Learn to speak Chinese
About this idea
Master Mandarin Chinese, the world's most spoken language with over 1 billion speakers. Learning Chinese gives you access to a deep literary culture, to business across China, and to one of the world's oldest civilisations on its own terms. Start with pinyin, basic characters, and essential phrases to begin your journey.
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How to get started
WEEK 1
FOUNDATION (Days 1-7)
- Learn Pinyin: Romanized Chinese pronunciation system - master the 4 tones (flat, rising, falling-rising, falling)
- Download HelloChinese or Duolingo: Free apps with structured Chinese courses, start with 15 minutes daily
- Master basic greetings: Nǐ hǎo (hello), Xièxie (thank you), Zàijiàn (goodbye)
- Learn numbers 1-10: Essential for daily communication
- Practice tones daily: Tones change meaning - mā (mother) vs mǎ (horse) - use tone practice apps
WEEK 2
essential phrases (Days 8-14)
- Learn survival phrases: Wǒ bù dǒng (I don't understand), Qǐng màn yīdiǎn (Please speak slower)
- Study basic characters: Start with 20-30 most common characters (人 person, 大 big, 小 small)
- Practice with native speakers: Use HelloTalk (free) to chat with Chinese speakers
- Watch Chinese content: Children's shows, simple YouTube videos with subtitles
WEEK 3
building vocabulary (Days 15-21)
- Learn family terms: Māmā (mom), Bàba (dad), Gēge (older brother)
- Master question words: Shénme (what), Nǎlǐ (where), Shéi (who)
- Practice writing: Use grid paper, learn stroke order for characters
- Join Chinese learning communities: r/ChineseLanguage on Reddit, find study partners
WEEK 4
conversation practice (Days 22-30)
- Form simple sentences: Subject + verb + object structure
- Practice daily conversations: Ordering food, asking directions, introducing yourself
- Use spaced repetition: Anki (free) for character and vocabulary review
- Celebrate progress: 30 days of consistent study builds strong foundation!