Guides
Learn Mandarin, step by step.
Short, clear guides for people learning Mandarin: tones, pinyin, characters and everyday phrases. Each one ends with practice you can start straight away.
How to Learn Mandarin Tones (and Stop Dreading Them)
Tones change the meaning of a word, but there are only four of them. Here is how each one sounds and how to train your ear and voice.
Read the guide →How Long Does It Take to Learn Chinese? Realistic Hours and Levels
Chinese is slower to learn than Spanish for English speakers, but not impossible. Here are the numbers, and what they mean for your plans.
Read the guide →Pinyin Explained for Beginners: Sounds, Tones and the Tricky Letters
Pinyin spells Chinese sounds in the Latin alphabet, but many letters do not sound like English. Here is a clear map of the ones that surprise people.
Read the guide →How to Learn Chinese Characters Without Drowning
There are thousands of characters, but they are built from a small set of parts. Learn the parts, learn by frequency, and read before you write.
Read the guide →Mandarin or Cantonese? Simplified or Traditional? Which to Learn First
Chinese is a family of languages, with two writing styles. Here is what the choices mean and a simple default for beginners.
Read the guide →Chinese for Travel: 30 Phrases That Actually Help
You do not need many words to get far. These thirty phrases cover greetings, shopping, directions, food and trouble.
Read the guide →Chinese Measure Words Made Simple: Start With 个 and Add the Useful Ten
Chinese puts a small word between a number and a noun. You can start with one word, 个, and learn the rest as you go.
Read the guide →How to Practise Speaking Chinese Alone
You do not need a partner to start speaking. These solo routines build the mouth habits that make real conversation easier.
Read the guide →Chinese Numbers, Dates and Money: A Beginner's Guide
Chinese numbers are the most regular part of the language. Learn ten words and you can build all the others.
Read the guide →HSK 1 Explained: What It Covers and a 30-Day Plan
HSK 1 is the first official Mandarin level. Here is what it asks for and a four-week plan to get ready.
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