There’s certainly a need for sentences of positivity and affirmation in our everyday lives, but what about the negative ones? Unsurprisingly, they’re actually an essential part of human expression in every language. Knowing how to form negative sentences and answers can improve the effectiveness of our communication with others and help us set healthy boundaries.  As a beginner, you should definitely start learning about negation in Chinese as early on as possible. I get that it can sometimes be tough to say no, but as long as you find the appropriate way to express your rejection, you have nothing to worry about! As a matter of fact, learning how to say no can actually save time for all parties involved. Even for something as... Show more

https://youtu.be/S0bzertTZ0g?si=ndkwy3YXcVHqRAtJ We all want to deliver the most accurate information when having a conversation, right? While building up a solid vocabulary base and learning proper syntax are important in this regard, there’s another key step: learning how to indicate the correct tense.  If you’re a native English speaker (or a speaker of any other alphabet-based language), you’re probably used to changing the form of a verb to express tense.  However, Chinese is a unique language that does not depend on verb conjugation. You heard that right: There is no verb conjugation in Chinese! Instead, one indicates different tenses in Chinese by adding different time adverbs based on the context. This method can be quite... Show more

https://youtu.be/QOpQf3fi2N4?si=iCJ_fTP6UCWSkzlf How long will it take me to achieve the desired level in my target language? Will I ever get there?  These can be excruciating questions for any diligent language learner, but knowing the answers can give you a sense of security and motivate you to work even harder toward your goal.  Today, we’re going to answer that pressing question: How long does it take to learn Chinese? We’ll give you the best possible answer for each of the three major levels in Chinese learning (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). Moreover, we’ll provide you with a few secret tips on how to learn Chinese effectively!  But first: Have you ever wondered why some people can learn Chinese... Show more

There’s a good chance you use proverbs every now and then to enrich your daily conversations. Proverbs are classic sayings taken from literature, history, famous people, or even stories. They’re used to offer wisdom or advice in a nutshell, and they can be fun, powerful, or even life-changing if you ponder over them. Chinese proverbs are called 谚语 (yànyŭ) in Chinese. There are many ancient Chinese proverbs from thousands of years ago, encapsulating our ancestors’ life-long lessons. These proverbs express all kinds of philosophies and ideas, so learning a few yourself will help you become more familiar with Chinese culture and society. Who knows? You may even be able to use a couple yourself to lighten a conversation!  Table of... Show more

What is the backbone of every language? Definitely grammar.  Using proper grammar showcases your professionalism and respect for others.  Chinese grammar is rather unique. As opposed to English and the Romance languages which follow a strict structure, Chinese is often perceived by foreigners as not even having grammar. Others claim that Chinese grammar is extremely difficult.  As an art, the Chinese language has its own unique features and much flexibility in its grammar. If you’ve learned other languages before, you’ll find that learning Chinese grammar won’t be a typical language learning experience; there may be many new concepts that you’ve never even heard of.  Now, let’s dig into this Chinese grammar guide for beginners.... Show more

Let's take a look at these three sentences: 你坐啊。(Nǐ zuò a.)你坐吧。(Nǐ zuò ba.)你坐嘛。(Nǐ zuò ma.) They all have the same "sentence stem," which is made up of the subject 你 (nǐ),  or "you," and the action verb 坐 (zuò), meaning "to sit." The last word in each sentence (a/ba/ma) is a particle, which doesn’t carry referential meaning, and therefore has no direct translations. Literally, these three sentences could all translate as: "You sit."  However, the Chinese particles at the end of each sentence drastically change the speaker's mood and attitude. Final particles in Chinese can, for example, express that the speaker is feeling excited, making a polite suggestion, or being a little pushy and forceful. Particles at the end of a... Show more

You're interested in learning Mandarin Chinese, but rumor has it that it's the most difficult language in the world. You start to have second thoughts.  You’re not alone. To a lot of people, especially those who speak a Romance language, the Chinese language not only "sounds Greek," but worse. The mysterious symbols, the absence of an alphabet, the hard-to-pronounce sounds, the Yin and Yang, and the ancient philosophies behind the language...the list goes on.  Is Chinese hard to learn? Maybe. But should it keep you from moving forward?  Definitely not!  Chinese is a beautiful language. Imagine if the Chinese language were a woman—stunning, exotic, seemingly distant. You want to pursue her, but there's a voice whispering in your... Show more

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." －Albert Einstein Now every mistake in Chinese you've made is justified. They’re little trophies from taking on a challenge and trying something new: a new language (and a difficult one, at that)!  In this article, we'll cover all the trophies (a.k.a. mistakes), that you and other Chinese learners have made or may end up making. From the most common pronunciation mistakes to grammar mistakes that new learners need to watch out for, ChineseClass101.com will cover it all! We’ll also show you how to make good use of your mistakes. Table of Contents Common Chinese Pronunciation Mistakes Common Chinese Grammar Mistakes A Learner's Regret Turn Mistakes into Tools... Show more

As a language-learner, it’s important to ask yourself: "Why am I even learning this language?" Many people learn a new language to interact with people from a different cultural background, in hopes of having a meaningful conversation. And questions are a fantastic tool for learning more about someone and their culture!  "Question" in Chinese is 问题 (wèn tí). Remember that you should never be afraid to ask a 问题 (wèn tí), even if you can’t ask it perfectly. Not being able to speak your mother tongue may be tough, but as long as you try your best to keep a conversation flowing with genuine questions and a smile on your face, most people will be friendly enough to lend you their ears and open their hearts to talk with you.  All in... Show more

Language is an art, and learning one can become frustrating due to their complicated and flexible nature. We totally understand your pain as a new Chinese language learner! How about simplifying it a little bit, and applying some formulas like we do in math?  We’ve prepared these ten most basic and useful Chinese sentence patterns for you. Once you master them, you’ll be able to generate hundreds of natural sentences and converse with ease and confidence in any situation.  Now let’s get to the fun! Table of Contents Linking Two Nouns Using Adjectives to Describe Nouns Expressing "Want" Expressing "Need" Expressing "Like" Politely Asking Someone to Do Something Expressing Something in the Past Tense ... Show more