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Chinese

Read all of Speechling's language learning tips and articles on the Chinese language. Improve your pronunciation with Speechling.

Mandarin

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

Mandarin

How to Learn Chinese Fast on Your Own

What is the secret to learning Chinese quickly, and by yourself? The best way is to tailor your learning method to your learning style. Here are some learning tips to help you learn Chinese in ways that your brain naturally thinks.

Mandarin

Chinese Pronunciation: Érhuà Is the "R Sound" as the Last Syllable in Mandarin

Understand érhuà, the final "r" sound in many Northern Chinese dialects. Learning how to recognize and comprehend these distinctive pronunciations will allow you to connect with Northern Chinese and people from the capital, Beijing.

Mandarin

10 Grammar Tips for Chinese Beginners

Every one who has tried to learn a new language has probably experienced the frustration of wanting to say something, knowing all the right words, but just not being able to put them together in the right way. Chinese is no exception with rigid grammar structures and words like 了

Mandarin

Top 10 Ways to Make Learning Chinese Fun

Sometimes a quiet room and a good cup of coffee just isn’t enough to memorize those Chinese characters. We’ve all been there. Even though you love learning Chinese, your brain has begun to rebel at the mere sight of a textbook! But who says that learning needs to

Mandarin

7 Major Chinese Holidays Mandarin Learners Must Know

As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China has a long list of traditional holidays the nation and its people celebrate. Here are seven major Chinese holidays and the traditions that follow.

Mandarin

Top 8 Tips and Tricks to Make Friends in Chinese

Learning Chinese is important but difficult. What are the right ways to study Mandarin? Making friends is definitely one of the best ways. Generally, language is an incredible tool for forming relationships. It grants the ability to literally communicate to people in new ways which can be incredibly powerful. For

Mandarin

A Beginner’s How-To Guide for Chinese Numbers and Counting in Mandarin

Counting in Chinese can be confusing, overwhelming and intimidating. But have no fear - let's break this down together and see how you can easily learn Chinese numbers in 5 minutes!

Mandarin

Learn How to Understand and Give Directions in Chinese

Getting lost is a great way to discover a new place, but at some point we’ve all got places to be, and sometimes these places aren’t necessarily on a map or easy to find. Knowing how to get directions from the people around you is an essential survival

English

The Ultimate Guide to Benefits of Being a Bilingual

The goal of this article is not only to bring you motivation relating to language learning, but also to focus on and illustrate the many ways in which bilingualism can improve your lives and the lives of others around you. Throughout this post, we are going to present you with

Mandarin

How to Describe Locations in Chinese: Transportation Vocabulary and More

In any city, there are places that you need to visit early in your stay, and others that serve as useful navigation points. It could be anything from finding the local hospital to locating the nearest subway station. Learning how to say some of these places in the city in

Mandarin

Chinese Learner's Guide to the Dragon Boat Festival

What is the Dragon Boat Festival? As the heat of summer approaches, so too does this historic Chinese holiday, also known as 端午节 (duānwǔjié - Dragon Boat Festival). In this article, you can learn key Chinese phrases about this holiday. If you're lucky, you can practice them at a real

Mandarin

Chinese Conversation Tips: How to Talk to Strangers

When you're ready to take your Mandarin Chinese skills to the streets for some real life practice, how do you address people you've never met? Make sure you get off on the right foot and read these tips!