Hey fellow Mandarin learners, today we’ll break down this parking sign in Chinese.
Native speakers see posts like this every day. If you want to be like them, read what they read.
Below is the 4-step method I use to remember what I study. I recommend going through each step for maximum benefit.
Lets get started.
Step 0: First Pass
Try reading the original text (above) without help and check how much you understand.
Identify any new words you don’t know.
Step 1: Read with Translations
Read the below transcribed characters with pinyin and translations.
停
停Tíng
Stop
提醒您
提醒您Tíxǐng nín
Remind you
此处骑楼为禁止停车区，请勿停车，避免拖吊及罰单！
此處騎樓為禁止停車區，請勿停車，避免拖吊及罰單！Cǐ chù qí lóu wéi jìnzhǐ tíngchē qū, qǐng wù tíngchē, bìmiǎn tuōdiào jí fádān!
This is a no parking area for this first floor (veranda), please do not park to avoid towing and ticketing!
Step 2: Study Vocabulary
Dive deeper and study the individual characters and words below.
Vocabulary List
Step 3: Active Recall (Don't skip)
Most people stop at the second step.
This third step is the most important step and will help you consolidate your knowledge using the power of active recall.
Read the characters out loud without the pinyin. Focus on getting the right tones.
停
停Stop
提醒您
提醒您Remind you
此处骑楼为禁止停车区，请勿停车，避免拖吊及罰单！
此處騎樓為禁止停車區，請勿停車，避免拖吊及罰單！This is a no parking area for this first floor (veranda), please do not park to avoid towing and ticketing!
Step 4: Final Pass
To bring things full circle, read the original text (above) again and check your comprehension.
How does it feel compared to when you first read it?
Congrats! You just read a real-world Chinese sign!
Learning to read real-world material drastically improved my confidence and ability to interact with native speakers.
Within a year of study using this simple 4-step method with everything I studied, I was having conversations, making friends, and much more all in Mandarin.
There's no reason you can't do it too.
See you again next week for another real-life example.
When you’re ready, here are some ways I can help you:
The Chinese Companion: Your all-in-one study space to help you never forget what you study (flashcards, SRS system, daily journal and more).
The Monthly Signs: Get deeper breakdowns of real-world material to learn faster & forget less (includes study tracker, vocab list, audio pronunciation files, real video examples, flashcard review). Delivered to you every month to help you stay consistent.
Real Talk Mandarin: A 6-week live course with renowned teacher Peipei 老师 to take you from frustrated to understanding real Chinese with confidence.