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Guides to learning Mandarin through real sentences: reading, listening, speaking and the tools that help.

A learner at a cafe window table uses a smartphone beside a paperback book, a spiral notebook with a pencil, a second phone and a cup of coffee

Duolingo Chinese Alternatives: 9 Apps for What It Misses

The best Duolingo alternatives for Chinese, picked by what you're missing: characters, grammar, reading, speaking or tones. Honest pros, cons and prices.

A learner wearing earbuds listens on a phone at a window desk, beside a notebook with hand-drawn wavy pitch lines and a cup of tea

Mandarin Tone Sandhi: Rules, Tone Pairs and Practice

Tone sandhi is how Mandarin tones change side by side: 3+3 becomes 2+3, and 不 and 一 shift. Every rule with audio, all 20 tone pairs and a quiz.

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How to Type Chinese on Any Device (Pinyin Keyboard Setup)

How to type Chinese on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android: add a pinyin keyboard, type without tones, pick characters fast, and add tone marks.

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What HSK Level Does Duolingo Chinese Get You To?

Duolingo says its Chinese course covers HSK 1-3 and half of HSK 4. What that means now it reaches B2, why it isn't HSK 4, and how to close the gap.

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Best Anki Decks for Business Chinese (BCT and Work)

The best Anki decks for business Chinese and the BCT, what the Business Chinese Test covers, 35 core work words with pinyin, and how to build your own deck.

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AI Chat Apps vs Chunk Practice for Speaking Chinese

AI chat apps give you a patient partner to talk to. Chunk practice drills the phrases you freeze on. What each trains, and how to use both to speak Chinese.

Chunking Chinese App Review: Speak in Chunks, Not Words

A full review of Chunking Chinese, the Mandarin speaking trainer that teaches reusable sentence chunks. Features, daily loop, HSK coverage, strengths and limits.

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The 10 Best Mandarin Learning Websites in 2026

The 10 best Mandarin learning websites in 2026: courses, graded readers, vocabulary and handwriting tools, what each costs, and how to combine them.

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Pokémon in Chinese: A Learner's Guide to Names and Regions

Pokémon in Chinese: the official name 宝可梦, older names like 神奇宝贝 and 比卡超, why regions differ, and the key names with pinyin.

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10 Best Flashcard Templates for Learning Chinese in 2026

Printable, digital and Notion flashcard templates for learning Chinese compared: what each is good for, what it costs, and which support spaced repetition.

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Chinese Grammar Lessons: What to Learn at Each HSK Level

A level-by-level Chinese grammar syllabus: the key patterns for HSK 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6, each with an example in characters, pinyin and English.

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What Not to Do on Chinese New Year: 8 Taboos to Know

Eight Chinese New Year taboos many families still observe, from clocks to haircuts, the word-play behind each, and the Mandarin phrases to go with them.

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How to Turn Your English Name into a Chinese Name

How to turn your English name into a Chinese name: sound-based names like 大卫 (dàwèi), meaning-based names, surname first, and characters to avoid.

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Handwriting in Chinese: A Practical Guide for Learners

Learn the art of handwriting in Chinese. This guide covers stroke order, character construction, practice methods, and how to avoid common learner mistakes.

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How to Break the Intermediate Chinese Plateau in 2026

Stuck on the intermediate Chinese plateau? Learn practical strategies to break through, from sentence mining with Mandarin Mosaic to targeted drills.

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Level-Appropriate Chinese Sentences: How to Find and Use Them

How to find Chinese sentences at your level: the i+1 idea, four checks for a good study sentence, curated packs vs self-mining, and a daily review routine.

Hands typing on a laptop showing flashcard software, with a phone, a coffee and a notebook on the desk

Automated Anki for Chinese: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Learn to build an automated Anki for Chinese workflow. This guide covers sentence sourcing, audio generation, and troubleshooting, plus a simpler alternative.

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Why Anki Is Hard for Chinese (And What to Do About It)

Struggling with Anki for Mandarin? Learn why Anki is hard for Chinese, from tones to context, and discover effective strategies and tools to succeed.

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10 Best Anki Alternatives for Learning Chinese in 2026

Tired of Anki's complexity? Find the best anki alternative for chinese with our detailed review of 10 apps, including Mandarin Mosaic, Pleco, and Skritter.

A learner reading a Chinese article on a tablet while holding a phone with a sentence flashcard

The 7 Best Chinese Sentence Mining Apps in 2026

Discover the best Chinese sentence mining app for you. Our 2026 guide reviews 7 top tools, including Mandarin Mosaic, to boost your vocabulary and grammar.

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How to Say Goodbye in Chinese: 再见, 拜拜 and More

How to say goodbye in Chinese: 再见, 拜拜, 回头见, 慢走, 一路平安 and more, with pinyin, tones, when to use each and example dialogues.

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Family in Chinese: Words for Family Members and Relatives

Family in Chinese: 家 and 家人, words for parents, siblings and grandparents, the paternal and maternal terms for uncles and aunts, and how to use them politely.

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How to Learn Grammar Naturally for Chinese Fluency

How to learn Chinese grammar naturally: absorb patterns from sentences you understand, mine and review them, and check a grammar guide only when stuck.

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What Is Your Chinese Name? How to Ask and Answer in Mandarin

How to ask someone's name in Chinese, answer with 我姓… and 我叫…, use the polite 您贵姓 (nín guìxìng), and get Chinese name etiquette right.

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The Top 10 Most Common Chinese Surnames: A Learner's Guide

The 10 most common Chinese surnames, from 王 and 李 to 周: characters, pinyin, origins, Hong Kong and Taiwan spellings, and example sentences.

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What Is Spaced Repetition? How It Works for Learning Mandarin

What is spaced repetition? How the forgetting curve, Leitner boxes, SM-2 and FSRS work, and how to use SRS to remember Mandarin vocabulary for good.

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How Many Words Is 3,000 Chinese Characters?

How many words is 3,000 Chinese characters? About 2,000 words of text, but knowing 3,000 characters is a very different thing. Here's why.

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What Is AnkiDroid? A Practical Guide to Spaced Repetition for Mandarin

What is AnkiDroid? How the free Android version of Anki uses spaced repetition, and how to set it up for Chinese characters, pinyin and audio.

Two people at a cafe table during a language exchange, one pointing to a line in an open notebook

Your Guide to Tandem Language Learning for Mandarin

How to make a Mandarin language exchange work: find a reliable tandem partner, run fair 50/50 sessions, and turn what you hear into sentences you remember.

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How to Say Tourist in Chinese, Plus Useful Travel Phrases

How to say tourist in Chinese: 游客 (yóukè), 观光客 (guānguāngkè) and 旅游者 (lǚyóuzhě), with example sentences and survival phrases for your trip.

A learner writing notes at a kitchen table while studying Mandarin online, with a laptop, phone and headphones

The 12 Best Ways to Free Learn Mandarin Online in 2026

Discover the 12 best resources to free learn Mandarin online. A complete guide to courses, apps, and tools for every level, from beginner to advanced.

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How to Say "I" in Chinese: A Complete Guide to 我 (wǒ)

Learn how to say I in Chinese (我 wǒ) with confidence. This guide covers pronunciation, tones, and using pronouns like 我们 (wǒmen) and 咱们 (zánmen).

A hand holding a phone with a flashcard app above a pile of paper flashcards on a wooden desk

The Best Flashcard App for Learning Chinese in 2026

The best flashcard app for Chinese? We compare Mandarin Mosaic, Chunking Chinese, Anki, Pleco, Skritter and Quizlet, and show why sentences beat word cards.

A fast-food tray by a window in a Chinese city: a burger, fries, a cup of sweetcorn and a hot drink

Learn Mandarin with the McDonald's Menu in China: 8 Essential Items

Learn Mandarin from McDonald's China's real menu: 8 items with characters, pinyin and meanings, plus the phrases you need to order at the counter.

A learner's hands sorting a thick stack of vocabulary flashcards, with a dictionary and phone on the desk

How Many Words to Become Fluent: A Realistic Mandarin Vocabulary Roadmap

Discover how many words to become fluent in Chinese with a practical plan, realistic timelines, and smart study methods.

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Chinese Idioms (成语): A Practical Guide for Learners

What Chinese idioms (成语, chéngyǔ) are, 11 useful ones with pinyin, meanings, stories and example sentences, and how to learn them without overusing them.

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How to Say "I Love You" in Mandarin (and Mean It)

Learn how to say 'I love you in Mandarin' (我爱你) with perfect pronunciation and cultural insight. Go beyond wǒ ài nǐ and express affection like a native.

A learner on a sofa doing a fill-in-the-blank quiz on her phone, with a mug and notebook beside her

Clozemaster vs Anki: Which Is Best for Learning Chinese in 2026?

A deep dive into Clozemaster vs Anki for Mandarin. Discover which SRS app builds vocabulary, grammar, and fluency faster for your specific learning style.

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Mandarin Mosaic vs Clozemaster: Which Is Better for Chinese?

Mandarin Mosaic vs Clozemaster for learning Chinese: how each picks sentences, schedules reviews and charges, and which suits your level.

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Mandarin Mosaic vs Duolingo: Which Is Better for Chinese?

Mandarin Mosaic vs Duolingo for learning Chinese: how each teaches, what it costs, where each is stronger, and when to switch from one to the other.

A phone showing a gamified lesson beside a laptop showing a flashcard review, with a learner's hands and a cup of tea

Anki vs Duolingo: Which Is Best for Learning Chinese?

Anki or Duolingo for learning Chinese? How they differ on memory, motivation and content, who each suits, and how to combine them.

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Is Anki Free? Costs in 2026 for Desktop & Mobile

Explore is anki free options in 2026 with a quick cost breakdown for Anki Desktop, AnkiMobile, and AnkiDroid to pick the best study setup.

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The 12 Best Mandarin Learning Apps in 2026

Looking for the best Mandarin learning app? We compare 12 apps for beginners, HSK, reading and sentence mining, with prices and who each one suits.

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How to Say Please in Chinese: 请, 麻烦你, 拜托 and More

How to say please in Chinese: when to use 请 (qǐng), 麻烦你 (máfan nǐ), 拜托 (bàituō) and 劳驾, with example sentences, pinyin and common mistakes.

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Numbers in Chinese Mandarin: Counting, Dates, Money and More

Learn numbers in Mandarin Chinese, from 0-10 to 万 and 亿, plus 二 vs 两, dates, time, money, phone numbers and measure words, all with pinyin.

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A Guide to Anki Image Occlusion for Learning Chinese

How to use Anki's built-in image occlusion for Chinese: make visual flashcards for characters, sentences, pinyin and grammar, with tips for better cards.

A stack of study books and graded readers beside a dictionary and a cup of tea on a wooden desk

Chinese Study Books: The Best Textbooks and Readers by Level

The best Chinese study books by type and level: textbooks, grammar references, graded readers, character books, HSK prep and dictionaries.

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8 Chinese Tongue Twisters to Sharpen Your Mandarin Pronunciation

Eight real Chinese tongue twisters with characters, pinyin and translations, from 四是四 to 吃葡萄, plus the sounds each one trains and how to practise.

A learner's desk with a phone showing a sentence study app and a laptop showing flashcards

Mandarin Mosaic vs Anki: Which App Is Better for Chinese Learners?

Mandarin Mosaic or Anki for learning Chinese? We compare their learning method, setup, features and cost, and say honestly where each one is the better choice.

A learner holding a paper flashcard beside a stack of cards and a laptop showing digital flashcards

Quizlet vs Anki: Which Is Best for Learning Mandarin Chinese?

Deciding between Quizlet vs Anki for Mandarin? Our in-depth guide compares SRS, user experience, and costs to help you choose the right tool for your journey.

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The Real Differences Between Chinese and Japanese for Learners

The real differences between Chinese and Japanese: writing systems, tones vs pitch accent, and grammar, explained for learners deciding which to tackle.

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Good Night in Chinese: 晚安 and Other Ways to Say It

晚安 (wǎn'ān) is the everyday way to say good night in Chinese. When to use 早点睡 and 睡个好觉 instead, how to reply, and the Cantonese version.

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14 Essential Websites for Chinese Learners in the UK (2026)

14 useful websites for UK learners of Chinese: bookshops, graded readers, a speaking trainer, a dictionary, dramas, audiobooks and web novels.

A learner writing sentences in a notebook beside an open textbook and a phone

A Practical Guide to Mastering Sentences in Chinese

How to build sentences in Chinese: basic word order, where time and place go, questions, negatives with 不 and 没, and the mistakes English speakers make.

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8 in Chinese (八, bā): Why It's the Luckiest Number

八 (bā) is 8 in Chinese, and it sounds like 发 (fā, to prosper). Why 8 is so lucky, how to write it, and why Beijing opened the 2008 Olympics at 8:08 pm.

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Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinese: 中秋节, Greetings and Mooncakes

中秋节 (zhōngqiū jié) is the Mid-Autumn Festival. How to say it, the greetings people send (中秋快乐), upcoming dates, mooncake words and the legend of Chang'e.

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What Does "nǐ hǎo ma" Mean? Hello and How Are You in Chinese

nǐ hǎo ma (你好吗) means "How are you?", but native speakers rarely use it. Learn what to say instead, how to reply, and why 你好 is said ní hǎo.

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Reviews of Pimsleur Mandarin: Is It Worth It for Learners?

What reviews of Pimsleur Mandarin say: how its audio method teaches speaking and tones, its limits, current pricing, and what to pair it with.

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Mastering Radicals in Chinese: A Beginner’s Guide

Unlock Hanzi secrets with our guide to radicals in Chinese. Learn how components reveal meaning and sound, making character learning logical and fast.

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How to Say ‘And’ in Chinese: 和, 跟, 而且 and More

和 (hé) only joins nouns. Learn when to use 和, 跟, 与, 以及, 还有, 而且, 并且, 也, 还 and 又…又… to say ‘and’ in Chinese, with natural examples.

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Beat The Forgetting Curve in Your Mandarin Studies

Stop forgetting Mandarin words. This guide explains the forgetting curve and provides science-backed strategies like spaced repetition to master vocabulary.

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Chinese Symbols and Their Meanings: 20 Common Characters

20 common Chinese symbols and their meanings, from 爱 (love) to 福 (good fortune), plus how characters build meaning and how to avoid tattoo mistakes.

A learner wearing earbuds listens to a Mandarin pronunciation lesson on her phone, with tea and a notebook on the table

Mandarin Tones Explained: The 4 Tones and How to Practise

How the four Mandarin tones work, the third-tone and 不/一 tone changes, the neutral tone, and a weekly routine of drills and shadowing.

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How to Say Good Morning in Mandarin: 早, 早上好 and 早安

How to say good morning in Mandarin: 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo), 早 (zǎo) and 早安 (zǎo'ān), when to use each, the tones, and natural replies.

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10 Essential Phrases in Chinese, with Pinyin and Examples

Ten essential phrases in Chinese, from 你好 to 多少钱, with correct pinyin, tone changes, natural example sentences and tips for practising them aloud.

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Is Chinese Hard to Learn? An Honest Guide for UK Learners

Is Chinese hard to learn? Our guide explores the real challenges of Mandarin—tones, characters, and grammar—and provides practical strategies for UK learners.

A learner planning a Mandarin study schedule in a paper planner beside a laptop and coffee

How Long Does It Take to Learn Mandarin? Realistic Timelines and Proven Methods

how long does it take to learn mandarin? Find realistic timelines, practical study methods, and factors that shape your path to fluency.

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Why Reading Chinese News Is a Great Way to Learn Mandarin

Why reading Chinese news builds vocabulary and reading speed, where to find news at your level, from graded sites to BBC 中文, and how to read it.

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Mastering Chinese Through Sentence Mining: The Complete Guide

A practical guide to Chinese sentence mining: what it is, where to find good Mandarin sentences, the i+1 principle, and how to review and speak them.

A learner reaching for a phone showing a language-learning app lesson, with tea and an open notebook on the table

Duolingo Chinese Review: Is It Good for Learning Mandarin?

An honest review of Duolingo's Chinese course: what it teaches, how far it gets you, what Super and Max cost, and the alternatives for serious learners.

A learner on a sofa looking doubtfully at a language app on her phone

Duolingo Chinese: Simplified or Traditional? What It Teaches

Duolingo teaches Mandarin in Simplified characters only, with no Traditional option. What the course covers, where it falls short and what to add for fluency.

A living room set up for Chinese immersion, with a Chinese drama on the TV, sticky notes on objects and a tea set

How can you immerse yourself in Chinese at home?

How can you immerse yourself in Chinese at home? Easy tips for language learners

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How many Chinese characters should you learn per day?

How many Chinese characters should you learn per day? A realistic goal for language learners

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A Chinese Learning Morning Routine

A Chinese Learning Morning Routine That Actually Fits Your Busy Schedule.

A man reading a paperback on a quiet train, with earbuds in and countryside passing the window

Comprehensible Input for Chinese: Learn by Understanding

What comprehensible input is, what Krashen's i+1 means for Mandarin, and where to find graded readers, podcasts and sentences at your level.

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How to Live in China: A Down-to-Earth Guide for Newcomers

A down-to-earth guide to living in China: visas, residence permits, paying with WeChat Pay and Alipay, costs, getting around, work and learning Mandarin.

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How to Order Food in Chinese: A Simple Guide for Beginners

The Mandarin phrases you need to order food in Chinese: getting a table, ordering dishes, spice levels, dietary needs and paying, with characters and pinyin.

A young woman on a sofa scrolling short videos on her phone, earbuds in, with a notebook beside her

Learning Chinese from Social Media: Rednote, Douyin and TikTok

How to learn Chinese from social media: using Rednote (Xiaohongshu), Douyin and TikTok for reading, listening and speaking practice, with key vocabulary.

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How to Learn Chinese Pinyin: A Beginner's Guide

Learn Chinese pinyin step by step: initials, finals, the four tones, where tone marks go, spelling rules like ü and xī'ān, and how to practise.

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What Is the Chinese Bridge Competition? A Learner's Guide

What is the Chinese Bridge (汉语桥) competition? Who can enter, how the UK final and global finals work, the speech, quiz and talent rounds, and the prizes.

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How to Learn Chinese Fast: Practical Tips That Work

How to learn Chinese fast: practical tips on pinyin and tones, vocabulary with spaced repetition, immersion, and speaking practice from day one.

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How hard are traditional Chinese characters to learn?

How hard are traditional Chinese characters to learn? Where they're used, how they differ from simplified (體/体, 愛/爱), and how to learn both.

An exam desk with a blank multiple-choice answer sheet, pencils, an eraser and a wristwatch

Should you take the Chinese HSK tests?

Should you take the HSK? What the Chinese proficiency test involves, the old 6-level and new 9-level exams, who needs a certificate and how to prepare.

A person on a sofa under a blanket watching a drama on television, with a notebook beside them

How to Learn Chinese from TV Shows

How to learn Chinese from TV shows: which dramas, sitcoms and cartoons suit your level, where to watch them, and how to turn episodes into vocabulary.

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Word flashcards vs sentence mining for learning Chinese

Word flashcards vs sentence mining for learning Chinese: Which method works best?

A pencil filling in a gap on a printed worksheet of sentences, beside an eraser and a cup of tea

How Good Are Cloze Deletion Tests for Learning Chinese?

Are cloze (fill-in-the-blank) tests good for learning Chinese? What they train, where they fall short, and how to use them, with real examples.

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Learning Chinese dialects

Learning Chinese dialects: A casual guide to mastering regional tongues.

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How to Learn Chinese from Books

How to learn Chinese from books: the textbooks to start with, graded readers like Mandarin Companion, and how to study vocabulary and grammar alone.

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How to Learn Chinese from Podcasts

How to learn Chinese from podcasts: real shows for each level, from Coffee Break Chinese to Lazy Chinese, and how to use transcripts and shadowing.

A morning kitchen counter with a cup of coffee, a small notebook and a phone in the sunlight

Daily Habits to Boost Your Chinese: 5 Easy Routines

Five small daily habits that build your Chinese: listening on the commute, speaking aloud, quick vocabulary reviews, short reading sessions and Chinese media.

A traveller with a backpack in a small noodle shop with a bowl of noodles, looking out at a rainy street

The Traveller's Guide to Learning Chinese in China

Learning Chinese for a trip to China: what to study before you go, survival phrases for transport, hotels, food and shopping, reading signs, and useful apps.