5 Steps to Learn Chinese from Zero

Chinese is spoken by over a billion people worldwide, making it one of the most valuable languages to learn globally nowadays. While learning Chinese can be challenging, it can also be manageable and rewarding with the right approach. Whether you’re learning for business, cultural enrichment, or travel, if you’re considering learning Chinese now, you’ve come to the right place! Check out the following steps to prepare for your Chinese learning journey.

Step 1: Master Pinyin and Tones

What is Pinyin?

Pinyin is the Romanization system for Chinese characters, designed to teach pronunciation using the Latin alphabet. It contains 25 out of 26 letters of the Roman alphabet. Interestingly, even if you’re encountering Pinyin for the first time, you can still guess around 50% of the sounds correctly, as many symbols are similar to English. Mastering Pinyin is the initial step in learning Chinese and is crucial for beginners.

Importance of Tones

Mandarin Chinese features four main tones and a neutral tone, each altering the meaning of words. Properly mastering tones is essential, as mispronunciations can lead to misunderstandings. Pinyin and tones are often learned together as a set, given their interconnected nature.

Where to start? 

Actually, LingoDeer offers a very useful Pinyin Chart and exercises within the app! By switching the learning language to Chinese and tapping the icon of the Temple of Heaven in the top right corner, you can access these resources. This section is ideal for comprehensive practice of Pinyin and tones. Remember, when practicing, don’t hesitate to pronounce the expressions out loud—there’s no need to be afraid!

Step 2: Learn Chinese Characters

Once you become accustomed to Pinyin and tones, the next step is to focus on Chinese characters. Chinese characters play important roles in the learning journey. These characters are crucial in your learning journey, as they offer insights into meanings and pronunciations through radicals and components. Feeling overwhelmed by the vast number of Chinese characters? Begin with the most frequently used ones. Mastering these will enable you to comprehend a substantial portion of written Chinese.

LingoDeer features a highly useful section for learning how to write Chinese characters. Each lesson provides clear writing instructions for learners to follow, ensuring they learn the correct stroke order for each character.

Step 3: Learning Basic Vocabulary and Grammar

Basic Vocabulary

With millions of Chinese characters to learn, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed initially. However, you can start by taking baby steps! Why not begin building your Chinese foundation with simple yet essential words and phrases that you’ll use daily, including greetings, numbers, and common nouns? Here are some examples:

Greetings	你好	nǐ hǎo	hello
	再见	zài jiàn	goodbye
	谢谢	xiè xiè	thank you
	不客气	bú kè qì	you are welcome
Numbers	一	yī	one
	二	èr	two
	三	sān	three
	四	sì	four
Common nouns	我	wǒ	I/me
	你	nǐ	you
	他	tā	he/him
	它	tā	it

Grammar Basics

Chinese grammar is relatively straightforward compared to many other languages, featuring a subject-verb-object (SVO) sentence structure. For example, “I eat apples” translates to “我吃苹果 (wǒ chī píngguǒ)” in Chinese, following the same basic structure as the English sentence. Here are some slightly more advanced grammar tips:

• Questions
  • For yes/no questions, add “吗 (ma)” at the end of the statement 
  • 你喜欢中国吗? (Nǐ xǐhuān Zhōngguó ma?) – Do you like China?

• Negation
  • To negate a verb, simply add “不 (bù)” before the verb.
  • 我不吃苹果 (wǒ bù chī píngguǒ) – I do not eat apples.

• Measure Words
  • In Chinese, using measure words between numbers and nouns is crucial for forming sentences correctly.
  • 一个苹果 (yī gè píngguǒ) – one apple

• Time and Place
  • Time words typically come before the verb
  • 我明天去北京 (wǒ míngtiān qù Běijīng) – I am going to Beijing tomorrow.

Step 4: Practice Listening and Speaking

Listening and speaking are both vital components of learning a new language. Immersing yourself in the language helps you understand the context and nuances better. The same applies to Chinese—watching Chinese movies, dramas, and TV shows can elevate your Chinese skills and deepen your understanding of Chinese culture and daily life.

In addition, podcasts have become a valuable tool for language learning, allowing you to listen to content and get used to the rhythm and flow of the language. Here are some popular Chinese language podcasts to consider:

• Chinese Pod: This channel caters to beginners and covers a variety of topics. The hosts typically present dialogues in Mandarin, followed by English translations. They also explain the grammar rules relevant to each conversation.
• ChillChat: For intermediate learners, ChillChat is a must-visit channel. The hosts incorporate current trends and Chinese culture into their conversations, providing an engaging and informative experience.
• Learning Chinese through Stories: If you’re interested in learning Chinese through stories, this channel is an excellent choice. It offers a wide range of topics and proficiency levels. Each story is divided into two parts: the story itself and a detailed explanation. The content also includes annotated vocabulary and transcripts to aid comprehension.

Step 5: Immerse Yourself and Practice Regularly

Regular practice is crucial for language learning. It’s beneficial to set aside a specific amount of time each day to study Chinese, whether through reading, writing, listening, or speaking. Additionally, immersing yourself in the Chinese environment can greatly enhance your language skills.

One effective way to immerse yourself is through Chinese social media. China’s advanced technology has led to the development of numerous social media platforms with abundant content.

Red (小红书 – xiǎo Hóng Shū)

Red focuses on lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and travel. Users can share posts with photos and videos, write reviews, and provide recommendations.The platform also features a significant amount of user-generated content and influencer posts. By following these, you can better understand contemporary vocabulary and phrases used in daily life. Additionally, reading user reviews can help improve your practical language skills, particularly in shopping and product reviews.

Weibo (微博 – wēi bó)

Weibo, often referred to as the “Chinese Twitter,” allows users to post updates, share news, and interact with others. Following trending topics and reading the latest news can help you stay updated on current events and learn how Chinese is used in the media. Additionally, you can practice your Chinese by creating your own posts on the platform.

Zhihu (知乎 – zhī hū)

Similar to Quora, Zhihu is a Q&A platform where users can ask questions and receive detailed answers. It’s an excellent resource for gaining professional knowledge, as users provide in-depth explanations on a wide range of topics. Reading these answers can enhance your reading comprehension and help you master specialized vocabulary efficiently. Of course, you can post questions about Chinese language and culture to receive answers from native speakers.

Learning Chinese from zero may seem like a daunting task, but starting with small steps is key. These five steps are just the beginning, but by following them, you can build a strong foundation and steadily progress toward fluency. Remember, LingoDeer is always here to support you on your Chinese learning journey, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any help!