You’ve probably already learned the basic numbers in Chinese, but there are ways in which Chinese numerals are used in specific ways that are different to in English. You’ll learn some of these differences, as well as some practical ways to use Chinese numerals for discounts, fractions and to make approximations. 1. 基数词 (jī shù… Read More
I previously wrote an article that focused on sentence patterns for beginners, 10 Essential Chinese Sentence Patterns Every Beginner Should Know. Hopefully, you’ve covered those 10 patterns, and it’s time to move on to more intermediate sentence patterns. 1. 是……的(de) to emphasize 是 (shì) can be omitted from the sentence. The phrase in between 是… Read More
A couple of months ago, I sent out an email asking what people’s biggest problems were or are with studying Chinese. I was overwhelmed by the responses I received from users of all levels and I have managed to whittle down everyone’s replies down to these 10 questions. Some of these learning problems came up… Read More
It will only take [est_time] to read this post! I use my bullet journal to track my personal goals, such as exercising more often (obviously), saving money and baking the perfect scones! Although one of my goals is also to pass an HSK exam (Chinese proficiency test), I haven’t figured out how to use my… Read More
Idiom comes from the Greek word meaning ‘one of a kind’. They’re often used to convey a special meaning that is not directly spoken. Idioms also shorten a longer meaning, and can add colour to a language and emphasis to a specific phrase. Idioms, known as 熟语 (shóu yǔ) or 成语 (chéng yǔ) if made… Read More
Did you know there was a 5th tone in Mandarin Chinese? Many Chinese learners just refer to this tone as having ‘no tone’ or being ‘neutral’. However, this ‘no tone’ actually has rules that can change the way a character or bigram is spoken. The way the 5th Chinese tone is used in spoken Chinese… Read More