How do you get good feedback on your Chinese writing using AI? What’s the best input method for students? And how do you find interesting topics to write about? #learnchinese #writing #ai #typing #topic Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Student Q&A: July, 2025: AI feedback, input methods and topics for writing: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-july-2025-ai-feedback-input-methods-and-topics-for-writing/ Question 1: AI feedback Improving your spoken and written Chinese by focusing o...
Jul 07, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 257
Does handwriting still have a place in modern Chinese learning? Let's explore 8 popular arguments in favour of writing characters by hand, each critically examined to see which ones truly stand up to scrutiny. #learnchinese #handwriting #hanzi #chinesecharacters Link to article on Hacking Chinese: 8 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/ My best advice on how to learn Chinese characters: https://w...
Jun 30, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 256
A great tutor can transform your Chinese learning, but how do you know if a tutor is good? Let's explore the key qualities that make a tutor truly effective! #learnchinese #tutor #teacher Link to article on Hacking Chinese: 7 characteristics of a great Chinese tutor or private teacher: https://www.hackingchinese.com/characteristics-of-a-great-chinese-tutor-or-private-teacher/ Take responsibility for your own learning now: https://www.hackingchinese.com/take-responsibility-for-your-own-learning/ ...
Jun 23, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 255
Having a tutor can be great for learning Chinese, but how much progress you make depends as much on you as on the tutor. Come prepared, stay engaged, and make the most of each session! #learnchinese #tutor #teacher #student Link to article on Hacking Chinese: How to get the most out of your Chinese tutoring sessions: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-chinese-tutoring-sessions/ Take responsibility for your own learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/take-responsibili...
Jun 16, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 254
Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let's explore eight myths that might be holding you back! #learnchinese #myths #hanzi #pronunciation #study Link to article on Hacking Chinese: 8 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back: https://www.hackingchinese.com/myths-about-learning-chinese-that-are-holding-you-back/ 6 things in Chinese that are harder to learn than they seem: https://www.hackingchinese.com/6-things-in-chinese-that-are-hard...
Jun 09, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 253
Listening is essential when learning Mandarin, but not all listening situations are the same. By recognising different types of listening, you can improve your chances of successfully navigating spoken Mandarin. #learnchinese #listening #conversations #comprehension The best podcasts for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podcasts-for-learning-chinese/ The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chin...
Jun 02, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 252
How do you get started with listening in Mandarin? What makes group conversations so challenging? And is it true that news broadcasts in Chinese are harder than in other languages? #learnchinese #listening #beginner #news #conversations Chinese listening challenge, June 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-listening-challenge/ The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 251
Is learning how to learn worth your time, or should you just engage directly with Chinese instead? The answer depends, but the longer your perspective, the more important it becomes to tweak your method! #learnchinese #how-to #progress #hackingchinese #efficiency Link to written article on Hacking Chinese: Will reading or listening to Hacking Chinese help you learn Mandarin? https://www.hackingchinese.com/will-reading-hacking-chinese-help-you-learn-mandarin/ Analyse and balance your Chinese lear...
May 20, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 250
Zi.Tools is a great free resource for exploring Chinese characters. See what it offers and how you can use it to boost your learning! #learnchinese #chinesecharacters #hanzi #etymology #analysis #dictionary Link to written article on Hacking Chinese: Zi.Tools: A powerful free resource for exploring Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zi-tools-a-powerful-free-resource-for-exploring-chinese-characters/ Zi.tools 字統网: https://zi.tools/ 5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Sup...
May 12, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 246
Should you focus on learning many words superficially or few words well? How do you stay motivated when flashcards get boring? And how can you tell if you really know a word? #learnchinese #vocabulary #flashcards #skritter #q&a Link to written article on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-may-2025-learning-chinese-characters-and-words-with-flashcard-apps/ Link to vocabulary challenge: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-vocabulary-challenge/ Links to articles menti...
May 06, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 248
Tones in Mandarin are tricky, and students face many different kinds of problems. Identifying the type of problem is important for fixing it. #learnchinese #tones #pronunciation #challenges #speaking #listening Link to article: 7 kinds of tone problems in Mandarin and what to do about them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/7-kinds-tone-problems/ Learning tones in Mandarin is not optional: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-tones-in-mandarin-is-not-optional/ The Hacking Chinese guide to Mandar...
Apr 28, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 247
Digital dictionaries make reading Chinese easier, but they might also prevent you from learning essential strategies. Let's have a look at why using a good dictionary can be bad for your reading ability! #learnchinese #reading #dictionary #digital #strategies Link to article: Why using a good dictionary can be bad for your Chinese reading ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-using-a-good-dictionary-can-be-bad-for-your-chinese-reading-ability/ The new paperless revolution in Chinese readin...
Apr 21, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 246
Reading is the best way to expand vocabulary and learn about new things, but how should you approach reading in Chinese? And what are the best free reading resources out there? #learnchinese #reading #resources #free #beginner #intermediate #advanced Link: The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/10-best-free-chinese-reading-resources-beginner-intermediate-advanced/ More information and inspiration about learnin...
Apr 14, 2025•12 min•Season 245Ep. 1
Should you read Chinese with or without Pinyin? What are the pros and cons of reading on your phone? And how do you learn to read Chinese people’s handwriting? #learnchinese #reading #yinyin #handwriting #flashcards Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Student Q&A: April, 2025: Reading with Pinyin, Chinese texts on your phone, and deciphering handwriting: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-april-2025-reading-with-pinyin-chinese-texts-on-your-phone-and-deciphering-handwriting/ Chinese r...
Apr 07, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 244
Memory is a skill that can be practised, learnt, and mastered. By using the right method, remembering even abstract things like tones and pronunciation in Mandarin becomes possible, even easy! #learnchinese #mnemonics #tones #pronunciation Link to article on Hacking Chinese: How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/extending-mnemonics-inspiration-and-insights/ The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell:...
Mar 30, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 243
Living and travelling abroad can help you learn Chinese, but your attitude matters. To truly learn, stop being a tourist! #learnchinese #tourist #travel #expat #languagelearning Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Don't be a tourist if you want to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-be-a-tourist/ You won’t learn Chinese simply by living abroad: https://www.hackingchinese.com/you-wont-learn-chinese-simply-by-living-abroad/ Why travelling isn’t the best method to learn Chinese: http...
Mar 24, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 244
Should you cram or use spaced repetition to learn Chinese? Discover when each method works best and why spaced repetition is key to long-term success. #learnchinese #review #vocabulary #cramming #srs #flashcards Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Cramming vs. spaced repetition: When to use which method to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cramming-vs-spaced-repetition-when-to-use-which-method-to-learn-chinese/ Why spaced repetition software is uniquely well-suited to learning Chines...
Mar 17, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 241
Videos are ideal for learning Chinese, because the visual element enhances comprehension and engagement. But what videos should you watch? What are the best YouTube channels? #learnchinese #youtube #video #immersion #listening Link to article on Hacking Chinese: The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese in 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese/ There are way too many links to specific YouTube channels, playlists and videos to put in the show not...
Mar 10, 2025•13 min•Season 240Ep. 1
Is learning Chinese slang worth your time? What do you do when someone with less study time speaks better than you? And how can you escape the expat bubble and start learning Mandarin? #learnchinese #q&a #speaking #slang #expat #progress Chinese speaking challenge, March 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-speaking-challenge/ Student Q&A: March, 2025: Chinese slang, leaving expat bubbles, and competing with other learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-march-2025-chi...
Mar 04, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 239
Board games are more than just fun, they’re a powerful way to learn Chinese, boosting vocabulary, fluency, and communication skills! #learnchinese #boardgames #game #fluency #communication Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Learning Chinese by playing board games: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-playing-board-games/ How to use computer games to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/diablo-3-and-starcraft-2-playing-computer-games-in-chinese/ Learning Chinese with StarCraf...
Feb 24, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 238
Some say that dating a native speaker is the ultimate shortcut to fluency. “You’ll learn effortlessly with a teacher always by your side!” But is learning Chinese with a partner really the silver bullet it’s often made out to be? #learnchinese #partner #boyfriend #girlfriend #wife #husband Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/language-learning-with-a-chinese-girlfriend-or-boyfriend/ ...
Feb 17, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 237
Most students of Chinese find listening comprehension a challenge. To truly become a fluent listener, use the Input Pyramid to rethink and upgrade your listening practice! #learnchinese #listening #input #fluent Link to article on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/course-fluent-listener-mandarin-listening-comprehension Link to a video introduction to the course: https://youtu.be/jljUemN-Vck Listen more than once: How the replay button can help you learn more Chinese: https://www.ha...
Feb 10, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 236
How do you improve listening ability as quickly as possible? Are there any strategies to deal with rapid speech? And how many times should you listen before using a transcript? #learnchinese #improvement #strategies #rapidspeech #transcripts Chinese listening challenge, February 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-listening-challenge/ The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-...
Feb 05, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 235
I started Hacking Chinese to help people learn Mandarin, and your feedback is essential, so please fill out my listener survey. Also, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, I'm offering a hefty discount on three of my courses. #learnchinese #cny #discount #courses #survey Hacking Chinese reader and listener survey: https://www.hackingchinese.com/hacking-chinese-reader-and-listener-survey/ Chinese New Year and New Semester Course Discount: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-new-year-and-new-semeste...
Jan 27, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 234
You’d think that there are many roads to mastering Chinese, but in truth, there are only three. #learnchinese #mastery #fluency #work #social #hobby #motivation Link to article on Hacking Chinese: The three roads to mastering Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-three-roads-to-mastering-chinese/ How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/ Can you become fluent in Chinese in three months? https://www.hackingchinese.com/benny-lewis-fluent...
Jan 20, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 233
Another year has come to an end. Which were the most popular articles on Hacking Chinese in 2024 The most popular podcast episodes? It's time to summarise the year that was and highlight the things you really shouldn’t miss! #learnchinese #bestof #summary #articles #podcast Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Best of Hacking Chinese 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/best-of-hacking-chinese-2024 The Fluent Listener: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin...
Jan 13, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 232
What do you do if your teacher says that your text reads like English written with Chinese words? How can you get good feedback on your Chinese writing from ChatGPT? And how can you learn to write in a professional or academic setting? #learnchinese #translation #chatgpt #ai #feedback #academia #professional Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything/ Chinese writing challenge, Jan...
Jan 07, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 231
You say something in Mandarin, a native speaker corrects you, and you adjust. The next day, another native speaker tells you to revert to your original phrasing. What's going on? #learnchinese #nativespeaker #explicit #implicit #feedback Link to article on Hacking Chinese: What native speakers know about Chinese (and what they don’t): https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-native-speakers-know-and-what-they-dont/ Standardised pronunciation in Chinese and why you want it: https://www.hackingchinese....
Dec 30, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 230
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques you can use to learn and remember more, but this doesn't mean that you should always use them. If you do, you will end up spending more time on mnemonics than you do engaging with the Chinese language. #learnchinese #characters #mnemonics #memory Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything/ The building blocks of Chinese, part 1 Chinese charact...
Dec 23, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 227
The more Chinese you learn, the less noticeable your progress becomes. Benchmarking can make your improvements more visible and help you stay motivated! #learnchinese #benchmarking #progress #proficiency Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Benchmarking progress in Chinese to stay motivated: https://www.hackingchinese.com/benchmarking-progress/ How to learn Chinese in the long term with intrinsic motivation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-chinese-in-the-long-term-with-intrinsic-motiv...
Dec 16, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 228
