10 ways to use 点 (diǎn)
点 (diǎn) is one of those characters in Mandarin that pops-up all over the place. In the dictionary, there are multiple meanings given, including “dot”, “point”, a “small amount”. In…
When is it time to change your Chinese teacher?
“Teaching should be full of ideas instead of stuffed with facts.” “Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross.” There are…
Various Chinese Translation for “Too Many” and “Too Much”
The Chinese language, with its rich vocabulary and intricate grammar, often presents unique challenges for learners. One phrase that frequently stumps Mandarin learners is "太多 (tài duō)," which is the…
Learn The Chinese Tones With Morse Code?
I want to share a teaching cue I’ve been using with my students recently that’s been great for learning how to actually produce the Chinese tones. When it comes to…
How to Get the Tones in Chinese Right, and then Fix Them in Your Head!
The first thing that most beginners learn in Chinese is the four tones – how the meaning of a sound changes depending on whether you say it in a flat pitch,…
The 4 Best Ways to Learn Mandarin Faster
As a fellow Mandarin-as-a-second-language student, I know first-hand how challenging it can be to learn Chinese, especially if it’s your first language other than English. Fluency can frequently seem like…
The Major Differences Between 两(liǎng) and 二(èr)
Numbers are often one of the first topics that learners tackle when starting a new language, and Chinese is no different. However, Mandarin is unique in the fact that it…
Four Words that Mean “latest” in Mandarin
Do you have the latest iPhone? What’s the latest on the U.S. presidential election campaign? Did you see the fashions on display at the Shanghai Fashion Week? Daily conversation so…
Mandarin Chinese Coffee Vocabulary for the ‘Up-and-Coming’ Chinese Coffee Market
In addition to having the one of the strongest tea cultures in the world, coffee culture is also exploding in China. As of July 2015, Coffee Consumption is in a…
Mastering Chinese Characters Through Radicals – Understanding the Three Drops of Water Radical
A radical in Chinese is a collection of brush strokes that convey a certain meaning. Radicals combine to form characters, and recognizing a particular radical can often hint at the…