"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

Verbs are an essential component of a sentence, and they’re at the core of our conversations as they provide key information. Everyone knows that a sentence isn’t complete without a verb! It’s not difficult to master the basic rules of common Chinese verbs as they don’t have any conjugation. However, there are additional phrases you can add to the sentence in order to indicate a certain time frame and make the sentence sound more natural. Now, let’s dive right into this simple introduction to common Chinese verbs! Table of Contents Physical Verbs vs. Mental Verbs Linking Verbs Helping Verbs Chinese Verbs and Essentials of Grammar Conclusion 1. Physical Verbs vs. Mental Verbs Some of the most useful Chinese... Show more

Quiz: Can you list all the pronouns you know? They don’t have to be Chinese pronouns; they can be in English or your native language.  Now, what would be the first five pronouns on your list?  Naturally, most of us first think of pronouns like "I," "me," "you," "he," and "they," which are all personal pronouns. We sometimes forget that the list of pronouns goes on.  There are possessive pronouns like "his" or "her," demonstrative pronouns like "this" or "that," interrogative pronouns like "what" or "where," and so on. Before we move on to this big, extensive, and complete list of all pronouns in Chinese, get a sneak peek at the essential list of the most useful pronouns on ChineseClass101.com to see how many you already know!  ... Show more

"I heard Chinese grammar is very difficult. Is it true?" We often get this question from people who are attempting to learn Chinese. Well, the answer is yes and no. Take Chinese sentence structure and word order for example. Making basic sentences with a subject, verb, and object is super-easy, just like in English. But when there are more elements involved, such as adverbs and time phrases, things get a little more complicated. If you're an absolute beginner who would like to experience the joy of forming a perfect Chinese sentence on your own, or if you've ever been frustrated with the placement of words in sentences, this article is for you! Table of Contents Basic Chinese Language Word Order Advanced Sentence... Show more

As a Chinese language-learner, one of the things you likely wonder about often is how to tell time in Chinese. Everything we do is seamlessly associated with time. We consume time every day and are always in a running competition with it. We care about time, and time has become one of the most important topics in our everyday lives. It’s important to stay on track with what you do, no matter where you are; further, you should do your best to be on time for certain events. This is why time in Chinese culture plays a big role. "Time" in Chinese is 时间 (shí jiān). The rules for telling the time in Mandarin Chinese are all straightforward and simple to follow, so let go of your fears and proceed with confidence. With ChineseClass101.com,... Show more

https://youtu.be/Wz0h8nqyTNU?si=l8HHUKsoPjkSigx4 Being able to ask for and give directions is one of the practical skills we need to learn in life. It’s also one of the survival skills we need to equip ourselves with before visiting a new place. If you don’t want to get lost in China, have a stressful time on your trip, or miss an excellent chance to communicate with locals and try out your Chinese speaking skills, you must read this survival guide on how to ask for and give directions in Chinese. Don’t have time to read all the details in this article? Not a problem. Check out the comprehensive vocabulary list on positions and directions on ChineseClass101.com! Table of Contents On the Map On the Road Landmarks ... Show more

Most people like hearing compliments, and they allow you to express your liking for someone and provide an opportunity for people to open up to each other. When they’re heard in a sincere manner, people feel appreciated. With that being said, when you have the opportunity to compliment someone, do it. It’s the key to their heart! There are many kinds of compliments in Chinese, and they need to be used in different situations. In addition, there’s a wide spectrum of tones and ways to say them. Don’t worry, though; they’re not difficult at all. As long as you follow our guide, you can become a master of giving Chinese compliments! Table of Contents Complimenting Someone's Look Complimenting Someone's Work Complimenting Someone's... Show more

Do you remember being a kid? Growing up, I always looked forward to a day off from school (and dreaded most days not off school…). Well, Children’s Day in China is a day off from school that children can look forward to all year long; it’s a holiday filled with fun and excitement for the little ones! In this article, you’ll explore how children and parents celebrate International Children’s Day, pick up some vocab, and learn the Chinese phrase for someone who’s still a child at heart. Let’s get started. 1. What is Children’s Day? International Children’s Day, celebrated in many countries around the world, is a holiday dedicated to honoring and protecting children; it’s also a day for the little ones to have fun and 逃学... Show more