Learning Chinese?
By nicregi
@nicregi (1934)
Malaysia
January 4, 2011 1:48pm CST
Hey guys.
I am curious. What is the best way to learn Chinese language? Well, let's make it general. What is the best way to learn any language in the world?
I know it will take time and don't mind. So what do you think? I could go to those teaching centers to learn but I have no time.
I work on shifts and i was wondering if there is any place I can learn online etc etc.
4 people like this
23 responses
@youless (112358)
• Guangzhou, China
5 Jan 11
I always think that the practice makes the perfect. If you practise it more, I am sure it is the best way to learn a foreign language. Of course you can learn it faster if you have such a language environment. If not, then you have to depend on the internet. Today the internet really gives us lots of advantages. You can easily find someone who can talk with you in a foreign language. And therefore you can have a chance to practise it.
I love China![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
@winzpc (2354)
• Indonesia
5 Jan 11
I'm a chinese man but I can speak and write Chinese well. Chinese language is totally different because the word is like a calligraph and not an alphabet, although now the chinese language is adding a pinyin and makes easy to read.
I found one site
www.nciku.com, maybe it will little help you. imo, if you want to learn it you must using this language in your daily activity.
happy myLotting...
1 person likes this
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
5 Jan 11
There are a number of ways to learn foreign languages, of course, including learning online. There are excellent online programs these days. I have tried to learn foreign languages too, including Mandarin. But, to become really comfortable and fluent with a language, one needs to keep practising, and the best way for that is to be in the environment of that language.
1 person likes this
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
4 Jan 11
Chinese is totally different from English, or other alphabetical used language. So, you simply want to learn the pronunciation, and or you might also want to learn the writing too? If you are not familiar with it, it might take your ages to learn that language. I am not trying to discourage you or anything like that. I just tell you the fact.
@johnpillai (2082)
• Germany
4 Jan 11
I came to Germany when I was 35 year old. The German language is very very new for me. But learning the language was a must to me. Here I write what I did to learn the language.
1. I watch children programe in TV. Programme for very small children.
2. Repeat what the small children say.
3. Speak in the language.
4. Non stop learning
5. Reading
6. copy down any texts.
7. Read famous fantasy tales in German Language.
1 person likes this
@cottenkendi (77)
• United States
4 Jan 11
I'm guessing you want mandarin since it is the official language of China. I'm learning it myself and I go to school every Sunday to learn, but before that I took online classes. I think it was called echineselearning .com. You can make your own schedule and pick how many days a week you want lessons. You have to buy your own books though and what not. Anyways best of luck!
1 person likes this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
5 Jan 11
Chinese is not actually a language, people in China speak Cantonese, Mandarin or Hakka and as far as I am aware the first two are the most widely recognised. The best way to learn a language is to surround yourself in the language so living in China would be the best way to learn a Chinese language.
Personally, learning languages is not my strong point, while some people are not good at maths or drawing, I am not good at languages. However, there are many websites online that teach people different languages, finding a website that offers a buddy system would be very beneficial that way you will be learning the language from a native.
When you get the basic grasp of the language, it might be beneficial to go to chinese supermarkets and places like that and try and communicate in the language that you have learnt. (I live in the UK, but we have supermarkets designed for ethnic minorities).
@eurekafemme (5877)
• Philippines
5 Jan 11
Hi
Learning Chinese language is not as difficult and as intimidating as learning French.
I used to work in a Chines firm with Chinese employers and employees. They taught me a couple of chines words like Tosia for thank you and Yasuy for handsome.
They said that Chinese language do not have linking verbs like that in English. Like when you say "Would you like to eat?" they only say "Di Cha'. di stands for "you" and "cha" means eat or food. So literally it means 'you eat.'
Other complicated languages other than french are german because of its pronunciation as well as Italian.
![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
@petersum (4522)
• United States
4 Jan 11
First, you should choose which Chinese language to learn - there are quite a lot of them! I learned a few words of Cantonese from the boys at the local Chinese take-away. Fascinating language, very picturesque! Waiter is actually "standing goose" apparently. There are a lot more ethnic Chinese in your country than mine so I can't advise you.
1 person likes this
@Jacobus1919 (1683)
• Philippines
5 Jan 11
Well, Chinese is actually a really hard language to learn. I studied Chinese Mandarin (I had to since it was part of my high school subject load). And I only learned a few words actually.
@asxenon (1440)
• Malaysia
6 Jan 11
Hi nicregi,
Nice to know you would like to learn Chinese (Mandarin i supposed)
Anyway, which part of Chinese are you keen to learn, is it just the learn to listen and speak, or you would like to learn to write.
If you just want to understand what people is saying and can talk with them in chinese, then basically you don't have to learn to write.
Chinese writing is complex for those who never learn before. As i am from a chinese school, learning from the basics did help but even learning from tadika until Form5, we couldn't really finish learning all chinese characters. In fact, there are still lots of Chinese characters i haven't seen before. But if you don't actually need to learn to write. It is actually not that difficult. Especially if you know some chinese dialects. Just begin by asking your friends who speaks in Mandarin and tell them you would like to learn to speak. I am sure by talking and practice, you'll learn to communicate in no time. Besides, you could also try to find some books with pin yin. Ask ur friends to teach you the basic pronunciation of pin yin and it will make learning even easier.
The most important think is, when talking in any language, don't use some other language and try to translate word by word. For example, the sentence structure of English is often reverted for English and Malay. Some chinese vocab is similar to the english structure while some are not. You may however think using chinese dialect u know, as all of chinese origins.
I am happy to be brought up in chinese schools although both my parents are english educated. Also, i like to learn languages that's why i took up Japanese, Spanish and Thai during University and we actually have real "Japanese" teacher, "Mexican" teacher teaching spanish and "Thai" teacher teaching Thai. For the 3 languages above, i think Thai is most difficult :D
Good luck
@cssiduyz (1053)
• Indonesia
5 Jan 11
The key is we have to be really keen to learn the language we want to control and learn to get a language course on a regular basis so that you can understand the language you want to master. because if not, we can not know and understand language that will do well.
@amarsinseramada (1)
• United States
5 Jan 11
I think the best way is to practice it in your every day basis,
right now i study french and italian and i can tell you the only way to truly learn a language is trying to know as much as possible.
@warvial (1146)
• Singapore
5 Jan 11
hi, online platform I am not sure but you can start off with watching Chinese films with English subtitles? That's how I manage to learn bits and pieces of foreign languages. The more you come in contact with such as listening to the conversations or even better, communicate with people, the easier it becomes.
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
5 Jan 11
IT would be easier to learn via listening and spoken. However for deeper impression of that language, i would suggest going for reading and writing. There's no easy way to learning a new langauge because it's something out of our norm. With every langauge, phrasing of sentences and the way we speak are so different so we need time to accustom to them.
@edwinaishappy (109)
• China
5 Jan 11
It is known to all that there is no shortcut for learning, including Chinese.
So practice makes perfect.
But there are some skills as we learn english or any other languages.
1. choose a nice textbook. One that fits you.
2. i think it's convenient to attend to an online class cuz it's hard to learn by yourself.
3. watch vedeos and listening to musics or anything like these. it will help you to understand better.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16686)
• China
5 Jan 11
Chinese has a lot of dialect as every country has it.You must learn Mandarin(standard Chinese pronunciation)just as the people of non-english speaking countries learn idiomatic english.You may as well listen to CCTV or buy teaching material and then learn from it.
@spencari (265)
• Indonesia
5 Jan 11
i don't have any how to learn chinese language but language have a same core. encrich your vocabulary and practice your writing and speaking regularly. language do not need someone who smart or genius, it only need practice and practice the easiest way is join with language center or language training you able to learn fast, better then only learn by yourselves, remember language is habit.. so just learn it
@fantasydream (5)
• China
5 Jan 11
Hi , I come from beijing , the capital of China . What is the best way to learn English....yes, English , so I think we can help each other online . I'm a web site development engineer , I can online between 9 and 17 o'clock . Show we become friends ?? : )
![](/Content/images/loading.gif)