ChineseClass101.com Blog

As dedicated a language learner as you are, there are probably still situations where you don’t have your next sentence prepared during a conversation.  The question is: What should you do?  On the one hand, you don’t want to pause for so long that the conversation becomes awkward. But on the other hand, it’s only natural to pause and think sometimes, even in your mother tongue.  Chinese filler words are a magical set of tools that will empower your conversations and help you sound more like a native speaker. Using them will definitely make it feel easier to organize and share your thoughts.  Today, we’re going to introduce you to the top 10 most useful Chinese filler words. However, remember not to overwhelm your conversation... Show more

https://youtu.be/-QU9bMvlz98?si=wQK0_qhR1JvMsYoV Love: a beautiful topic that many people enjoy talking about. It seems to be a never-ending subject of discussion among philosophers, and indeed, it’s one of the most important purposes of human life. Most of us can’t live without it.  But having love is not enough. We also have to express it to those who truly deserve it.  "Love" in Chinese is 爱 (ài), and 爱 never comes easy. If you happen to fall for a Chinese girl or guy, the phrases and cultural information in this article will be your trump card.  Today, we’ll be delving into the topic of how to say "I love you," in Chinese. We’ll introduce you to several romantic Mandarin phrases to use with your sweetheart at... Show more

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

Time is precious.  There are a couple dozen other things you could be doing right now, but you’re here reading this article. And of course, we do everything for a reason!  Since you’re here, you probably want to learn Chinese or have recently started doing so. Trust me—it will definitely be one of the most worthwhile investments you'll ever make.   So why learn Chinese?  Learning a language is never as simple as it sounds, and sometimes we need to know deep down why we chose this journey. Be it excellence in academia, opening our eyes to another culture, added convenience when traveling, or gaining a new skill for more career opportunities, there are many potential benefits in learning Chinese. Below, we'll outline the top... 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

As a country with thousands of years of history, China has become a treasureland for many travelers. But because China is such a majestically huge place, where should you start? The answer is definitely Beijing, the nation’s capital and one of its greatest cities. From famous historical sites that can tell you stories from thousands of years ago to modern marvels that showcase how much Beijing has developed over time, our Beijing travel guide will cover the most exciting places to visit in Beijing. Each of the places on our list will give you a glimpse of Beijing’s beauty and show you what one of the busiest cities in the world has to offer! Table of Contents Before You Go Must-See Places for a 1-3 Day Trip Highly Recommended... Show more

Have you ever been intrigued by how interconnected different languages are? Language is the key to human communication, and despite the vast differences between world countries and their cultures, their people’s languages have always influenced one another. This interconnectivity among languages creates common ground for people all around the world, showing that different languages and cultures are all connected somehow. Because there are so many common English words in Chinese (and Chinese words in English), studying loanwords can pave the way for an easier language learning journey. Now without further ado, let’s jump right into the abundance of popular English loanwords in Chinese and explore the language phenomenon known as... Show more

China is an old country with thousands of years of history. This rich background has created an enchanting Chinese culture and civilization that attracts nearly 1.5-million tourists in a given year.  You might have heard of such Chinese traditions as Kung Fu and the Chinese opera...but how much do you really know about them? The more you learn about Chinese culture and traditions, the more profound and fascinating they’ll become to you!  Language is always a huge component of a country’s culture, so becoming familiar with the culture of China is crucial in mastering the Chinese language. In this guide, we’ll lift the cultural curtain from one of the greatest countries in the world—and trust us, we won’t fail to amaze you! Table... Show more