Audrey Kidwell - Speechling Official Blog

9 Essential Chinese Words without Direct English Translations

One of my favorite things about learning new languages is discovering words that do not translate directly into English, my native language. Each of these words feels like a revelation: a new way of expressing myself and thinking about the world. I enjoy the mental challenge of explaining these words

Mandarin

Learn Chinese Misconceptions about Foreigners before You Travel to China

Unfortunately, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking in stereotypes, whether or not these beliefs reflect reality. We may not even realize we believe a stereotype, but it can impact the way we treat other people. This is especially true of stereotypes about groups of people with whom

Mandarin

Top 7 Reasons Why You Should Learn Mandarin Chinese

Chinese has a reputation for being a very difficult language to learn. The U.S. State Department ranks both Mandarin and Cantonese as Category IV “super-hard languages”, the most challenging for English-speaking diplomats to master. The combination of written characters and spoken tones presents a double-whammy for those of us

Mandarin

How to Wish Someone Happy Birthday and Celebrate in Mandarin

Western birthday traditions like singing “Happy Birthday” and blowing out candles on a cake haven’t been around for very long. In fact, up until the latter half of the 19th century, most people didn’t celebrate birthdays. Some cultures marked birthdays for rulers or prominent members of the upper

Mandarin

85+ Essential Workout Phrases in Mandarin

The benefits of exercise are no secret: experts at the Mayo Clinic and elsewhere say that regular physical activity can improve your mood, reduce your risk of diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, and even help you sleep better. Even if you dislike getting hot, sore, and sweaty, there

Mandarin

Chinese Grammar: What’s the Difference Between De Particles 的, 地, and 得?

Homophones can be one of the trickiest things for language learners to master, whether you’re studying Chinese, English, or any other language. When those homophones are some of the most common words in that language and function as crucial grammatical components, it becomes even more important to use them

Mandarin

The Ultimate Guide to Chinese Dialects and China's Other Spoken Languages

Many Mandarin learners have encountered difficulties when trying to explain what exactly they are learning. Is it a language? A dialect? And what's the difference between Mandarin and Chinese, anyway? If you're a bit lost, you're not alone! The simple explanation is that there are many different languages and dialects

Mandarin

Agreeing in Chinese: 8 Ways to Say Yes in Mandarin

You might be surprised to learn that in Chinese, there is no single word that translates directly to the English word "Yes". Instead, Chinese has multiple ways of confirming, approving, and agreeing that vary with context. Speakers of many Romance and other languages can answer a wide variety

Mandarin

3 Classical Chinese Poems You Must Know for Learning Mandarin

Many Chinese people cherish classical Chinese poetry, despite the fact that some of the most famous works were composed over a thousand years ago. Chinese Poetry Congress is a prime-time game show that has been running in China since 2016. Contestants from all walks of life - from professors to

Mandarin

150 Basic Mandarin Phrases to Learn for Travel in China

International travel can feel daunting, especially if you do not speak the language of your chosen destination. In addition to the challenges of navigating an unfamiliar place, you will face a language barrier when facing even the most basic tasks like checking in to a hotel or ordering a meal

Mandarin

The Ultimate Guide to Zhuyin (Bopomofo) And How to Learn It

One of the biggest challenges of learning Chinese is that it does not have a phonetic alphabet. Unlike languages like English where each letter represents a sound, the Chinese writing system is not broken up into separate consonants and vowels. Instead, each character represents a word or concept, and therefore

Mandarin

101+ Medical Phrases Chinese Learners Should Know in an Emergency

A medical emergency is the last thing anyone wants to experience when traveling. Navigating the health system in one's own country is daunting enough, even without the language challenges that can come into play while you're abroad. The best case scenario is to prepare for an emergency before you leave:

Mandarin

7 Time Management Tips to Stay Organized while Learning Mandarin

One of the most common excuses for not learning a language is, "I'm too busy! I don't have enough time to study a new language." In many cases, the would-be student knows exactly what he should do to practice: make and review flashcards, watch videos in the target