How to Learn Mandarin Effectively

Learning Mandarin Chinese is an ambitious goal, and knowing where to start can be tricky. But with the right tips, tricks, and some dedication, you’ll make steady progress and open the door to new career opportunities, cultural enrichment, and life-changing travel.  
In this article, we’ll introduce the Chinese language and some key features you need to understand before you begin learning. Then, we’ll give five simple but effective tips to kickstart your learning journey. So, read on to learn more. 

Introduction to learning Chinese 

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Chinese differs from Western languages in many ways. Understanding these differences helps you contextualize your lessons, plan your learning effectively, and focus your efforts. Here are a few of the most significant differences: 

1. Writing system

Chinese uses a logographic writing system with thousands of unique characters, each representing a word or a meaningful component. On the other hand, most Western languages use alphabetic writing systems, where small sets of letters combine to form words. Getting used to characters and memorizing them is often the biggest challenge for people who learn Chinese. 

2. Phonetics and tones

Chinese is a tonal language, meaning the pitch or tone used when pronouncing a syllable can change the meaning of a word. For example, in Mandarin:

• mā (妈) = mother
• má (麻) = hemp
• mǎ (马) = horse
• mà (骂) = scold 

3. Grammar

Chinese verbs don’t change for tense, person, or number. For example, the English verb “eat” could appear in many forms, such as “eating,” “ate,” and “eaten” depending on when the action took place. In Chinese, the verb for eat would remain the same, and the tense would be clarified with extra words that offer context. 

These are just a few of the most significant differences between Chinese and English, but they’re an excellent starting point for understanding how to approach learning Mandarin. 

The best way to learn Mandarin: 5 simple tips

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Master pinyin and practice tones 

Pinyin is the official system for writing Mandarin Chinese sounds using the Roman alphabet (the same letters used in English). It’s an excellent way to learn how to pronounce Chinese words without needing to know Chinese characters. 

For example, “hello” in Mandarin is written “你好” but in Pinyin, it’s written as “nǐ hǎo,” giving you a clearer indication of how the word is pronounced (nee how). While Pinyin isn’t the Mandarin language, it’s a helpful tool for working on pronunciation and practicing the four main tones: 

1. First tone: high and flat
2. Second tone: rising
3. Third tone: falling-rising
4. Fourth tone: Falling)

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You can practice these by finding syllables where the tone changes the meaning of the word, like in our earlier example:

mā (妈) = Mother (1st tone: high and flat)

má (麻) = Hemp (2nd tone: rising)

mǎ (马) = Horse (3rd tone: falling-rising)

mà (骂) = Scold (4th tone: sharp falling)

Listen to native speakers saying them, and imitate the sounds out loud to try to master the tone. 

Learn basic characters and radicals 

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While Pinyin is useful for practicing pronunciation and learning the basics, learning the basic characters and radicals is an essential part of learning Mandarin. Radicals are the basic building blocks of characters and can help you break characters down into smaller, memorable parts. Learning 50-100 radicals can help you understand the structure of thousands of characters.

When it comes to writing characters, use flashcards and methods like spaced repetition to start building your vocabulary. Focus on the words you’re most likely to use and practice writing them by hand to help reinforce memory. 

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Use language learning apps 

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Apps like Drops teach Chinese for beginners and intermediate learners with bite-sized, gamified lessons. This can be a fun way to start learning for free and develop a solid foundation in the language. On Drops, you can learn over 2,000 Mandarin words and form visual associations to help you memorize them. 

You’ll get to see Chinese characters in written form and listen to the native pronunciation, helping you master tones. You can also choose the topics you want to focus on, which is excellent for learning the language that matters most. 

Take Chinese lessons online 

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If you want to speed up your progress and are willing to invest more time and money, you can combine apps with online Mandarin lessons. Live lessons are great for getting real-time feedback and corrections from native speakers and practicing your conversation. 

The quality of tutors can vary a lot, so if you decide to learn with someone, check reviews from other students to make sure they’re the best person for the job. 

Immerse yourself in Mandarin 

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The more exposure you have to the language, the faster you’ll learn. Fortunately, there are thousands of ways to bring more Mandarin into your life. So, in addition to learning on apps and taking lessons, here are some other ways you can immerse yourself in the language. 

Listen to music and podcasts: Practice active listening and choose music and podcast topics that you’d normally listen to. This can be an excellent way to train your ear to the rhythm and sounds of the language. 

Watch films and series: FIlms and series can be an excellent way to learn about Chinese culture while working on your language skills. You can watch with subtitles in your native language, or switch to Mandarin if you’re a more advanced learner. 

Discover YouTube channels: There are hundreds of YouTube channels for learning Mandarin. Subscribe to a few that you like and dedicate some time each day to watching them. This could even be a 10-minute period while you eat your breakfast.

Label household items: Your guests might give you a funny look when they see your house covered in Post-it notes, but labeling objects helps you learn useful everyday items and acts as a constant reminder to practice. 

Read books in Chinese: You might not feel ready to read extensive pieces of literature, but what about books for kids? These are often designed to help young, native children learn the language with the help of pictures, making them excellent for language learners too. 

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Focus on language you want to use

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One of the reasons many people struggle to learn languages at school is a lack of relevance. When learners focus on language that they don’t use or topics they don’t find interesting, it can be hard to stay motivated. 

For example, if you’re planning a trip to China, you may want to begin by learning phrases to introduce yourself, order food, and go shopping. If you’re learning Mandarin for work or job prospects, you’ll want to develop vocabulary related to your industry. It sounds simple, but identifying your interests and reasons for learning can make a big difference to your motivation, which is crucial for making long-term progress. 

Learning Mandarin takes time, so you’ve got to make sure you enjoy the process. Being too strict on yourself or creating an unrealistic routine might have an undesirable effect. Instead, learn in the ways that bring you the most joy, whether that’s gamified learning on apps or going to language exchanges. Kickstart your Mandarin learning journey today, and open the door to a world of new experiences! 

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FAQs

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How hard is it to learn Mandarin?

Many factors influence how difficult it is to learn Mandarin, including how close it is to a language you already speak, whether you’ve learned new languages in the past, how much exposure you get to the language, and how much you already know. However, Mandarin is generally considered a difficult language to learn for those who speaker Western languages. 

How can I learn Mandarin by myself?

You can learn Mandarin by yourself with the help of learning apps like Drops alongside textbooks, websites, podcasts, films, and series. These resources can help you develop a strong foundation in the language and start speaking. Once you become more advanced, you can complement your studies by practicing with natives or learning with a tutor. 

How long does it take to learn Mandarin?

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) estimates that it takes around 2,200 hours to reach professional working proficiency in Mandarin, equivalent to a C1 level. However, you can achieve a conversational level much sooner.

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