Hacking Chinese

A better way of learning Mandarin

Articles published in April 2025

  1. 7 kinds of tone problems in Mandarin and what to do about them

    Tones in Mandarin are tricky, and students face many different kinds of problems. Identifying the type of problem is important for fixing it.

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  2. Why using a good dictionary can be bad for your Chinese reading ability

    Digital dictionaries make reading Chinese easier, but they might also prevent you from learning essential strategies. Let’s have a look at why using a good dictionary can be bad for your reading ability!

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  3. The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners

    Reading is the best way to expand vocabulary and learn new things in Chinese. What are the best free resources out there for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners? This article collects and introduces the ten best free reading resources in each category!

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  4. Chinese reading challenge, April 2025

    It’s time for a Chinese reading challenge! It starts on April 10th, so enrol, set your goal and read as much as you can before the end of the month. This article contains more information about the challenge, as well as some advice about improving reading ability in Chinese.

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  5. Student Q&A: April, 2025: Reading with Pinyin, Chinese texts on your phone, and deciphering handwriting

    Should you read Chinese with or without Pinyin? What are the pros and cons of reading on your phone? And how do you learn to read Chinese people’s handwriting?

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