“Are you sure you want to do that? It’s going to take forever.”

“I could never learn such an intimidating language.”

These are all things that teachers, family members, and friends said to me when I started to learn Mandarin Chinese at the age of 16. Yet despite all the comments I heard about the “extreme difficulty” of the language, I always felt that it was actually quite intuitive to pick up. As much as I would love to pretend to be a genius with an innate gift for Chinese fluency, the fact of the matter is that many people perceive Mandarin Chinese to be more complex and difficult than it really is.

It’s true that there are numerous challenges for native English speakers to overcome when learning Chinese, such as learning a new writing system and mastering the phonetic differences between the two languages. However, there are also a lot of aspects of the Chinese language that make it less complex than English. In this article, I will reveal the features of the language that make it easy to pick up, but I will also address the parts that make it difficult and how you can overcome those obstacles using tried-and-true tools and strategies.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s begin with the reasons why Chinese is quite an easy language to learn.

Three Reasons Why Mandarin Chinese is Easy for English Speakers

1). Mandarin Chinese verbs never change based on context

For native English speakers, verb conjugation is something we do without even thinking about it. We grew up learning to modify verbs based on their subject, for example “I have” or “she has,” but in Chinese, verbs will always remain the same no matter what the subject or object is. Going back to the previous example, in Chinese you can just say 我有(wǒ yǒu, I have) and 她有(tā yǒu, she has), no change required.

Verbs in English also have tense, meaning that the verb’s spelling and pronunciation will change based on the time when something happened, such as “I have” and “I had.” Verb tense also doesn’t exist in Chinese; the language uses syntax or other markers to indicate when something happened.

When it comes to learning a new verb in Chinese, you only need to learn one character and one pronunciation. On the other hand, a native Chinese speaker studying English would have to memorize multiple verb forms based on who is doing the action and when it’s happening. This is just one example of how Mandarin Chinese can be simpler than English.

2). Imperfect pronunciation will not prevent you from being understood

Chinese is a tonal language; words change meaning based on the tone you use while saying them. You’ll often hear that if you mispronounce one word, suddenly you’re saying something completely different than what you meant (oftentimes something wildly inappropriate or silly). However, the missing key here is context. When having a conversation, you can have imperfect pronunciation and incorrect tones, but the person listening will still understand you based on the other words you’re saying and the overall conversation you’re having.

Take the example of the difference between 妈 (mā, mother) and 马 (mǎ, horse). It’s true that the tone is the only thing that differentiates these two words when spoken aloud, but nobody is going to think that you went to your horse’s house last night for dinner.

Accurate pronunciation is a key part of fluency and is something that we should strive for as learners, but many people let the fear of being misunderstood prevent them from even beginning to learn the language. The truth is that tone mastery comes with intentional practice and time. Nobody, except for maybe a lucky few, uses tones like a native from the get go, and that’s perfectly okay!

3). You don’t need to learn to write Chinese characters to use them

Another factor that many English speakers find intimidating is learning to write characters by hand. It can seem like a massive undertaking to train your hand to trace different lines and memorize correct stroke order. It’s like going back to kindergarten and starting from scratch. If you feel that learning to write Chinese characters takes too much time and effort, I have great new for you: you don’t have to!

Similar to English, most people are more comfortable typing in Chinese than actually writing, and this is true of native speakers and learners alike. Learning to type Chinese characters is quite simple and can be as easy as typing the pronunciation and selecting the character from a list. Nowadays, there are very few situations that would require you to write characters by hand, such as sitting for a written Chinese exam.

There are several benefits to practicing handwriting, including improving your ability to memorize new vocabulary words, better understanding the structure of Chinese characters, and making it easier to use Chinese dictionaries and various typing input methods. But being unable to write characters by hand won’t prevent you from being able to reach fluency and communicate in Mandarin.

Part 2: Three Reasons Why Mandarin Chinese is Hard for English Speakers and How to Overcome Them

1). There is a significant learning curve for beginners

There are many factors that make Chinese so different from English, including the writing system, tones, pronunciation, and grammar. Rather than looking at them all individually, let’s step back to see the big picture. When approaching Mandarin Chinese for the first time, there’s a lot of new information to process, and that can intimidate new learners before they even begin. However, it’s important to keep in mind that new concept quickly become familiar, and your fluency will grow exponentially once you get over the initial hump.

How do you get past that point, though? For many languages, not just Chinese, taking time to intentionally concentrate on the foundations of the language will have a massive payoff both in the short and long term. For example, learning the different components of Chinese characters will massively speed up your progress in reading and writing. Familiarizing yourself with the sounds of the language will help you better pick out different words and tones while listening and can boost your speaking skills significantly.

2). Mandarin Chinese has an extremely vast amount of vocabulary to learn

Thinking about the number of Chinese characters required to achieve a high level of fluency can make your head spin. Most native speakers know around 8,000 characters. The highest level of the HSK 3.0, the standard exam used to measure Chinese fluency, requires over 10,000 characters. While it’s true that expanding your Chinese vocabulary will improve your ability to read complex texts, express yourself eloquently, understand complicated speech, and write like a native speaker, in reality, you can know a much smaller number of characters and still function in the language.

For example, by learning the 100 most common Chinese characters, you’ll be able understand almost half of everyday conversations. If you learn the 1,000 most common characters, that number will increase to almost 90%. Taking the time to learn three characters a day could help you reach that level in less than a year.

Learning a new language is always a marathon, not a sprint. But it can be extremely motivating to know that you can make great strides by growing your vocabulary in consistent, small doses.

3). Native Chinese speakers can be very difficult to understand

Mandarin Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Having so many native and non-native speakers from around the world also means that there are many different accents and dialects, each with their own phonetic nuances and particular vocabulary. In fact, the Beijing Mandarin accent is referred to as 儿化 (érhuà) to describe the way that speakers excessively add the 儿(ér) sound at the end of words, sometimes making their speech unintelligible to outsiders.

While there is a whole wide world of accents to attune your ears to, they share many of the same phonetic bases. And like all things, the ability to listen and understand comes with time and targeted practice. If you feel intimidated thinking about how many different accents there are, know that you don’t need to learn them all. You only need to learn the ones that are relevant to you, such as the accent spoken in a region you plan to visit or the dialect that your relatives speak. The internet offers a wealth of resources for standard Mandarin and almost every variation you can think of.

If you find yourself intimidated by the vastness of the language, breaking things down into smaller pieces and focusing on the most essential things first will help you get your bearings and gradually guide you towards mastery.

A Final Word

While my own Chinese experience began with others telling me that I couldn’t do it or it wasn’t worth it, I proved them wrong because I decided to tread my own path.

For many others, that negative voice can come from inside. There may be that part of you that says “oh, that seems too complicated” or “I’m really out of my comfort zone here.” It’s important to question if those thoughts are coming from preconceived notions you have about the challenge ahead or about your own abilities. The difference between thought and reality can be striking.

If you’re interested in starting your Chinese learning journey, but you hear that little voice telling you that you can’t do it, give yourself permission to try. Sometimes we discover that we’ve been standing in our own way.

I hope that this article has shown you that Mandarin Chinese is a unique language with its own challenges but also a language that you can adapt to easily if you approach it with thoughtfulness and openness.

The post Is Chinese Too Hard to Learn? Confronting the Biggest Myths About Mandarin appeared first on .

As you read this list, think about how you would feel in each learning environment and ask yourself a few questions:

• Do I like being in a big group class where I can practice and socialize with other students, or do I feel anxious or distracted when there are so many people?
• This class takes place at night. Do I really have energy for studying after spending the whole day at work? Is there a weekend option instead?
• Online classes seem really convenient, but will I find it easier to focus when I’m face-to-face with my teacher?
• I really like the idea of a personal tutor, do I have enough money to pay for a lesson each week? Can I do a lesson every two weeks instead?

When there are so many different factors to keep track of, think of the things that are going to have the highest impact on your learning experience. For example, if your budget is really limited, but your schedule is more flexible, then you can focus on the options that meet those requirements.

1. The Confucius Institute in Montreal

Named after the famous ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, this organization was set up by the Chinese government to promote the Chinese language and culture overseas. Its branches are usually connected to a university, in Montreal being Dawson College. However, because they are a part of the same organization, the curriculum and teaching style is rather uniform. Due to the rigid structure, I would recommend these classes for anyone wanting to see what it’s like learning the language or wanting to pick it up again. They also offer HSK preparation classes. The HSK exam is the official government-recognized Chinese proficiency test; it is highly recommended to take it if you want to work or study in China.

While the course descriptions and other information about the Institute is available on the Confucius Institute in Quebec website, the course schedule for each session will be posted on the continuing education section of the Dawson College website. With a price tag of $240 CAD per 30 hours of instruction each semester, these courses are quite budget friendly compared to the cost of private tutoring.

2. Local Montreal Chinese Schools

If you’re looking for a learning experience that goes beyond linguistic knowledge and helps you become more engaged with Chinese culture, look no further than Montreal’s own local Chinese schools. Here you’ll find a more immersive learning environment than anywhere else. Each school is like its own community, making it an ideal space for not only studying the language and culture but actually engaging with it as well. These schools are an excellent option for families as they have classes available for both children and adults. Thanks to the fact that these schools are non-profit, they are often more affordable than other options as well.

A) The Montreal Chinese School 蒙城中華語文學校

This non-profit school was established over 40 years ago, in 1983, with the aim of promoting overseas Chinese linguistic and cultural education. Located in Saint Laurent, it’s accessible via public transportation, but it is a far more convenient trip if you drive a car. All of their classes are held on Sundays, making them a practical option for adults with full-time work or studies as well as busy families. Classes are held for two hours each week, and you can expect to pay around $250-$300 CAD for each semester, making this one of the most cost-effective options on this list.

Their course offerings for children are very diverse, covering not only Chinese language and culture but also other school subjects including math, English, and French. One of the unique things about their Chinese classes for children is that there are classes intended for both native and non-native speakers, meaning that your child can come and learn even if they do not speak Mandarin at home already.

For adults, they offer conversational Chinese classes for both lower and upper levels. While they don’t offer the same variety of courses that they have for younger learners, the adult conversation courses are available both in the morning and afternoon, meaning that you can likely find a timeslot that works for your schedule. Plus, it can be a convenient opportunity for you to take classes at the same time as your children.

B) JiaoHua School 佳华学校

Located on the same campus as Dawson College, the JiaoHua School is another non-profit Chinese school offering a huge variety of courses for school-age children and a smaller selection of conversational classes for adults. What sets it apart from The Montreal Chinese school mentioned above is that they offer weekday evening classes and even online classes. The tuition cost can vary greatly, with adult classes starting at approximately $120 CAD and some weekday children’s programs costing around $360 CAD.

Their course offerings for children include Mandarin Chinese classes for both native and non-native speakers, other academic subjects, and fine arts. Their adult Chinese courses take place both in-person and online on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 11:20am. Bear in mind that registration for each school year begins well in advance, with in-person and online registration for the fall semester beginning as early as April. I would also recommend this school for parents who are looking to learn alongside their children or who may be looking for extracurricular activities for their children.

C) Learn Chinese with Anna

While formal Chinese schools and university programs offer a more structured learning experience, sometimes they can be too rigid in terms of both schedule and curriculum. This is where going with a personalized tutor may be more your speed. While hiring a tutor will generally cost more than the previously mentioned courses, you may see that you feel more engaged and progress faster when you can focus on the content that is most relevant to you. A one-on-one or small group approach will also ensure that you receive more individualized attention and feedback, which can be crucial for helping you reach your learning targets.

With an overflowing list of positive reviews and a history of collaboration with major Montreal organizations, including Desjardins and UQÀM, Anna has earned her stellar reputation. Her qualifications cannot be overstated: she has a master’s degree in second language education and over 20 years of teaching experience. What I find truly excellent is that your lessons with her can be whatever you need them to be. Anna offers one-on-one lessons, small group sessions, and large group classes. She is also ready to adapt to whatever your learning needs and goals are, including HSK preparation, business Chinese, daily conversation, and travel. She also nails the convenience factor because she holds her lesson in-person, online, and even by telephone if need be. When it comes to pricing, there is a high variability that depends on class size, lesson length, and other factors. Anna herself will provide you with an individualized quote when you get in contact. I think it’s pretty clear that Anna offers a true one-stop-shop for Chinese lessons, where she’ll act as your personal tailor.

3. Online Chinese Tutors

When learning a global language like Chinese, sometimes you need to consider that the best teacher for you may not currently be in Montreal. If you think that might be the case for you, no worries, we’ve still got you covered. Online tutors from all around the world can offer even more flexibility in terms of schedule and price point, but you may have to put in more research to find the right person to help you reach your learning goals.

A) iTalki

iTalki is an online foreign language tutoring platform that offers one-on-one sessions with thousands of tutors from all around the world, including over 1,300 tutors for Mandarin Chinese. The biggest selling point of this service is its level of flexibility: flexible schedule, pricing, and lesson types. As opposed to other tutoring services, you are not assigned a specific tutor. You’re in the driver’s seat and have complete control over which tutors you’d like to reach out to and try a lesson with. Many tutors on iTalki offer discounted trial lessons, which allows you to get a feel for their teaching style before committing to more classes.

       One downside to having so much control is that it can take a lot of time and effort to research tutors, checking their qualifications, reviews, availability, and prices. You can search for tutors based on specific criteria, such as teaching credentials and whether or not they’re a native speaker of Chinese. Another thing that can help you select a suitable tutor is through video introductions that you can find on each tutor’s profile. It’s amazing how quickly you can tell if someone is a good match just based on the vibes from their video clip.

B) Touch Chinese

Touch Chinese is a completely different experience from iTalki for a few reasons. Namely, Touch Chinese is exclusively focused on providing the best quality tutoring experience specifically for Mandarin Chinese. They very carefully vet all of their teachers to ensure that they have the necessary teaching experience and provide an engaging experience for students. You can read all of their teachers’ profiles and request a specific one, or you can allow them to match you with someone who fits your schedule and learning needs. They offer free trial classes to ensure that you’re paired with the teacher who is right for you.

While initially this may seem like a very formal approach, I’ve found that Touch Chinese’s tutors are always ready to adapt to my unique learning needs. They can offer more structured classes for HSK preparation and business Chinese, or they can provide conversation practice with specific feedback. While Touch Chinese’s services may cost a little more than independent tutors on iTalki, there’s a much higher standard of quality.

BONUS: Language Meetups in Montreal for Practicing Chinese

Just one of the many great things about living in Montreal is that it’s a lively city full of activity. As a global hotspot for linguists and polyglots, there are several free meetups all over the city where you can come and sharpen your language skills.

1) Mundo Lingo Montreal

Mundo Lingo is an event held in many different cities around the world, from Nanjing and Osaka to New York and even Montreal. Essentially, it’s a free meetup held once or twice a week in a bar where people gather to practice their various languages. Typically, everyone wears flag stickers to indicate which languages they speak to facilitate finding a partner.

Mundo Lingo Montreal posts updates on their Facebook group regularly. As of 2023, the event is held every Wednesday at 7pm at Clébard in the Plateau and every Friday at 7pm at Abreuvoir in the Quartier Latin. Keep in mind that these events are 18+, and since they are held in a bar, it is generally polite to order at least one drink or food item. In my own experience, it’s a very fun and lively atmosphere that allows you to get out of your comfort zone. If you’ve been studying Chinese for a while and want to practice speaking in a low-pressure environment, Mundo Lingo could be a good match for you.

2) Community Culture Exchange

If the party atmosphere of Mundo Lingo feels like a bit too much, Community Culture Exchange might be more your speed. Held every third Wednesday of the month at 1pm, this Chinese-English/French language exchange event welcomes learners of all levels and backgrounds. In small groups, participants play games and have friendly conversation first speaking only in Chinese and then speaking in only English or French. This event is held at Chez Alexandre downtown, making it extremely accessible. You can RSVP to this event in advance on their Meetup page.

That’s a lot of information! Where do I go from here?

With so many different learning formats and options available, it can be difficult to process and figure out how to proceed. Ultimately, you are the only person who is going to know what the best choice for YOU is. When you read this list, were there any options that really piqued your interest? Did you see anything that really excited you? That’s usually the best starting point.

An easy way to begin is to pick two options that interest you the most and take the time to personally look at their websites or reach out to them for more information. You may find that one of them simply works better for your needs. If you’re having trouble deciding, you may even want to consider a hybrid approach! For example, you can supplement in-person or online Chinese courses with one-on-one tutoring to help you progress even faster.

The path to learning Chinese is a long one, so taking the time to find an approach that makes you feel engaged and happy is extremely worthwhile.

If you’re based in Montreal yourself, have you checked out any of these options before? Are there any that we missed? Leave us a comment down below, and we’d love to what you have to say!

The post Learn Chinese in Montreal: Which Classes and Tutors are Right for You? appeared first on .

Equally important in this learning process is choosing the right learning material. A well-chosen book can significantly impact your learning progress. It’s essential to select a book that aligns with your learning objectives, whether it’s passing a Chinese proficiency exam, improving conversational skills, doing business with Chinese people, or understanding Chinese culture. The right book is often well-structured and systematic. It not only guides you through the complexities of the language but also keeps you engaged and motivated throughout your learning journey.

• Understanding Different Learning Levels
• Top Books for Beginner Chinese Learners
• Top Books for Intermediate Chinese Learners
• Top Books for Advanced Chinese Learners
• Specialized Chinese Learning Books for Different Needs
• Learning Strategies and Tips

Understanding Different Learning Levels

Usually, different levels of Chinese learners have distinct needs, and learning books cater to these varying requirements. But how do you choose the good ones?

For beginners, the foundation is always about understanding the basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, mastering pronunciation, and acquiring vocabulary. Beginners need books that introduce basic grammar and vocabulary in a simple, engaging way. Take pronunciation as an example, some books only include one lesson on it, if you don’t have a tutor to do more intensive extra practice, it’s definitely not enough. Usually, no matter if it’s for self-learning or learning with a teacher, a beginner’s book should include detailed pronunciation instructions and practice exercises. The content should present it in small, manageable sections to prevent overwhelming the learner.

For intermediate learners, vocabulary and grammar are the most vital parts. Make sure the grammar points are well explained and the vocabulary is truly at the intermediate level.  Some books might include many unnecessary advanced words. Books for intermediate learners should offer authentic texts, which introduce nuances of the language and encourage reading without Pinyin.

For advanced learners, reading and writing in paragraphs is highly valued. So the variety of topics and richness of the content should be considered carefully when choosing learning books. Advanced books often focus on specific aspects of the language, like formal writing or business communication. There’s less emphasis on language rules and more on usage, idioms, and style.

If there is a certain aspect you need to improve, such as speaking, writing, test preparation, or business conversations, then choose a book that focuses on that point. There are books that place emphasis on certain skills across all levels. For example, if you want to improve your reading level, then your target book should offer texts of increasing complexity, with exercises to improve comprehension. You can always find a book that caters to your needs.

Top Chinese Books for Beginners

For complete beginners, traditional textbooks are the most common pick because it offers the most structured and systematic approach. Books like “Integrated Chinese,” “HSK Standard Course,” and “New Practical Chinese Reader” are popular choices, each with their unique and effective approaches to teaching essential pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

HSK Standard Course Series

These books are tailored for learners preparing for the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) Chinese proficiency tests. They align closely with the HSK exam’s structure, covering the vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension required at each level. They offer systematic and in-depth training with exercises and mock tests that mimic the actual exam format, enabling learners to track and improve their proficiency. HSK Standard Course also progressively introduces Chinese characters, helping beginners transition from Pinyin to reading and writing characters.

Integrated Chinese

This series is known for its balanced approach to teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. It introduces vocabulary and grammar in a contextual manner, focusing on language use in everyday situations. The lessons are structured to gradually build up language proficiency, starting from basic phrases and sentences to more complex structures. Integrated Chinese uses a mix of Pinyin and characters from the start, encouraging learners to familiarize themselves with Chinese script early on.

New Practical Chinese Reader

This series, which is designed to develop communicative competence, is often used in schools. It starts with basic vocabulary and grammar, presented through thematic lessons that reflect real-life situations. The New Practical Chinese Reader series includes cultural notes and background information to enhance students’ understanding. It uses a combination of Pinyin and characters, with a gradual shift towards more character-based content as the learner progresses. The books include a variety of exercises focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

To complement this series, we’ve developed a video course tailored to the New Practical Chinese Reader textbooks, enhancing the learning experience.

Oxford Beginner’s Chinese Dictionary

This is a resource for those starting to learn Chinese. Designed for easy use, it features clear entries with Pinyin, essential vocabulary tailored for beginners, and practical grammar and usage tips. Unique to this dictionary are the cultural insights, enriching the learning experience by connecting language with its cultural context. Additionally, it often includes thematic word lists and may offer digital resources for an enhanced learning experience. This dictionary is more than just a language tool; it’s a comprehensive guide for beginners getting deeper into both the language and culture of China.

Top Books for Intermediate Chinese Learners

Developing Chinese

This series is comprehensive and is often used in academic settings. It systematically introduces vocabulary and grammar concepts, with each lesson building on the previous one. The books use real-life dialogues and texts to provide context for the language elements being taught. They emphasize practical usage and include a variety of exercises to reinforce learning. The series also integrates cultural elements, helping learners to not only prepare for the exams but also gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and its linguistic nuances, which is especially beneficial for intermediate learners. Alongside the comprehensive course, this series also includes listening, speaking, and writing courses at each level, which make it a one-stop-shop for Chinese learners.

Complete Mandarin Chinese

This is a comprehensive guide recommended for learners aiming to reach an intermediate level in Mandarin. This book stands out thanks to its thorough coverage of essential language skills, including advanced vocabulary, complex grammar structures, and practical conversation scenarios. It focuses on real-life language use, enabling learners to improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in a balanced manner. With its clear explanations, varied exercises, and cultural notes, “Complete Mandarin Chinese” is an ideal resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of the language and progress beyond the basics.

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar 

This book offers a clear and detailed overview of complex grammar structures in Mandarin. It is a comprehensive guide, blending traditional and function-based approaches to Mandarin Chinese grammar in one volume. The book is split into two parts: Part A focuses on grammar categories like phrase order and different usages, while Part B centers on language functions such as communication strategies and expressing regrets. Both parts are interlinked with detailed cross-references, enriching the understanding of grammatical patterns with a functional perspective. The grammar points are illustrated with examples emphasizing contemporary usage. Ideal for learners from beginners to intermediate, this book doesn’t require previous grammar knowledge. It includes a glossary of terms and pairs with a separate workbook for exercises. This makes it a comprehensive reference and learning tool for Mandarin Chinese.

A New China: An Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese

Now in a revised single-volume format, this book has established itself as a key textbook for intermediate Chinese language learning. This updated edition integrates the previous two-volume set, reflecting significant changes in China over the past decade. The book, written from the viewpoint of a foreign student newly arrived in China, offers contemporary lessons and materials on China’s evolving landscape. It starts with the student’s initial experiences in Beijing, covering everything from airport arrival to university dorm life. The new edition includes lessons on everyday activities like laundry and haircuts, along with cultural experiences at the zoo, night markets, and the Great Wall. Later sections address China’s current social and political topics, such as divorce and urban traffic challenges. “A New China” is comprehensive, with detailed grammar instructions, extensive vocabulary, and exercises. It also presents content in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters.

Top Books for Advanced Chinese Learners

Advanced Reader of Contemporary Chinese Short Stories: Reflections on Humanity

This collection of contemporary short stories is a great resource for advanced learners. It helps in understanding complex sentence structures, offers insights into Chinese society and culture, and introduces the advanced student to some of the most important Chinese writers. The stories are followed by detailed explanations of difficult phrases and comprehensive language activities. This book is suitable for learners at a high intermediate or advanced level who already have a good grasp of Chinese characters. However, if you find character recognition challenging, the vocabulary lists included will be particularly beneficial.

Eyes on China: An Intermediate-Advanced Reader of Modern Chinese

This is an ideal learning resource for intermediate to advanced Chinese language learners. This book offers a deep view into modern Chinese through a collection of compelling and contemporary readings. Covering a wide range of topics, from cultural trends to social issues, it provides learners with an authentic glimpse into China’s current affairs and everyday life. The book is designed to enhance language skills, particularly reading and comprehension, by presenting complex sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. Each article is accompanied by thorough explanations and vocabulary lists, making it an effective tool for improving both language proficiency and cultural understanding. “Eyes on China” is a valuable asset for learners aiming to achieve a higher level of fluency and a deeper insight into modern Chinese society.

All Things Considered: Revised Edition

This is a thoroughly revised textbook that effectively transitions learners from intermediate to advanced Chinese. Addressing contemporary and stimulating topics relevant to Chinese society, such as wealth disparity, environmental challenges, and evolving views on marriage and sex, the book fosters student engagement and discussion. The first twelve lessons are presented in dialogue form, while the rest feature articles from Chinese newspapers and magazines, exposing students to both spoken and written Chinese. This structure not only provides diverse content but also reinforces learning through repetition of topics in different formats. The new edition of “All Things Considered” presents an improved, user-friendly layout with text and vocabulary on adjacent pages and updated grammar explanations and exercises, making it an ideal resource for advanced Chinese language learners seeking a comprehensive and relevant learning experience.

Specialized Chinese Learning Books for Different Needs

Books to Help Improve Chinese Speaking Skills

New Target Chinese Spoken Language

This series is an innovative set of textbooks specifically designed for learners aiming to enhance their spoken Chinese skills. These books cater to a range of levels, from beginner to advanced, focusing on practical, everyday language use. The series adopts a conversational approach, with each book structured around real-life scenarios that learners are likely to encounter, from basic introductions to more complex social interactions. This method not only helps in building a robust vocabulary and understanding of grammar in a conversational context but also aids in developing listening and speaking skills. The lessons are complemented by cultural insights, making the learning process both comprehensive and engaging. This series is an excellent choice for learners who want to focus primarily on improving their oral communication skills in Mandarin Chinese.

Conversational Chinese 301

This is a widely acclaimed textbook designed for learners aiming to develop practical communication skills in Mandarin Chinese. Renowned for its focus on real-life conversational scenarios, the book comprises 40 lessons, each structured around common daily interactions and dialogues. This setup allows learners to quickly grasp essential vocabulary and sentence structures relevant to everyday situations. The fourth edition updates outdated texts to reflect current social life, adding terms like “high-speed rail,” “express delivery,” and “WeChat.” The lessons are concise yet comprehensive, making them ideal for both classroom use and self-study.

Resources to Help Improve Chinese Listening Skills

China Focus – 《中国微镜头：汉语视听说系列教材》

The “China Focus” series is a comprehensive set of language textbooks specifically designed for Chinese audio-visual courses. The series utilizes a wide array of audio-visual materials drawn from contemporary Chinese society, including documentaries, news, situational dramas, interviews, entertainment programs, short films, advertisements, and songs. It leverages an abundance of online video resources to create a classroom teaching environment based on natural language use. The series is categorized into six levels according to the difficulty of the audio-visual materials and covers various themes such as society, economy, culture, education, life, love, and art. Each theme is further divided into several topics, with each topic compiled into a separate volume. The language component of the series encompasses common communicative functions and scenarios across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, making it an ideal resource for learners seeking to enhance their listening skills in Mandarin.

Developing Chinese: Listening Course

• Elementary Listening Course 1
• Elementary Listening Course 2
• Intermediate Listening Course 1
• Intermediate Listening Course 2
• Advanced Listening Course 1
• Advanced Listening Course 2

This series is excellent for beginner to advanced learners, offering a range of listening exercises that cover various topics and situations. It’s designed to improve comprehensive listening skills and includes recordings of native speakers.

Resources to Improve Chinese Reading Skills

Chinese Breeze

“Chinese Breeze” is a well-regarded graded reader series designed to enhance the reading skills of Chinese language learners. Tailored for beginner and intermediate learners, the series offers a variety of engaging stories, each written using a limited number of unique Chinese characters. This controlled vocabulary approach makes the stories accessible and enjoyable for learners, helping them to build confidence and fluency in reading Chinese. The series covers a wide range of genres, from mystery to romance, providing cultural insights and language learning in an entertaining format.

Mandarin Companion

The “Mandarin Companion” series is a collection of graded readers specifically designed for Chinese language learners. This innovative series reimagines classic Western and Chinese stories, adapting them into simplified Chinese using a controlled vocabulary suitable for beginner and intermediate learners. The unique approach of the “Mandarin Companion” series makes reading in Chinese more accessible and enjoyable, helping learners to improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary in a context-rich environment. The series is acclaimed for its ability to seamlessly blend language learning with engaging storytelling, offering stories in various genres that captivate readers while simultaneously enhancing their Mandarin skills.

Bonus e-based reading resource

Mandarin Bean

Mandarin Bean’s graded reading content is an excellent resource for learners looking to improve their Chinese reading abilities. It offers a diverse selection of stories from ancient to modern China, suitable for learners of all levels. The website features Chinese folktales, idioms, news, jokes, stories from the Three Kingdoms period, and fun modern narratives, providing a rich and engaging learning experience. With Mandarin Bean, learners can build and expand their vocabulary, master Chinese sentence patterns, and immerse themselves in iconic parts of Chinese history and legends. Each article is structured to aid learning while being entertaining, featuring bilingual text in simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English. A Chinese-only version for self-assessment, key vocabulary lists, sentence patterns with contextual examples, and engaging exercises are also available. The content is enhanced with learning tips and cultural insights and includes free audio recordings by native speakers to aid in listening and speaking practice. This approach makes Mandarin Bean’s graded reading content a valuable tool for learners exploring an exciting adventure in Chinese language learning.

Chinese History and Culture: Idioms, Legends, and Literature

Chinese Stories for Language Learners

This is a great resource for passionate Mandarin learners at an intermediate level, who are looking to immerse themselves in the captivating world of Chinese stories. This bilingual book offers a rich selection of 31 stories, ranging from ancient folktales and proverbs to tales of historical figures and modern narratives. It’s a comprehensive tool for expanding essential vocabulary and mastering over 60 Chinese sentence patterns, all contextualized within engaging stories. The book provides a unique insight into iconic Chinese history, legends, and wisdom, including witty idioms and proverbs with their original stories, enhancing cultural knowledge. Each story is presented in simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English, with a Chinese-only version for self-assessment. Key vocabulary lists, sentence patterns with contextual examples, engaging activities, and learning tips ensure a well-rounded educational experience. “Chinese Stories for Language Learners” is more than just a learning resource; it’s a companion for an enjoyable and insightful journey into Chinese language and culture.

Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English

This is a captivating book that presents 22 classic Chinese proverbs and the traditional tales behind them, ideal for intermediate and advanced Mandarin learners. Each story is bilingual, with Chinese and English text on facing pages, accompanied by explanations of the proverbs’ current usage, cultural notes, vocabulary, and discussion questions. The book includes audio recordings by native speakers, enhancing pronunciation and comprehension skills. The book features proverbs like “画龙点睛” “守株待兔” and “水至清则无鱼,” explaining their rich cultural and historical contexts. These stories offer insights into ancient Chinese wisdom and its relevance today. This collection serves as both an educational tool and an engaging way to expand vocabulary and deepen understanding of the Chinese language, whether in a classroom setting or for self-study.

Dream of the Red Chamber – 《红楼梦》

For those interested in classical Chinese literature, this novel is a treasure trove of advanced vocabulary and classical sentence structures. It’s both challenging and rewarding for advanced learners, offering a deep dive into the richness of the Chinese language and its literary heritage.

Learning Strategies and Tips

To make the most out of Chinese learning books and enhance your learning experience, consider incorporating these strategies.

1.   Learn actively and regularly

Engage actively with your learning materials. Reading is not enough. Pick up your pencil and try to write down new Chinese characters and phrases, create your own sentences, then use them in context. This active engagement helps reinforce what you’ve learned.

Consistent practice is vital in language learning. Dedicate a regular time for practice every day, even if it’s just for a short duration. This strategy will make you digest the knowledge more effectively

2.   Repetition

Many learners love to learn new knowledge and are eager to progress very fast. Never forget to repeat the content you’ve learned previously. It’s not a fun process, but very helpful. There is always something new you can find and understand in the second or third time you review the content.

3.   Build your learning net

Sometimes you may find that memorizing a single character or grammar pattern is very challenging. That’s because you don’t have a large learning net. Always put the words and patterns in context. This would involve associating characters or patterns with usages and meanings, which is much easier for you to remember and understand.

You may also find that a word or grammar point may have different meanings or uses, but at different levels. You should learn each meaning one at a time, as they come up for you. You will get a clearer understanding of each unique use. There are numerous grammar collections or word usage summaries you can read. We will put a reference at the end of this article for you.  

4.   Seek feedback

Most learners hate tests, but it’s actually a really important part of the learning process. Think of it not as seeking insult but knowing your learning status. You can have your writing checked by a teacher or a native speaker. Or have a quiz after each learning stage or lesson. It’s an easy way to know the areas you need to improve and understand your mistakes.

5.   Incorporate different skills

A holistic approach to Chinese learning can significantly enhance your overall proficiency. You can integrate various language skills, including reading, speaking, listening and writing, into your study routine. For example, if you’re learning Chinese writing, you could read Chinese newspapers or books to see how words are used in context, engage in conversations with native speakers to improve your fluency and pronunciation, and listen to Chinese podcasts or songs to enhance your comprehension and listening skills. Each skill complements and reinforces the others, leading to a more comprehensive and effective learning experience.

Conclusion

Choosing books that align with your learning style and objectives is crucial, as the right resources can significantly enhance your understanding and retention of the language. Alongside this, embracing diverse and effective learning strategies—such as incorporating various language skills, utilizing spaced repetition, and engaging with native content—will exponentially boost your language proficiency. With the right learning materials and a committed approach, the journey of learning Chinese can be as rewarding as it is transformative.

Reading References

• A Collection of Resources for Learning Chinese Characters– Books, Videos, Courses, Apps, Tools
• Recommended Chinese Textbooks
• Recommended Business Chinese Textbooks For Different Levels
• Where To Find the Best Chinese Graded Readers
• Chinese: Sentence Structures & Exceptions
• Chinese Speaking Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced learners
• Chinese Listening Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Learners
• Chinese Reading Practice: A Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced learners
• The Most Recommended Online Chinese Courses
• Most Recommended Resources
• Specialized Textbooks Geared Toward K12 Students
• Amazing Books for Kids Learning Chinese
• The Best Chinese Picture Books for your Kids

The post A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Learning Books appeared first on .

For some learners, these can present a challenge as it’s not always clear which preposition should be used in each unique situation. Though they might seem tricky at first, this article is here to guide you. Chinese prepositional phrases are generally formed by placing a preposition before nouns, pronouns, or corresponding phrases.

They often function as adverbials in a sentence, conveying aspects of time, location, targets, reasons, and more. It’s a little overwhelming!

To make things easier, we’ve gathered a collection of the most common and most useful prepositions to help you gain a clear understanding. Ready to go? Let’s get started!

• When? Chinese Prepositions for Time
• Where? Chinese Prepositions for Location and Direction
• What About? Chinese Prepositions For Targets and Recipients
• How? Chinese Prepositions for Methods
• Why? Chinese Prepositions for Reason and Purpose
• What’s Different? Chinese Prepositions For Exclusion and Comparison

When? Chinese Prepositions for Time

自 vs 从 vs 自从

自(zì)，从(cóng), and 自从(zìcóng) are like the English words “from” or “since”. They tell us when something started. These three terms are rather similar, but their usage differs slightly.

1. 自(zì) is commonly found in written Chinese. It expresses that something has been happening for some time now and is still going on. It can be combined with other words like 起(qǐ), 至今(zhìjīn), 以来(yǐlái) and 以后(yǐhòu), and so on. We also see it in phrases like 自始至终(zì shǐ zhì zhōng) and 自古以来(zì gǔ yǐlái).

For example:

自古以来大家都在这一天出去放鞭炮。(Zì gǔ yǐlái dàjiā dōu zài zhè yī tiān chūqù fàng biānpào.)
Since ancient times, everyone has gone out on this day to set off firecrackers.

他们自2008年以后就再也没见过面了。(Tāmen zì èr líng líng bā nián yǐhòu jiù zàiyě méi jiànguo miàn le.)
They haven’t seen each other since 2008.

自下个月起我们将调整上班时间。(Zì xià gè yuè qǐ wǒmen jiāng tiáozhěng shàngbān shíjiān.)
Starting from next month, we will adjust our working hours.

2. 从(cóng) is a versatile preposition used in various contexts. When used with time words, it tells us when something began. 从(cóng) is often paired with words like 起(qǐ), 到(dào), 以后(yǐhòu), and so on.

For example:

从明天起我要开始打太极拳。(Cóng míngtiān qǐ wǒ yào kāishǐ dǎ tàijíquán.)
Starting tomorrow, I will start practicing Tai Chi.

从8点到11点，他们一直在上汉语课。(Cóng bā diǎn dào shíyī diǎn, tāmen yīzhí zài shàng Hànyǔ kè.)
They have been attending Chinese class from 8 to 11 am.

我们从现在开始要改变作息时间。(Wǒmen cóng xiànzài kāishǐyào gǎibiàn zuòxī shíjiān.)
Starting now, we need to change our work and rest time.

3. 自从(zìcóng), the combination of 自(zì) and 从(cóng), is used to describe when something started in the past. It can be used with 后(hòu), 之后(zhīhòu), or 以后(yǐhòu).

For example:

自从去年见过一面后，我们再也没见过了。(Zìcóng qùnián jiànguò yīmiàn hòu, wǒmen zài yě méi jiànguò le.)
Since we met last year, we haven’t met again.

自从他出国以后，我们就断了联系。(Zìcóng tā chūguó yǐhòu, wǒmen jiù duànle liánxì.)
Since he went abroad, we’ve lost contact.

自从他来了后，大家都变得很开心。(Zìcóng tā lái le hòu, dàjiā dōu biàn de hěn kāixīn.)
Since he arrived, everyone has become very happy.

当

当(dāng) means “when,” “while,” or “during” in English. It can be used with 时(shí) or 的时候(de shíhòu).

For example:

当你不想吃了，就别吃了。(Dāng nǐ bù xiǎng chī le, jiù bié chī le.)
When you don’t want to eat anymore, then don’t eat.

当太阳升起的时候，就是我们出发的时间。(Dāng tàiyáng shēngqǐ de shíhòu, jiù shì wǒmen chūfā de shíjiān.)
When the sun rises, it’s time for us to depart.

当她爱你时，你是她的一切。(Dāng tā’ài nǐ shí, nǐ shì tā de yīqiè.)
When she loves you, you are her everything.

趁

趁(chèn) means to use a special opportunity or chance to do something. It can be combined with a variety of other words, including 时(shí), 的时候(de shíhòu), 期间(qījiān), 工夫 (gōngfu), 空挡(kòngdǎng), 前/后(qián/hòu), and so on.

For example:

趁他们还没回来，我们先吃点儿零食。(Chèn tāmen hái méi huílái, wǒmen xiān chī diǎnr língshí.)
While they haven’t come back yet, let’s eat some snacks first.

他们趁有人在的空挡帮忙打扫了房间。(Tāmen chèn yǒurén zài de kòngdǎng bāngmáng dǎsǎo le fángjiān.)
While someone was present, they helped clean the room.

最近这里有很多人被枪杀了，趁天黑前赶紧回家。(Zuìjìn zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō rén bèi qiāngshā le, chèn tiānhēi qián gǎnjǐn huí jiā.)
Many people have died in shootings recently, so hurry back home before it gets dark.

在

在(zài) indicates the time at which an action or event occurs. It can be combined with words like 时(shí), 的时候(de shíhòu), 前 (qián), 之前(zhīqián), 后(hòu), 之后(zhīhòu), and so on.

For example:

他们会在这个月底举办婚礼。(Tāmen huì zài zhège yuèdǐ jǔbàn hūnlǐ.)
They will hold a wedding at the end of this month.

我们在妈妈回来前要把这里打扫干净。(Wǒmen zài māmā huílái qián yào bǎ zhèlǐ dǎsǎo gānjìng.)
We need to clean up here before Mom returns.

小华在家里休息的时候，把《红楼梦》读完了。(Xiǎo Huá zài jiālǐ xiūxí de shíhòu, bǎ Hónglóumèng dú wán le.)
While resting at home, Xiao Hua finished reading Dream of the Red Chamber.

Where? Chinese Prepositions for Location and Direction

从

As mentioned above, 从(cóng) is quite a versatile preposition. So, when it is followed by a location, it can tell us where something starts. The most commonly used structure is 从(cóng)……到(dào)…….

For example:

我们从这里走。(Wǒmen cóng zhèlǐ zǒu.)
Let’s walk from here.

从我家到学校开车要一个小时。(Cóng wǒ jiā dào xuéxiào kāichē yào yī gè xiǎoshí.)
It takes an hour to drive from my house to school.

从我们公司去图书馆很远。(Cóng wǒmen gōngsī qù túshūguǎn hěn yuǎn.)
Our company is very far from the library.

在

In addition to indicating time, 在(zài) can also tell us where someone is or where something happens, not just when.

For example:

小华现在在家里洗衣服。(Xiǎo Huá xiànzài zài jiā lǐ xǐ yīfú.)
Xiao Hua is currently washing clothes at home.

我们在图书馆复习汉语。(Wǒmen zài túshūguǎn fùxí hànyǔ.)
We are studying Chinese at the library.

这个桌子放在哪里？(Zhège zhuōzi fàng zài nǎlǐ?)
Where should this table be placed?

往 vs 向 vs 朝

往(wǎng), 向(xiàng) and 朝(cháo) all show which direction something is moving towards, and they can be used interchangeably in this context.

For example:

这条河往/向/朝东流。(Zhè tiáo hé wǎng/xiàng/cháo dōng liú.)
This river flows to the east.

我们往/向/朝前走，再往/向/朝左转。(Wǒmen wǎng/xiàng/cháo qián zǒu, zài wǎng/xiàng/cháo zuǒ zhuǎn.)
Let’s go straight and then turn left.

这边很危险，往/向/朝里靠。(Zhè biān hěn wēixiǎn, wǎng/xiàng/cháo lǐ kào.)
It’s very dangerous over here, so please move inside.

However, there are some small distinctions to pay attention to.

往(wǎng) and 向(xiàng) can be used after motion words, like 开(kāi), 驶(shǐ), 飞(fēi), 送(sòng), and 运(yùn) while 朝(cháo) can’t be used this way.

For example:

这辆车开往昆明。(Zhè liàng chē kāi wǎng Kūnmíng.)
This car is driving towards Kunming.

这些快递要运向北方。(Zhèxiē kuàidì yào yùn xiàng běifāng.)
These parcels need to be transported to the north.

我看到那只鸟飞向了蓝天。(Wǒ kàn dào nà zhī niǎo fēi xiàngle lán tiān.)
I saw that bird flying toward the blue sky.

向(xiàng) and 朝(cháo) can indicate the goal of an action, whereas 往(wǎng) doesn’t have this particular usage.

For example:

小华朝我笑了笑。（Xiǎo Huá cháo wǒ xiàole xiào.）
Xiao Hua smiled at me.

看到妈妈回家了，他朝妈妈走了过去。（Kàndào māmā huí jiāle, tā cháo māmā zǒu le guòqù.）
When he saw Mom coming home, he walked over to her.

你不应该向小孩子发火。（Nǐ bù yīnggāi xiàng xiǎoháizi fā huǒ.）
You shouldn’t get angry with children.

沿着 vs 顺着 vs 沿

沿着(yán zhe) and 顺着(shùn zhe) tell us the path someone or something takes. However, 沿着(yán zhe) often implies moving alongside something that doesn’t move and is sometimes even used in an abstract context. 顺着(shùn zhe) is used to describe actions that follow something already in motion or the path along which things naturally move.

For example:

你顺着/沿着这条路走就能看食堂了。(Nǐ shùn zhe/yán zhe zhè tiáo lù zǒu jiù néng kàn shítáng le.)
You walk along this road and then you will see the cafeteria.

汗水顺着他的头发流了下来。(Hànshuǐ shùn zhe tā de tóufa liú le xiàlái.)
Sweat flowed down his hair.

就让小船自己顺着河流走吧。(Jiù ràng xiǎo chuán zìjǐ shùn zhe hé liú zǒu ba.)
Let the little boat go along with the river on its own.

晚上他喜欢沿着小溪散步。(Wǎnshàng tā xǐhuān yán zhe xiǎoxī sànbù.)
He enjoys walking along the stream in the evening.

他们沿着昨晚得出的新思路继续做实验。(Tāmen yán zhe zuówǎn dé chū de xīn sīlù jìxù zuò shíyàn.)
They are continuing the experiment following the new idea they came up with last night.

Furthermore, 沿(yán) can be used with monosyllabic words such as 路(lù), 河(hé), 岸(àn), 线(xiàn), and 途(tú) to indicate a place. In this case, 着(zhe) can be omitted.

For example:

沿路都是电动车。(Yán lù dōu shì diàndòng chē.)’
Along the road, there are electric vehicles everywhere.

这条河沿岸开了很多酒店。(Zhè tiáo hé yán‘àn kāi le hěnduō jiǔdiàn.)
Many hotels have been opened along the bank of this river.

今年去旅游，发现这里沿途种了很多树。(Jīnnián qù lǚyóu, fāxiàn zhèlǐ yán tú zhòng le hěnduō shù.)
When I traveled this year, I noticed that many trees have been planted along the road here.

What About? Chinese Prepositions For Targets and Recipients

给

给(gěi) as a preposition is used to indicate the recipient of an action, similar to “to” or “for” in English. It can be used with a verb, such as 送(sòng), 递(dì), 寄(jì), etc..

For example:

他给我买了一件外套。(Tā gěi wǒ mǎi le yī jiàn wàitào.)
He bought a coat for me.

把这些橘子寄给他。(Bǎ zhèxiē júzi jì gěi tā.)
Send these oranges to him.

妹妹生日的时候，我送给她一本书。(Mèimei shēngrì de shíhòu, wǒ sòng gěi tā yī běn shū.)
I gave my younger sister a book on her birthday.

对 vs 对于

对(duì) and 对于(duìyú) both show the target of an action. The structure  “对/对于(duì/duìyú)……来说(láishuō)” is commonly used to stress a point or opinion.

For example:

对/对于这件事你有什么看法？(Duì / Duìyú zhè jiàn shì, nǐ yǒu shénme kànfǎ?)
What is your take on this matter?

对大多数人来说，找个稳定的工作非常重要。(Duì dà duōshù rén lái shuō, zhǎo ge wěndìng de gōngzuò fēicháng zhòngyào.)
For most people, getting a stable job is very important.

对于你来说，现在最重要的是学习本领。(Duìyú nǐ lái shuō, xiànzài zuì zhòngyào de shì xuéxí běnlǐng.)
For you, the most important thing right now is to acquire skills.

However, there are a few differences between them:

1. 对(duì) can be used to stress a unidirectional action, impact or relationship between the subject and object. It can be thought of as the equivalent of  “to” in English. Modal verbs or adverbs can be placed before it.

Modal Verb / Adverb + 对

For example:

我想对他表示感谢。(Wǒ xiǎng duì tā biǎoshì gǎnxiè.)
I want to express my gratitude to him.

这次的失误对我们的项目影响很大。(Zhè cì de shīwù duì wǒmen de xiàngmù yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.)
This mistake has a significant impact on our project this time.

他对数字非常敏感。(Tā duì shùzì fēicháng mǐngǎn.)
He is very good with figures.

2. 对于(duìyú) often introduces a particular topic and stresses the subject’s opinions and attitudes about that topic. It can be translated as “regarding,” “with respect to,” or “as for.”. 对于(duìyú)  can be placed before or after the subject but cannot be used after modal verbs or adverbs. When it’s put before the subject, a comma is required.

对于 + Subject， ……
Subject + 对于 ……
 Modal Verb / Adverb + 对于

For example:

对于去不去敦煌，他们还在考虑。(Duìyú qù bù qù Dūnhuáng, tāmen hái zài kǎolǜ.)
They are still considering whether or not to go to Dunhuang.

对于这个语法的用法，大家还不太明白。(Duìyú zhège yǔfǎ de yòngfǎ, dàjiā hái bù tài míngbai.)
Regarding the usage of this grammar point, people still don’t quite understand it.

对于持有不同意见的成员，我们应该要积极去听取各方意见。(Duìyú chíyǒu bùtóng yìjiàn de chéngyuán, wǒmen yīnggāi yào jījí qù tīngqǔ gèfāng yìjiàn.)
For members who hold different opinions, we should actively listen to their views.

关于

关于(guānyú) is quite similar to 对于(duìyú). Both of them can introduce a particular topic, and both can generally be translated to “regarding” or “with respect to” in English.

However, there is a slight difference in how they are used. 关于(guānyú) usually starts with the topic, then adds more info. It’s closer to “about” in English.

Additionally, 关于(guānyú) can be combined with 的(de), forming the structure “关于……的” (guānyú……de), which provides more information about the object. This structure functions as an attributive in a sentence, something 对于(duìyú) cannot do.

For example:

关于玩手机游戏，他比我厉害。(Guānyú wán shǒujī yóuxì, tā bǐ wǒ lìhài.)
He is better than me at playing mobile games.

我买了一本关于中国夏朝的书。(Wǒ mǎi le yī běn guānyú Zhōngguó Xiàcháo de shū.)
I bought a book about the Chinese Xia Dynasty.

我想知道关于他的一切。(Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào guānyú tā de yīqiè.)
I want to know everything about him.

和 vs 跟

The prepositions 和(hé) and 跟(gēn) both mean “with” in English. Most of the time, they are interchangeable. 一起(yìqǐ) and 一样(yíyàng) are often used with them to form the structures “跟/和……一起”(together with) and “跟/和……一样”(same as). Additionally, when you need to introduce the target or recipient of a separable verb, then和(hé) or 跟(gēn) should be used.

For example:

我跟/和你说一句话。(Wǒ gēn/hé nǐ shuō yī jù huà.)
I’ll have a word with you.

他不想跟/和我们一起去沙漠。(Tā bù xiǎng gēn/hé wǒmen yīqǐ qù shāmò.)
He doesn’t want to go to the desert with us.

你说的跟/和他说的是一样的意思。(Nǐ shuō de gēn/hé tā shuō de shì yīyàng de yìsi.)
What you said has the same meaning as what he said.

昨天他跟/和小华见面了。(Zuótiān tā gēn/hé Xiǎo Huá jiànmiàn le.)
He met up with Xiao Hua yesterday.

我明年要和/跟小明结婚。(Wǒ míngnián yào hé/gēn Xiǎo Míng jiéhūn.)
I will get married to Xiao Ming next year.

However, if you want to show a clear order or direction, only use 跟(gēn).

For example:

跟我读！(Gēn wǒ dú!)
Read after me!

弟弟跟我借了两本书。(Dìdi gēn wǒ jiè le liǎng běn shū.)
My younger brother borrowed two books from me.

你一直跟我说你的想法也没用。(Nǐ yīzhí gēn wǒ shuō nǐ de xiǎngfǎ yě méiyòng.)
It’s useless to keep telling me your ideas.

把 vs 被

把(bǎ) and 被(bèi) are vital prepositions in Chinese, but they’re often quite challenging for learners to master.

1. 把(bǎ) is one of the most common Chinese prepositions. It is used to place emphasis on the object, the recipient of an action. The most basic structure is:

Subject(Doer) + 把 + Object(Receiver) + Verb + Other elements

 It’s important to note that since 把(bǎ) shifts the focus of the sentence onto the object, usually noting the effect of the verb or a change of state, the object cannot be abstract. When using this structure, any negation words, modal verbs, or other adverbs should be placed before 把(bǎ).

For example:

可以把书放在墙边。(Kěyǐ bǎ shū fàng zài qiáng biān.)
You can place the book by the wall.

请把灯关掉。(Qǐng bǎ dēng guān diào.)
Please turn off the light.

你把这些水果都吃了吧。(Nǐ bǎ zhèxiē shuǐguǒ dōu chī le ba.)
Go ahead and eat all these fruits.

他们没有把房间打扫干净。(Tāmen méiyǒu bǎ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng.)
They didn’t clean the room well.

我想把这个小电风扇送给你。(Wǒ xiǎng bǎ zhège xiǎo diànfēnshàn sòng gěi nǐ.)
I want to give you this small electric fan.

2. The preposition 被(bèi) is a little different from 把(bǎ) because it is used to form the passive voice and places the object at the very beginning of the sentence, even before the subject. See here:

Object (Receiver) + 被 + Subject (Doer) + Verb + Other elements

The 被(bèi) sentence structure stresses that an action was done to the object by the subject, usually having a notable and definite result.. The marker 被(bèi) can be used alone because in some cases the subject is unimportant, obvious, or unclear for both the speaker and the listener Similar to 把(bǎ) sentences, any negation words, modal verbs, or other adverbs should be put before被(bèi).

For example:

杯子被妹妹打碎了。(Bēizi bèi mèimei dǎ suì le.)
The cup was broken by the younger sister.

我的饺子全被他吃了。(Wǒ de jiǎozi quán bèi tā chī le.)
He ate all of my dumplings.

听说他的车被偷了。(Tīngshuō tā de chē bèi tōu le.)
I heard that his car was stolen.

小偷被人抓到了。(Xiǎotōu bèi rén zhuā dào le.)
The thief was caught by someone.

小华没有被选为班长。(Xiǎo Huá méiyǒu bèi xuǎn wéi bānzhǎng.)
Xiao Hua was not chosen to be the class monitor.

他们都想被邀请参加晚会。(Tāmen dōu xiǎng bèi yāoqǐng cānjiā wǎnhuì.)
They all want to be invited to the party.

How? Chinese Prepositions for Methods

靠

The preposition 靠(kào) is used to express that something relies on someone or something else in order to happen. It can also be used to indicate that something is close to or adjacent to something else.

For example:

这件事就靠你们去解决了。(Zhè jiàn shì jiù kào nǐmen qù jiějué le.)
It’s relying on you to resolve this matter.

在家靠父母，出门靠朋友。(Zài jiā kào fùmǔ, chūmén kào péngyǒu.)
We rely on our parents while at home but rely on our friends while away..

你们靠墙站好。(Nǐmen kào qiáng zhàn hǎo.)
You stand by the wall.

通过

通过(tōngguò) as a preposition emphasizes the manner or method used to achieve something, and it can be put before or after the subject in a sentence.

For example:

我们通过小华联系到了他。(Wǒmen tōngguò Xiǎo Huá liánxì dào le tā.)
We contacted him through Xiao Hua.

通过他的视频，我们了解了这次事的起因。(Tōngguò tā de shìpín, wǒmen liǎojiě le zhè cì shì de qǐyīn.)
We knew the cause of this incident after watching his video.

这份文件不能通过私人邮箱发送。(Zhè fèn wénjiàn bùnéng tōngguò sīrén yóuxiāng fāsòng.)
This file cannot be sent via a personal email.

按照 vs 根据 vs 据

按照(ànzhào) and 根据(gēnjù) can both be translated to “according to” in English, and most time they are interchangeable. But take note of these differences between them:

1. 按照(ànzhào) stresses that someone is explicitly following what someone else said, a procedure, or formula. There is no need for the speaker to express their own point of view.

For example:

我是按照你说的做的，为什么错了？(Wǒ shì ànzhào nǐ shuō de zuò de, wèishéme cuò le?)
I did as you said, but why is it wrong?

你要按照学校的要求去完成实习。(Nǐ yào ànzhào xuéxiào de yāoqiú qù wánchéng shíxí.)
You should complete the internship according to the school’s requirements.

这件事你们想按照什么原则去处理？(Zhè jiàn shì nǐmen xiǎng ànzhào shénme yuánzé qù chǔlǐ?)
What principles do you want to follow to handle this matter?

2. 根据(gēnjù) allows the speaker to make a judgement, conclusion, or decision based on something.

For example:

做事情的方法要根据情况去变化。(Zuò shìqíng de fāngfǎ yào gēnjù qíngkuàng qù biànhuà.)
The method of doing things should change according to the situation.

我们会根据大家的意见总结出最好的方法。(Wǒmen huì gēnjù dàjiā de yìjian zǒngjié chū zuì hǎo de fāngfǎ.)
We will summarize the best method based on everyone’s opinions.

根据公司的规定，明天可以穿汉服上班。(Gēnjù gōngsī de guīdìng, míngtiān kěyǐ chuān Hànfú shàngbān.)
According to the company’s regulations, we can wear traditional Chinese clothing to work tomorrow.

3. Another thing about 根据(gēnjù) is that it can be shortened to 据(jù) alone, but its usage differs slightly from 根据(gēnjù). Generally speaking, 据(jù) should be followed by monosyllabic words, including说(shuō), 闻(wén), 悉(xī), 传(chuán) or 报道(bàodào, which is an exception), while 根据(gēnjù) should be used with words that have two or more syllables. 据(jù) is also more frequently used in written Chinese.

For example:

据说，他们后天要结婚啦。(Jù shuō, tāmen hòutiān yào jiéhūn la.)
It is said that they are going to get married the day after tomorrow.

据报道这次的比赛将推迟到下周。(Jù bàodào zhè cì de bǐsài jiāng tuīchí dào xiàzhōu.)
According to reports, this competition will be postponed to next week.

据悉，这是此公司第一次获得该奖项。(Jù xī, zhè shì cǐ gōngsī dìyī cì huòdé gài jiǎngxiàng.)
It is known that this is the first time this company has received this award.

凭借

凭借(píngjiè) is an advanced word to express relying on something, which is usually used in written Chinese. We can opt to place 着(zhe) after it, and there is no impact on the meaning.

For example:

他凭借勇气和经验获得了这次机会。(Tā píngjiè yǒngqì hé jīngyàn huòdé le zhècì jīhuì.)
He obtained this opportunity by his courage and experience.

小华凭借着自己的才华赢得了评委的认可。(Xiǎo Huá píngjiè zhe zìjǐ de cáinéng yíngdéle píngwěi de rènkě.)
Xiao Hua won the recognition of the judges because of her talent.

小明凭借以前学到的知识解决了这个问题。(Xiǎo Míng píngjiè yǐqián xué dào de zhīshi jiějuéle zhège wèntí.)
Xiao Ming solved this problem by using the knowledge he had learned before.

Why? Chinese Prepositions for Reason and Purpose

因为 vs 因 vs 由于

因为(yīnwèi) and 由于(yóuyú) both can be used to describe the reason for an action or event, similar to “because” in English, but in fact, their usage differs quite a bit.

1. Compared to “because” in English, 由于(yóuyú) is closer in meaning to “due to.” It can be used in conjunction with 因此(yīncǐ), 因而(yīn’ér) and 所以(suǒyǐ), while 因为(yīnwèi) can only be used with 所以(suǒyǐ). When 由于(yóuyú) is used, it implies that the situation is unfortunate, while 因为(yīnwèi) doesn’t have any negative connotation.

For example:

由于天气的原因，航班取消了。(Yóuyú tiānqì de yuányīn, hángbān qǔxiāole.)
The flight was canceled due to the weather.

由于时间紧张，因此他们要加班完成这个项目。(Yóuyú shíjiān jǐnzhāng, yīncǐ tāmen yào jiābān wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.)
Due to the insufficient time, they have to work overtime to complete this project.

因为他不喜欢吃鱼，所以我们打算去吃烤羊。(Yīnwèi tā bù xǐhuān chī yú, suǒyǐ wǒmen dǎsuàn qù chī kǎo yáng.)
Because he doesn’t like to eat fish, we plan to go and have roasted lamb.

2. A clause introduced by 由于(yóuyú) cannot be positioned after the result in a sentence, whereas clauses introduced by 因为(yīnwèi) offer more flexibility. Additionally, when responding to a WHY question using the term 为什么(wèishéme), we should use 因为(yīnwèi)  rather than 由于(yóuyú).

For example:

（√）由于他们的失误，我们的计划不得不推迟。(Yóuyú tāmen de shīwù, wǒmen de jìhuà bùdé bù tuīchí.) Due to their mistake, our plan had to be postponed.

（×）我们的计划不得不推迟，由于他们的失误。(Wǒmen de jìhuà bùdé bù tuīchí, yóuyú tāmen de shīwù)

（√）因为外面下雨了，我们就没去爬山。 (Yīnwèi wàimiàn xiàyǔ le, wǒmen jiù méi qù pá shān.) Because it was raining outside, we didn’t go mountain climbing.

（√）我们就没去爬山，因为外面下雨了。 (Wǒmen jiù méi qù pá shān, yīnwèi wàimiàn xiàyǔ le)
We didn’t go mountain climbing because it was raining inside.

A：为什么迟到了？(Wèishéme chídào le?) Why are you late?

（√）B：因为路上堵车了。(Yīnwèi lùshang dǔ chē le) Because there was a traffic jam on the way.
（×）B：由于路上堵车了。(Yóuyú lùshang dǔ chē le)

2. 因(yīn) is a shortened form of 因为(yīnwèi) which is used to introduce reasons with a somewhat formal tone. It’s commonly used  in written Chinese in fixed expressions, and it can be combined with 而(ér) or 故(gù) to convey a result.

For example:

这个世界因你而精彩。(Zhège shìjiè yīn nǐ ér jīngcǎi.)
You make this world wonderful.

这件事因人而异。(Zhè jiàn shì yīn rén ér yì.)
This matter varies from person to person.

因设备故障，故本次直播取消。(Yīn shèbèi gùzhàng, gù běncì zhíbò qǔxiāo.)
Due to equipment failure, this livestream has been canceled.

为了 vs 为

When expressing the purpose of an action, 为了(wèi le) and 为(wèi) are typically interchangeable , similar to “for” or “for the sake of” in English. Words, phrases, and clauses can all be placed after 为了(wèi le), whereas 为(wèi) is generally followed by nouns or nominal phrases. They can both be combined with 而(ér) to form “为了/为……而……” (wèi le/wèi… ér). Following this structure, 为了(wèi le) can be used to connect two verbs with opposite meanings, but 为(wèi) cannot be used in the same context.

For example:

为了赚学费，他每天打三份工。(Wèile zhuàn xuéfèi, tā měitiān dǎ sān fèn gōng.)
To earn tuition money, he works three jobs every day.

人人都想为/为了理想而奋斗。(Rénrén dōu xiǎng wèi/wèile lǐxiǎng ér fèndòu.)
Everyone wants to strive for their ideals.

他为了了解中国文化而学习中文。(Tā wèile liǎojiě zhōngguó wénhuà ér xuéxí zhōngwén.)
He studies Chinese in order to understand Chinese culture.

为了尽快把这个地方建设好，他们想尽了办法。(Wèile jǐnkuài bǎ zhège dìfang jiànshè hǎo, tāmen xiǎng jìnle bànfǎ.)
In order to develop this place quickly, they have gone to every possible length.

为了进攻而先后退是一种有用的战术。(Wèile jìngōng ér xiān hòutuì shì yīzhǒng yǒuyòng de zhànshù.)
Retreating before attacking is a useful tactic.

What’s Different? Chinese Prepositions For Exclusion and Comparison

除了

The preposition 除了(chúle) can be used to show what is included or excluded much like “except for” or “besides” in English. It can be paired with 以外(yǐwài) or 之外(zhīwài), and its meaning varies depending on the information that follows it.

Structure 1: 除了……(以外/之外)，Subject + 都(dōu)……

This structure points out a single exception within a larger group or scope, while the rest share a common feature. It’s more like “except for” in English.

For example:

除了小华，大家都去游泳。(Chúle Xiǎo Huá, dàjiā dōu qù yóuyǒng.）
Everyone will go swimming except for Xiao Hua.

除了我哥哥以外，其他人都不喜欢吃这个蛋糕。(Chúle wǒ gēge yǐwài, qítā rén dōu bù xǐhuān chī zhège dàngāo.)
Except for my older brother, no one else likes to eat this cake.

除了这三本书，其他的书都不是我的。(Chúle zhè sān běn shū, qítā de shū dōu bù shì wǒ de.)
Besides these three books, the others are not mine.

Structure 2: 除了……(之外/以外），Subject + 也(yě)/还(hái)……

This structure indicates that besides a particular person or thing, there are other elements that the subject is concerned about. It’s more like “besides” or “in addition” in English.

For example:

除了橘子，我还喜欢吃葡萄。(Chúle júzi, wǒ hái xǐhuan chī pútao.)
Besides oranges, I also like to eat grapes.

除了历史类的书之外，我也有很多语言方面的书。(Chúle lìshǐ lèi de shū zhīwài, wǒ yě yǒu hěn duō yǔyán fāngmiàn de shū.)
Besides the books related to history, I also have many books on language.

除了说“不知道”，他还喜欢说“不明白”。(Chúle shuō “bù zhīdào,” tā hái xǐhuan shuō “bù míngbái”.)
Besides “I don’t know”, he also likes to say, “I don’t understand.”

比

When talking about making comparisons in Chinese, it’s impossible to overlook the essential preposition 比(bǐ). It is used to note a difference between two objects. Translating 比(bǐ) directly into English is a little tricky because it is similar to “than,” but that’s not the full story. Let’s look at some examples to better explain how 比(bǐ) is used.

Structure 1: A + 比 + B + Adjective

For example:

他比我高。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.)
He is taller than me.

今天比昨天热。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè.)
Today is hotter than yesterday.

苹果比西瓜贵。(Píngguǒ bǐ xīguā guì.)
Apples are more expensive than watermelons.

If we want to use a specific number when describing the difference between two objects, we have another structure:

Structure 2: A + 比 + B + Adjective + Specific Number

For example:

他比我高五厘米。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo wǔ límǐ.)
He is five centimeters taller than me.

苹果比西瓜贵八毛。(Píngguǒ bǐ xīguā guì bā máo.)
Apples are eight cents more expensive than watermelons.

哥哥比弟弟大三岁。(Gēge bǐ dìdi dà sān suì.)
The older brother is three years older than the younger brother.

If we just want to express an approximate degree, we can use:

Structure 3: A + 比 + B + Adjective + 一点儿(yīdiǎnr )/一些(yīxiē)/得多(de duō)/多了(duō le)

For example:

红色的裙子比蓝色的裙子贵一点儿。(Hóngsè de qúnzi bǐ lán sè de qúnzi guì yīdiǎnr.)
The red dress is a little more expensive than the blue one.

这个饭店比旁边的饭店安静一些。(Zhège fàndiàn bǐ pángbiān de fàndiàn ānjìng yīxiē.)
This restaurant is somewhat quieter than the one next door.

今天比昨天热得多。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè de duō.)
Today is much hotter than yesterday.

他说汉语比之前流利多了。(Tā shuō Hànyǔ bǐ zhīqián liúlì duō le.)
He speaks Chinese much more fluently than he did before.

If we want to express the degree of A is even higher than that of B, we can use:

Structure 4: A + 比 + B + 更(gèng) + Adjective

For example:

我很高，我哥哥比我更高。(Wǒ hěn gāo, wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ gèng gāo.)
I am tall, and my older brother is even taller than me.

昨天很冷，今天比昨天更冷。(Zuótiān hěn lěng, jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng lěng.)
It was very cold yesterday, and today is even colder than that.

左边的人很帅，右边的人比他更帅。(Zuǒbiān de rén hěn shuài, yòubiān de rén bǐ tā gèng shuài.)
The person on the left is handsome, and the person on the right is even more handsome.

Final words

As we wrap up our journey through this collection of Chinese prepositions it’s clear that these small words play a big role in shaping the meaning of sentences. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, understanding these prepositions can unlock deeper insights into the Chinese language and help you express your ideas with more precision. Keep practicing, stay curious, and soon you’ll find these words becoming second nature in your conversations.

The post Chinese Grammar Survival Guide: A Comprehensive Overview of Chinese Prepositions appeared first on .

But what exactly is 儿化(érhuà)? Why do certain words undergo this transformation? And when should you use it yourself? Relax, we’re going to walk you through the various uses of the suffix 儿(ér) and peel back the curtain to explore some of the cultural nuances that come with it.

• What are Erhua
• Why do we use Erhua
• When do we use Erhua
• How to learn Erhua

What are Erhua?

儿化词 (érhuà cí) is a phonetic phenomenon that occurs in Mandarin Chinese and certain dialects, such as Beijing Hua. It involves adding the suffix 儿(ér) to a word, combining it with the preceding syllable. This creates a new word known as a 儿化词(érhuà cí). For instance, 花儿 is pronounced /huār/, not /huā’ér/.

Why do we use Erhua？

We use 儿化(ér huà) in situations where its presence or absence can affect the meaning or usage of a word. Let’s explore some examples:

1. Meaning change

• 眼(yǎn) eyes – 眼儿(yǎnr) small hole
• 头(tóu) head – 头儿(tóur) leader
• 信(xìn) letter – 信儿(xìnr) information
• 天(tiān) day – 天儿(tiānr) weather
• 托(tuō) hold in hand – 托儿(tuōr) shill

2. Different part of speech

• 尖(jiān) as an adjective – 尖儿(jiānr) as a noun

这支笔很尖。(Zhè zhī bǐ hěn jiān.) This pen is very sharp.

你看，这支笔的尖儿坏了。(Nǐ kàn, zhè zhī bǐ de jiānr huàile.) Look, the tip of this pen is broken.

• 错(cuò) as an adjective – 错儿(cuòr) as a noun

我的作业有很多错题。(Wǒ de zuòyè yǒu hěnduō cuò tí.) My homework has many incorrect answers.

对不起，这是我的错儿。(Duìbùqǐ, zhè shì wǒ de cuòr.) I’m sorry, it’s my fault.

• 画(huà) as a verb – 画儿(huàr) as a noun

你能画一幅画儿吗？(Nǐ néng huà yī fú huàr ma?) Can you draw a picture?

• 盖(gài) as a verb – 盖儿(gàir) as a noun

请盖上那个大的锅盖儿。(Qǐng gài shàng nàgè dà de guō gàir.) Please cover that big pot lid.

• 乐(lè) as an adjective – 乐儿(lèr) as a noun

快乐 (kuàilè) Happiness

喜剧演员喜欢逗乐儿。(xǐjù yǎnyuán xǐhuān dòu lèr.) Comedians enjoy entertaining and bringing laughter.

3. Affection expression

a) Expressing smallness, lightness, thinness, weakness, or lesser degree:

• 小孩儿(xiǎo hair) kid
• 牙签儿(yá qiānr) toothpick
• 皮筋儿(pí jīnr) rubber band
• 一会儿(yí huìr) a moment/for a while
• 一下儿(yí xiàr) after verb to express times/a short time
• 一块儿(yí kuàir) together
• 一点儿(yì diǎnr) a little
• 玩玩儿(wán wanr) play
• 使劲儿(shǐ jìnr) try hard
• 打盹儿(dǎ dǔnr) nap

b) Expressing feelings of love or endearment:

• 花儿(huār) flower
• 鸟儿(niǎor) bird
• 画儿(huàr) painting
• 好玩儿(hǎo wǎnr) funny

In Chinese culture, people use 儿(ér) to express endearment or cuteness when referring to words related to children.

For example:

• 宝贝儿 (bǎobèir) baby or young children
• 小孩儿 (xiǎo hair) children
• 女孩儿 (nǚ hair) girl
• 男孩儿 (nán hair) boy

Additionally, it is common, especially among older Chinese individuals, to show affection by calling someone using one of their given name’s characters + 儿(ér). For instance, if your name is 李小明 (Lǐ Xiǎomíng), they might call you 明儿 (Míngr). Similarly, if your name is 张芳 (Zhāng Fāng), it can be “芳儿” (Fāngr).

c) Expressing attitude with scorn or mockery:

• 小偷儿(xiǎo tōur) thief
• 撒酒疯儿(sǎ jiǔ fēngr) get drunk and act crazy
• 说瞎话儿(shuō xiā huàr) plain lie

When do we use Erhua?

To be honest, even some native Chinese speakers find it challenging to determine when to use 儿(ér) in words. So, unless you specifically aim to master 儿化词(ér huà cí) or pursue a professional certificate in  Mandarin Chinese, you don’t have to worry too much about it. As mentioned earlier, whether a word has 儿(er) or not often does not impact its meaning. During the initial stages of learning Chinese, feel free to omit 儿(er) from most words unless they are in a fixed expression or have altered meanings. For example, words like 一会儿 (yíhuìr, a moment/for a while), 这儿 (zhèr, here), 那儿 (nàr, there), 哪儿 (nǎr, where), and 盖儿 (gàir, lid) are fixed expressions with 儿(er). On the other hand, words like 头儿 (tour, leader/boss) and 托儿 (tour, shill) have completely different meanings due to the presence of 儿(er).

How to learn Erhua？

If you wish to expand your vocabulary and learn more 儿化词(ér huà cí), consider the following options:

1) Textbooks

Regardless of the textbooks you use, they likely contain examples of 儿化词(ér huà cí). These systematically designed resources expose you to them in different contexts. Try creating a summary of the 儿化词(ér huà cí) you encounter in your textbooks and practice using them appropriately.

2) Dictionaries

Use a reliable Chinese dictionary to accelerate your progress. We recommend two apps:

Pleco

Pleco is a popular Chinese-English dictionary with helpful features like flashcards, tests, word card import/export, and OCR. You can search using pinyin, Chinese characters, or English words. If you’re unsure whether to use 儿(er) or not, simply input the word and let the app check for you.

Hanping Lite

Another Chinese-English dictionary with a range of practical and engaging features. Tags make it easier to locate word clusters. For instance, by selecting the “HSK exam” tag, you can access six levels of vocabulary. It is an excellent app to verify 儿化词(ér huà cí), and you can even import your own vocabulary file to personalize your tags.

3) Video sources

If you prefer visual learning, videos are an excellent option. Many professional Chinese teachers, learners, enthusiasts, and native speakers have created short videos explaining why, how, and when to use 儿化词(ér huà cí), making them accessible and engaging for learners. Check out these videos for more information and insights.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xcZAIGr77s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4frIxff6j8g
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWfK6rzlc4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6qZ6wyiEAs
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rzW7iRcIs
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIiWmX5-u4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SddgBN5Mzew
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Ze8WfHPSA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljjCphu5Q2c
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyJq5C6_lMY

Remember, 儿化词(ér huà cí) is not merely a linguistic quirk, but a gateway to cultural connection and eventual fluency. As you continue your Mandarin Chinese journey, embrace the opportunity to encounter and use 儿化词(ér huà cí) in your own conversations.

Through textbooks, dictionaries, and the rich resources available online, continue expanding your repertoire of 儿化词(ér huà cí). Exploring regional variations and unique expressions will help you to get in touch with Chinese culture and form more genuine connections with the native speakers you meet.

As you interact with them, listen attentively to their use of 儿化词(ér huà cí) and embrace their guidance. Let the words flow naturally from your lips, gradually incorporating the charm and authenticity that 儿化词(ér huà cí) brings to the language. Embrace the affectionate nuances, the subtle shifts in meaning, and the cultural echoes embedded within each expression.

Keep exploring, keep learning, and let the discovery of new linguistic tidbits guide you on the path to mastery.

The post Mastering the Suffix 儿: A Guide to “Erhua” in Mandarin Chinese appeared first on .

Topic 1

“I’m still a bit hesitant to practice speaking.”

“Not spent so much time trying to learn EVERY single 汉字 I came across. And less time actually learning how to listen and speak.”

Editor’s opinions:

Many learners have been learning a language for a period of time, and it’s easy to forget that the goal of mastering a language is communication. They struggled with some details and factors of learning the whole language. Although some of those factors are essential and necessary, such as characters, tones and intonations, vocabulary, etc., you can’t ignore practicing speaking and listening. After some time, you might find that even though you have lots of grammar rules or character writing skills in mind, you still can’t talk with people in Chinese. You might even doubt yourself, wondering why you have spent so much time and energy on this language when you can’t actually use it in daily life with people. So, never forget to leave enough time to practice speaking and listening from the very beginning. It will bring you more confidence and determination to keep learning this language.

But how do you improve Chinese speaking and listening skills?

1). Speak out loud and frequently.

Talk to your Chinese friends, coworkers, or classmates in Chinese. Chase every opportunity you have to speak in your target language. You have no idea how precious it is that you can talk to native speakers since many learners have no one around them. They have to pay tutors to speak and listen.

If you have a Chinese teacher, that’s perfect. Try to avoid English when you are with your teacher. They know how to help you practice in a professional and efficient way.

Speaking of this, if you don’t know anyone who can talk with you in Chinese, try to get language exchange partners through apps and websites. Create a language environment for yourself.

2). Never be shy or fear making mistakes.

Try every new word and phrase you’ve just learned while chatting. It’s a great chance to know if you are using them correctly. If you are corrected face to face, be cheerful! You will remember this word for quite a long time or forever, which means you’ve nailed it. No one would laugh at you, especially native Chinese speakers. If you know one, you will find out that native speakers are more patient and tolerant than you might have thought. Don’t be afraid of asking“什么？” or “你可以再说一遍吗？” It’s okay to ask for it. And when you get used to listening to them in Chinese, your listening skills will improve quickly before you even notice.

3). Compare yourself to your old self, rather than classmates.

Even though you are learning in the same class as others, you may find that they are beyond your level. They might have learned this language a long time ago, which makes them seem gifted at learning this language. But your learning goal is not being better than your classmates or others, but mastering the Chinese language. So just look at yourself, if you are doing better than yesterday. Be more patient with your own progress. In the end, you will reach your finish line.

Related reading:

• Chinese Speaking Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced learners
• Chinese Listening Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Learners

Topic 2

“I feel like I should have focused more on writing and grammar rather than vocabulary building.”

“Paid more attention to elementary level grammar. “

Editor’s opinions:

Grammar matters. Even though you have memorized thousands of vocabulary words, you can’t produce meaningful full sentences without grammar rules. Grammar is like the architectural blueprint, while vocabulary is the bricks and tiles. There are 210 grammar points at the elementary level, 214 grammar points at the intermediate level, and 148 grammar points at the advanced level in the New HSK. Obviously, the elementary level and intermediate level cover about 80% of Chinese grammar. The more you have learned, the more you will find that the most commonly used grammar rules are from the beginning level, rather than the high level. So even if you just started learning Chinese, do not think that you can leave grammar for the future. Constantly learning from the very beginning can build a firm foundation. And it will ease your future study burden.

Related reading:

• All grammar points
• The New HSK: An Overview and What’s Changed

Topic 3

“Honestly, I should have focused more on pronunciation at the start, but I didn’t really have any money at the time to hire a professional teacher and (very obviously) was not able to figure it out on my own. Leading to me later having to fix some pronunciation issues.”

Editor’s opinions:

When you can converse about some basic daily topics with Chinese people, you may find that they seem to understand all you want to say, even though your pronunciation may not be correct. Is pronunciation so important? Do tones matter? The answer is definitely positive. The daily topics are limited, such as the weather, the time, simple greetings, food, holidays, home countries, etc. For these basic casual chats, native speakers can easily figure out what you want to say. And it might make you feel like “I’m good enough.” The truth is, if you want to go any deeper or more complex in your conversations, they might get lost in your speaking.

At some point when you look back, you just recall that “z/c/s”, “zh/ch/sh” or “j/q/x” really can make big differences in speaking. The four tones and the light tone can easily twist your meanings without noticing. The acquisition of pronunciation is a process of constant intensified practice in speaking and listening. There is a phenomenon called fossilization in linguistics. When you get used to the wrong pronunciation, it is very hard to correct, or you need to make a hundred times the effort to alter them. In most cases, learners get discouraged and feel frustrated when confronted with misunderstanding and confusing faces. Then they don’t want to continue anymore. After all, just a few of us have the courage and patience to start all over again. So, don’t mess around with your beginning pronunciation practice.

There are many online Chinese language videos and courses. Many learners can learn through them until the intermediate-high level. It’s convenient since you can learn Chinese anytime, anywhere for as many times as you want. However, speaking is a bit special among all the essential skills. It needs instant feedback to know if you are doing well.

So, if you can have a real tutor to coach your pronunciation from the beginning, that would be perfect. You are walking on the shortest path. But, if you don’t have the time or money for it, don’t worry. There are many great fundamental pronunciation video courses and drills online. You can learn by yourself at first. Watch and practice them again and again. When you are done halfway or the whole way, book a session with a professional Chinese teacher to analyze your pronunciation and give you suggestions for improvement. You will know what your weaknesses are and how to strengthen them.

Just remember, the later you start, the more effort you need to make.

Related reading:

• Chinese Pronunciation: The Complete Guide for Beginner
• 5 Practical Tips to Find the Best Online Chinese Tutor

Conclusion:

But note that, this is not to say that other essential skills are not important or could be given up. All speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary skills are very fundamental and indispensable. The time allocation is flexible and varies on your current learning state. It’s a game of how to plan your learning time smartly and practically. So, it’s important to know when you need to focus more on certain areas than others. You may wonder, what if I just don’t know it? Check your quiz paper! That’s the easiest way to know which part you need to improve more. Or more directly, just ask your teacher. I believe they will be more than happy to help you analyze your learning plan.

You are more than welcome to share your own experience and tips with other learners about what you wish you would have done when you started learning Chinese. Let us know!

The post Things I wish I could’ve done differently when I started learning Chinese appeared first on .

As a language learner, if you ever tried to search for language learning apps, it’s highly possible that you’ve seen Duolingo already. Duolingo is a hugely popular language-learning app, launched in 2012. There are about 500 million users worldwide. It promises to let you master a new language on your phone at any time, including Mandarin Chinese. Some of our DigMandarin users have mentioned that they’ve used Duolingo Chinese before. We are curious about this app, so this time let’s dig more into it together.

How Duolingo Chinese works:

The inside logic of Duolingo lessons:

Duolingo claims that they googled the 3,000 most commonly used words in each language, translated them into English, and used the words to compose simple sentences. Then they wrote an algorithm that would spit out lessons that include prompts for words and sentences using translation, listening, and reading.

How Duolingo Chinese works:

For Duolingo Chinese, you will first choose if you want to start from scratch or test your current level. When starting from scratch, you will directly jump into the first lesson’s exercise. If you take the test, it will direct you to some topics in the middle of the course after answering several questions. The whole Chinese course covers over 1,500 words and 2,500 sentences. You can then set up a daily learning goal, such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 20 minutes.

Exercise types:

• Flashcards: test if you can recognize the target character or word; test if you can connect the pronunciation and the shape of the character.
• Translation: test if you can remember the corresponding meaning.
• Listening: test if you can recognize the pronunciation. If you are not available for listening at that moment, you can skip it. There are normal and slow speed options to listen to.
• Matching: test if you can match the pinyin, meanings, and words.

The rules:

There are many gamification tricks to draw users’ attention closely, such as gaining points, treasure chests, and streaks.

If you make a mistake, it might cost you a “heart”. If you didn’t perform well enough during the lesson and lose them all, it will freeze your learning progress unless you do the review practice once again and pass it. To be able to continue learning and start a new lesson, you have to practice and review the content you just saw. You can’t skip a certain topic to do a further one unless you can pass the test of that topic. So, it’s designed for learning step by step, topic by topic. If you want to be unlimited when playing, you will need to purchase a subscription for Super Duolingo.    

Duolingo’s reminder system is also famous. If you don’t open the app and practice each day, it will keep reminding you until you start your lesson.

Verdict:

Overall, the whole Duolingo interface is very simple and clear. Everyone from children to the elderly can easily go ahead and learn. As a learning app, Duolingo is fun and not a complete waste of time. You can at least learn some basic Chinese characters and words through daily exercises on your phone. The lesson length and exercise types are apt. You won’t feel very pressured during the practicing process. The gamification also eases the burden, especially when it turns into a daily assignment.

As a learner, you can definitely learn some basic knowledge from this app; however, if you want to be level up in Chinese, it won’t be enough. You can learn as many basic words as you want through it. But as a language, the final goal is always communication. When you want to transform the words that you’ve learned into spoken language in a real-life situation, you might find that it’s hard to be fluent. Especially for Chinese learning, there is no real writing and speaking practice.

And Duolingo often just drops a new character or word on you without much explanation of what it does. The whole process of learning is by rote memorization, which connects the pronunciation, character, and meaning with each flashcards exercise. There are no real instructions for the grammar rules and there is no background knowledge.

In this case, if you want to go further in learning the Chinese language, Duolingo Chinese is definitely not enough. But if you just want to get to know this language a little bit, or use it as a word review game, it’s apt. 

Supplement and Recommendation:

Learning through an app might be a beginning, but not the end. To help you really step into studying Chinese language, we have some supplementary learning materials for you when you are using Duolingo Chinese.

Recommendation

First, the Pinyin system:

You might find that even if you choose “learn from scratch” with Duolingo Chinese, you will still directly jump to character and pronunciation recognition without any instruction. So, to create a good foundation and better your understanding, you need to learn the Chinese pronunciation system — Pinyin, systematically. After this, all the exercises won’t be a blind guess, but real practice.

Chinese Characters:

For almost all the Chinese learners, Chinese character is a real pain. So, a better understanding of the characters’ background knowledge and construction process and methods are really necessary. There are some recommended character learning resources for you to choose.

Chinese grammar:

Grammar explanation is also lacking in Duolingo Chinese. You have no idea how the sentences are constructed and why they come that way. To produce more sentences naturally, you can’t miss out on learning Chinese grammar. Here is exactly the grammar course you need.   

Supplements

Since the whole Duolingo course just contains very basic words and the corresponding words are limited, you can’t learn more through it. So, to better expand your vocabulary, you can check out our Vocabulary Training Camp, which is also designed topic by topic. It can be a great supplement for Duolingo’s Chinese exercises.

Some ambitious learners might want to start learning Chinese in a formal and efficient way after trying the Duolingo app. To be fluent and get a deep understanding of this language, a professional tutor is the key. Here are some tips for you to choose a proper tutor. Or, if you want to learn by yourself, there are many online video courses available for you. You can learn anytime, anywhere, in a more structured way as long as you have a phone or computer.

Language learning is never an easy road. If you want to master a language in no time, hard work is the key. Furthermore, great learning materials and resources can also help you learn more efficiently and faster. There is an old Chinese saying: “工欲善其事，必先利其器”, which means the mechanic, who wishes to do his work well, must first sharpen his tools.  It’s the same way with Chinese. Sharpen your learning tools first!

The post Can Duolingo help you master Chinese? – Duolingo Chinese Review appeared first on .

To test if these Chinese grammar checkers work well, first, we need to list a series of Chinese sentences with typical grammar errors. We have already introduced the Top 20 Common Mistakes Chinese Learners Make, and we selected 14 of them to form our test targets. Compared to paragraph errors, sentence grammar errors are much easier to identify and correct. No matter whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced learner, you need to deal with sentence errors.   

Here is a list of test sentences with common grammar errors:

1. 这个小狗是可爱。
2. 我想买一个电脑，一个书，一个衣服。
3. 下午二点，我们准备去图书馆两楼看二本书。
4. 他是不是美国人吗？
5. 我喜欢打篮球和我妹妹喜欢听音乐。我住在北京和我有一只狗。
6. 他以前常常在早上学了中文。
7. 这本书没好看。
8. 他结婚过两次，现在他想结婚和她。
9. 昨天的工作很多，我一直工作到晚上11点就做完。
10. 汉语课9点上课，他早上6点才到教室了。
11. 你会看见那边的那棵树吗?
12. 我吃面条在那个饭馆。
13. 他比我很高。
14. 一个女孩找你在办公室外面。

Can you correct all these sentences on your own? Give it a try and you can click here to check if your answers are correct.

The correct sentences:

1. 这只小狗很可爱。This puppy is very cute.
(Using “是” with adjectives inappropriately, Over-use of measure word “个”)

2. 我想买一台电脑，一本书，一件衣服。I want to buy a computer, a book, and a piece of clothing.
(Over-use of measure word “个”)

3. 下午两点，我们准备去图书馆二楼看两本书。At two o’clock in the afternoon, we are going to read two books on the second floor of the library.
(Misuse of “二” and “两”)

4. 他是不是美国人？ / 他是美国人吗？Is he American?
(Using “吗” for all Yes/No questions)

5. 我喜欢打篮球，我妹妹喜欢听音乐。我住在北京，我有一只狗。I like to play basketball, and my sister likes to listen to music. I live in Beijing, and I have a dog.
(Over-use of “和”)

6. 他以前常常在早上学中文。He used to study Chinese in the morning.
(Over-use of “了”)

7. 这本书不好看。This book is not good.
(Misuse of “不” and “没”)

8. 他结过两次婚，现在他想和她结婚。He was married twice and now he wants to marry her.
(Misuse of the separable words)

9. 昨天的工作很多，我一直工作到晚上11点才做完。I had a lot of work yesterday, and I didn’t finish my work until 11 o’clock in the evening.
(Confusing “就” with “才”)

10. 汉语课9点上课，他早上6点就到教室了。The Chinese class starts at 9:00, and he arrives at the classroom at 6:00 in the morning.
(Confusing “就” with “才”)

11. 你能看见那边的那棵树吗? Can you see that tree over there?
(Misuse of the modal verbs)

12. 我在那个饭馆吃面条。I eat noodles at that restaurant.
(Incorrect placement of adverbial phrases)

13. 他比我高。He is taller than me.  / 他比我高很多。He is much taller than me.
(Misuse of comparative sentences with “比”)

14. 办公室外面有个女孩找你。There is a girl looking for you outside the office.
(Unfamiliar with Existence sentence)

There are 20 errors and 14 types of common grammar mistakes in these test sentences. Let’s take a look at the performance of the following online Chinese grammar checkers.

A Review and Comparison of Online Chinese Grammar Checkers

Sapling

The original version:

The revised version:

Review:

There are 19 suggested edits, and among them, four of them are about punctuation, which is irrelevant. The use of an adjective as the predicate in sentence 1 was successfully corrected, which changes “是” to “很”. The second sentence about measure words was fully corrected. However, the incorrect measure word in the first sentence wasn’t detected. Although sometimes we hear “这个小狗” in spoken language, it should be more formal and accurate if it’s in written Chinese. In sentences 7, 12, and 14, the corrected sentences are correct in terms of grammar, but it changed the whole meaning. So, the corrections here are not ideal. Sentence 5 is interesting. Since there are two instances of over-use of “和”, but it just detected one. In sentences 4 and 6, the use of yes/no questions and the use of “了” were both corrected correctly. All other sentences and grammar issues were not corrected successfully. Five grammar error types were detected in total.

Text Gears

The original version:

The revised version:

Review:

There are four edits and two types of grammar errors detected. In sentence 1, the adjective acting as the predicate was corrected properly. However, it didn’t detect the measure word problem. In sentence 2, it detected the measure word errors successfully, but the revised version is still not acceptable. It doesn’t give the user a direct answer, which means you need to correct the suggested answer once again on your own. All other sentences and grammar errors were not detected. In total, there was only one error corrected successfully.

One good point is that the surface of the checker is quite clear. You can see which part you need to improve, including grammar, spelling, style, punctuation, and structure. It even gives you metrics on the readability of your content. If this checker worked correctly, it would be very helpful.

Sentence Checker

The original version:

The revised version:

Review:

Sentence Checker detected four grammar errors, which are also presented on the surface. As the other checkers did, this one only corrected sentence 1 for the adjective functioning as the predicate, but the measure word problem remained. It did correct the measure words in sentence 2. All other grammar problems were not detected. In total, there are two types of grammar errors that were corrected.

This Sentence Checker seems like the same tool as Grammar Checker. There are also other language checkers. You can try and see if they work better than the Chinese one. 

Language Tool

The original version:

The revised version:

Review:

It surprised me that I finally found a checker that could detect the “二” and “两” problem in sentence 3; although only one of them is corrected. There are actually three problems in that sentence, and all of them are about the use of “二” and “两”. Maybe “两本书” is stored in their database, but the general language grammar rules are not. The measure words in sentence 2 and the predicate in sentence 1 were corrected, as other checkers did. All other grammar problems were not detected.

Conclusion:

Even though I was profoundly impressed by many online English grammar checkers with their strong and intelligent functions, the Chinese grammar checkers shocked me a little because they are basically useless. At least the checkers I tested above didn’t perform well enough. Most of the common mistakes that second language learners might make were not corrected or even detected. Not to mention untypical mistakes and more complex grammar error types. Maybe there are still some truly useful grammar checkers that I don’t know about yet. So, if you know one, share it with us! I’m eager to see and use it.

The post A Review of the Best Online Chinese Grammar Checkers appeared first on .

Grammatical particles in Chinese don’t have a meaning on their own but are attached to words, phrases, or sentences to serve specific functions. Nouns, verbs, and adjectives have concrete meanings, making them easier to understand and memorize. However, particles can be challenging for Chinese learners since they come in various forms that help with different functions. Some particles express tone, while others help with sentence formation or indicate tense.

Despite their challenging nature, particles are essential and practical to learn since they have fixed patterns and uses, making them convenient to use. Once learners become familiar with them, it instantly raises their ability to understand and express more complex ideas. So let’s take a look at the most common Chinese grammar particles to help boost your fluency.

• Chinese Aspect Particles 动态助词
  • 着 (zhe)
  • 了 (le)
  • 过 (guò)
• Chinese Structural Particles 结构助词
  • 的 (de)
  • 地 (de)
  • 得 (de)
• Chinese Modal Particles 语气助词
  • 吗 (ma)
  • 呢 (ne)
  • 吧 (ba)

Chinese Aspect Particles 动态助词

Chinese expresses tense differently from English. Instead of changing the form of verbs, particles are used to indicate tense. Aspect particles are added after verbs or adjectives to show the state of an action or change. The three most common particles used for this are 着, 了, and 过.

着 (zhe)

To show the continuation of an action or state in Chinese, 着 is added after the verb. The usual structure is Subject + Verb + 着（+ Object）.

e.g.

门开着。(Mén kāizhe.) The door is open.

地上坐着一只狗。(Dìshàng zuòzhe yī zhī gǒu.) A dog is sitting on the ground.

他穿着一件长袖。(Tā chuān zhe yī jiàn cháng xiù.) He is wearing long sleeves.

When 着 is used with words like 在 or 正在, it indicates the present progressive tense .

e.g.

我正在做着饭，他就来了。(Wǒ zhèngzài zuòzhe fàn, tā jiù láile.) I was cooking when he came.

他在公园里听着歌呢。(Tā zài gōngyuán lǐ tīngzhe gē ne.) He was listening to music in the park.

我们正在思考着这件事。( Wǒmen zhèngzài sīkǎo zhe zhèjiàn shì .) We are thinking about this.

了 (le)

As a tense particle, 了 indicates the completion of an action and is often put after the verb.

e.g.

昨天我买了两件衣服。(Zuótiān wǒ mǎile liǎng jiàn yīfu.) I bought two pieces of clothing yesterday.

早上我喝了一杯咖啡。(Zǎoshang wǒ hēle yībēi kāfēi.) I had a cup of coffee in the morning.

我中午去了公园，没去图书馆。(Wǒ zhōngwǔ qùle gōngyuán, méi qù túshū guǎn.) I went to the park at noon and didn’t go to the library.

过 (guò)

To show the past tense in Chinese, use 过 after the verb to indicate that the action has happened before. However, there are certain limitations to the verbs that can be used with 过. Verbs of recognition and verbs that only happen once cannot be used with 过.

e.g.

我去过北京。(Wǒ qùguò běijīng.) I have been to Beijing.

你吃过饺子吗？(Nǐ chīguò jiǎozi ma?) Have you ever eaten dumplings?

我们学过这本书。(Wǒmen xuéguò zhè běn shū.) We have studied this book.

Chinese Structural Particles 结构助词

Structural particles in Chinese are placed before or after certain words to create specific sentence structures. In modern Chinese, 的, 地, and 得 are the most commonly used structural particles. These three words all share the same pronunciation but have distinct uses and associated structures.

的 (de)

的 is one of the first Chinese characters taught to new learners and is also the first grammatical particle introduced. As a structural particle, 的 is used after an attribute and before a noun to serve as an attributive marker. In more simple terms, it can show possession or mark that an adjective describes the noun that follows.

…… + 的 +Noun

e.g.

• 我的口红 (Wǒ de kǒuhóng) my lipstick
• 学校的书 (xuéxiào de shū) the school’s book
• 漂亮的鸟 (piàoliang de niǎo) beautiful bird
• 吃的东西 (chī de dōngxi) things to eat
• 妈妈做的饭 (māma zuò de fàn) mom’s cooking    

地 (de)

Even native Chinese speakers sometimes misuse 的 and 地, both of which can be structural particles. When used as a structural particle, 地 is often placed after adjectives and adverbs to serve as an adverbial marker.

Adjective / Adverb + 地 + Verb phrase / Adjective

e.g.

学生们努力地学习。(Xuéshēngmen nǔlì de xuéxí.) The students study hard.

老师认真地上课。(Lǎoshī rènzhēn de shàngkè.) The teacher takes the class seriously.

我早早地去学校了。 (Wǒ zǎozǎo de qù xuéxiàole.) I went to school early.

得 (de)

When used as a structural particle, 得 is commonly inserted between a verb and its complement.

Verb + 得 + Complement

e.g.

他总是回来得很晚。(Tā zǒng shì huílái de hěn wǎn.) He always comes back late.

她写字写得不错。(Tā xiězì xiě de bùcuò.) She writes well.

你的话我听得很清楚。(Nǐ dehuà wǒ tīng de hěn qīngchǔ.) I heard your words very clearly.

现在的孩子懂得很多。(Xiànzài de háizi dǒngde hěnduō.) Today’s children know a lot.

Chinese Modal Particles 语气助词

Modal particles are used to express tone of voice in Chinese. They are usually placed in the middle or at the end of a sentence. Sometimes, they can even be used independently. One modal particle can express multiple tones, so it’s important to understand the context. There are five Chinese modal particles used in daily life that we will introduce here.

吗 (ma)

The modal particle 吗 indicates an interrogative tone and is used to create yes-no or rhetorical questions.

e.g.

这是你的书吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de shū ma?) Is this your book?

我可以借一点儿钱吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yīdiǎnr qián ma?) Can I borrow a little money?

那家饭店便宜吗？(Nà jiā fàndiàn piányi ma?) Is that hotel cheap?

这不是我的家吗？你怎么在这儿？(Zhè bùshì wǒ de jiā ma? Nǐ zěnme zài zhèr?) Isn’t this my home? Why are you here?

他难道不是你的朋友吗？(Tā nándào bùshì nǐ de péngyǒu ma?) Isn’t he your friend?

你认真的吗？那首歌好听吗？(Nǐ rènzhēn de ma? Nà shǒu gē hǎotīng ma?) Are you serious? Is that song good?

呢 (ne)

Unlike 吗, 呢 cannot be used for yes-no questions. However, it is still commonly used to indicate questions in alternative, positive-negative, and specific question structures.

e.g.

谁能帮我拿东西呢？(Shéi néng bāng wǒ ná dōngxī ne?) Who can help me carry something?

你在这喝酒，你妻子在哪儿呢？(Nǐ zài zhè hējiǔ, nǐ qīzi zài nǎr ne?) You are drinking here, where is your wife?

你想吃苹果还是葡萄呢？(Nǐ xiǎng chī píngguǒ háishì pútáo ne?) Would you like to eat apples or grapes?

他爱你。你爱不爱他呢？(Tā ài nǐ. Nǐ ài bù ài tā ne?) He loves you. Do you love him or not?

Additionally, 呢 can be used in declarative sentences with 在, 正在, and 正 to indicate an ongoing action or situation.

e.g.

我正在洗澡呢，你等一下。(Wǒ zhèngzài xǐzǎo ne, nǐ děng yīxià.) I’m taking a shower, wait a minute.

他正睡觉呢，小声点。(Tā zhèng shuìjiào ne, xiǎoshēng diǎn.) He’s sleeping, so be quiet.

我们在开会呢。(Wǒmen zài kāihuì ne.) We are in a meeting.

吧 (ba)

Using 吧 at the end of an interrogative sentence shows a tone of guessing or estimation when the speaker is unsure.

e.g.

我们好像见过面吧？(Wǒmen hǎoxiàng jiànguò miàn ba?) Looks like we’ve met, right?

你的工作都完成了吧？(Nǐ de gōngzuò dōu wánchéngle ba?) Is your work done?

这次考试不难吧？(Zhè cì kǎoshì bù nán ba?) This exam is not difficult, is it?

飞机大概九点到上海吧？(Fēijī dàgài jiǔ diǎn dào Shànghǎi ba?) The plane arrives in Shanghai at about nine o’clock, right?

Additionally, 吧 is commonly used in imperative sentences to indicate a softer tone when making a request or suggestion.

e.g.

我们结婚吧。(Wǒmen jiéhūn ba.) Let’s get married.

你们去玩吧，我不去了。(Nǐmen qù wán ba, wǒ bù qùle.) Go and play, I’m not going.

你快去道歉吧。(Nǐ kuài qù dàoqiàn ba.) Go and apologize.

啊 (a)

啊 is a common modal particle used to emphasize the tone of a sentence when placed at the end. In spoken language, it can also be inserted after the subject to indicate a pause.

e.g.

你儿子啊，总是不写作业。(Nǐ érzi a, zǒng shì bù xiě zuòyè.) Your son, he never does his homework.

你家人也来啊？太好了！(Nǐ jiārén yě lái a? Tài hǎole!) Is your family coming too? Great!

谁在敲门啊？(Shéi zài qiāo mén a?) Who is knocking at the door?

这个地方真漂亮啊！(Zhègè dìfāng zhēn piàoliang a!) This place is so beautiful!

Conclusion

In conclusion, these particles are some of the foundational building blocks of Chinese grammar. Aspect and structural particles, such as 了, 过, 的, 地, and 得, play critical roles in expressing verb tense, forming special sentence structures, and emphasizing tone.

Modal particles, including 吗, 呢, 吧, 啊, and 呀, help to convey various emotions and attitudes. With continued practice, mastering these particles can significantly improve your Chinese language skills and help you communicate more effectively in a wide range of settings.

The post Commonly Used Chinese Grammar Particles – Aspect, Structural, and Modal Particles appeared first on .

So, in total, you need to master 3000 Chinese characters. In other words, with these characters, you will be able to understand all words and sentences in daily life and even academic life. It requires you not only to be able to recognize them but also write them with the correct stroke order. Besides the definitions and pronunciation, writing speed is also something you need to pay attention to.

To help you better deal with this new challenge, we have collected some helpful resources to assist with learning and practicing Chinese characters, including books, videos, courses, apps, and tools.

Books for learning Chinese characters

《汉字有意思》 Hanzi Alive！

• Target audience: Adults; Children ages 3-6
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Purchase here: 汉字有意思 Hanzi Alive！

Review:

The authors of this book are Liu Yong and his son and daughter. Liu Yong is a very famous writer, artist, and educator in China. His teaching methodology is known for being very successful. So, he gathered the essence of his enlightening Chinese character teaching methodology in this book.

Each of the selected Chinese characters in this book includes a vivid hand-painted picture, a black and white silhouette, the evolvement from ancient versions to the present simplified and traditional versions, as well as a real-life photo game. There are also illustrative texts both in Chinese and English, so that learners from different language backgrounds can easily understand. With the hardback edition, there are also matching notebooks included for learners to imitate and practice. In general, it’s a very good and enlightening book for all beginners and kids. 

《神奇的汉字——汉字启蒙互动立体书》Magic Chinese Characters

• Target audience: 3-8 year-old Chinese kids; 3-15 year-old foreign learners with help from parents or tutors
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Purchase here: 神奇的汉字

Review:

This series of books is designed for kids who need to learn and inspire their interest in and passion for Chinese characters. There are around 650 characters that were selected because of their strong connection. The key feature of this series is that it makes good use of the inner connection between similarly constructed Chinese characters. As we all know, pictographs are the base in the construction of Chinese characters. Here in this series of books, the 3D movable design for each character can be very interesting. It not only presents the Chinese pictographs, but also the process of combining them with radicals. The learning by playing method can easily draw kids’ attention. With the illustrations and corresponding activities, learners can acquire more characters and easily distinguish similar characters.   The shortcoming is that it only has written explanations in Chinese. So, it’s better to have a tutor with a background in Chinese so that the learners can understand it.

More books: Recommended Chinese Characters Books

Videos for learning Chinese characters

三十六个字 36 Chinese characters

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Watch here: 三十六个字

Review:

This is an ink animation made in 1984, a very typical Chinese-style cartoon. The pictures may seem a bit old, but the content is still very appealing and educational now. Within 11 minutes, it tells the story of how Chinese characters were created by illustrating 36 Chinese pictographs.

If you look closely at these characters, you may find that most of them are the characters that beginners need to learn in their very first few Chinese character lessons. It’s quite a good introductory video for all Chinese beginners.

The 36 Chinese characters are 日，山，水，鸟，象，森，林，草，夫，马，竹，田，刀，舟，鱼，网，燕，云，雨，伞，石，火，龟，虎，鹿，豕，叟，弓，舍，羊，花，门，犬，子，女，月。

字从遇见你 (zì cóng yùjiàn nǐ)

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
• Watch here: 字从遇见你

Review:

This is an official educational documentary that introduces 25 Chinese characters, including each one’s origin and evolution, as well as corresponding Chinese culture. Each episode is around 5 minutes. Learners can not only learn more about the character, but its culture and uses. Since the content is so rich and dense, you might need to watch it over and over again to digest it. The whole evolution process covers from thousands of years ago to modern China. So only if you have more previous background knowledge, can you fully understand it. Still, it’s quite high-quality introductory content for Chinese characters. 

The characters include: 舟，车，行，中，鼎，卜，天，福，犬，虎，马，牛，象，文，郭，陶，教，丝，甑，贝，走，图，典，册，笔

神奇的汉字故事

• Target audience: 3-12 year-old kids who are able to listen to Mandarin
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Watch here: 神奇的汉字故事

Review:

There are 20 episodes in total. Each episode introduces where a character came from, what it means, and its evolution process. Then there is a short story about the character so that it can be made more interesting, while still educational. However, the problem is that there are no English subtitles; it’s all in Chinese. So, it’s better if the kids are able to understand spoken Mandarin.  

一起画汉字

• Target audience: 3-12 year-old kids who need to learn writing
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Watch here: 一起画汉字

Review:

Writing Chinese characters is always a tough task for all learners. Especially kids, who are more impatient to practice. Based on kids’ aptitudes and the features of Chinese characters, 一起画汉字  eases the difficulty. It creates a lovely, simple painting based on each character’s shape. In this case, learners can memorize characters more easily by painting. But note that it’s not the real origin of each character. It’s just a method to help memorize and write them.

Courses for learning Chinese characters

Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Characters

• Target audience: People who are new to learning Chinese；People who want to learn the basics of Chinese Characters
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Learn here: Character Course A

Review:

Apart from the tons of introductory content we’ve presented so far, here are courses for learners who are ready to learn Chinese characters properly and in an organized way.

Course A is a comprehensive guide to Chinese characters, which helps you understand the rules and theories. From basic strokes to character construction, you can find everything you need to know before you dive into the sea of Chinese characters. It not only illustrates the basic information about and logic behind characters, but also the fundamental rules and methods. Good preparation brings you halfway to mastery. Then, this is the course for those who have just gotten started with learning Chinese characters.  

Building-up from zero to hundreds Chinese Characters

• Target audience: Elementary level learners who are interested in learning more Chinese characters.
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Learn here: Character Course B

Review:

Course B is a build-up from zero characters to hundreds. You can learn about 250 Chinese characters in this course. They are categorized by topic, ranging from weather to plants. Each video lesson consists of a breakdown of the characters, their origin, commonly used grammar patterns, and then a stroke-by-stroke writing tutorial of the character.

In addition to the tutorial content, there are also supplementary quizzes and exercises to do. After watching each lesson, you can practice with their writing sheets to strengthen your knowledge.

Apps for learning Chinese characters

Chineasy

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Download here: iOS
• Price: Partly free

Review:

Dig Mandarin has introduced Chineasy and its founder Shao Lan years ago. Now not only is there the book, but they also used their advantage to create a Chinese character learning app. With its featured vivid illustrations, it divides thousands of Chinese characters into hundreds of short lessons. You can choose either the simplified or traditional version. After learning the basic characters, there is a follow-up lesson to make these characters into daily words. The quizzes contain tests for pinyin, listening, character shape, and meaning. If you would like to get more functions, you can pay to learn characters by HSK level and practice writing them. For elementary learners, this is a method you should definitely try.

Skritter: Write Chinese

• Target audience: Adults, Kids 6 years old and above
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Download here: Skritter
• Price: Partly free; 1 month $14.99, 6 months $59.99, 1 year $99.99

Review:

Unlike many apps’ fancy interfaces, Skritter is designed to be very direct and simple. For learners who are strongly self-driven, it can be quite efficient. There are vocabulary lists for hundreds of Chinese books, and you can choose any one of them as your target book. For those who already have a particular textbook, this app can be very useful as your character review helper. Its quiz part also contains various elements. Apart from the definition, pronunciation, tone, and example sentences, it also strengthens stroke order. You can learn to write and memorize characters with it.

Zizzle

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning, Intermediate
• Download here: Zizzle  
• Price: Partly free; Use the promo code “DIGMANDARIN10” to save 10% on all three-month and annual subscriptions, as well as packs.

Review:

Zizzle has already collected over 850 key Chinese characters from the HSK basic and intermediate levels. Zizzle has created a very different character memorizing method from other apps. Each character has a particularly ridiculous short story to help you learn the pronunciation as well as the meaning. It also uses pictograph characters to make pictures that will help you better memorize the shape of the character. They basically put everything together in a short story. No matter whether you are an adult or a child, you will have fun in the learning process.   

悟空识字

• Target audience: 4-8 year-old kids who are able to listen to Mandarin
• Learning stage: Beginning
• Download here: iOS, Android
• Price: 198 yuan

Review:

Sun Wukong is a very well-known monkey character in Chinese culture. All Chinese kids know him. This app is designed based on Wukong’s little stories. Each lesson is a story-based game that helps teach several characters. There is also a distinguishing part for learning characters, which is quite helpful for memorizing them. This app contains 1200 Chinese characters in all lessons. A lesson per day for 10 minutes sounds reasonable for kids. Plus, cute stories can be very interesting for kids.

Tools for learning Chinese characters

Meaningfully learning Chinese characters

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
• Use it here: Meaningfully learning Chinese characters

Review:

This is a kind of Chinese character dictionary. Besides Pinyin, there are also etymological explanations in Chinese, English, and French. It also shows you the ancient versions of each character. The fun part is that it generates a graph with branches of related characters. You might find several other related characters to learn and distinguish between.

汉典网 (hàn diǎn wǎng)

• Target audience: Adults and kids who are beyond the basic level
• Learning stage: Intermediate, Advanced
• Use it here: 汉典网

Review:

This online dictionary is not only for Chinese learners but also for native Chinese speakers. It lists all pronunciations, simple explanations, detailed explanations, and character origins. The stroke order of each character is also represented. Sometimes it might be too comprehensive and thorough to quickly locate the item you need to know. And it’s mainly explained in Chinese with very simple English definitions. So using this website is already a sign that your level is intermediate or advanced.

Writing sheet generating tool

• Target audience: Adults, Kids
• Learning stage: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
• Use it here: 字帖生成器

Review:

If you’ve ever learned writing Chinese characters, you are definitely familiar with character writing sheets. It’s either with a 田 square (田字格) or a 米square（米字格）so that you can write each character in the right place properly. With this tool, you can generate your own practice sheets. Input the target character, and it can even show you its stroke order so that you can better practice and imitate.

The post A Collection of Resources for Learning Chinese Characters– Books, Videos, Courses, Apps, Tools appeared first on .