As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive list of questions about how to learn Chinese available anywhere. Please note that it’s about how to learn the language, not questions about how to use certain words or grammar patterns. If you have questions about the language itself, please refer to this article: 5 websites to help answer your questions about Chinese.
For each question, I provide a short and direct answer whenever possible, as well as links to further information. Click on the question to see the answer. You can expand all questions (great if you want to search among all answers) and you can also collapse all questions. You can also expand each category below by clicking on it.
If you have a question not already covered here, you’re welcome to leave a comment and I will consider including it here!
1. Studying and learning Chinese in general
- Is Chinese hard to learn?
Yes, but not necessarily in the way you think. It’s mostly about investing the necessary time.
- How long does it take to become fluent in Chinese?
That depends on what you mean by “fluent”, but
you can learn to speak about everyday topics with some flow in 100 days. If you mean near-native or C1,
then 10,000 hours is a good start, but not really enough. However,
it’s useful to know Chinese regardless of level; it all depends on what your goals for learning are.
- Do I have to move to China to learn Chinese?
No, you can learn everything from home, but being in an immersion environment certainly makes it easier. Read more:
Chinese immersion with Carl Gene Fordham
- Will moving to China make me fluent in Chinese?
- Am I too old for learning Chinese?
- Is travelling in China a good way of learning Chinese?
- Can I learn Chinese for free? Are there things I have to pay for?
With all the resources available today, you can learn completely for free. If you check
Hacking Chinese Resources, resources that aren’t free are tagged as “paid”. However,
there are some things your really should pay for, such as a good dictionary app, a textbook, graded readers and some other things.
- My partner is Chinese, do you have any advice for how to learn with him/her?
Don’t assume that just because your partner speaks Chinese, he/she is willing to teach you, and that even if he/she wants to help, that he/she is good at it. Having a Chinese-speaking partner can be great for speaking and listening, but relationships are usually about more than languages, which makes things complicated sometimes. More here:
Language learning with a Chinese girlfriend or boyfriend.
- Will imposing a Chinese-only rule help me learn Chinese?
- I want to go to (some place) and learn Chinese, can you recommend a course?
- Is it necessary to take a course to learn Chinese, or can I learn on my own?
I think that enrolling in a course is generally a good idea, but you can certainly learn on your own if you prefer. A course provides useful structure and content that would be time-consuming to find on your own. Going to class also requires less discipline than studying on your own. That being said, you don’t have to take a course. Many of the resources on Hacking Chinese,
including my course, are designed to make sure you become as independent as possible.
- What about textbooks? I read online that they aren't very good for language learning.
In some circles, it’s hip to claim that classroom learning and textbooks are a waste of time. However, for most learners, they provide essential structure and level-adjusted content. Of course, you can recreate this yourself, but it’s very hard to find good materials suitable for your level without knowing the language.
Textbooks are fine, I even recommend
that you use more than one.
- Will the course I take teach me everything I need?
- How can I get the most out of the time I have with my teacher?
- Which skill is most important when learning Chinese?
This of course depends on your goals, but in general,
listening is the most important skill. It has the largest carry-over effects to other skills and will accelerate your learning in a way no other type of practice will. If you care more about written language, then reading is the most important skill.
- I learnt to say (expression) in class, but my Chinese friend says it's wrong. Why?
There are many possible explanations, including both that
your friend is wrong or narrow-minded and that
your teacher or course is wrong. In addition, have you thought carefully about what “wrong” actually means?
What standard are you using and who decides what’s right? The most likely explanation is that some form of Chinese is spoken by more than a billion people and that
there is plenty of variety between regions, social groups and age groups.
The notion of correctness is vaguer in Chinese than some other languages for this reason.
- Can I use materials designed for Chinese people learning English to learn Chinese?
Yes, but it isn’t as great an idea as one might think at first. Remember, the Chinese in these materials are not the primary focus, meaning that the language might now be suitable.
- What about children's books in Chinese, are they any good for adult learners?
I advise against using children’s books for learning Chinese, mainly because they don’t contain language that is useful for an adult learner and
because they are much harder than you’d think. Instead,
go for graded readers.
- I have questions about the Chinese language I can't find answers for, where can I find answers?
- I've heard that comprehensible input is important, what is it and how can I get it?
Comprehension-based methods of learning and teaching Chinese stress the importance of input (listening and reading) that the student can understand. The language is acquired through meaningful and repeated exposure in context, rather than explicit teaching and explanations.
Read more in this series of articles about comprehension-based methods.
- I like playing games, can I use that to learn Chinese?
- Is it a good idea to learn Chinese through music?
In general, yes. It’s a very relaxed form of learning that can be combined with almost anything. If you don’t know what to listen to,
check this article and its follow-ups. Bear in mind that tones in music are mostly ignored, so make sure song lyrics isn’t your main input channel (I would avoid it as a beginner).
- I have an important exam coming up, how can I prepare for it?
You prepare by studying diligently well in advance. However,
there are some things to keep in mind if you really care about the grades (in difference to caring only about how much you learn).
- Do I have to get a Chinese name when learning Chinese? If so, how do I find a good one?
You should find yourself a good Chinese name. The most common way is to find Chinese characters that sound like your name (
here are some common examples), which is an okay solution. The best option, however, is to ask a native speaker for help ,who can find you a name that both sounds good and is actually Chinese. Read more:
How to find a suitable Chinese name.
- I want to work as a teacher, is that realistic? What's it like?
There’s need for both native speakers and non-native speakers in Chinese classrooms and you don’t need to be near-native to be able to teach. Of course, you do need a very good grasp of basic, conversational Chinese to teach even beginners, but you will also learn along the way. Teaching Chinese is one of the best ways of learning the language! Make sure you research your intended market, though, especially what certificates and diplomas might be required.
- I'm a Chinese teacher. Do you have a list of articles that are particularly relevant for teachers?
Yes, although it hasn’t been carefully curated, meaning that there are many articles that probably should be tagged, but aren’t. I plan to create a separate category for teachers, but haven’t had time to do so yet!
- I want to work as a translator, is that realistic? What's it like?
Becoming a translator requires serious dedication over a long period of time, and unless your language proficiency is combined with some other expertise, it’s not very well paid. Research the market you want to be active in! Check this interview I did with a certified translator:
How to become a Chinese-English translator and what it’s like to be one.
- What useful resources are there for learning Chinese?
Check
Hacking Chinese Resources, which contains hundreds of links tagged and sorted by level, topic and type.
2. Chinese characters, words and grammar
- Should I learn simplified or traditional characters?
You will eventually learn both, which is much easier than you might think. Starting out, I recommend going with simplified characters unless you have a special interest in Taiwan or Hongkong.
- Are Chinese characters pictures?
No. Some of them started out as pictures and can be understood as stylised versions of pictures, but they aren’t pictures.
A vast majority of characters have phonetic components, meaning that they look the way they do partly because of the way they are pronounced.
- How can I learn Chinese characters effectively?
- How can I remember all the characters and words I've learnt?
You have two options, which aren’t mutually exclusive:
Spaced repetition software and massive exposure. You should also learn the basics of how your memory works,
including mnemonics.
You can train yourself to remember things better.
- I don't like spaced repetition apps, are there any alternatives?
Yes,
massive amounts of exposure, i.e.
extensive reading and listening. And that’s a good idea even if you do like spaced repetition apps!
- I'm trying to learn characters by breaking them down into radicals, but there are so many! Which should I learn first?
In general, you should learn components you see frequently. If you really want a list,
here’s a good place to start. Also
check the component section of this article. You should also be aware that “radical” is the wrong word for what you’re describing. The radical of a Chinese character is the part of the character that decides where it gets sorted in a dictionary. Thus, characters have only one radical. In essence, all radicals are component,s but not all components are radicals. It’s often the semantic (meaning) component that is the radical, but
there are also phonetic components!
See this article about functional components.
- I know character components, characters and words, but how can I make it all fit together?
Your knowledge of Chinese vocabulary can be likened to a web with several layers: components, characters and words. In this structure, you need to be able to
zoom in (i.e. break things down) and
zoom out (i.e. see things in context), but
you also need to be able to pan (i.e. comparing characters to other characters). Only then can you create a fully integrated web.
- Do I really need to learn to write all these characters by hand? Can't I just type?
You don’t need to know how to write all characters by hand, even native speakers forget sometimes, but
learning the most common ones (let’s say 1000) by hand makes sure that you learn how characters work, which will enhance your ability read them as well. Writing is also a very active form of reading practice and it’s unlikely you’ll forget how to read a character you once knew how to write.
- Do I have to learn the stroke order and direction for all characters?
Yes, but this becomes easier the more you learn and is not an issue after a while. You need to do that because it represent a natural way of writing the characters and it makes your handwriting easier to read. It also
makes it easier for you to read other people’s handwriting!.
- My handwriting looks really bad, is that normal? How can I make it look better?
- The characters that are shown on my phone/computer look different from those in my textbook, what's wrong?
You probably don’t have correct fonts installed. This is a much trickier subject than you might imagine when you start learning Chinese, so I’ve written
a guide to Chinese fonts for language learners.
- How can I learn to talk about Chinese characters the way native speakers do?
- What's the most efficient way to maintain the ability to write characters in Chinese?
A combination of spaced repetition and integrated communicative handwriting is the best way! It makes sure that you know the characters, yet doesn’t require you to spend an extraordinary amount of time writing by hand.
- When using a flashcard app, how can I avoid being overwhelmed by the number of reviews?
- Should I learn characters/words from lists? If so, what lists?
- So, if I shouldn't learn words mainly from lists, how do I know which words to learn?
This should be mainly driven by communicative needs, which means that if you need to ask this question, you’re not engaging with the language enough, because that will generate an endless list of things to learn. If you’re a beginner, I would focus on high-frequency vocabulary mixed with things you want/need to say. More here:
Which words you should learn and where to find them.
- There are so many words that seem to mean roughly the same thing, how can I tell them apart?
To start with, you probably shouldn’t. What I mean is, don’t spent one minute learning a word and 50 minutes trying to figure out how it’s different from another word. You will learn this by listening/reading more and by getting feedback on your own speaking/writing.
If you really want to figure out the difference between near-synonyms, check this guide.
- How should I learn Chinese grammar?
Implicitly through exposure with a seasoning of explicit instruction. In other words, the bulk of your learning should be exposure to the language, not intense study of specific grammar rules. I once asked 16 other advanced language learners and teachers how students should learn grammar,
and you can read their answers here.
- There are so many dictionaries available, which one is the best?
- What useful resources are there for learning characters, words and grammar?
Check
Hacking Chinese Resources, which contains hundreds of links tagged and sorted by level, topic and type.
3. Listening ability
- I find listening ability to be the hardest part of learning Chinese. What should I do?
Listen more! No, that’s not meant to be a cruel joke. When it comes to listening, quantity trumps almost everything. If you want a more detailed answer,
check this series of articles about improving listening ability.
- Ok, I get it, I should listen more, but how do I do that? It's hard to find the time!
This is mostly a matter of practice (i.e. if you make an effort to listen more, you’ll get better and finding time to do so).
Start by making sure practical problems aren’t an issue. You should also
make sure that you have listening for all occasions, including both easy and challenging content.
- How can I keep up with the speed of native speech? Even if I know the words, it's still too fast!
This is because your listening speed is not up to par. You need more time to connect the spoken words to meaning than it takes the native speaker to say them, so you fall behind. Listen more!
- Is there a good and cheap way to create audio flashcards so I can learn to understand words better/faster?
It is regrettable that many flashcards apps have lousy support for audio-only flashcards,
but you can set this up in Anki for free.
- Will I learn more quickly by listening to more difficult Chinese?
In certain situations, yes, but not in general.You should listen to much more Chinese than you do, but it shouldn’t be so hard you don’t understand what’s going on.
Listening is mostly a matter of practice, so make sure you have audio materials for all situations (
background,
passive and
active listening)Also check
this article about deep-end immersion vs. comprehension-based listening.
- How can I make my Chinese listening easier? It's too hard!
This is indeed a problem, but it gets better the more you learn. One way to make things easier is to simply find easier material.
Another is to scaffold your learning, making use of various tools and techniques to make it easier..
- Why can I only understand what my teacher says, but not ordinary people?
The teacher knows exactly what words you know and can tailor the language to suit you. Normal people can’t or won’t do that.
It could also be that they speak with an accent. Once you’ve learnt the basics,
you should deliberately diversify your input so you don’t only hear a few people speaking.
- How can I learn to hear the difference between tones or similar sounds?
Research shows that you need systematic input with feedback (i.e. you need to know what the right answer is). Exaggerated input, such as a teacher exaggerating the difference and then gradually making it less exaggerated can also work. Read more here:
Training and testing your ability to hear Mandarin sounds and
How to learn to hear the tones in Mandarin.
- What useful resources are there for improving listening ability?
4. Reading ability
- I can read texts at my level, but I read too slowly, how can I improve?
- Why is it so hard to read Chinese text aloud?
- I've heard some people memorise dictionaries to boost reading ability. That's crazy! Is it really a good idea?
In some very specific situations, yes, but only in combination with other methods.
I actually did memorise a dictionary once.
- Is it a good idea to read manga/comics to learn Chinese?
Yes, definitely! The context given by the illustrations is great scaffolding and makes understanding easier. It’s also an excellent way to read spoken language.
- I want to start reading real books in Chinese, but it's a daunting task, how should I approach it?
I suggest that you try reading a translation of a book you’ve already read in English and like a lot. That way, you know what it’s about and that you like it. You should probably check the translation with a native speaker to make sure it’s not too bad.
- How can I use technology to aid my Chinese reading practice?
Modern technology has a much bigger impact on reading Chinese than it has on reading other languages. Digital reading allows instant dictionary look-ups, which is a real problem when reading on paper.
Reading on your phone has additional benefits, such as breaking the text down into more manageable chunks. Be aware that using technology has both
pros and
cons.
- I know I should read more, but it's hard to find time and motivation to do so, what can I do?
I suggest building an environment which encourages reading and that you make a serious effort to find things you are really interested in reading. Read more here:
How to find the time and motivation to read more Chinese.
It’s also important that you don’t read texts that are too hard, otherwise you will never be able to read as much as you should. You can also try
joining a reading challenge!
- What useful resources are there for learning to read Chinese?
5. Speaking ability
- I find Pinyin confusing, how should I approach learning it?
Pinyin wasn’t designed with foreign language learners in mind, so most of the things you find confusing are actually reasonable from that perspective. However,
this means that there are some traps and pitfalls you should be aware of. Another thing worth noting is that
Mandarin syllables should be thought of as initial, final and tone, not individual letters, since the latter approach will generate errors.
- Is Pinyin, Zhuiyin (Bopomofo) or perhaps IPA best for writing down Mandarin sounds?
As usual, that depends on what you mean by “best”. Most convenient? Pinyin. Less convenient, but less risk of transferring pronunciation from your native language? Zhuin. Most accurate? IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet).
I’ve written a three-part series about this question starting here.
- How can I stop translating from my native language in my head?
There is no magic trick. The better you become at Chinese, the easier it will be to think in Chinese. If you’ve studied for some time, you probably don’t need to think “hello”, then translate that to 你好 and then say it. Eventually, all common words will be like that and you no longer need to translate.
- I want to practise my Chinese, but I'm too shy. What should I do?
- I make mistakes when I speak and feel bad about it. What should I do?
- When someone corrects my Chinese, I get defensive. What to do?
Stop it!
People who correct you are rare and should be treasured. Understand what they are saying and thank them for their help.
- I just started learning Mandarin and find pronunciation hard. Do you have any advice?
- How can I know if my pronunciation is good?
Don’t pay too much attention to praise you receive from native speakers. If they find it easy to understand you when you say non-obvious things, you’re probably okay. If you really want to check specific sounds,
try minimal pair bingo. More advice on
how to test pronunciation can be found here.
- Chinese people seem to understand me even when I get the tones wrong, so why should I waste time learning them?
They understand you because they can guess what you want to say based on context, not because tones are not important. Pirhips i cin indirstind this tii? That doesn’t mean vowels are unimportant in English.
Tones become more and more important the less predictable your utterances are. I have met hundreds of advanced learners and teachers, and I have yet to meet someone who thinks beginners should skimp on tone practice.
Tones are more important than you think, not less.
- When practising tones, should I focus on single syllables, words or phrases?
Only focus on single syllables to understand the basics of tones,
then move on to two-syllable words, which by far the most important unit. Phrases are also great to practice,
especially if you’re mimicking.
- Why doesn't what my teacher/textbook say about the third tone match what I hear people say?
- How much Chinese should I speak with my teacher? Is it okay to use my native language?
You should speak Chinese as much as possible, but it’s okay to use your native language occasionally to make sure you really understand.
Here are some suggestions for how to convert more conversations into Chinese. Your teacher should definitely speak as much Chinese as possible. The hallmark of a great teacher is that they can give give talk with you in a way you understand and don’t resort to English all the time.
- I want to improve my speaking ability and pronunciation, but I don't want to pay for it and there are no friendly native speakers nearby, what should I do?
Fortunately, one of the most powerful methods for improving is free and easy to use.
Mimic native speakers as closely as you can. Produce an exact copy of an audio recording. T
hen recording yourself and compare with the original.
- My pronunciation is quite good, but I want to take it to the next level, what should I do?
- How can I speed up my spoken Chinese? It takes to long to recall the right words.
- What useful resources are there for learning to speak Chinese?
Check
Hacking Chinese Resources, which contains hundreds of links tagged and sorted by level, topic and type. If you’re after pronunciation resources in particular,
check this overview.
6. Writing ability (composition)
- How can I get started writing in Chinese when I don't know many characters and words?
- How can I make the most out my writing practice?
The most effective way of improving writing is through cycles of feedback and correction (process writing). Make sure you actually understand the feedback you get and use it to improve. However, don’t forget that reading should always come before writing; without it, you’ll never write well.
- I've heard that translation is a bad way of learning a language, is that true?
No, it’s not a good main method if your goal is to
be able to communicate in Chinese. However, that doesn’t mean that translation both
form Chinese and
to Chinese can be very helpful, they just shouldn’t be your main method for learning.
- Translating to Chinese is hard and my friend tells me my sentences are English but with Chinese words, what should I do?
- How can I learn to write about (some specific topic) in Chinese?
The road to writing well goes through reading a lot. If you want to learn to write about, say, finance in Chinese,
start by reading as much as you can about the topic.
Read articles and write summaries. You will soon find that you can paraphrase with more ease, and then write with your own words.
- What useful resources are there for learning to write in Chinese?
Check
Hacking Chinese Resources, which contains hundreds of links tagged and sorted by level, topic and type.
7. Managing your studies
- I don't really have a clear goal for learning Chinese, is that okay?
- How can I fit learning Chinese into an already busy schedule?
You have to realise that “learning Chinese” is not a single activity, but rather one that can be broken down and
spread out. When you start looking at your time in a more dynamic way,
you’ll find that there are lots of opportunities for learning Chinese throughout the day. You also need to
make sure you study the right thing at the right time.
- I don't seem to be making any progress any more, what should I do?
If you’re engaging with the language, but feel that you’re making less progress, it could just be because of diminishing returns, i.e. that each character or word you learn makes much less difference the more you know.
Slow progress is hard to notice; benchmark! Note that when yous tart measuring your progress,
the way you measure influences the way you study.
- I feel burnt out and have lost my motivation, what should I do?
Motivation comes and goes, even for highly motivated people.
If possible, prepare for slumps in motivation before they occur. While in a slump, take it easy,
focus on the enjoyable things. Only ramp up studying when motivation comes back, otherwise you risk really burning out.
- I heard about a great method for learning, but I find it very boring, should I still use it?
- How can I avoid being distracted and get more done?
This question requires a book-length answer, but
one quick fix is to try time boxing (the Pomodoro Technique), which works wonders for most people.
- How can I ensure that I spend the time learning that I need to reach my goals?
Focus on building habits that include all the skills you need. If you don’t study full time, you probably need to cycle skills, i.e. focus more on reading for a period, then on writing and so on.
Check out Hacking Chinese Challenges.
- What useful resources are there for managing and organising my studies?
Check
Hacking Chinese Resources, which contains hundreds of links tagged and sorted by level, topic and type.
8. About Hacking Chinese
- What is Hacking Chinese?
Hacking Chinese is a website focusing on how to learn Chinese. Most other resources focus on the language itself: the characters, the words, the grammar, and so on, but Hacking Chinese is about
how to learn all these things.
An overview can be found on the front page.
- Hacking? What's that got do do with languages?
Hacking is about understanding how language learning works and using that knowledge to your advantage. It’s about the constant search for a better way of learning. Language hacking is related to computer hacking in the shared values of resourcefulness, experimentation and optimisation, but of course involves nothing illegal or bad. Language hacking is good for everyone and completely safe, even if it might bring you into conflict with conservative teachers.
- Why is Hacking Chinese called 揭密中文 in Chinese? My Chinese friend says it's not correct.
The this website is of course carefully chosen to reflect the nature of the website. 中文 is chosen to be as inclusive as possible (all other alternatives are more limited). 揭密 was chosen over other variants (揭祕) because what I do here is more akin to decoding rather than revealing secrets. Also, 揭密 is the same in simplified and traditional, which is convenient! Note that the seal used for the logo is written from top to bottom, right to left.
- Is your advice useful for learners of other Chinese dialects or even other languages?
All articles are relevant for learners of Mandarin, a vast majority are useful even if you study a dialect other than Mandarin (but examples are usually in Mandarin), and many articles are useful for learning any language. In fact, many regular readers don’t even study Chinese!
- How did you learn Chinese?
I started learning Chinese in 2007 when I was 23. I have written a series of articles about my journey, starting here:
How I Learnt Chinese, part 1: Where it all started.
- What other projects are you working on, except Hacking Chinese?
Primarily
Skritter and
WordSwing. Check them out if you haven’t already!
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1 comments
xiexie nin for thus wonderful jihui.