ve only got your English keyboard and some emojis set up.
Fortunately, it’s simpler to set up than you might think!
We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to installing and mastering digital Chinese …
There’s nothing like getting a sweet bargain.
Don’t you just want to brag to all your friends when you find that perfect trendy sweater for half off?
Can you ever resist slapping a coupon on the table when it’s time …
Are you beginning your journey through Mandarin Chinese?
Compared to other languages you might know, Chinese is a completely different ballpark of sentence structure, tones, slang, alphabet, writing and everything in between.
The best way to learn Mandarin …
What’s the most insulting gesture you can think of?
If you’re from the States, we’re probably both thinking of the same thing.
In every culture, people communicate with body language and not just to express romantic interest. Body language …
Comedy means a lot to people.
The average adult laughs at least four times a day at something.
And that something usually involves communication and, ultimately, language.
But what’s funny in English may not be quite as funny in …
Time to turn your binge-scrolling time on Twitter into Chinese learning time.
We’ve got 10 super interesting, smart and fun Twitter feeds that’ll bring you everything from daily vocabulary lessons to insights on Chinese slang and idioms.
Let’s find out …
Flirting in Chinese can be pretty scary. Where do you even start?
Right here!
I’ve got tons of vocabulary and phrases that’ll help you impress native speakers who’ve captured your eye.
Plus, I’ll give you some cultural context, since flirting …
Imagine you’ve just met a native Chinese speaker and they’re trying to communicate with you in English.
Even if they’ve learned a lot about the structure of the English language, it’s not all that useful if they don’t know basic …
Chinese people can’t tell that I’m not Chinese.
You might think that if I speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, it must be because I have a natural talent for languages. But if you had been in my first year Chinese language …
