I started learning Chinese in 2019 at 30 years old.
Almost 6 years later, I've made YouTube videos in Chinese, launched a podcast entirely in Mandarin, done live streams in Chinese, made incredible friends, and had life-changing conversations I never imagined possible.
Now I'm 35, fluent and learning Chinese has changed my life, where I live, my friends and career opportunities.
If you're thinking about learning Chinese or you’ve already started learning, here are 100 tips that I wish someone had told me before I started learning.
General Mindset
1. Get crystal clear on your "why"
Most people fail because they don't know why they're learning. Are you chasing job opportunities? Fascinated by the culture? Want to understand Chinese TV shows without subtitles? Your motivation determines your study methods and keeps you going when progress feels slow.
2. Test, test, test
The internet is full of language learning gurus telling you the "one true way." Ignore them. Everyone has a unique learning style, different motivations, and different goals. What worked for me might not work for you. Experiment with everything and keep what sticks.
3. Challenge traditional methods
You don't need to finish all beginner material before ever touching advanced content. That's how schools taught large groups of students, but the internet changed the game. I jumped between beginner podcasts and native TV shows from day one. Your brain can handle complexity.
4. Follow your interests
I quit learning Chinese three times because I was studying "what I should learn" instead of what excited me. Textbook conversations about weather and shopping bored me to death. But Chinese podcasts about psychology and culture? I couldn't get enough. Find what sparks you and build your studies around it.
5. Acquire languages, don't learn them
Stephen Krashen's research changed how I think about languages. "Learning" is conscious drilling of grammar rules and vocabulary lists. "Acquisition" happens unconsciously through exposure and repetition, like how babies naturally absorb their first language. Focus on acquisition. This fundamentally changed the way I thought about language learning. Check out my older posts to learn how to acquire Chinese.
6. Focus on input early
Your brain needs raw material before it can produce language. Focus on listening and reading early on. Think about babies - they listen for months before speaking their first words. Your brain will naturally pick up sounds and patterns through osmosis, but only if you feed it enough comprehensible input.
7. Learn one thing every day
When I first moved to Taiwan, I was obsessive. One-hour classes daily, language exchanges every evening, and dinner with local friends I'd met. That's extreme, but the principle matters: daily practice compounds exponentially. Even 15 minutes every day beats 3-hour weekend sessions.
The Foundations
8. Download Pleco
This Chinese dictionary app will become your Bible. I still use it every single day, almost 6 years later, looking up characters, idioms, and phrases I don't understand. It has audio pronunciation, example sentences, and stroke order animations.
9. Master pinyin first
Pinyin is the official romanization system for Mandarin. This step trips up many English speakers because the sounds don't match English pronunciation rules. Don't rush this. Spend extra time drilling the differences between different sounds. Build a solid foundation here.
10. Master Mandarin tones early
There are very few things I recommend rote memorizing. Mandarin tones is one of those things. Chinese is a tonal language with different meanings for different tones. You need to develop a mental model where you can reproduce every tone on demand. Practice with tone pairs, minimal pairs and tone anchors until you can hit each one consistently. I show you how to master tones in 4-Week Tones.
11. Learn the most frequent characters
Don't try to memorize random characters. You’ll only forget them and overwhelm yourself. Start with the 100 most common characters so that you can start using what you learn right away.
12. Learn radicals and character components
Radicals and character components are the building blocks that make up characters. Learning these was huge for me. Suddenly, characters weren't random strokes anymore. I could finally see the system. A character with the "water" radical (氵) usually relates to water. Master radicals using the 214 Radical Toolkit (+Flashcards)
13. Use HSK sparingly
I don't love standardized tests and vocab lists like HSK but for some learners they can provide useful structure for their studies. These lists can help you organize your learning but the downside is that the vocabulary can sound unnatural, robotic and clunky. Unless you need to pass the HSK exam for work or school, I would recommend breaking away from HSK as soon as possible and moving on to real Chinese material.
14. Don't rely on your textbook
The same goes for any textbook material. Textbooks can provide structure but they’re often outdated and teach formal “textbook” Chinese, not how people actually speak in real life. Language is constantly evolving and growing. Real Chinese comes from conversations with natives, not scripted dialogues about buying train tickets.
15. Make notes you'll actually review
It’s easy to fall into the trap of making notes for every word or character you encounter. But this can get overwhelming real quick. Don’t feel pressured to make and maintain beautiful notes for everything. I didn’t and I still learned fluent Chinese. Language learning is messy and often doesn't go as planned.
16. Try spaced repetition
Spaced repetition is backed by cognitive science research for memory consolidation. The most common way learners use spaced repetition is through flashcards like Anki, which show you cards right before you forget them, strengthening neural pathways each time.
17. Set realistic goals
I see learners trying to memorize 50 words daily. They start with massive motivation, then crash and burn within weeks. Set goals you can maintain long-term. Maybe 10 new words per day, or even 5. Consistency beats intensity every single time.
18. Be careful with gamification
Popular language learning apps like Duolingo gamify language learning, which creates engagement but not fluency. It's great for getting beginners interested, but don't rely on it for serious progress. The app teaches you to recognize patterns in the app, not to communicate in Chinese. Use it for motivation, not education.
Listening Comprehension
19. Listening is the best input for beginners
Unlike reading which requires building up a repertoire of recognizable characters, listening can start immediately and benefits you even when you understand nothing. Your ears train on the sounds and rhythms of Chinese while your conscious mind focuses on other things.
20. Listen to podcasts or audio tapes
I used audio tapes like Pimsleur when I first started learning Chinese. Then I moved to Chinese podcasts. Listening to podcasts even as a beginner is effective because you immerse yourself in the way locals actually speak and you can repeat listening as many times as you want. The spaced repetition built into each lesson helps consolidate what you're learning.
21. Watch YouTube videos
Tons of content for beginners. Search "learn Chinese" on YouTube. I made a video about my favorite channels. Start with channels that teach specific phrases or words. I learned fluent Chinese by watching YouTube videos in my bedroom.
Learn through TPRS.
TPR uses stories and visual aids to make language comprehensible for beginners. I'm seeing more YouTube creators offer free TPR-style lessons. These work because stories are memorable and pictures provide context clues your brain can use to decode meaning.
23. Learn in chunks
Avoid learning specific words only. Sentences follow patterns. Learn the whole phrase. The whole sentence. This helps you remember.
24. Learn in your target language.
At least 90% of it. This helps you to immerse yourself heavily in the sounds of the language so your brain “picks it up” faster. It will feel harder at first but it will give you the upper leg in the long run.
25. Watch with subtitles
Subtitles let you practice reading while listening, giving your brain double input. This improves reading speed and consolidates what you're hearing. Your brain loves redundant information from multiple channels. Use that to your advantage.
26. Use pop-up dictionary extensions
Download the browser extension Linglook, which provides instant pop-up dictionary definitions when you hover over Chinese characters. This makes looking up unknown words effortless. I really wish someone had told me about this extension when I first started learning. Would have saved me a ton of time manually looking up characters.
27. Look up characters via handwriting
Sometimes it helps to handwrite characters when looking them up in Pleco. Manually copying characters gives you handwriting practice, which strengthens character recognition, encoding and ultimately retrieval in the future.
28. Listen to real-life example sentences
How many times have you looked up a character, read the definition, but still had no idea how to actually use it? A great way around this is to see how the word is used by real native speakers using websites like youglish.com. Search any word or phrase and see exactly how native speakers use it in real situations. It’s one of my favorite tools for learning Chinese.
29. Slow down dialogue when needed
If speakers are talking too fast for your current level, just slow down the playback speed. YouTube and most apps let you adjust to 0.75x or 0.5x speed. Better to understand at slow speed than give up at normal speed. Your ears will gradually adapt to full speed.
30. Repeat, repeat, repeat
My listening improved the most when I started to re-listen to the same podcast over and over again. This is where most people mess up. Language acquisition is about pattern recognition, and patterns emerge through repetition. Listen to the same podcast episode multiple times. Each repetition builds muscle memory and reveals details you missed before.
31. Make podcasts your best friend
Podcasts became my favorite way to acquire Chinese because they feature natural, colloquial conversations. This is how native speakers actually talk: casual, practical, full of slang and cultural references. Much more valuable than formal textbook dialogues.
32. Don’t be afraid if you don't understand
When I started listening to podcasts, I didn't understand much at all. But I kept listening because I simply enjoyed the sounds of the language. Learning is not always about looking up every word and understanding everything. Try to enjoy the process of simply listening.
33. Challenge yourself with native material
Even if you only understand 1% of a native podcast, that's 1% progress toward your final goal. This can be incredibly motivating and inspiring. You're training your ears to recognize Chinese sounds and rhythms. After months of passive listening, I could sense myself picking up more words.
34. Find podcasts with transcripts
Spotify now provides automatic transcripts for many Chinese podcasts. This is a game-changer that I didn't have when I first started learning in 2019. This lets you follow along with the speaker, especially helpful for beginners. You can listen, read along, and look up unfamiliar words without losing the flow of conversation.
35. Listen passively during dead time
Walking, commuting, grocery shopping - all perfect opportunities for passive listening. This creates an immersive environment anywhere. Sometimes I'll listen to the same podcast episode 10-50 times just running in the background. Your subconscious absorbs more than you realize.
36. Use speech-to-text for pronunciation feedback
Google Translate and Pleco both have speech-to-text features. Speak Chinese into your phone and see if the software understands you. If it can't transcribe what you're saying, natives probably won't understand either. This gives you immediate pronunciation feedback.
37. Look up words using pinyin
As your listening improves, you can type pinyin into Pleco to look up characters you hear but don't recognize visually. This skill bridges the gap between listening and reading, and it's incredibly useful for advanced learners consuming audio content.
38. Shadow or mimic Chinese speakers
Shadow or repeat what speakers say immediately after they say it. Start by pausing to repeat, but eventually you'll do this simultaneously with the audio. This builds pronunciation muscle memory and trains your mouth to produce Chinese sounds naturally.
39. Look to other learners for motivation
When I first arrived in Taiwan, I was obsessed with the talk show 二分之一強 (available on YouTube). Seeing so many foreigners in Taiwan speaking fluent Chinese was shocking and incredibly motivating. It proved my brain could do this too. Find your inspiration and watch regularly.
40. Listen to different accents
Mandarin varies significantly across regions: Beijing accent, standard Mandarin, Taiwanese Mandarin, Singapore Mandarin. Exposing yourself to different accents builds confidence and lets you consume media from various sources without being limited to one regional style.
41. Rewatch your favorite content in Chinese
I loved watching the anime Attack on Titan (English dub), so rewatching it in the Chinese dub was perfect. I already knew the plot, so I could focus 100% on the language. The familiar story provided context clues while I absorbed new vocabulary and sentence patterns.
42. Binge reality TV for natural language
Reality shows feature authentic, colloquial conversations with real emotions. I binged the reality show 同一屋檐下 (available on YouTube), which follows a bunch of strangers living together in a shared house. The conversations are natural, unscripted, and full of practical everyday language you'll never find in textbooks.
Reading
43. Start with graded readers immediately
Graded readers use only 100-150 unique characters but weave them into engaging stories. You see the same words repeatedly in different contexts, which is far more engaging than flashcards. The plot keeps you motivated while repetition builds recognition.
44. Read everything out loud
I still do this daily to practice pronunciation. Reading aloud combines character recognition with speaking practice, doubling your efficiency. Your mouth learns to produce sounds while your eyes learn to recognize patterns.
45. Learn character history
Understanding how characters developed historically helps you build your own memory mechanisms (encoding), anchor them and remember them. Learn the etymology and evolution of characters and radicals.
46. Break down characters
Pleco lets you search characters by individual radicals and review characters you've saved. This builds connections between related characters and helps you see the systematic nature of Chinese writing. I show you how to do this step-by-step inside Copy Paste Speak Chinese.
47. Read restaurant menus
Learning to read menus was one of my first goals when I traveled to Taiwan because it had immediate practical value. The motivation boost from successfully ordering food by yourself is incredible. Start with simple dishes and build up to more complex descriptions.
48. Don't stress about traditional vs simplified characters
Pick one system and stick with it initially. Once you've learned one thoroughly, the other becomes much easier to pick up. I learned traditional first since I was in Taiwan and and learning simplified later was much easier.
49. Don't study grammar
This isn't a hard rule, but early on I wasted time trying to understand complex grammar rules that made no sense. After enough exposure to natural Chinese, grammar patterns became intuitive. Let your brain acquire grammar naturally through examples rather than forcing conscious understanding.
50. Take pictures and screenshots
In Taiwan, I photographed every sign, menu, and advertisement I didn't understand. I'd study these photos at home, looking up characters and phrases. This turned daily life into continuous learning opportunities and built practical vocabulary.
51. Read graded articles
Search online for graded articles that help you read interesting content but at your Chinese level. The articles cover current events while staying within vocabulary limits appropriate for your level.
52. Read before listening
A good exercise is to try reading podcast transcripts or video subtitles before playing the audio. This helps you actively recall but you also have the benefit of instant feedback when you press play. Win-win.
53. Challenge yourself with native articles
My reading improved significantly after challenging myself to read the Chinese edition of the New York Times. It's surprisingly free (no paywall) and covers international news from a Chinese perspective. You can compare translations and see how complex ideas are expressed in Chinese.
54. Read ebooks using pop-up dictionaries
Reading Chinese e-books is hard. That’s why I recommend pasting the text into tools like mandarinspot.com for pop-up translations and pinyin. This removes the friction of looking up words and keeps you in a flow state while reading longer content.
55. Read your favorite books in Chinese
If you're a Harry Potter fan who's read the series multiple times, reading it in Chinese is perfect. You already know the plot, so you can focus entirely on language acquisition. The familiar story provides context clues for new vocabulary.
56. Don't look up every single word
Sometimes I skim content just to get the general meaning without looking up everything. This increases reading speed and motivation. Perfect comprehension isn't the goal - building reading fluency and confidence is more important in the early stages.
57. Practicing texting with language exchange apps
Chatting with language exchange partners through text is reading practice disguised as social interaction. Plus, you might meet someone amazing while improving your Chinese. Win-win situation.
Speaking
58. Speaking is active recall in action
When you learn a new word from a podcast, speaking is how you consolidate and apply that knowledge. It transforms passive vocabulary into active communication skills. Speaking forces your brain to retrieve information quickly and use it in real-time.
59. Start speaking early
Some people say you shouldn't speak until you've built up listening skills, but I disagree completely. Speaking is fun and motivating. If it keeps you engaged with the language, that's the most important factor. Language is a communication tool so start communicating early.
60. Meet with a teacher weekly
Find a teacher in person or online. Group classes or one-on-one instruction tailored to your specific needs and goals are worth the investment. Even one lesson per week provides structured speaking practice and professional feedback to help you fix nagging blind spots so you can improve faster. Here’s how I can help you 1-on-1.
61. Practice speaking with language exchanges
If budget is tight, language exchange apps like HelloTalk connect you with native Chinese speakers learning English. You can do audio or video calls.
62. In-person language exchanges
In-person exchanges are even better than video calls. I met some of my best friends through language exchanges in Taiwan. The energy and connection of face-to-face conversation accelerate learning and build genuine relationships.
63. Use pictures
When you meet with your teacher or exchange partner, use pictures to help you learn. I used children's books and magazines with lots of pictures. I'd describe what I saw in pictures and ask my partner to describe what they saw.
64. Don’t resort to English
It’s easy to resort to English and never practice speaking Mandarin. Try to use English or your native language as little as possible during practice sessions. This forces your brain to work in Chinese instead of constantly translating. Try to use other words to describe what you want to say. It's uncomfortable at first but accelerates your progress significantly.
65. Skip corrections during conversation flow
I recommend avoiding constant corrections during speaking practice because research shows they don't significantly help acquisition. Focus on communication and flow first. Your brain will naturally self-correct as you get more exposure to correct patterns.
66. Avoid explicit grammar discussions
Don't spend speaking time analyzing grammar rules. You want to naturally acquire correct patterns through exposure and use. Save grammar analysis for independent study time and use speaking sessions for communication practice.
67. Record every session and listen back
Recording your language exchange sessions doubles your practice time. Listening back gives you another layer of input and repetition. You'll catch mistakes you didn't notice during conversation and hear your progress over time.
68. Travel
Traveling and living in Taiwan was the biggest accelerator of my Chinese speaking ability. Total immersion provides constant practice opportunities and cultural context. If you can arrange it, living in a Chinese-speaking environment is unmatched for rapid improvement.
69. Avoid English-speakers
When I first arrived in Taiwan, I avoided other foreigners because I wanted to speak Chinese as much as possible. This sounds extreme but I was only planning to stay in Taiwan for a few months and I wanted to make the most of my time there learning and immersing in Chinese. Every moment you're listening or speaking English is a moment you can be building momentum in Mandarin Chinese.
70. Talk to everyone
Some of my best friendships started with chatting with aunties at traditional markets in Taiwan. Local vendors are often eager to chat and help foreigners practice Chinese. These conversations provide authentic cultural exchange and practical vocabulary. Find your local Chinatown or language exchanges online. There are Chinese speakers everywhere.
71. Practice at Chinese restaurants
Most major cities have Chinese restaurants where you can practice ordering in Mandarin. Staff often appreciate the effort and will help you practice. This gives you real-world speaking practice without traveling to China.
72. Do what locals do
Eat what locals eat, shop where they shop, and go to their traditional markets. This cultural immersion makes you more invested in the language and provides natural conversation opportunities. You're not just learning Chinese, you're learning to think Chinese.
73. Embrace looking like a noob
One of my favorite phrases when I came to Taiwan: "不好意思，我的中文不太好" (Sorry, my Chinese isn't that good). It breaks the ice, sets expectations, and often makes people more patient and helpful. Don't be afraid to acknowledge your beginner status.
74. Make lots of mistakes
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Native speakers make mistakes all the time. The more mistakes you make, the easier it is to laugh it off, learn from your mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the faster you improve.
75. Conversations are listening practice too
Don't forget that conversations provide excellent listening comprehension practice. Your speaking partner's responses give you natural input that responds to your output. Stay curious and focused on understanding their responses.
76. Prepare for predictable situations
Before going to restaurants, convenience stores, barbershops, or doctor visits, study relevant vocabulary and phrases beforehand. Having a basic script for common situations builds confidence and ensures successful interactions. I show you how make speaking easy by using a Speaking Template.
77. Talk to yourself
Self-talk is excellent speaking practice when no one else is available. Narrate your daily activities, practice conversations, or just think out loud in Chinese. This builds fluency without the pressure of an audience.
78. Record yourself
Recording yourself speaking adds pressure and helps track progress. You can review your pronunciation, grammar, and fluency over time. Sometimes I'll record myself discussing a specific topic or explaining an idiom I learned. I show you the 8-step system I used here.
79. Focus on one vocab a day
When I record myself speaking I focus on practicing one new vocab or phrase or idiom a day. I'll use it in different contexts, create example sentences, and discuss related concepts.
80. Speak at your level
You don't need perfect grammar or sophisticated vocabulary. Focus on clear communication at your current ability and gradually improve day by day. Progress beats perfection every single time.
81. Listen back
Review your recorded conversations for pronunciation issues, grammar mistakes, and areas needing improvement. I only recently realized I'd been mixing up first and fourth tones consistently. Self-awareness accelerates improvement.
82. Upload your videos
Create a private Instagram or YouTube account and upload your videos. Sharing your speaking progress creates accountability and documents your journey. Looking back at early videos provides incredible motivation when progress feels slow.
83. Create content entirely in Chinese
Starting a Chinese podcast or YouTube channel forces you to perform at a higher level. I had to research topics, organize thoughts, and present clearly - all in Chinese. This challenge accelerated my speaking ability significantly.
84. Find a Chinese-speaking role model
Pick a Chinese speaker whose style you admire and consciously imitate their voice patterns, intonation, and mannerisms. This helps shape your speaking style and gives you a concrete target to work toward.
85. Embrace "club membership."
In order to speak like native speakers, linguist Steve Krashen says you need to believe you belong with native speakers. Many learners sabotage themselves because they label themselves as “learners” forever. Once you start imitating them and thinking of yourself as part of the Chinese Speaker group, you'll naturally start speaking like them. Mindset shapes reality in language learning.
86. Don't worry about accents
Everyone has an accent, it's what makes us unique and interesting. Taiwanese people think I have a mainland accent; mainland Chinese think I have a Taiwanese accent. Focus on clear communication over accent perfection.
Writing
87. Keep a daily diary in Chinese
Start simple: "What I ate today" or "What I did today." Daily writing builds vocabulary, reinforces grammar patterns, and creates a record of your progress. Even simple sentences help consolidate what you're learning.
88. Get feedback
Share your writing and get feedback on it. The website langcorrect.com helps to connect language learners with native speakers who provide free corrections and feedback on their writing.
89. Practice handwriting
Writing characters by hand strengthens recognition and builds the physical memory that makes characters feel natural rather than foreign. Try to look up characters by writing them out to further build muscle memory.
Intermediate and Beyond
90. Language learning is a marathon
Language learning is a long-term game requiring sustained effort over years. Don't expect immediate results or get discouraged by slow progress. Focus on consistency and trust the process. The best plan is one you can actually stick to long-term.
91. Stop comparing yourself
Everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. My friend Tom excels at memorizing idioms; other people tell me I'm good with tones. Focus on your own progress and celebrate your unique strengths rather than comparing to others.
92. Find study buddies
Study partners who learn differently from you provide fresh perspectives and accountability. My friend Tom and I constantly bounce ideas off each other and push each other to try new methods. Different approaches create well-rounded learning.
93. Find a community
Look to online groups on Facebook and Discord to find a community of learners who keep you accountable and motivated. Community makes the journey less lonely and more sustainable.
94. Do language challenges
Change your study style periodically to maintain interest and challenge different aspects of your learning. I love doing 30-day challenges or sprints that focus intensively on specific skills. Variety prevents boredom and burnout.
95. Learn hobbies in Chinese
I took swimming lessons and Tai Chi classes in Taiwan with instruction entirely in Chinese. Learning practical skills through Chinese provides natural context and makes language acquisition feel purposeful rather than academic.
96. Age is irrelevant
I learned Chinese in my 30s. I have many successful students in their 70s. Don't let age become an excuse. It's all about attitude, consistency, and smart methods. Your brain remains capable of language acquisition throughout your entire life.
97. The intermediate plateau is normal
When you start consuming native content, the amount of unknown material feels overwhelming. This intermediate plateau is completely normal and temporary. Stay focused on your interests and you'll break through to advanced levels.
98. Take breaks
If you feel burned out, take time off without guilt. The most important thing is keeping language learning fun and sustainable. If it becomes a chore, step back and rediscover what excited you about Chinese in the first place.
99. Don't learn languages, do cool stuff
Language learning is a tool. Only fun when you apply it. Use it to do cool things. Meet interesting people. Make friends. Have interesting conversations. The more I learn Chinese, the more I realize I'm learning a culture. A way of life. A life philosophy. It's a bridge to connect ideas and thoughts. Break barriers.
100. The final tip comes from you
What did I miss? What's your best Chinese learning tip? Drop it in the comments so others can learn from your experience.
It's nice to nerd out about learning languages quickly and effectively.
But at the end of the day?
The most important thing is enjoying the process.
Having fun.
Thanks for reading.
加油，
Danyo
PS Here are some ways I can help when you're ready:
Free Speaking Template: The exact template I used every day to improve my spoken Mandarin without talking to people.
Copy Paste Speak: The 8-step system I used to understand and speak real-life Mandarin like locals in 6 weeks (without drilling hundreds of vocab).
All Trainings: Everything you need to acquire Chinese quickly so you can speak like locals in real-life (not just pass tests).
Chinese Speakers: I’ll help you improve your real-life listening and speaking so you can have Chinese conversations with confidence with one simple exercise a day, 1-on-1 guidance and a supportive community.