#mandarin learning

[lanzhans-resting-bitchface]

Language learning with media tips and recs for Mandarin

Once you've started to approach conversational level (or before then if you can't wait) a great way to build familiarity is watching shows in the language you are learning. But if you are still fairly new to the language there can still be a big gaps here, so I am sharing what's worked for me.

General tips

If you haven't already, I highly recommend adding two plugins to your browser: a speed controller and a dual subtitle plugin.

A speed controller is great for slowing it down when they are speaking too fast to process.

And while it's not great (for language learning purposes) to rely on native language subtitles, it's one way to enjoy watching a target language show and not have to engage so much of your brain (work and life can be draining) while still getting some benefit via exposure to culture, the sounds and (with a dual sub plugin) the words.

I use Chrome (yuck, I know) and the plugins DualSub and Video Speed Controller . There may be better ones out there, but I enjoy these. Dual Sub also has a " Chinese learning" option, which adds the pinyin as well, but I find it's not super reliable, not sure what I am doing wrong.

Also, side note: use Netflix in the browser for dual sub, if they have the subtitles you want.

Mandarin targeted tips

Watching shows produced in your target language is great practice but it can be hard to find sometimes, or expensive. The two best free options are YouTube and Viki, which come with their own pros and cons.

Youtube

Pros

If you search any show you want with "English subtitles" you are likely to find it

Accessible to anyone, I don't think anyone is unfamiliar with youtube

Cons

Grainy crunchy quality as expected

Subtitles are often in the video instead of as a subtitle file, so they are often also poor quality

You may or may not find a video with Chinese (simplified or traditional) subs as well

Rakuten Viki

Pros

Extensive collection of shows in mandarin

Chat function

Cons

Don't always have Chinese subtitles

With free version, ad breaks can sometimes be a lot

Chat function

Honestly I like the Viki chat, which is timed comments that you can toggle on or off, but as with any chat functionality, the comments vary wildly and can get a little unhinged (whether that's a pro or con is in the eye of the beholder).

Show Recs

Ok now the real reason for this post: an excuse to gush about my favorite shows lol.

The Untamed

Probably needs no introduction, but as my first cdrama it will always hold a special space in my heart.

Sales pitch: a very fun cast of characters with acting I really enjoyed (but sometimes on the cheesy side) and motivations I could understand, even if I disagreed with them. I don't think I truly hate any character in this show, even the annoying ones I enjoy mocking at least.

Vibes: epic historical fantasy drama with humor and angst and tragedy

Disclaimers: not everyone enjoys the acting as much as I did, many people dislike the deviations from the source material (including the censorship), regular drama pitfalls (pacing, cheesiness, etc)

Where to watch: Available on US Netflix or on Viki (although low quality unless you have a paid subscription)

My Uncanny Destiny

My favorite drama to date.

Sales pitch: an extremely funny satirical take on cdrama tropes, I laughed through pretty much all of it. Has very progressive themes for the setting and handles them well (but humorously). The main couple's dynamic was fantastic.

Vibes: comedic historical drama with depth

Disclaimers: I personally think it is a lot funnier if you are at least passingly familiar with cdrama tropes as the premise of the show relies on flipping these (esp gendered ones), a fair amount of potty/gross out humor (but not all of it), the writing does drop off a little towards the end

Where to watch: viki

God Troubles Me

For the animation fans

Sales pitch: an animated show that is also really great for learning more about modern Chinese culture, I love the light hearted humor and ridiculous characters in this. While there is a loose overarching plot dealing with gods and monsters, it's actually very much a slice of life show

Vibes: cozy fun comedy

Disclaimers: while it's a great way to learn about Chinese culture, that can also be one of the biggest hurdles to engaging with it, especially if you are not very knowledgeable yet (like me!). Because it assumes the audience is already familiar, some jokes/details/plots may be confusing.

Where to watch: US Netflix.

[wenyousi]

镇魂：好名字， 一辈子

An analysis of Guardian (TV 2018)

Y'ALL *deep breath* I posted this on my original fandom blog, but I'm 99% certain I deleted that account when I made this one RIP. HOWEVER, I wanted to share this analysis I wrote at the time because it and these two men so desperately in love haunt me to this day. This was written circa 2020 when I was about HSK 1 in my 中文的水平， and I'm not even that much better at HSK 3, so if there are any glaring errors--不好意思！！！<3

If it wasn't enough for me to be convinced that Zhao Yunlan proposed to Shen Wei just by going off of the English translation of the dialogue in episode 13 of the Chinese drama called Guardian, I just investigated the actual Mandarn script and analyzed each character in the dialogue--as one does to practice their Mandarin skills. My analyses are below. Please send healing thoughts because I have never been more emo.

When Shen Wei asks Zhao Yunlan, "Did I bring you trouble?" with his doting, blinking eyes, dazed and longing for reassurance, Zhao Yunlan says,

"你要算是麻烦的话，那最好多给我来几打，好好地烦烦我这一辈子”。

-- Instead of saying "你要是," Zhao says "你要算是." This added character changes the verb meaning of "to be" to an adverbial phrase that means "at last," meaning if Shen Wei is giving Zhao the opportunity to call him trouble, Zhao is suggesting that there's more to their friendship than they actually communicate. At last, Zhao has the chance to declare his feelings.

--ALSO!!!! To me, it the way the character "话" is used makes me feel like it's a play on words. As if Zhao says, "if you say you're the trouble," implying Shen Wei is not that. Furthermore!!! It's like he's stating a dare, as if challenging Shen Wei, "you speak of trouble? if it's you, then bring it on."

--AND the use of 最 (and after looking at arch chinese) within 那最好多. He's BASICALLY IMPLYING: "if you're the trouble (the aforementioned part before the first comma already discussed), then it is only best if you give me more/give me dozens (给我来几打).

--I suppose the most literal translation of "好好地烦烦我这一辈子" is to bother me for the rest of my life. But the implication, to me, a novice mandarin learner who longs for queer subtext and probably reads too much in to things (I blame my English degree), when he says “好好地烦烦” is INSANE BECAUSE:

好好: propery, well, good

地烦烦：annoying, inconvenient

HE'S LITERALLY SAYING (my loose, poor, queer subtextual, and chaotic interpretation): if you are trouble (bring it on), and properly (as is all I ask of you) inconvenience with me any trouble (which you are not one at all) for the rest of my life.

-- Finally, he doesn't just say, that he would ask for the troubled/troubling/troublesome Shen Wei to bother is whole life, he says "我这一辈子." "这“ means "now," as in this very moment. Shen Wei and Zhao are ironically at a WEDDING VENUE when Zhao says this. He might as well have said 正在.

-- In conclusion, "辈子“ doesn't just mean one's whole life, rather it means "their entire lifetime." With the intriguing suggestion of an inevitable intertwining of Shen Wei and Zhao's "red threads" aka their fated connection throughout the show, no one can tell me Zhao Yunlan didn't propose to Shen Wei in this scene.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I'm here for the girls, gays, and theys only.

[cherryvampyyri]

我要努力学习！ 现在复习课，喝抹茶拿铁，我很开心哦~！

[frenchcoffeebreak]

⊹ 🌱 ; 𝓒hinese learning moodboard _゛🌷 𖦹

. . . Just for motivation ‿ ☀️ ⇵

[otabekisautistic]

did it take me way too long to get here because i suck at consistency? yes. HOWEVER. i’m proud

[the-half-elf-disaster]

I have my first live Mandarin lessons tonight on italki and I know I'm about to make a whole fool of myself but I'm also super excited lol

[k9-tongue]

is it actually possible to learn multiple languages myself WITHOUT being in classes for them or speaking one-on-one with native speakers?

i dont have the money or the ability really to do classes, and spanish and japanese are really the only languages i could justify learning right now because yhe rest of my family is interested in spanish so we're seeing bout a family tutor, and japanese because of my boyfriend

so itd be kinda useless for me to try 3 other languages on top of those, right?

[guided-by-the-skies]

Flowers in Chinese - Magnolia

photo from wikipedia

"二乔木兰（学名：Magnolia × soulangeana）是木兰科木兰属的植物，分布于中国大陆的广州、杭州、昆明等地[2]，是由玉兰（Magnolia denudata）和紫玉兰（Magnolia liliiflora）自然杂交得到，花朵颜色介于两亲本之间，花被片外面上端为白色，基部呈紫色，花内面白色"

Taken from Wikipedia, translation mine

'erqiao magnolia is a plant in the magnolia genus of the magnolia family; it is distributed over places like guangzhou, hangzhou, and kunming in mainland China. It is obtained as a natural hybrid of yulan (magnolia denudata) and the purple yulan (magnolia liliflora) the flower's colours are situated between those of the two parents; on the outside of the petals' upper edge is white, the base assumes a purple colour, and inside the flower is white.'

I have a decent Mandarin level but right now I'm trying to read more complex or literary texts such as newspapers, novels, or non fiction. Reading Wikipedia is actually a great, easy and accessible way to adjust myself to it. I would love to be able to go to China and visit botanic gardens whilst understanding the language properly and being able to immerse myself in it.

Some flower meanings for Magnolia include beauty, purity, and dignity. They are also one of the few flowers around today that originates from before the era of the dinosaurs!

[eayuuu]

22nd july

I did the same things as yesterday, I practiced with Memrise and didn't do as much listening, but whatever 🎉

But but but !!! I did spend a little bit more time on Hello Chinese, 🎆 I'm starting to like it a lot. It works very smoothly, which is #fantastic. It feels a lot better than Duolingo.

I also tried Du Chinese, it's not horrible…??? To be honest, I don't know how to feel about it right now, 🧍‍♂️but we will see how things progress.🕵️‍♂️

I also started planning stuff for Arabic. So I can give it a try later down the line when I have more free time 🔥🗣

#fantastic

[coolmandylaublr]

8 Ways to successfully Learning Mandarin in Hong Kong

8 Ways to successfully Learning Mandarin in Hong Kong Background Information Hong Kong, a vibrant international hub, is a unique place where East meets West. While Cantonese is the dominant local language, Mandarin has become increasingly important due to China’s growing global influence. Whether for business, travel, or personal enrichment, learning Mandarin in Hong Kong offers numerous…

[conspiracyofcartographers]

So I started my Mandarin course yesterday, I'm doing beginners even though I think I'm pretty familiar with a lot of the vocabulary and concepts already. I took Chinese (Intensive) for a year as a freshman (in 2008, good lord), so we had class five days a week and covered the first book and a half. I'm not sure how well that course maps on to the HSK standards, but judging by what we covered yesterday, there will be some differences.

I've been watching dramas and writing characters since January. I found a list of the 100 most used characters online so have been doing those. My Chinese Intensive course had us all learn traditional characters for the first year. Then, the first week of second year they were like "You can choose to do simplified, but, you must switch over entirely this week, you will not be allowed to use any traditional characters anymore." This was when I quit the first time, by the way. I'd been keeping my head above water well enough up until that point when they basically said you have to relearn everything we taught you last year by next Friday, good luck!

Anyway, so the 100 most used characters I've been practicing have been the simplified versions, because the new course I'm taking just does simplified.

I'm also hoping that by doing beginners I'll get a better grasp on tones. I struggled with them a lot the first time round, I can hear the difference, but just like with singing find it really difficult to make my mouth actually form the tone I can hear in my head. I was watching a YouTube video a couple moths ago which framed them less as tones and more as stressed and unstressed syllables, and already that has helped. Because, I know I'm shit at singing, but even I can articulate the difference between content and content in English, so I should be able to do the same in Mandarin.

Aside from just being more conscious of how I learn, I also think this time round is going to be much easier to get access to resources. In 2008 finding subtitled Chinese dramas to watch and practice with required a Tor browser, and downloading each episode in like 12 parts at 280p, and then you'd realise halfway through that one of the parts was out of order or had come from a different show entirely. Now, I'm kind of spoiled for choice, both for what to watch and how I want it subtitled.

I'm not going to be able to go to the next two classes because I'm going to be travelling for my sister's wedding, so hopefully my workbooks arrive and I can do the work on my own at least.

[wenyousi]

I’ve been going off a mood stabilizer because the side effects are too intense and like I had my first Mandarin lesson in FOREVER. I’ve always struggled with tones and I was also worried that I would struggle just in general in the lesson because I haven’t been consistently studying.

Remembering words and sentence structures was hard, but I think my tones weren’t that terrible!??!? Usually, I have to repeat myself a couple times and get corrected by my teacher but that was at an all time low??? Maybe the antipsychotics were making me more monotone than I realized RIP 😭🤣🤣🤣

[omegaversereloaded]

chinese comrades have our back ❤️🇨🇳

[frenchcoffeebreak]

April 29th, 2025 - Mandarin chinese learning

I've officially made an anki deck to start learning characters already!

I've used the book ''2000 Most Common Chinese Words in Context'' to start adding words and I just added the character as the ''front view'', with the pinyin and meaning in the ''back view'' of the card so I don't rely on pinyin and actually learn the characters.

I'm going to do 10 characters a day! The quantity might vary depending on my mood, though. Still, I'll try to not go under 10.

[otabekisautistic]

just remembered what being in shanghai sounded like

[titichinese]

Come and learn Chinese words!!(1)