Hacking Chinese

A better way of learning Mandarin

Articles in the ‘Speaking’ category

  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.

    Read →

  2. The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese in 2025

    Videos are ideal for learning Chinese. The visual element makes the content more comprehensible and engaging, resulting in effective and enjoyable learning. But what videos should you watch? What are the best YouTube Channels?

    Read →

  3. Chinese speaking challenge, March 2025

    Chinese speaking ability

    It’s time for a speaking challenge! It starts on March 10th, so enrol, set your goal and improve your speaking ability as much as you can before the end of the month. This article contains more information about the challenge, some important things to keep in mind as well as some advice about improving speaking ability in Chinese.

    Read →

  4. Student Q&A: March, 2025: Chinese slang, leaving expat bubbles, and competing with other learners

    Is learning Chinese slang worth your time? What do you do when someone with less study time speaks better than you? And how can you escape the expat bubble and start learning Mandarin?

    Read →

  5. Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner

    Some say that dating a native speaker is the ultimate shortcut to fluency. “You’ll learn effortlessly with a teacher always by your side!” But is learning Chinese with a partner really the silver bullet it’s often made out to be?

    Read →

  6. Welcome to The Fluent Listener, a new course from Hacking Chinese!

    Develop essential Mandarin listening skills with my new course, The Fluent Listener. Enrol by February 16 for lifetime access to video lessons, curated resources, tailored guidance, and a supportive learning community.

    Read →

  7. What native speakers know about Chinese (and what they don’t)

    You say something in Mandarin, a native speaker corrects you, and you adjust. The next day, another native speaker tells you to revert to your original phrasing. What’s going on? Let’s explore what native speakers know and what they don’t!

    Read →

  8. Benchmarking progress in Chinese to stay motivated

    The more Chinese you learn, the less noticeable your progress becomes. Benchmarking can make your improvements more visible and help you stay motivated!

    Read →

  9. Do you really know how to count in Chinese?

    Counting is one of the first things we learn in a foreign language, yet mastering it takes time. While basic numbers may seem simple, using them effectively in communication requires much more than just memorising words.

    Read →

  10. Don’t learn Mandarin pronunciation by reading, listen and mimic instead

    Don’t try to learn pronunciation by reading. Instead, the best way to improve is to listen to and mimic native speakers. Focusing too much on how sounds are written down can actually make it harder to hear them!

    Read →