As we start this journey, we aim to unravel the layers of complexity within the Chinese writing system and demonstrate how mastering this skill can offer more than just the ability to script words—it can connect you to the very heart of Chinese heritage. Let’s begin by understanding the fundamental differences between Chinese handwriting and calligraphy, and how each reflects distinct aspects of Chinese culture and personal expression.

What is the difference between Chinese handwriting and calligraphy?

Handwriting, quite simply put, is the ability to write characters in standard script. Calligraphy, however, is the true art of writing in Chinese. While handwriting is a very practical and necessary skill, learning calligraphy can deepen your emotional and cultural collection with the language, encouraging a more profound appreciation for Chinese culture and art.

Chinese learners of any level can and should try their hand at writing calligraphy. It’s a unique sensory experience that provides a historical and cultural context for the written language. By writing the strokes with a real brush and ink, you’ll come to understand that the stroke order you use in everyday writing was truly designed for fluidity, balance, and beauty.

Chinese calligraphy: Your basic toolkit

Chinese calligraphy is a wonderful hobby to embrace, as it offers so much cultural enrichment and results in beautiful pieces that you can hang in your home or offer to friends. There are several tools required for traditional calligraphy practice, including brushes, paper, ink, and ink stone. These items are widely known as the four treasures of the study, or 文房四宝(wén fáng sì bǎo). Other accessories such as a desk mat and brush stand are also frequently seen.

However, don’t feel like you need to invest in the most expensive equipment right away. If you attend a Chinese school or have an in-person teacher, ask if they have supplies you can borrow to get started. Otherwise, begin by getting a single brush and inkstone, then a small amount of ink and paper. Once you immerse yourself in the experience of practicing calligraphy, see if it truly sparks your interest and becomes a hobby that you’re ready to invest in.

Here is what you will need:

A brush 笔（bǐ）

Chinese calligraphy brushes come in a variety of sizes and materials. Generally speaking, smaller brushes work better for beginners as they allow for more precision and control. When it comes to materials, the bristles can be made from a variety of animal or synthetic fibers. Soft bristles, such as those made from goat hair, absorb a lot of ink, while hard bristles, such as those made from wolf fur or nylon, absorb less ink. Many calligraphers recommend hard-bristle or mixed-bristle brushes for beginners.

Rice paper 纸（zhǐ）

Rice paper, also known as xuan paper, is a thin, supple, and absorbent paper used for traditional Chinese calligraphy. Depending on where you buy it, it may come as a stack of single-use sheets or as a roll. There are also some special decorative formats, such as paper designed for wall hangings or rice paper fans. For beginners, though, you can buy rice paper that comes with a pre-printed grid, just like handwriting practice sheets.

Ink 墨（mò）

The traditional form of Chinese calligraphy ink is inksticks, a small, molded stick made of soot and oils that is ground into the inkstone and mixed with water to create the proper consistency for writing. However, bottled calligraphy ink is a much more convenient alternative because it doesn’t require the user to know how thick or thin the ink needs to be. For beginners, bottled ink is the obvious choice. Note that some bottled ink can be used directly out of the bottle, while some varieties still need to be diluted with water.

Inkstone 砚（yàn）

An inkstone is a rough stone or ceramic container used to hold calligraphy ink. Generally, coarse stone inkstones are recommended for those who use inksticks, but any vessel is suitable for bottled calligraphy ink.

How to Get Started with Traditional Chinese Calligraphy

Find your center: How to hold a Chinese calligraphy brush

Chinese calligraphy is an art form that involves the whole body, not just the hand. Your posture should reflect the qualities you want to see in your writing: grace, calm, and alignment. Your sitting position should be upright and held, but not tense or painful.

When you are ready to take your brush in hand, you need to hold it upright, not slanted like a pen. You should hold the brush perpendicular to the paper, gripping it loosely between your index finger and thumb. Then, wrap your middle finger around the outside so that the brush presses gently into the pad of your middle finger. The ring finger should brace against the back of the brush. While the pinky finger does not make contact with the brush itself, you shouldn’t stick it out like you’re having high tea. Rather, use it to support your ring finger as it balances the brush. This should allow you to write each stroke with a flick of your wrist.

This grip may feel foreign at first, but you’ll acclimate to it as you begin your practice. If your hand begins to cramp or feel fatigued after only a short while, take a moment to rest before coming back to your practice.

Now with your body and hand in alignment, it’s time to begin.

The Eight Principles of 永(yǒng): The only character you need

Nearly all characters in traditional Chinese calligraphy are composed of eight simple strokes, also known as the Eight Principles of Yǒng. If you’d like, you can practice each stroke individually a few times to get a feel for how your wrist moves the brush to paint each of them.

There is, however, a much more elegant way to practice these eight fundamental strokes, and that is the famous character永(yǒng), which fittingly means “forever” or “permanence.” Many calligraphers begin each writing session with this character, as it helps them center their energy, find their focus, and hone their craft.

I’ve learned the Eight Principles by heart, what do I write now?

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the basic strokes, the whole world opens up to you. This can be both exciting and intimidating. If you’re not sure what you want to write next, do what the Chinese have been doing for thousands of years: copy poetry.

Three Hundred Tang Poems is a world-famous anthology of poetry from the Tang dynasty. While you may not understand the meaning of these poems at first glance, taking the time to learn each character’s significance and diligently practicing the brushstrokes will help you forge a stronger connection with the words. Now, by no means do you have to write all three hundred! Simply pick one to focus on and completely immerse yourself in. You may be surprised how meaningful these poems become to you.

The common Chinese Characters list is also a fantastic source for your calligraphy practice.

A Final Word

The journey into Chinese handwriting and calligraphy is much more than learning a new set of characters or mastering a foreign script. It’s a voyage into the depths of Chinese culture, history, and philosophy. Whether you’re meticulously tracing the strokes of a single character or expressing your thoughts through the fluid movements of calligraphy, you’re participating in a tradition that spans thousands of years. This experience offers not only a unique form of artistic expression but also a reflective practice that can enhance mindfulness and cultural appreciation.

As you continue to explore the rich Chinese writing system, remember that each stroke, each character, carries with it a story, a piece of history, and a breath of life from the past. Whether for personal enrichment, artistic pursuit, or academic study, the practice of Chinese handwriting and calligraphy can add depth, beauty, and understanding to your learning. So take up your brush, embrace the challenges, and let each character you write connect you more deeply with the vast world of Chinese language and culture.

The post Learning to Write in Chinese: An Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy appeared first on .

Many of us are surprised to learn that the words for animal sounds, inanimate objects, or random vocalizations aren’t actually the same in each language. These onomatopoeia, simply defined as words that we use to imitate certain sounds, come in all different forms, and some may really surprise you.

When learning Chinese as a second language, people often treat onomatopoeia as unnecessary, not useful, or even childish. In reality, these simple sounds can add so much more color and dimension to your world. Plus, they’re a surprising amount of fun.

To give you a small glimpse into the vast amount of Chinese onomatopoeia out there, we’ve compiled a few short lists of words that we use to describe the sound of objects, animals, nature, and even people.

Bonus: Try to sound these out as you read them and add some gestures for even more pizzaz. Not only will you have a good laugh, but you’ll also commit them to memory more easily.

Chinese onomatopoeia – Object sounds

These sounds are all associated with inanimate objects and machines. If you look around your house, how many of these can you pick up on?

• 砰 (pēng) – Thump
• 唰 (shuā) – Swish, rustle
• 啪 (pā) – Pop, pow, bang
• 轰 (hōng) – Boom, bang
• 叮咚 (dīngdōng) – The sound of jingling or clattering, generally the sound of metal or porcelain objects clashing together
• 咔嚓 (kāchā) – Cracking or snapping
• 呱哒 (guādā) – Clip-clop, the sound of heels clicking on a hard floor
• 嘎吱 (gāzī) – Breaking or creaking due to heaviness
• 轧轧 (yàyà) – The sound of machinery running
• 刺溜 (cìliū) – Sliding
• 扑通 (pūtōng) – The sound when heavy objects land, or something falling into water
• 嘀铃铃 (dí línglíng) – The sound of a telephone ringing
• 乒乒乓乓 (pīngpīng pāngpāng) – The sound of two things colliding(especially to describe the sound of a ping pong ball in table tennis)
• 嘀嗒嘀嗒 (dīdādīdā) – Ticking clock or rain dropping
• 噼噼啪啪 (pīpīpāpā) – Patting or slapping

Chinese onomatopoeia – Human sounds

The sounds in this list all come from people. Some of them may be voluntary, others not so much. Take a second to close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a busy restaurant or on a crowded bus in China. Can you hear a group of teens chittering away, or perhaps a baby that goes from crying to giggling when it plays with a toy?

• 啊 (à) – Ah, OK   
• 啊 (á) – Huh? Eh? What?  
• 哦 (ó) – Oh?
• 哦 (ò) – Oh!
• 吁 (yù) Woah (used to call an animal to stop)
• 哇 (wā) – Wow! This is also the sound of crying or vomiting
• 啦 (la) – The sound of singing, cheering etc.
• 呀 (ya) – Ah, oh
• 诶 (éi) – Eh?
• 嗬 (hē) – Oh/wow!
• 呃 (è) – Belch, hiccup
• 呼噜 (hūlū) – Snoring or wheezing
• 哈哈 (hāhā) – Laughter
• 哇哇 (wāwā) – Crying
• 嘻嘻 (xīxī) – Giggling
• 牙牙 (yáyá) – Sound of baby talk, babble
• 叽叽呱呱 (jījī guāguā) – Talking, gossiping, chatter
• 叽叽喳喳 (jījīzhāzhā) – The sound of birds chirping or people talking rapidly and indistinctly
• 嘟嘟囔囔 (dūdū nāngnāng) – Muttering to oneself
• 唧唧咕咕 (jījī-gūgū) – Whispering

Chinese onomatopoeia – Nature sounds

These sounds are all found in nature. You may also notice some crossover with the words we mentioned in the first section. For example, the sound of a frog jumping into a lake might sound like扑通 (pūtōng), or you may hear咔嚓 (kāchā) when you step on a twig. Listening to the sounds of nature can be extremely calming, and now you can say that it’s part of your routine for studying Chinese.

• 哗啦 (huála) – Crashing sound, or the sound of flowing water like rain pouring down.
• 轰隆 (hōnglóng) – Rumbling sound, most often used to refer to the sound of thunder or rumble of machines.
• 呼呼 (hūhū) – Sound of the wind
• 哗哗 (huáhuá) – Sound of water gurgling
• 轰隆隆 (hōng lónglóng) – Rumbling
• 嘀嗒嘀嗒 (dīdādīdā) – A ticking clock or rain dropping

Chinese onomatopoeia – Animal sounds

This last section is by far the most fun. Animals make all sorts of bizarre and interesting sounds. How good is your impression of a chicken? If you say 喵 (miāo) to your cat, does it say meow back?

• 喵 (miāo) – The sound of a cat
• 哞 (mōu) – The sound of a cow
• 咯咯 (gēgē) – The sound of a chicken
• 喔喔 (wōwō) – The sound of a rooster
• 唧唧 (jījī) – Buzzing or chirping, usually related to insects
• 嗡嗡 (wēngwēng) – The sound of bees
• 蛐蛐 (qūqū) – The sound of crickets
• 汪汪 (wāngwāng) – The sound of a dog
• 嘎嘎 (gāgā) – The sound of a duck
• 呱呱 (guāguā) – The sound of a frog
• 哼哼 (hēnghēng) – The sound of a pig
• 知了知了 (zhīliǎo zhīliǎo) – The sound of cicadas
• 叽叽喳喳 (jījīzhāzhā) – The sound of birds chirping

These lists are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more onomatopoeia to discover, and some of them you may only discover after years of studying and immersion. When these sorts of words pop up in daily conversation, or even in literature and other media, they’re so small that we sometimes don’t even notice that they’re there. But if you pay careful attention, you can learn a lot about how Chinese people hear the world around them.

If you found this article fun and interesting, you can take it even further by studying Chinese comics and visual novels, also known as manhua. Their visual storytelling style often incorporates onomatopoeia to enrich the experience and add more dimension.

For now, let us know in the comments what your favorite onomatopoeia on this list was. Did any of them really surprise you? Do you think that any of these Chinese words sound more like the sound they imitate than the English equivalent? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

The post Wowza! or is it 哇塞? An Introduction to Chinese Onomatopoeia appeared first on .

Learning the Chinese writing system is a massive undertaking, and achieving mastery can take years. For some, it may not seem like it’s worth the effort when typing exists as an easy alternative, but increased dexterity is not the only benefit of learning to write by hand. The process itself of learning to write characters is a tool that will increase your understanding of the Chinese language on both a linguistic and cultural level.

The thought of learning a new writing system may feel like looking up at Mt. Everest, but you’re not alone. This article will provide you with an introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese handwriting and calligraphy, as well as strategies to help you improve your handwriting at any level.

If you’re ready to start, let’s talk about why learning this part of the language is so necessary.

• Why Is the Chinese Writing System Important?
• Components of the Written Chinese Language
• Learning to Write Chinese by Hand: The Tools You’ll Need
• Chinese Writing Practice for Beginner, Intermediate, And Advanced Learners
• A Personal Note: Learning to write Chinese if you’re left-handed
• The common characters practice sheets (PDF)

Why Is the Chinese Writing System Important?

Chinese handwriting is more than just a practical system for conveying information, the form of the characters themselves and the meaning embedded in each component provides insight into Chinese culture, history, and values.

Aesthetically, Chinese characters follow a flow that mirrors nature, a key theme in Chinese culture. The meticulously planned stroke order guides the brush smoothly from one end of the page to the other.

Furthermore, the cultural significance isn’t confined to artistic expression. The visual nature of the language allows the writing system to encapsulate historical perspectives and events. For example, looking at ancient script, the ancestor of the modern Chinese writing system, will allow you to view the world through the lens of the people who first transcribed the world around them. You’ll see what they consider important, valuable, and beautiful.

Components of the Written Chinese Language

While many refer to Chinese as a pictographic script, only about 4% of characters are actually pictograms（象形字）. The remaining 96% consist of simple ideographs（指事字）, compound ideographs（会意字）, phonetic semantic compounds（形声字）, loanwords（假借字）, and derivative characters（转注字）(The Details of The Main Types of Chinese Characters). What does this mean for you as a learner? It means that written Chinese is a diverse ecosystem, where many different elements come together to create complex meanings and ideas. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the written language, you must first understand its basic components.

Developing an advanced understanding may seem daunting, but it takes time. There are many much smaller and much simpler steps you can take to put yourself on the right track. For example, while pictograms only make up a small number of characters in total, they constitute a significant portion of the characters beginners should learn first. From there, you can grow your vocabulary and build your understanding of the written language progressively.

Learning to Write Chinese by Hand: The Tools You’ll Need

First of all, you’ll need paper, but not just any blank paper. If you’re a beginner or you feel that your handwriting needs a lot of work, your best bet is to use character practice sheets, which provide larger, pre-sectioned boxes for you to write in. Once you can write more precisely and feel comfortable with a smaller font, then it’s time to progress to the graph paper. Office supply stores often carry graph paper with boxes as big as 1 centimeter each, or as small as ¼ inch each.

When it comes to writing utensils, there’s a major debate on whether pens or pencils are ideal. While pencils are more convenient because you can erase mistakes and try again, many argue that pens encourage you to write more diligently because each mark is permanent. You only have one chance to get it right. Ultimately, the choice will come down to your personal preference or your teacher’s requirement.

Thankfully, these tools are all readily accessible, and you likely already have everything you need at home. Once you have your supplies in front of you, let’s look at some key practice strategies for your level.

Chinese Handwriting Practice for Beginner, Intermediate, And Advanced Learners

Beginners and advanced learners alike can benefit from deliberate handwriting practice. The key is to find strategies that will develop your fine motor skills while also deepening your understanding of the language.

Practice tips for beginner learners

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the basics. Be sure to check out our quick guide to Chinese character stroke order, as it will provide you with a clear map to follow. You may ask yourself why we need to bother with tedious things like stroke order. While it may feel quite foreign at first, with practice, you’ll find that writing Chinese characters is actually rather intuitive. The stroke order flows like a river, guiding you from each stroke to the next, and from each character to the next.

When it comes to selecting which characters to practice writing, you don’t need to overdo it. You can select a short list of words that contain all the elements you need to practice. As mentioned earlier, beginners can get ahead by focusing on pictographic characters and radicals.

For example, here is a list of 10 basic vocabulary words composed of the fundamental strokes that will no doubt come up countless times during your studies. Several of them, such as 人, 口, 日, and手, will also appear as radicals in other characters.

If possible, ask a teacher, friend, or language exchange partner to look at your writing and provide feedback. One of the best methods is to have your tutor watch you as you write each character, so they can make sure you’re following the proper order and direction for each stroke. You’ll also be able to correct yourself immediately and try again if they spot an error.

This early stage is crucial because it’s quite easy to develop bad habits that will be much harder to break later on. A bit of additional effort at the beginning can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Consider different resources you can use to practice:

• Chinese handwriting apps
• specialized character books
• writing-focused online courses – Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Characters.

Practice tips for intermediate learners

When you reach an intermediate stage, you’ll be required to write not only single-element characters, like the ones listed above, but also characters composed of multiple elements. This means paying additional attention to the proportions of each character and ensuring that your handwriting is balanced. While you may be tempted to switch to a smaller size of graph paper or stop using character practice sheets entirely, there are still benefits to writing larger. Start with a larger font, and as you gain confidence writing more complex characters, then begin to scale it down.

The intermediate stage is also when you can progress from intensive practice, focusing on being able to write a small set of characters perfectly, to extensive practice, focusing on being able to write a wide variety of characters well. Many learners find that they can recognize a lot more characters than they can write, and this is normal. Even native speakers sometimes have trouble recalling how to write certain characters, especially ones that come up rarely in everyday life.

When it comes to picking which characters to focus on, it’s logical to start with the characters that you’ll need to use most often, such as common nouns and verbs, grammar particles, and simple adjectives. These are the words that you’ll find on HSK vocabulary lists or Mandarin Chinese frequency lists below. From there, you can start to add words that are important to you specifically, such as terms from the industry you work in or words that are related to your hobbies and interests.

Beginners and intermediate learners should start writing Chinese characters systematically. Courses like the Zero to Hundred Characters Building-up Course help learners explore the characters, their creation, formation, and evolution into modern forms. In each lesson, learners break down characters, learn their origins, use common grammar patterns, and follow a stroke-by-stroke writing tutorial. This deepens your understanding of writing Chinese characters. If interested in writing Chinese characters, you can check the course for more details.

Practice tips for advanced learners

At the advanced stage, you’ve no doubt already become quite an autonomous learner, so this is where you can start to focus on your individual weaknesses and push yourself even further.

But how do you know where your weaknesses lie? Similar to beginners, seeking feedback from native speakers is paramount. The only difference is that you’ll likely need to ask them to look at a longer text written by you, as the errors may be few and far between. They may notice individual characters that need attention, or they may even pick up on larger patterns, such as frequently mixing up the line proportions for characters like 土(tǔ) and 士(shì).

The combination of integrating feedback and extensive practice is what will help you achieve mastery. One of the best ways to see your progress over time is to write every day, each time challenging yourself to write neatly at a steady pace. You can choose to write about a selected topic every day or keep a diary where you write about your daily life. Over time, you should feel your proficiency increasing, and when you look back at previous texts you wrote, you should see a visual difference in the quality of your writing as well.

If you’re already quite confident with your ability to write in standard print, you may want to begin challenging yourself in new ways. You can aim for accuracy by trying to write a 1,000-character text in pen with zero errors. You can also aim for speed, such as seeing how fast you can copy a text. If you want to test your recall abilities, try doing a dictation while listening to a complex piece of audio, such as from a podcast or news announcement.

Finally, the true way to take your Chinese handwriting to the next level is to study how native speakers write by hand, which can look quite different. They may take shortcuts, writing multiple strokes with a single continuous line or simplifying elements. This is how native speakers manage to write both fluidly and more quickly.

The fastest way to start writing like a native speaker is to imitate them. You can begin by watching others. There are many useful online resources, such as the Chinese Handwriting YouTube channel or the Chinese Handwriting community on Reddit, where you can see visual references or simple tutorials for writing in cursive script.

A Personal Note: Learning to write Chinese if you’re left-handed

If learning to write in Chinese is difficult for right-handed learners, it feels impossible for us lefties. As a young student, I was always the only left-handed person in my classes. I attended an American public school, where it’s no longer considered acceptable to force left-handed students to use their right hand to write. However, I could tell that my Chinese teachers weren’t quite sure how to teach me proper Chinese handwriting.

I’ll admit that I found it discouraging initially. Training my hand to follow stroke order was a unique challenge because I wanted to write all of my horizontal strokes from right to left, instead of left to right. I also noticed that all of my characters were slanted, a consequence of how I was holding the pencil in my hand. My teachers would stand behind me and look over my shoulder as I wrote, trying to see if I was “cheating” or not.

When I was about three months into my studies, my mid-term exam was coming up, and I felt depressed because I felt that I was doomed to lose points on the handwriting section. I had to sit down with myself and say, “This is more difficult for me than the other students, and it’s not fair, but that doesn’t mean I have to give up. It only means that I need to work harder.”

From that point on, I sat down every day and practiced intentionally. I focused on writing the strokes and characters that felt most unnatural for me. After about a week, I started to see a difference in the quality of my handwriting. After three weeks, my teacher was writing positive notes on my worksheets about the improvement she saw in my writing.

So, if you’re also a leftie and you want to know if you can still learn to write in Chinese, I’m living proof that if you put in the work, it will come. It will be harder for you, and it’s not fair. But the only thing standing in the way is your doubt.

A Final Word

If you’ve made it this far, I commend you! The world of the Chinese writing system is so vast, and yet we’ve only scratched the surface here. There are so many cultural and linguistic nuances to explore, many of which are completely new to English speakers. While we do not have the time to look at them all together, I hope that this article encourages you to embark on your own journey. I encourage you to use the strategies laid out here to both help strengthen your connection to the language and improve your fluency at the same time. Keep studying, stay curious, and open yourself up to all that the Chinese language has to offer.

Here is the list of the 150 commonly used Chinese characters that you need to master. Learn to practice your handwriting by downloading the common characters practice sheets.

The post Chinese Handwriting Practice, One Stroke at A Time: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on .

But! You don’t have to do this all alone. There are also a variety of different classes and tutoring services at your disposal. We at DigMandarin have developed this brief guide to provide an overview of your options, rating them based on accessibility, flexibility, cost, quality of curriculum, and quality of learning environment.

Whether you’re just setting off on your Chinese journey, coming back to your studies after a break, or simply looking to make a change, this guide is for you. Selecting the right kind of Chinese class will not only help you make progress more quickly, but it will also help you stick to a structured routine. If you’re in a learning environment that makes you feel more engaged, then studying will also feel like less of a chore. Are you feeling ready to take the next step? Let’s get into it.

• Confucius Institute: The Best Classes for Chinese Language and Culture Immersion Learning
• Local Chinese Schools: The Most Immersive Learning Experience
• Local Private Chinese Tutors: The Highest Amount of Individual Attention
• Online Chinese Tutors and Classes: The Most Flexible Approach

Confucius Institute: The Best Classes for Chinese Language and Culture Immersion Learning

Named after the famous ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, this organization was established by the Chinese government to promote the Chinese language and culture overseas. You can expect their teachers to be extremely qualified, true experts in Chinese second language education. Its branches are usually connected to a university, meaning its courses are generally accessible for those living in major cities or university towns. Tuition costs can vary from location to location, but you can expect their offerings to be less expensive than credited university courses. Some of their classes can even be free.

Furthermore, because all branches are a part of the same organization, the curriculum and teaching style are rather uniform. The Confucius Institute is well known for its courses geared towards preparation for the HSK (汉语水平考试), the official Chinese language proficiency exam, and the BCT (Business Chinese Test). If you have professional or academic aspirations, then these courses can help you make major strides towards your goals. However, their curriculum extends far beyond that and includes courses in cultural arts such as calligraphy, painting, and Tai Chi. They offer many different enrichment opportunities spanning from on-campus activities to group outings and even overseas trips.

The Confucius institute is an excellent option for students who benefit from a well-structured approach. The traditional classroom setting can be pretty hit or miss. Some people find that it helps them remain focused, while others find it bores them. The established course content is very comprehensive, at the cost of flexibility. Even though the Confucius Institute offers classes for all levels, the standardized curriculum focuses on general fluency and may not help you learn about niche topics that interest you. There’s also a lack of schedule flexibility. The classes that you want to attend may not be held at a time that’s convenient for you.

Overall, the Confucius Institute is best suited to students who are interested in following a standard curriculum, live near a university, and enjoy a traditional classroom setting.

• Accessibility: ★
• Flexibility: ☆
• Courses: ★★★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★★★★
• Pricing: ★★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★★★★★

You can explore the list of Confucius Institutes worldwide to find one that is near your location.

Local Chinese Schools: The Most Immersive Learning Experience

As an alternative to universities, local Chinese schools may offer a similar quality of curriculum at a lower price point and in a more immersive learning environment. These schools are generally established by diaspora communities to provide cultural and linguistic education. Naturally, you’re more likely to find these schools in your area if you’re located in a region with a higher population of Chinese people, such as a major city or certain suburbs.

Many of these schools provide daily classes for children and offer classes for adults on a less frequent basis. So again, the schedule may or may not work for you. The true benefit of local schools is the level of immersion that they provide. Each school is its own community, and you’re going to connect with a lot of native speakers and other students to practice with.

In comparison with the Confucius Institute, you can expect a very standard curriculum that will focus more on general education than test preparation. The quality of the teaching methods may vary from school to school, but local Chinese schools also tend to hire teachers with strong qualifications and experience in teaching Chinese as a second language. If you have multiple Chinese schools in your area, you may have to visit more than one to find the right fit for you. To gain insights into the quality and reputation of schools in your area, consider checking review platforms such as Trustpilot, which feature reviews and ratings from past and current students.

You can also expect the cost to vary. In some regions, local Chinese schools may be less expensive than coursed with the Confucius Institute, while in other regions the opposite may be true. It’s generally worthwhile to compare your own school’s prices to those of the Confucius Institute to find the most cost-effective option.

Overall, local Chinese schools are best suited to students who are looking to connect with a community, have a flexible schedule, and may have a relatively limited budget.

• Accessibility: ★★☆
• Flexibility: ★★
• Courses: ★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★★★
• Pricing: ★★★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★★★★

Local Private Chinese Tutors: The Highest Amount of Individual Attention

There are many reasons why you may decide to go with private tutoring instead of a group class setting. You may not have access to any local schools or Confucius Institute branches. Perhaps you find that the traditional classroom setting doesn’t click with you. Or maybe your goals fall outside of a standard curriculum. Naturally, this option costs quite a bit more than group classes, but the benefits may well outweigh the costs for you.

First, let’s discuss the kinds of private tutors that may be available to you. They generally fall into two categories: teachers with training in Chinese second language education and native speakers who are offering their insight. Obviously, the level of professionalism and lesson curriculum have a high variability, which is why it’s essential to find a tutor who can meet your specific learning needs. Beyond that, you’ll find that those who have more teaching credentials will charge quite a bit more than those who are just starting out, so you should consider what kind of learning experience you’re looking for: do you want a fully fleshed out Chinese course, or are you just looking for conversation practice to complement your independent studies?

Fortunately, private tutors can offer the most specialized curriculum. When you’re in a one-on-one context, your tutor can prepare lessons that will both provide you with the foundation you need but also focus on topics and skills that are most relevant to you. You’ll also find that a private tutor will give you more specific feedback, so your fluency will increase at a much faster rate.

Why go to the trouble of finding someone local? Well, a local tutor can provide in-person sessions either at your home or in public, which can be more engaging and help you form a stronger personal connection. But beware, it’s important to choose a location where you can remain focused during your lessons. If you have kids running around your house or get distracted by the hustle and bustle of a café, it may be time to move somewhere else.

Given the fact that the quantity and quality of local tutors available change drastically from place to place, it’s important to do your due diligence. Many teachers who have their own websites will post testimonials from previous students, and some online platforms will rank tutors based on their credentials and reviews. If you’re meeting someone from a less regulated platform like Craigslist, for example, be sure to always meet the person in public before going somewhere private. Safety first!

Overall, local private tutors are most suited to students who are looking for a flexible curriculum and schedule and who have a little more budget to dedicate to their Chinese studies. If this sounds like you, but there aren’t any suitable tutors available in your specific area, stay tuned for the next section. We’ve got you covered!

• Accessibility: ★★★
• Flexibility: ★★★★
• Courses: ★★☆
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★
• Pricing: ★★★★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★★☆

Online Chinese Tutors and Classes: The Most Flexible Approach

While the kinds of classes available can change depending on if you live in New York City or rural England, rest assured that you can still get the same kind of structure and support from purely online options. Being connected to the internet means being connected to the largest worldwide network of Chinese teachers, courses, and other learning resources. Online classes offer the highest level of flexibility, so they’re an excellent option for busy students, full-time workers, or parents.

Online classes with private tutor

First, let’s talk about private online tutors. There are a variety of services online that can connect you with qualified tutors around the world. iTalki and Preply are two such options that allow you to search through a catalogue of registered teachers to find one who suits your needs, including budget, schedule, learning goals, and preferred teaching style. However, it can take a long time and a lot of effort to figure out if someone is the right fit based on their online profile. If you’re willing to put in the work, these can be the most flexible and cost-effective options.

• Accessibility: ★★★★★
• Flexibility: ★★★★★
• Courses: ★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★
• Pricing: ★★★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★

One-on-one Chinese classes

Otherwise, there are exclusively Chinese-focused options like Touch Chinese, which can match you with tutors that they have personally vetted for quality of curriculum and teaching style. These services may cost a little more, but the quality of their lessons is guaranteed. You can have confidence that you’ll be working with an experienced teacher who knows how to help you achieve your goals. Because there is a smaller number of tutors available, the schedule may be somewhat limited compared to the vast catalogue available on freelance websites.

• Accessibility: ★★★★★
• Flexibility: ★★★★
• Courses: ★★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★★★
• Pricing: ★★★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★★★

Video Chinese classes

Then, let’s talk about online classes. There are asynchronous online classes, such as the ones we provide here at DigMandarin, which can provide a strong foundation in the Chinese language. These kinds of courses are extremely accessible because you can log in to them anytime, anywhere. Another advantage is that most asynchronous courses have a pay once, access forever structure. When you find that you have a little extra cash, it’s a worthwhile investment to pay for a course that you can choose to start at any time. You can also start a course, take a break for a while, and resume whenever you’re ready to get back on the horse. Online courses provide a structured curriculum that can help you work towards specific goals, such as HSK preparation or mastering pronunciation. A winning combination is using an asynchronous online course as a foundation paired with private tutoring sessions to address specific goals and practice speaking.

• Accessibility: ★★★★★
• Flexibility: ★★★★★
• Courses: ★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★★★
• Pricing: ★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★

Real-time online Chinese group classes

Beyond that, there are also real-time online Chinese group classes. Generally speaking, these will cost less than private sessions but follow a more general curriculum. Some learners prefer group classes because having a scheduled class every week keeps them accountable. However, just like with local Chinese schools and the Confucius Institute, you’re at the mercy of their schedule. For example, small group classes with the well-known online teacher ShuoShuo Chinese are extremely popular because of their excellent curriculum and friendly learning environment, but if you live outside of her time zone, it’s possible that her classes take place in the middle of the night for you.

• Accessibility: ★★★
• Flexibility: ★★★★
• Courses: ★★★
• Teacher Professionalism: ★★★
• Pricing: ★
• Learning Atmosphere: ★★

Overall, online tutors and classes are best suited to students who live far away from major cities, are looking for a more personalized approach, or are looking to supplement other learning methods. The amount of online classes and tutors is so vast, it’s truly a build-your-own Chinese education model.

Where to go from here

There’s a lot of information to process here! Don’t worry, it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed. To help you find your footing and establish your next steps, here’s a simple exercise:

Grab a piece of paper (or your notes app on your phone) and write out a few points.

• Location
• Schedule
• Cost
• Curriculum
• Environment

And from there, rank them from most important to least important based on your personal needs and priorities. Looking at this list should give you an idea of which options on this list will work best for you. For example, if being in an immersive environment is high on your list, but your schedule is flexible, then seeking out a local school is probably a good idea. If having your own custom curriculum is more important to you than cost, you may choose to go the private tutoring route.

This guide is merely a starting point, and while we can provide our own insights and experience, you are a unique individual with unique needs and goals. We can’t prescribe a one-size-fits-all learning plan, and in fact, we’d like to hear from you too. What are your experiences with previous Chinese classes and tutors? Did you love some and hate others? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Chinese Classes Near Me: How to Find the Best Chinese Classes and Tutors appeared first on .

“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.

There are 7 Major Differences between English and Chinese that you can have a closer comparison.

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 news 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. However 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 concepts 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. Here is a comprehensive guide for Chinese beginners to start with.

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 to 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 its 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 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 toward 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 .

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on brute memorization to expand your vocabulary and meet your learning goals. You can rely on the writing system’s surprisingly intuitive structure, expertly developed learning strategies, and even more creative approaches to associating characters with their corresponding pronunciations and meanings.

In this article, we’ll look at ways to establish a strong foundation and then build from there to help you develop a vocabulary that is both rich and authentic. While a lot of this content is geared towards helping beginners find their way to get over the initial hurdle of adapting to a new writing system, the learning strategies and resources provided below are suitable for learners of all levels, especially those aiming to expand their vocabulary and enhance their ability to memorize Chinese characters effectively.

Step One: Learn How the Chinese Writing System Works

The first major step to solving these little puzzles is to understand the different components they’re made of and how those components are arranged. This may sound like a major investment of time and energy, but it’s a lot easier than it seems at first glance.

While we already have a quite comprehensive article on the fundamentals of character structure and how to write them, I really want to emphasize the importance of two common components: radicals and phonetic components.

Radicals, also known as 部首(bùshǒu), are the most essential part of understanding the meaning of characters. Take 女(nǚ) for example; by itself, it means “woman” or “female” but can be combined with other pieces to create words like 妈妈(māmā, mother)，姐姐(jiějiě, older sister)， and 妹妹(mèimèi, younger sister). There are 189 radicals in simplified Chinese, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is fluency. You can focus on the most common, fundamental radicals and still see the major payoff in your studies.

The next key piece of the puzzle is phonetic components. Going back to the three words we looked at earlier, you’ll notice the pieces added to the radical, 马(mǎ, horse), 且(qiě, even/moreover), and 未(wèi, not), have nothing to do with the meaning, BUT the pronunciation does match closely or exactly. These phonetic components do not add anything to the definition of the character, but rather they provide a clue to indicate how you should say it out loud.

This is just a taste of what the Chinese writing system looks like when you break it down, but can you already see the mystery of these characters starting to dissipate? If you want to keep going more in-depth, you can also check out these two courses that provide an in-depth overview of the writing system to help you find your footing and become more confident in both reading and writing Chinese characters.

Once you feel you have a solid foundation, then it’s time to start building.

Step Two: Build Your Chinese Vocabulary Through Repeated Exposure and Practice

This is the stage where you can start to have more independence when it comes to choosing both the content that you want to study and the strategies you want to use. This is the stage in my own learning journey where I felt lost at sea, adrift with no real direction and nobody to help me. And while I can’t tell you exactly what to study and how, I can provide some of my own insights to set you off on the right path.

Let’s first answer the question of WHAT to study. The answer here is going to look very different depending on your learning level. Quite frankly, for beginners, there’s a very straightforward answer: learn the words that are used most often. Chinese character frequency lists will provide you with the characters you hear most often in daily life, or you can always refer to the classic HSK vocabulary lists.

As you become more advanced and feel confident with the words you hear on a daily basis, you may need to look at specializing based on your own interests and learning goals. For example, if you’ve been learning business Chinese for several years and you plan on putting that knowledge to use working with a software company, then naturally it would serve you to learn the specialized terminology of your field. Or if you don’t have any professional aspirations, you can merely focus on areas of interest. If you’re a literature fanatic, then you may even choose to learn some archaic Chinese words to help you understand classical works and poetry. The only limit here is your imagination.

Next comes an even bigger question. Once you have a list of words you want to learn, HOW do you learn them without feeling like your brain is completely overloaded? The first key is based on the Chengyu 锲而不舍(qiè ér bù shě)， persevere, and keep chipping away at it. The second key is to find the learning strategies that work for you.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways to make memorizing Chinese characters easier.

– Strategy 1: Flashcards and Spaced Repetition

We all know them, and we all have a love-hate relationship with them. Flashcards have remained one of the most common strategies for character memorization because they allow you to quickly check whether or not you can remember the meaning of a character. It’s also quite easy to find a spare 10 minutes for flashcards as opposed to sitting down for an intensive study session.

However, just doing flashcards doesn’t always guarantee results. It’s also hard to know how many times you should study a card before moving on, and what happens if you forget a word that you previously studied. This is where the concept of spaced repetition comes in.

Spaced repetition is an evidence-based study technique that is used by linguists, medical professionals, law school students, and more. This system is based on the concept of studying new terms more frequently and familiar terms less frequently. It focuses your attention on the words that are less familiar but still prompts you to return to words that you’ve already studied, which strengthens your recall and makes you less likely to forget it.While spaced repetition systems (SRS) can be difficult to manage with hand-made flashcards, many popular flashcard apps, such as Anki, already have an SRS baked into their code, making this strategy readily accessible to anyone.

– Strategy 2: Visual Cues

Do you consider yourself a visual learner? Then why not take advantage of the fact that many Chinese characters are based on pictograms? Radicals such as 口(kǒu) and 目(mù) pictorially represent the mouth and eyes, so they serve as visual cues to remind you of the meaning of words like 喝(hē, to drink) and 眼睛(yǎnjing, eyes). I’ve always found that making visual associations strengthens my memory more than anything else.

You can choose to draw these connections by yourself during your regular reading and writing practice, or you can do intentional visual association using an established guide, like Chineasy, designed to help visual learners memorize characters more effectively.

– Strategy 3: Storytelling and Mnemonics

Another strategy that is based on making external connections is storytelling. Creating a narrative around a new word can help you more effectively remember its meaning and importance in the language. You don’t have to write a novel. Even just writing a few short sentences can help your brain grasp a foreign term more strongly and more quickly.

This strategy is extremely effective for learning Chengyu, four-character idiomatic phrases that are often based on traditional fables. Learning the story behind these complex expressions makes a world of difference, and it’s truly inspiring to be able to learn more about Chinese history and culture while also expanding your practical knowledge of the language.

Mnemonic devices are a slightly more abstract strategy to remember the pronunciation and meaning of characters. These are often personal ideas or opinions that we assign to a specific character because they help us recall more effectively and faster. Let’s look at one example together. I’ve been trying to learn the word 单独(dāndú, alone, singlehanded), and I have a coworker named Dan who recently quit. So now, when I see this character, I think of the fact that due to Dan, I now need to handle my work alone.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this strategy because sometimes it can be very difficult to find a way to meaningfully link a character to a phrase in my native language. However, when you do find a solid mnemonic device, it can be extremely effective in helping you recognize the character later on.

– Strategy 4: Learning in Context

Sometimes the most effective way to pick up new terms is through learning on the job, which means learning new characters when you come across them while reading. Many linguists would say that this lines up with the strategy called Comprehensible Input, which is currently one of the most popular methods of learning a new language.

The reason why learning in context is so important is that it exposes you to the characters you will need most often in your day-to-day life, plus it adds additional insights about the word’s usage and cultural implications. Learning characters in isolation can teach you how to recognize and write them, but learning through real-life scenarios will help you turn passive understanding into active usage, which has a much higher impact on your fluency.

This strategy is one of the easiest to implement into your studies because it can be applied to any scenario where you are reading Chinese characters as part of a larger story or conversation, such as texting friends, reading books or manhua, and browsing social media.

When you come across a character that you don’t recognize, it’s important that you take note of its structure and components, plus the pronunciation and meaning. Thankfully, many popular reading apps like MandarinBean, DuChinese allow you to see a word’s pinyin and definition by tapping on it, or you can install a browser extension that will allow you to do the same on any website.

Step Three: Test Your Knowledge Regularly

No matter how you choose to go about memorizing characters, you need to ensure that you’re actually retaining the knowledge over time if you want to get the maximum benefit. There are a few different ways you can go about testing to see if you really remember all those words you studied.

– Test 1: Reading Comprehension

The first test is the easiest because reading only relies on recognizing characters and remembering their meaning. If you’re studying HSK-related vocabulary, then look at reading materials or mock tests that are aimed at your current level (or the one above!) and see if you are able to read through a passage smoothly, or if you feel like you’re hitting speedbumps in every sentence. Perhaps some words come back to you immediately, others you can figure out by looking at them for a minute, and some won’t come back to you at all. If you want to give yourself a grade, you can count how many characters fall into each of those three categories, but I find that you can most often intuitively get a sense of your performance just by going through the passage.

– Test 2: Written Expression

Now comes the real challenge. Can you both think of the character you want to use and then remember how to write it? If you’ve been studying vocabulary around a specific topic, such as how to order food, writing business emails, or describing a movie you saw, you can try to write a short paragraph or dialogue to demonstrate your knowledge. This will not only reinforce your knowledge of characters but also all of the grammar points you have studied. Don’t worry if you can write fewer characters than you can recognize, that’s completely natural and is even true of native speakers.If you want to try this test but feel like your writing skills aren’t up to par, you can also consider typing your text. Different typing input methods can test your character recognition in different ways, such as inputs based on pronunciation, radicals, or stroke order. It isn’t as rigorous as handwriting everything, but it will still allow you to see if you’re retaining the information that you studied.

Key Resources for Learning Chinese Characters

Having the right tools to support your practice can often make the difference between finding success or falling short. This is a curated collection of apps, books, and courses designed to boost your Chinese vocabulary in ways that are extremely helpful, streamlined, and fun.

DigMandarin’s Chinese Character Courses

These courses are an extremely valuable resource for any student looking to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of Chinese characters. I found that the instructor broke down complex concepts into digestible pieces, allowing me to learn without feeling overwhelmed. They’re also extremely affordable, and the format allowed me to access the course when it was convenient for me.

Pleco

Pleco is by far the best Chinese dictionary app you will ever use. It offers an extremely comprehensive database of terms and phrases. You can also use any input method you want: Chinese, English, Pinyin, handwriting, or simply taking a picture. Certain add-ons can be purchased to add additional features, such as a flashcard system, but they are very low-cost and are a one-time purchase instead of an ongoing subscription.

Anki

Anki is an extremely well-known SRS (spaced repetition system) app used to create and manage flashcard decks. While its interface is still stuck in the 90s, it can be learned fairly quickly and lends itself to being used creatively. You can create your own flashcards and add supplements like audio and images to improve retention, or you can download existing flashcard decks created by other users. I’m currently using this extensive HSK 3.0 vocabulary deck, which includes writing and stroke order practice.

Chineasy

This series originally hit the scene as a book with an innovative take on learning Chinese characters through drawings, and it is now one of the most popular methods for learning characters intuitively. They also now have an app that makes it even more accessible.

Du Chinese

This app was a key piece for me when it came to learning characters in context. The interface is extremely intuitive, and it makes reading practice more engaging by offering a huge variety of content at different HSK levels. The premium subscription is quite expensive, but the free version is still very high quality.

Mandarin Bean

The website offers graded reading material organized by HSK levels, all available for free. Each article features a variety of types, including news, business, stories, fun, and culture, among others. The selection of vocabulary lists tailored to each level is an exceptionally convenient method to learn words that match your proficiency. Engaging and progressively challenging content ensures a stimulating and effective learning experience.

Final Thoughts

Learning a new language can be a daunting task, let alone tackling a new writing system with its own extensive history and specific nuances. However, many have trodden this path before you and are ready to offer their expertise and tips to help you navigate the language with both curiosity and a hunger for learning.

Characters are the most basic foundation of the Chinese language, and learning them, especially how to memorize Chinese characters, is a unique task that challenges your brain to think in new ways. We are all unique individuals, and we learn in different ways. I invite you to try the strategies laid out in this article and see if they spark something new for you. It may just be the thing that ignites your passion.

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The theory of Comprehensible Input comes from the famous linguist Stephen Krashen, and to put it in the simplest terms, it’s the idea that if you consume a lot of content (i.e. listen a lot and read a lot) then there will be major payoffs for your fluency. Learners of all levels can take advantage of this strategy, and thanks to the massive explosion of Comprehensible Input content across the web, it’s easy to find resources that will suit your specific needs.

You may think, “Great! Sign me up. I’ll watch 1,000 hours of Chinese dramas and be fluent in no time!” Well, let’s put on the brakes for a second. This strategy can do a lot for you, but it can’t do EVERYTHING for you.

To help break down the complexities of this topic, we’ll go over the basics of Krashen’s input hypothesis, the benefits and drawbacks of Comprehensible Input, and how to effectively incorporate it into your Chinese learning strategy for optimal results.

Where does the term ‘Comprehensible Input’ come from?

To give a brief history, Professor Stephen Krashen first published his theory of second language acquisition in the late 1980s. This included his extremely popular input hypothesis, which states that students progress when they receive target language input that is just above their current level. This gives birth to the term ‘Comprehensible Input,’ referencing the kind of content that learners can still follow and understand even if they haven’t learned every vocabulary word and grammar structure. Krashen’s method is quite similar to how children learn a language through natural exposure instead of sitting down and studying grammar rules and vocabulary lists.

“Language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious grammatical rules, and does not require tedious drill.” – Professor Stephen Krashen

Sounds like a dream come true right? One of the reasons why Comprehensible Input has become such a popular learning strategy is because it rejects the idea that the only way to achieve a high level of fluency is to spend years studying nitty gritty grammar rules. Krashen opens the door to a new experience, where you can achieve the same result by simply spending time immersed in the language.

Let’s take a moment to discuss a few key points about finding the right kind of input for you:

• You have to be able to understand most of what you’re reading or listening to. In order to help you learn and grow, the content has to be slightly above the level you’re currently at. If you can understand 100% of it, then you’ll never learn anything new. If you can only understand about half of it, then there will be too much friction, and it will be nearly impossible for you to follow. Most people recommend choosing content that you can understand about 95-98% of.
• The content should be meaningful and relevant to you. Just because you can doesn’t always mean you should. By nature, we’re more likely to pay attention to and learn from things that we are personally interested in. When considering whether or not to invest your time and effort in something, consider if it supports your specific learning goals or if it truly sparks your interest.

Can Comprehensible Input make me fluent in Chinese?

Short answer: Yes. Comprehensible input can succeed in doing what many textbooks and courses fail at, which is teaching how the language is actually used.

Popular Youtuber Grace Mandarin Chinese has a particularly interesting video on the concept of contracted sentences, just one example of how native speakers will sound quite different from what you hear in a classroom setting. If you find that you can understand dialogues in a textbook but feel completely lost when listening to a real-life conversation between native speakers, then Comprehensible Input may just be the missing secret ingredient.

This strategy encourages exposing yourself to a wide variety of input sources, which will help you understand speakers who may have different accents, cadence, and vocabulary. For written content, consistent exposure can help you understand everything from street signs and text messages to newspaper articles and even poetry.

Ready to throw your copy of New Practical Chinese Reader out the window? Don’t be so hasty. We still have to address some of the shortcomings of Comprehensible Input.

Why can’t I use Comprehensible Input as my only learning method?

Problem 1: You can’t skip the fundamentals

While it may be tempting to put all your eggs into one basket, let’s take a moment to consider that Comprehensible Input has a prerequisite: you need to have at least some foundation in the language if you are going to meaningfully engage with the content.

This is especially relevant when learning Chinese because if you want to start reading native sources, you have to learn how to read first. In fact, learning about character construction and stroke order is key to understanding how the language functions, and you won’t get far without it.

The same goes for listening. When you’re being exposed to a completely new language, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the different tones and how they are used. It may be possible to pick up on some subtleties of pronunciation, like tone sandhi, through Comprehensible Input. But overall, establishing a foundational understanding of how the language works is key to success.

If you’re looking to establish a strong foundation that will then allow you to start your Comprehensible Input journey, consider taking an online course like the ones available at DigMandarin, which offer a structured introduction to Mandarin Chinese fundamentals.

Problem 2: Comprehensible Input can discourage learning how to speak and write

“These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are ‘ready’, recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production.” – Professor Stephen Krashen

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Krashen is discouraging his students from learning how to speak and write. Listening and reading are actually key pieces of learning how to speak and write like native speakers. However, if we place a very strong emphasis on input, then many students tend to neglect their output.

Comprehensible Input is a low-anxiety and low-stress approach, but sometimes it’s necessary to embrace the discomfort of putting yourself out there.

In many ways, Comprehensible Input helps build confidence in a second language, but it can be hard to leave that comfort zone. When learning a new language, we’re bound to make mistakes, many mistakes! Krashen encourages students to start producing when they feel ‘ready.’ This differs from the opinion of many teachers who encourage their students to produce from day one. There are benefits and drawbacks to each approach. But if you’re going to follow a Comprehensible Input model for your studies, know that your production skills may lag behind if you ignore them for too long.

One important factor to consider is your ‘why’ for learning Chinese. Many students are learning because they want to engage with other people, including family members, romantic partners, colleagues, or friends. If you find yourself neglecting your speaking or writing skills, then you may be missing out on valuable relationships and personal connections.

Let’s consider another quote from Krashen himself:

“In the real world, conversations with sympathetic native speakers who are willing to help the acquirer understand are very helpful.”

This pulls back the curtain a bit and shows us that Krashen’s hypothesis proposed back in the 80’s doesn’t exactly match what we see in our modern internet-based society. Conversing with a native speaker is by far the most immersive and active way to engage with the language, but you can’t simply sit back and listen to them talk. Try to be an active participant and you’ll see just how quickly your skills can improve.

How to use Comprehensible Input in combination with other learning methods

Finally, let’s take a look at how you can put the Comprehensible Input method into practice without falling victim to the pitfalls we just mentioned.

Keep in mind that becoming fluent in a language requires you to master a lot of different skills, so it’s natural that there isn’t one clear path to follow. The best approach is one that is balanced and tailored to your specific needs and your current fluency level.

As mentioned above, the newer you are to learning Chinese, the more you’ll benefit from starting with a more structured approach, either in a formal class, with an online Chinese course, or one-on-one tutor.

If you’ve already been on your Chinese language journey for a bit, you likely already have the foundation you need and probably feel ready to jump in the deep end. Your next step, then, is to find the content that is both meaningful and comprehensible to you. Obviously, this will vary a lot based on your current level and interests, but here are a few resources to get you started:

• DigMandarin’s review of popular Chinese podcasts
• Heavenly Path’s guide to Comprehensive Reading
• DigMandarin’s guide to Chinese graded readers
• Comprehensible Chinese, a YouTube channel with Comprehensible Input stories for all levels

A Final Word

While Comprehensible Input has certainly earned its popularity as one of the best methods for learning a new language, you want to make sure that you’re consuming content from a wide variety of sources. Think of it like your diet. Protein is a vital nutrient, but if you only ever eat meat, you certainly won’t be in good health. The longer you spend ignoring your other needs, the harder it will be to catch up in the end.

Even if you’re completely sold on Krashen’s input hypothesis, consider how supplementing with other resources, such as courses, tutoring, or practicing with friends, could help you reach your fluency goals. In the end, your Chinese learning journey is as unique as you are. It’s up to you if you want to follow a map or tread a new path entirely.

What are your favorite Chinese resources to listen to and read? Do you have a favorite TV show or reading app to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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#1: YangYang – Based in the U.S. but of Chinese descent, YangYang consistently delivers high-quality Chinese learning videos. With professional presentations, effective teaching methods ,and concise explanations, Yangyang does a great job of teaching Mandarin. She covers topics such as grammar, Pinyin, and important Chinese basics. Finding really high quality Chinese learning videos online is always tough, but Yangyang is right up there in providing the best of these kinds of videos. You can also find more of her video lessons on YoyoChinese.com.

#2: ChineseClass101 – Do you want to learn Chinese in three minutes? ChineseClass101 supplies various Chinese learning videos, and one of them is about how to learn Chinese in three minutes. There are several basic simple sentences that the teacher, Ma Yanru, explains in detail. They also have special vocabulary learning videos. It’s a very simple way to learn; different pictures are shown, along with their pronunciation, making it a good resource for kids to learn new words. Their travel videos are very useful as well, and they give you a tour of some places, and even include survival skills.

#3: ChineseFor.us – ChineseFor.us is hosted and run by Lili, who lives in the US and focuses on teaching through video. Her courses include pronunciation, characters, and a how-to-say series. Now she is making a course based on HSK. Her teaching style is repeating the target content several times to make sure you are engaged and will remember her lessons.

#4: DigMandarin – DigMandarin does not mainly focus on making videos on Youtube, but you can always find newly released Chinese courses or introductions about Chinese learning on their YouTube page. What`s more, since DigMandarin is a comprehensive platform, the videos are made by various Chinese teachers in systematic ways. Thus, you can always find the type of course which can fit your taste and learning abilities. You can find more high quality Mandarin Chinese learning video courses on their site.

#5: ShuoshuoChinese – With over years of experience as a Chinese teacher, Shuo shares her expertise and unique perspective on her YouTube channel, Shuoshuo Chinese. Her lessons aim to provide a complete understanding of Chinese language and culture by building a rich and authentic vocabulary. In addition to teaching new words that aren’t included in most textbooks, she also helps students unlearn words and phrases that Chinese people don’t actually use. Shuo is a very personable teacher, her videos feel just like a one-on-one session with a tutor. You can get to know her better through interviews and vlogs, which are also excellent listening practice. If you’re looking for content that is authentic and engaging, you’ve come to the right channel.

#6: GoEast Language Center – Looking to go beyond the words and expressions taught in textbooks? Well, these videos are worth watching. One of their playlists is called Beyond Class. They have over a hundred short videos that focus on teaching you mandarin words that you won’t learn in a class but are frequently used by Chinese people in their daily lives. Each video illustrates one word with a mini drama, which is entertaining and fun. It only takes 1 or 2 minutes to learn a new word in your spare time. Why not?

#7: MandarinBean  – You may already be familiar with Mandarin Bean’s graded reading content from their website. You may also know that the content on their website also features full audio, which allows you to listen along as you read. Well, in early 2022, Mandarin Bean launched their official YouTube channel, where you can discover high-quality graded audio content. Organized by the HSK level, their channel offers content for all learners, from absolute beginners to advanced students. Each video lasts about 5-10 minutes and briefly explains a topic of interest using level-appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures at regular speed and slower speed. It is an excellent supplement to any learner’s regimen, allowing you to practice listening comprehension and get familiar with hearing new vocabulary words in context. Besides, they also provide the corresponding reading comprehension exercises in each episode. And, if you don’t have YouTube premium, you can also go to their website and download these lessons to listen to while you’re on the go. Overall, this channel is just another way to discover Mandarin Bean’s top-notch graded reading and listening content.

#8: Chinese Zero to Hero – Although also focusing on HSK content learning just like other channels, this YouTube page still stands out. This channel shows two Chinese men explaining grammar points according to the HSK requirements. The grammar points coverage is wider than many of the other Chinese teaching YouTubers. You can find some explanations on their page which are less mentioned by others.

#9: ChinesePod – ChinesePod has been one of the most popular and reputable Chinese learning channels on YouTube for about 10 years now. They offer many different series hosted by a variety of teachers, including Question Time with Rebecca and Daily Characters with Carly. From newbie lessons to their survival series, this YouTube channel is always trying to make new and unique content. All of their videos are fairly short– anywhere from 15 seconds to 10 minutes–which is perfect for getting in some studying during your free time.

#10: Everyday Chinese – With nearly 350k subscribers, Everyday Chinese is one of the most popular Chinese learning channels on YouTube, and with good reason. Their lessons go beyond teaching basic vocabulary and grammar. They introduce interesting cultural points, explain complex grammar concepts, and teach useful, authentic vocabulary. Most of their content is directed at different HSK levels. There are also videos that focus on sharpening specific skills, such as writing and pronunciation. In many of the areas you want to work on, Everyday Chinese has content to help you improve your language skills in the process.

# Honorable Mention : Meditation for Chinese Learners – Immersion is one of the best methods for learning a new language, and Meditation for Chinese Learners is a new channel (started in 2021) dedicated to creating immersive and relaxing experiences. Their channel offers short meditations, narrated in Chinese, for a variety of proficiency levels. Crafted by a team of very professional Chinese teachers, each video includes relevant vocabulary and sentence structures. You can even view the full script and a list of vocabulary words in the video’s description. The teachers speak softly and clearly, which not only creates a calming atmosphere but also makes the content easy to follow. Each lesson is also enhanced by gentle music and ambient sounds. It’s easy to just sit back, unwind, and let your listening practice be a calming experience.

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Hosting meetings online adds a new layer of complexity. For many learners, it can be embarrassing to revert to English because they don’t know how to say ‘Your video is frozen’ or ‘I can’t hear you clearly.’ That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 32 essential phrases to help you tackle online meetings and take your business Chinese to the next level.

Getting Set Up

Unlike traditional meetings, online meetings require some extra effort to set up properly. Before the actual discussion can begin, everyone must make sure that the other participants can clearly see and hear them.

Here are some handy phrases to get you started:

Fortunately, many of these phrases use the same sentence structures that you’re already familiar with. They simply add some new vocabulary words, such as 摄像头, or camera. Here’s a tip: if you have trouble remembering certain words or short expressions, write them on a post-it note and stick it to your monitor. Then if you find yourself struggling to remember it during a meeting, you can sneakily glance over at your note.

Once you become more comfortable with these new words, you can start to use them in more complex sentence structures. For example, if you want to say 你可以打开摄像头吗？or 请大家打开摄像头, but you want to put more emphasis on the word 摄像头, you can use the 把 sentence structure. So instead, you would say 请把摄像头开设。You can read more about how to use 把 in this article.

These expressions help you start the meeting off on the right foot. They show your colleagues or clients that you are comfortable speaking Chinese and help you come across as both intelligent and confident. In the next section, we’ll talk about maintaining this impression when problems arise.

Technology Problems

The unfortunate reality of hosting digital meetings is that you are bound to run into tech problems sooner or later. This is another scenario where many Chinese leaners end up reverting to English. Being able to handle unexpected problems while still speaking Chinese is a true sign of fluency, and these phrases are an excellent way to prepare for those moments.

When you can’t hear someone on a video call, or they can’t hear you, how can you tell them in Chinese that there is a problem? You can’t write Chinese characters on your screen with a pen, but you CAN type them using your keyboard. If you want to type messages in Chinese, you can use what is called a pinyin input keyboard.

To set up Chinese pinyin input on Windows 10, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language > Add a Language. From there, Select Chinese (Simplified, China) and complete the setup. This will allow you to switch to Chinese mode whenever you need to type messages in Mandarin. You can simply type the pinyin of the character you want and use the number keys to select the character from a list.

To set up Chinese pinyin input on Mac, go to Apple menu  > System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources. From there you can click the Add button and select Chinese, Simplified. This will also allow you to type in Chinese using pinyin and selecting the characters you want.

Conducting a Meeting

This next set of phrases can be used both for online and in person meetings. They are all polite expressions that help you run a meeting smoothly.

Pay attention to the use of 您 instead of 你 in the expression 您先说. This emphasizes the respect that you show when you let someone else speak first. In business meetings, it’s a good idea to address others formally, especially if you are in a meeting with more senior colleagues, people you have never met before, or clients.

Saying Goodbye

Now that the main part of the meeting is over, it’s time to end on a positive note. These expressions help you wrap things up:

Once you have answered everyone’s remaining questions, you can quickly say goodbye before hanging up with a simple 再见, or if you will see them again soon, 下次见 or明天见。

Conclusion

Digital meetings have become an essential part of conducting business in the modern world, and that makes having the vocabulary to participate in these meetings an essential part of learning Chinese. The expressions we’ve looked at today will give you a solid foundation for running meetings and dealing with most common problems that arise. Once you become comfortable using these key phrases, you’ll be prepared to handle important meetings with Chinese clients, or you’ll be able to impress your Chinese colleagues with your authentic, modern vocabulary. To help you get started studying these expressions, you can download the full list as a PDF below. From there, you can make flashcards or put post-it notes on your computer screen to help you study as you work. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment down below! We’ll see you soon with more business Chinese essentials.

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