#mandarin tag

[mea-lingua]

IG Accounts for Learning French / Spanish / Mandarin

FRENCH

@all.french -

Posts short stories / audio clips with French & English subtitles on screen

@french.toons -

Plays cartoon clips in French followed by the same clip in English

@lefrancaisaveclesmachin -

Posts reels consisting of a vocab word and example of it used in a sentence (cover slang and common expressions)

@fa_johan -

Posts language learning tips and reels on vocab words, all explained in French (suitable for more intermediate learners)

@linguiswaps_french -

Same as above, posts reels explaining vocab words and expressions in context, all in French

SPANISH

@espamundi -

(🇪🇸) Mainly makes reels on common grammar structures and text posts on common idioms

@spanishgitana -

(🇪🇸) Posts Spanish listening practice reels, using props and ‘acting out actions’ for visual support

@kylah__williams -

Posts mini vlog-like reels, switching between Spanish and English, and displaying vocab words on screen as she uses them

@howtospanish -

(🇲🇽) Posts a variety of content formats (vlog-like reels, audio lip-syncs, vocab in context) with Spanish & English subtitles on screen

@mexicanfluency -

(🇲🇽) Posts reels consisting of a vocab word and example of it used in a sentence (cover slang and common expressions)

MANDARIN

@easymandarinteacher -

Posts mini convos and interviews, chatting about different topics with others (include Mandarin & English subtitles on screen)

@chinesezerotohero -

Posts reels consisting of vocab and of it used in sentences and movie / TV show clips (cover common expressions)

@learnchinesewithun -

Posts mini clips from movies in Mandarin with pinyin, Mandarin character, and English subtitles on screen (include clip breakdowns to focus on major vocab words or expressions)

@voice.mq -

Posts short citations, read out loud to offer vocab learning, reading, and listening practice

@chinese.access -

Make text posts consisting of a vocab word and example of it used in a sentence (cover slang and common expressions)

———

I recently stumbled upon some accounts for Chinese learning on insta (see above) and found that reels really are nice, bite-sized information sharing formats. I mostly follow accounts that teach words in context through reels for optimal language acquisition. I also searched for French and Spanish ones with a similar ‘in-context’ format. Feel free to add to the list above if you have recommendations! I recommend making a second insta account for following language-related pages if you use your current insta to keep up with friends and don’t want to inundate your feed with little bite-sized learning posts.

[studying-thelights]

Mandarin Resources

Here are some of my favourite resources for studying Mandarin.

Reading

Yes! Chinese Reading (website) (free): I use this for reading stories and learning new words, any new word I look up on Pleco then add to my list on HackChinese

Writing

Tofu Learn (app) (free): I used to Skritter to practice writing characters until I found Tofu Learn, it's basically a free version of Skritter. I have just been working through their HSK lists and it has been so helpful. The app format isn't as shiny and nice looking as Skritter but it's free so that's why I prefer it.

Vocab Learning

HackChinese (website) (paid): This is my favourite learning tool. I used to use anki for learning vocab but I actually prefer this site. I create a list for my class each term and also work through the HSK lists, meaning I have a lot of overlap in my lists, since this site is specifically for Chinese it will remember your progress on words across lists, so you don't have to relearn words that you already know. It uses SRS and the website has visualisations of your progress which I find really motivating! There are discount codes online and there's a 20 day free trial, when I did it if you completed 5 days in a row they gave you a 40% discount. If you're struggling to learn/remember vocab then definitely give it a go.

[mea-lingua]

My current fave Mandarin learning resources:

In this post, I’m compiling the (free) resources, which I’ve been using to study Mandarin on my own, along with a few lines on how I’ve been getting the most out of them. I’ve basically developed a little routine for myself when it comes to using these to make sure I practice a bit of everything (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Hope these help in your Mandarin acquisition journey if you’re looking for complementary content outside of the classroom or for self-studying like me!

Reading & Writing

Yes! Chinese Reading (website)

Perapera Chinese Popup Dictionary (extension)

Yabla Chinese Dictionary (website)

How to use + more resources

So, I use all three simultaneously. Every other day, I try to read 1-3 stories from Yes! Chinese, with the Perapera extension turned on and Yabla opened in a second tab. When I stumble upon a new word in a story I’m reading, I’ll hover over it and, courtesy of the Perapera extension, the definition will appear like a pop-up below the mouse. If after reading the definition, I’m still confused about how the word is used, I’ll look it up on Yabla. What’s great about Yabla is that it often offers sentence examples and even links to pages on grammar points related to the word you’re looking up! After all that, I’ll write the word a couple of times on a white board to practice writing.

*example of Perapera in action

*example of Yabla entry with option to look at sentence examples (“Example Usage”) and pages on the grammar behind the word (“Grammar Notes”)

I think the Yes! Chinese stories are pretty entertaining and varied when reading those under the ‘Grown up’ level section. But, if you’re looking for more content to browse through, here’s a post I made with more free reading resources: post.

Listening

Learn Chinese With Movies (YT)

Everyday Chinese (YT)

Meditation for Chinese Learners (YT)

Cdramas & Music (YT)

How to use

Quick description of what each of these resources have to offer: Learn Chinese with Movies is a channel in which movie and TV show scenes are played with subtitles, broken down based on important grammar points and vocab, and then played again without subtitles. Everyday Chinese has a lot of videos on both learning Chinese and on learning about Chinese culture. Meditation for Chinese Learners offers meditation videos in Chinese for different levels. Cdramas and music are a great way to immerse yourself in the language. Although it may not be the best way to learn new words for beginners (trying to learn new words this way can feel like trying to drink water from a fire hose), it’s a great way to get a feel for the pronunciation of words and to gauge your progress as you learn more vocab.

Speaking

HelloTalk (app - w/ feature restrictions in free version)

How to use

HelloTalk is a language exchange app. It has a text, call, and video call feature along with a feed that everyone can contribute to posting to. So, it’s reminiscent of Facebook but like, for language learning.

Disclaimer on this one though: I saw comments on Reddit that apparently voice calling is turning into a VIP feature that you have to pay for if you make an account now and/or you have to pay fees when making international calls after having made a certain amount unless you pay for the premium subscription. I tried looking into the fine print and didn’t find anything + I haven’t been affected, but it may be because it’s only affecting recent subscribers to the app (?). I just thought it worth mentioning!

[mea-lingua]

Free Mandarin reading/listening practice

Short Stories

HSKReading (HSK 1-6) 

offers short stories by level; some stories come in both text and audio form; pages come with a built-in Mandarin-Pinyin/English translator

Chinese Reading Practice (Beginner-Advanced)

offers short stories by level; each story is prefaced with notes on vocab and expressions to look out for; pages come with a built-in Mandarin-Pinyin/English translator

Chinese mini-stories on YouTube (HSK 3-4)

in each video, Xiao Min tells a short story which you can read along to, then goes through the vocabulary and sentences slowly to explain their meanings

Manhua (sites to read free Chinese webcomics on)

Manhuatai

Weibo

Movies & Shows

爱奇艺 （IQYI）

IQYI has a large selection of dramas, movies, variety shows, and even a section of shows for kids (perfect for beginner listening and, if you put Chinese subtitles, reading practice!)

YouTube

there is an abundance of YT channels that air cdramas, ex., 1 2 3 (most only offer English subtitles)

Viki

Viki also has a large selection of subtitled Asian dramas, including Chinese and Taiwanese series and movies

[mea-lingua]

The uses of 对

1. as an adjective: right, correct

 你喜欢她, 对不对？= You like her, right?

对 = [as a reply] (that’s) correct; (that’s) right

 2. as a verb complement: (to do ___) correctly

 她说得对 = She said it correctly (i.e., she’s right)

 3. as a preposition: to, toward

 我对狗过敏 = I am allergic to dogs (lit. I to dogs allergic)

她男朋友对她很好 = Her boyfriend is good to her (lit. her boyfriend to her very good)

in general: A 对 B + effect / impact of B on A

 4. as a measure word: a pair of; a couple of

 一对夫妻 = a married couple

一对枕头 = a pair of pillows

...

Note: 对 vs 双 as a measure word

· 对 : for things that could exist or be used alone (people, animals, pillows, etc.)

· 双 : for things that come naturally or that must be used in pairs (eyes, hands, socks, shoes, etc.)

[mea-lingua]

Phrases/words often found on public area signs

办公室 [bàngōngshì] office 厕所 [cèsuǒ] restroom 公共厕所 [gōnggòng cèsuǒ] public restroom 电梯 [diàntī] lift; elevator, escalator, etc. 票 [piào] tickets 收银台 [shōuyín tái] checkout counter

入口 [rùkǒu] entrance, way in 出口 [chūkǒu] exit, way out 应急出口 [yìngjí chūkǒu] emergency exit

不营业 [bù yíngyè]  not open for business 营业时间 [yíngyè shíjiān] business hours

上 [shàng] up 下 [xià] down 推 [tuī] push 拉 [lā] pull 开 [kāi] open 关门 [guānmén] closed

[mea-lingua]

Uses of the adverb: 就

1. to suggest the earliness and quickness of an action (at once, just, already)

你就来了？[nǐ jiù lái le] you are already here?

他一分钟就学会了 [tā yī fēnzhong jiù xué huì le] he got it in just a minute

2. to indicate that a second action happened as soon as the first was completed (right after, as soon as)

我吃完就去了 [wǒ chī wán jiù qù le] I’ll go right after I finish eating

你一下飞机就回家了吗？[nǐ yī xià fēijī jiù huí jiā le ma?] are you going home as soon as you get off the plane?

3. to indicate that a second action or situation is the result of a first one (so… just, then… just)

今天下雨，我们就不出去了 [jīntiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bù chūqù le] it’s raining today, so let’s just not go out

想吃就吃 [xiǎng chī jiù chī] if you want to eat, then eat

4. as affirmation or emphasis (definitely, simply)

那我就是不吃 [nà wǒ jiù shì bù chī] I definitely won’t eat

5. to define a small quantity, to mean only

这件事就我知道 [zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ zhīdào] I’m the only one who knows about this matter

Note: 就 is also used as a verb to mean,

1.       come near, move toward

2.       accomplish, create

3.       accommodate, suit, fit

[mea-lingua]

Uses of structural particle: 的

1. as a possessive particle

akin to ’s in English

ex.,

我的书 [wǒ de shū] / my book

你的车 [nǐ de chē] / your car

餐厅的服务员 [cān tīng de fú wù yuan] / the restaurant’s waiter

2. to convert words or phrases into nouns

ex.,

好 [hǎo] / good ➨ 好的 [hǎo de] / good ones

小 [xiǎo] / small ➨ 我喜欢小的 [wǒ xǐhuān xiǎo de] / I like small ones

3. as modification marker

case 1: verb phrase modifies noun phrase

akin to ‘that (is/are)’, ‘who (is/are)’ in English

ex.,

他买的衣服 [tā mǎi de yīfú] / clothes (that) he bought

在宿舍的学生 [zài sùshè de xuéshēng] / students (that are) in the dorms

看书的人 [kàn shū de rén] / people who read books, or ‘readers’

(note: in this first case, the phrase order in Chinese is the opposite of the one in English)

case 2: disyllabic attribute + 的 + noun phrase

ex.,

好吃的菜 [hǎo chī de cài] / delicious dish

红色的花 [hóng sè de huā] / red flower

4. to put emphasis on a sentence’s attribute

ex., 

房子很大 [fángzi hěn dà] / the house is big ➨ 房子是大的 [fángzi shì dà de] / the house is a big one

When 的 isn’t needed

1. when a pronoun is followed by a noun describing a place or person they have a close relationship to

ex.,

我家 [wǒ jiā] / my home

你哥哥 [nǐ gēge] / your brother

2. after monosyllabic attributes

ex.,

好人 [hǎo rén] / good person

白衬衣 [bái chènyī] / white shirt

3. when a noun is modifying another noun

ex.,

美国车 [Měiguó chē] / American car

中国人 [Zhōngguó rén] / Chinese person

科学中心 [kēxué zhōngxīn] / science center