ChineseClass101.com Blog

Are you curious about what level your Chinese is at? Would you like to be certified in your Chinese language abilities?  Are you thinking about applying for a job or a college program in China?  Do you need motivation to push your Chinese to the next level? If you've ever wondered about these questions, it's probably time for you to look into a Chinese proficiency test called the HSK 2.0 exam. Table of Contents Step 1: Knowing the HSK 2.0 Exam Step 2: Understanding the Six Levels and Finding Your Own Level Step 3: Drilling for the HSK 2.0 Exam Step 4: Using ChineseClass101.com to Help You Prepare for and Pass the HSK 2.0 Exam Conclusion Step 1: Knowing the HSK Exam 1- What is the HSK 2.0 exam? ... 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

https://youtu.be/7rRxupXIY-Q?si=p8DZxJ9Kv6Gqu4Z3 Have you ever wondered why your speech or writing is so dry? Maybe you just need a little guide on using different parts of speech, such as adverbs. Adverbs are very useful in creating an interesting and well-structured sentence. As a Chinese learner, I’m certain that you can’t wait to know more about Chinese adverbs. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. Without their beautiful polish for your sentences, conversations can become raw and lifeless. Fortunately, you’re in the right place to learn some of the most useful Chinese adverbs to avoid this problem. In this article, we’ll talk about what an adverb is and how to use them, and provide you with a... Show more

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Chinese! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Chinese keyboard. Table of Contents Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Chinese Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Chinese How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer How to Change the Language Settings to Chinese on Your Computer Activating the Chinese Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet Chinese Keyboard Typing Tips How to Practice Typing Chinese 1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Chinese Learning a new language is made so much... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/bH7hL7nRpCM Autumn is in the air, and what could be a more comfortable time to enjoy China’s most important holiday?  Today, we’re going to talk about the National Day of the People’s Republic of China (or the Chinese National Day, for short). There are so many interesting things to discover about this holiday, so what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in! 1. What is National Day in China? China’s national day is a 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì), or "public holiday," commemorating the founding of the new China on October 1, 1949.  To give you some context, China was engaged in a Civil War that lasted, intermittently, for over two decades (from 1927 to 1949). This war was ultimately the... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/P3Qy1QA2s2Q Let me just say: I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for a particular teacher who helped me unlock my potential.  Can you relate?  If so, you’ll agree that the importance of teachers and their role in society can’t be undermined.  In China, Teacher’s Day is a major holiday—and it has been for thousands of years! In this article, you’ll learn how the Chinese celebrated teachers in ancient times, what celebrations look like today, and why teachers are compared to gardeners.  Let’s get started. 1. What is Teacher’s Day? There’s an old saying that goes: "Three to respect: the emperor, father, and teacher." In Chinese culture, people... 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

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages? Do you desire to learn or advance in Chinese quickly and effectively? Then you need a Chinese tutor. A common question that first-time language-learners ask is "Where do I begin?" The answer? Guidance. For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language. As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/DIjKnznU6H4 Isn’t there something so happy and light about Valentine’s Day (or your country’s equivalent)? Whether you spend it each year with your lifelong partner, a new lover, or by yourself, there’s something to be enjoyed and admired in this holiday.  But have you ever stopped to wonder why so many cultures have a special day for romance and lovers?  In China, this is the Qixi Festival. In this article, you’ll learn the origins of this holiday and how it’s celebrated today.→ Are you single, and not really into the whole Qixi Festival/Valentine’s Day thing? We have just the article for you: National Single’s Day in China! 1. What is the Qixi Festival?  The Chinese... Show more