Is love the universal language? Maybe – but deep gazes and long sighs only go so far. Eventually the need for practical communication kicks in.
Tag: in mandarin
Transportation
Learn the names of common vehicles and modes of transportation in Mandarin Chinese. Each entry has a sound clip for pronunciation and listening practice.
01
of 16
Ambulance
5 Mistakes I made when I started learning Chinese
I’ve been studying Mandarin at University for about two years and 3 months. The mistakes I made, might not be mine particularly, but perhaps the way our course is structured. However, these mistakes can be applied to anyone starting to learn Mandarin. These “mistakes” are not necessarily bad, but it’s part of my current shortcomings in Mandarin that I still struggle with. Perhaps you can learn from me and try to fill those gaps earlier on.
A guide to Pinyin traps and pitfalls: Learn Mandarin pronunciation
Learning to pronounce Chinese properly comes with a number of challenges, some of which all learners of foreign languages encounter. In general, we need to learn two things. First, we have to learn how to pronounce and distinguish sounds that don’t exist in our own language. It is only natural that we find this difficult sometimes. We also need to understand tones and intonation, both being quite different in Chinese and English. With practise and a good teacher, these challenges can be overcome.
Mandarin Chinese Sentence Structure
Mandarin Chinese sentence structure is quite different than English or other European languages. Since the word order doesn't match, sentences which are translated word-for-word to Mandarin will be difficult to understand. You must learn to think in Mandarin Chinese when speaking the language.
“hello” in Mandarin Chinese
In the previous lesson we learned how to say "hello" in Mandarin Chinese. Here are some other common greetings. Audio links are marked with ► .
Chinese Pronouns
There are just a few pronouns in Mandarin Chinese, and unlike many European languages, there are no subject / verb agreements to worry about. Just a few simple rules tell you everything you need to know about pronouns in Chinese.
Chinese Punctuation Marks
Chinese punctuation marks are used to organize and clarify written Chinese. Chinese punctuation marks are similar in function to English punctuation marks, but sometimes differ in form.
Chinese Measure Words
Measure words are very important in Chinese grammar as they are needed before every noun. There are more than a hundred Mandarin Chinese measure words, and the only way to learn them is by memorizing them. Whenever you learn a new noun, you should also learn its measure word. Here is a list of the most commonly used measure words in Chinese to kickstart your growing vocabulary.
Answering the Question “Can You Speak Chinese?”
Be sure to practice your Mandarin Chinese every chance you get. With just a few words and phrases, you can have a simple conversation with a native speaker.