#Chinese language learning
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public transport related chinese vocab (traditional characters/taiwanese mandarin)
#langblr#Chinese Vocabulary#chinese langblr#chinese vocab#traditional chinese#traditional chinese characters#language learning#chinese language learning
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In light of Duolingo laying off its translators, here are my favourite language apps (primarily for Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and te reo Māori).
Multiple Languages
Anki is a flashcard programme and app that's not exclusively for languages. While making your own decks is ideal, you can also download shared decks for most languages.
If you're learning Japanese, specifically, Seth Clydesdale has websites for practicing alongside Genki's 2nd or 3rd editions, and he also provides his own shared Anki decks for Genki.
And if you're learning te reo Māori, specifically, here's a guide on how to make your own deck.
TOFU Learn is an app for learning vocabulary that's very similar to Anki. However, it has particularly excellent shared decks for East Asian languages. I've used it extensively for practicing 汉字. Additionally, if you're learning te reo Māori, there's a shared deck of vocabulary from Māori Made Easy!
Mandarin Chinese
Hello Chinese is a fantastic app for people at the HSK 1-4 levels. While there's a paid version, the only thing paying unlocks is access to podcast lessons, which imo are not really necessary. Without paying you still have access to all the gamified lessons which are laid out much like Duolingo's lessons. However, unlike Duolingo, Hello Chinese actually teaches grammar directly, properly teaches 汉字, and includes native audio practice.
Japanese
Renshuu is a website and app for learning and practicing Japanese. The vast majority of its content is available for free. There's also a Discord community where you can practice alongside others.
Kanji Dojo is a free and open source app for learning and practicing the stroke order of kanji. You can learn progressively by JLPT level or by Japanese grades. There's also the option to learn and practice kana stroke order as well.
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I want to post this here too because I’ve seen it happen a few times
Please understand that there are cultural differences and language differences, if you see this happening let the person clarify what they meant, that person might just not be familiar with words the western side of the internet use
#bearz rambling tag#no it’s not really possible to let everyone who uses this term to change#because as far as I know this is the most common word with use on Chinese websites#I didn’t know that pairing are called ‘ship’ here#like why would I even know that#‘ship’ makes zero sense to me#it took me a while to learn the fandom language people speak here#it’s hard#give people time#shipping culture is very different too#Like on Chinese site you HAVE to clarify the Top and the Bottom of this ship in the ship name#it is very very important to them#people who like the same ship but with different Top Bottom preference will fight till no end#imagine how confused I was when I first got here#where there’s no top bottom differences#it’s not really a smut thing#it’s more a dynamic thing#AxB and BxA is very different#oh I can talk so much about the differences on fandom cultures#if ya are interested in more please feel free to ask#it’s very interesting to me#I wanna talk about it
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Learn Chinese Online in Delhi
In today’s interconnected world, the ability to speak multiple languages has become a valuable skill. Among the most sought-after languages to learn is Chinese, due to its cultural significance and economic power. With the advent of online learning platforms, mastering the intricacies of this language has never been more accessible. In this article, we will delve into the world of learning Chinese online, exploring the benefits, resources, and strategies to embark on this linguistic journey.
Why Learn Chinese Online?
1. Global Relevance
China, as the world’s most populous country, plays a pivotal role in the global economy. Learning Chinese can open doors to numerous career opportunities, particularly in international business and trade. As China’s influence continues to grow, so does the demand for individuals proficient in Mandarin.
2. Cultural Enrichment
The Chinese culture is steeped in history, art, and traditions that span thousands of years. Learning the language enables you to gain a deeper understanding of this rich heritage, from ancient philosophy to contemporary cinema. It also allows you to engage with native speakers on a more profound level, fostering cultural exchanges and friendships.
3. Intellectual Challenge
Learning a new language is a mental workout that keeps your cognitive functions sharp. Chinese, with its complex characters and tonal pronunciation, presents a unique challenge. It can stimulate your brain, enhance problem-solving skills, and boost your overall cognitive abilities.
The Online Advantage
Learning Chinese online offers several advantages that make it an appealing option for learners of all backgrounds and ages.
1. Flexibility
Online courses permit you to establish your own rhythm and timetable. Whether you’re a busy professional or a student with a full load of classes, you can fit Chinese lessons into your routine. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for adult learners juggling work and family commitments.
2. Diverse Learning Resources
A plethora of online resources is available, catering to various learning styles. From video lessons and interactive apps to one-on-one tutoring sessions, you can choose the method that suits you best. Many platforms also provide gamified learning experiences to keep you engaged.
3. Access to Native Speakers
One of the key benefits of online learning is the ability to connect with native Chinese speakers. Conversing with native speakers not only improves your language skills but also exposes you to authentic pronunciation and cultural nuances.
Getting Started
Now that you’re convinced of the benefits of learning Chinese online, here’s how to get started:
1. Choose the Right Platform
Research and select an online learning platform that aligns with your goals and budget. Popular options include Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and iTalki. Make sure the platform offers a structured curriculum and ample practice opportunities.
2. Set Realistic Goals
Learning a language is a long-distance race, not a run. Put forth feasible objectives and achievements to keep tabs on your development. Consistency is key; dedicating a small amount of time daily is more effective than occasional intense study sessions.
3. Practice Regularly
Language acquisition requires practice. Immerse yourself in the language by watching Chinese films, reading books or news articles, and listening to Mandarin music or podcasts. The more you open yourself to the language, the quicker you’ll advance.
4. Engage with the Community
Join online forums, language exchange groups, or social media communities dedicated to learning Chinese. Engaging with fellow learners and native speakers can provide valuable insights, support, and motivation.
The Journey Begins
Embarking on the journey to learn Chinese online can be a fulfilling and life-changing experience. With dedication, patience, and the wealth of resources available, you can unlock the beauty of this ancient language and its vibrant culture. So, are you ready to take the first step towards becoming proficient in Chinese? The digital world is your oyster, offering countless opportunities to explore this fascinating language.
#learn Chinese online#learning chinese language for beginners#chinese language learning#learning the chinese language#online chinese language
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we literally just talked about how youre not supposed to criticize china’s govt if youre an outsider, and then today we discussed the one child policy . . . siri, how do you say “femicide” in mandarin?
我们刚才谈外人不应该批评中国政府，然后今天我们讨论独生子女政策。。。西里，用普通话怎么说 “杀戮女性” ？
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Advice I would give my past self about studying Chinese
Recently I've been reflecting on my Chinese learning journey and how far I've come. If I could go back in time, these are 10 things I would tell my past self. A few are specific to Chinese, but most can apply to any language
It will get so much easier to learn new characters. I remember feeling overwhelmed because learning new characters was a painful process. Now when I encounter a new character, I can remember it with relative ease—it’s just a new combination of familiar components.
Don't feel bad about having uneven development in different skills. My listening and reading are significantly stronger than my speaking and writing. It’s super common and nothing to be ashamed of.
The best way to get over being too embarrassed to speak is to experience some embarrassment and realize it’s not a big deal. I used to be so afraid of making mistakes that I would avoid speaking in class. It was only by being forced to speak that I got over it. I'm much better for it!
It’s impossible to learn everything, and time is limited. You have to prioritize. You probably don’t need to know how to say “pawnshop” in Chinese, and trying to jam your head full of 100 words you saw once won’t work. They won’t stick.
It will actually be harder to read pinyin than to read characters at some point. When I helped a friend with a script for her Chinese class, I really struggled because she had written it entirely in pinyin. I had to write out the characters to read without stumbling! I know characters are daunting for beginners, but trust me, you will get used to them.
If you haven’t practiced or learned something, of course you won’t be good at it. I remember feeling so frustrated trying to navigate Chinese websites for the first time. In retrospect, obviously, I was going to struggle with something completely new to me!
If something isn’t sticking, move on. Why waste time on a word that’s not clicking when you could be learning five new ones? It will only result in unnecessary frustration. So unless you need to know it for your class or a proficiency test, drop it and move on.
Don’t beat yourself up when you have trouble understanding music, literature, different accents, etc. These can be challenging even in your native language. Of course you’re going to struggle more in a new language.
It's worth it to pay attention to things like stroke order and tones from the start so you don't form bad habits. Don’t stress about get it perfect, but it’s easier to do it right the first time than to have to correct your bad habits in the future.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all that you don’t know, learn how to express yourself with what you do know. It’s truly its own skill that requires practice. After all, in life you can’t always stop and pull out a dictionary.
I started learning Chinese a really long time ago, but I became more serious about it in 2018, so 5 1/2 years ago. I'm very proud of how far I've come, but I still have a long way to go! I look forward to revisiting this post in another couple of years 😊
#my learning#chinese#mandarin#mandarin chinese#chinese language#studyblr#langblr#learning languages#language learning#chinese langblr#mandarin langblr#languageblr
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language learning is such a personal thing that there is no “right” or “wrong” way of doing it. it’s whatever works on bringing YOU closer to YOUR goal.
you want to watch tv shows but don’t really care for speaking with others? yay!! no speaking practice needed.
you want to learn quickly for an upcoming trip? yay! text book phrases and simple grammar.
you’re a beginner and it’s been 10 years? 2 weeks? 6 months? it doesn’t matter. as long as you are working towards bringing YOURSELF closer to what YOU want to achieve, you have succeeded: you are succeeding; you are doing great.
i find that so much demotivation comes from comparison and/or trying to follow other's advice too closely. if anki decks don't work for you, that's fine! if duolingo works well for you, then use it!
this language learning thing, it should be enjoyed. in the sea full of deceptive polyglot stories and videos on top of videos attempting to understand how to learn languages in "the fastest way possible" sometimes we should sit back and ask ourselves, "when is just learning things, enough"?
with that i hope you all continue working towards your dreams! whether you want to become a translator or just watch a few more movies in your target language, you can do it. i know you have it in you.
#langblr#studyspo#language#languages#language learning#learn chinese#learn french#learn german#learn korean#polyglot
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Look, I knew five languages by age 19 and now I am learning like 3 more. I work as a language instructor and a consultant. If I can give language learners only one advice, this is it.
STOP LEARNING WORDS ON THEIR OWN.
You're doing yourself a disservice by learning lists of "30 words you must know!" "100 most common words!" like it literally means nothing if you cannot use those words in an appropriate context with proper grammar. So what you actually need to do is learn those words via example sentences.
Of course, sentences have more words so you may think you're learning less but you're actually learning the way to use it in context. That's what's important.
Language is about communication, which also means if you want to learn languages, you have to observe how people communicate with each other universally. Native speakers never have a list of words they know and they don't count every single new word they've learned. So why are you doing it to yourself? What native speakers do is listen to the new word, remember the context they're spoken in, and keep using that word in that context. And that's why people go "wait, you can use that word LIKE THAT?" all the time. So you, a language learner, are also allowed to do that. I'm not even saying those word lists are useless but they're the most useful AFTER you've known most of them and are trying to go over them for practice etc. Native speakers do click on those word lists to check out how many words they don't know or to remind themselves of those words or to learn some facts about each word. That should be your goal as well.
Learn sentences. Learn them in context. Do not fall into the "I must know xx amount of words or I'm a failure at language learning" trap perpetuated by bloggers or youtubers or whatever. Have fun with it!
#language learning#studyblr#langblr#100 days of productivity#chinese studyblr#japanese studyblr#korean studyblr#how to learn#learning#academia#academic#academics#language study#language#languages#study tip#study#study motivation
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On Sampo's name (ALL of his names!)
I feel like everyone who's a fan knows the meaning of Sampo's full name by now- the sampo was a legendary item that could magically make endless supplies of gold, flour, and salt, all priceless items at the time! So it works perfectly for a scammer businessman like Sampo. ☆
"Koski" is the Finnish word for "water rapids" which might seem kinda random but actually makes sense for him, since Aha and the Masked Fools are also referred to with water terms:
This kind of analogy isn't specific to only Aha and the Masked Fools, but it does still tie them together. So water rapids fits perfectly! Sampo wants to stir the pot! He likes to shake things around and spice things up! He's taking that stagnant pool and turning it into water rapids! It would actually explain his ridiculous hair color, too; a dark blue wave tipped with white foam haha
EDIT: an amazing contribution from @ricochetlovebombs, who heard it from hoyolab user Rattaboy. If you interpret his first and last name together, instead of separately like I did, you would get something like "money river."
In other words, Sampo's name literally means CASH FLOW SKXJMDMDMD
What I really wanted to talk about is his drag alias name, though, Brughel Poisson, because to me that's where it gets really interesting.
So like in the English version, Sampo goes by Brughel Poisson when he's in disguise. Searching for just "Brughel" itself doesn't seem to get you much at first: a Flemish and Dutch Renaissance painter named Pieter Brueghel the Elder, who was famous for his landscapes and peasant scenery, especially Hunters in the Snow and The Blue Cloak.
He's referred to as "the Elder" because he had a son also named Pieter Brueghel (the Younger), and he began a long line of painters, all named Brueghel. Some of them did original work, and many of them created reproductions of the Elder's art to sell. The Elder was also famous as a printmaker. All of this is hilarious when you remember that Sampo is an infamous counterfeiter and has sold a relic called the Parallel Universe Printer JSKZJSMD
There is also something called Brueghel's Syndrome, named after one of Brueghel's paintings called De Gaper, which pictured a man yawning widely. It's a condition that causes the mouth to open and gape uncontrollably, twisting a person's countenance into a distorted mask of their usual face.
Tumblr doesn't have a way of censoring pics like twitter, so for the sake of the medically squeamish, I'm just showing De Gaper here. But if you look up Brueghel's Syndrome, you can find pictures of actual patients, some of whom really do make faces resembling Aha's comedy and tragedy masks!
In the Chinese and Japanese versions, his alias last name is a lot more silly- In those, "Sampo" is phonetically written as "san-bo" and "san-po." And in disguise, his last names are phonetically written as... "Bo-san" and "Po-san." The Chinese version uses different tones, but still. This smug asshole seriously just decided to write his own name backwards and called it a day NDMKXMDMD
In the English version, Poisson itself is kind of a reused Hoyo asset- it's also the name of Navia's fishing village in Genshin Impact. Which is a really silly name for a village, because it literally just means "fish" in French smzjxkdkdk but!
Again, more water imagery. And in English, if something is suspicious, we say that it's "fishy," which is perhaps the most fitting association yet for someone as shady as Sampo ☆
And for a good while I thought that was the only connection. But then. My beloved @hydrachea, who is an actual native French speaker, dropped this on me right after April Fool's Day:
Poisson is literally the word you use to pull an April Fool's prank.
#honkai star rail#sampo koski#brughel poisson#hsr sampo#hsr sampo koski#hsr#I feel like I should note that all the info on the CN/JP versions are things I know secondhand#it was posted in a server where there ARE actual people who can read/speak Chinese and Japanese and no one corrected it-#-so I'm assuming it's at least decently legit. but if it's in any way incorrect I would love to hear from others!#I'm especially interested in CN since it's the original. and I've never heard anything about 'Brughel' in any other languages.#so anyone else with fun tidbits about Sampo's name in LITERALLY ANY LANGUAGE please feel free to reblog/tag/askbox me that shit#I love learning stuff like that it's so fun ♡#fun story in the old myth the sampo was lost in the sea. and in genshin impact the village Poisson was flooded by the sea.#not only that but Brueghel's last painting- which was unfinished due to his early death- was titled The Storm at Sea.#something something foreshadowing-
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These are the apps and links I currently have on my phone to study Chinese:
SuperChinese: my main study resource. There are currently 7 levels, level 7 (still incomplete, they are still slowly adding lessons to it) being HSK 5 stuff. Each lesson has vocabulary, grammar and a short dialogue where those are used in context (I love context). It has a few free lessons in the lower levels but after that you have to buy a subscription. There are many sales though. When I was a beginner I used HelloChinese instead, which has more free content, and switched to SuperChinese when I finished all the free content there. It also has social network features and chat rooms I don't use.
TofuLearn is like a flashcard app with many pre-made decks (you can also create your own on their website and import decks from Anki) and the option to practice writing hanzi. Anki didn't work for me, but I find Tofu very helpful. Practicing writing helps me with character recognition, and it also helps me remember the tones thanks to the audio in the pre-made HSK decks.
Dot is a reading app with new texts being added every day. It used to be completely free, which actually seemed too good to be true, and then they put practically everything behind a paywall and very strict limits for free users. After a couple of months they made it a little less restricted though - we still can't choose the articles but we can read as many as we want as long as we do the vocabulary exercises after each article (plus, during the Spring Festival, they made all articles available for free for 3 days and we could save the ones we were interested in to read later). It follows the new, not-yet-implemented (and harder) HSK levels, so you should start one or two levels below yours and if the texts are too easy move up.
Google Translator: not the best but helpful when I need to translate whole sentences, plus I can point my camera or open an image and it translates writing.
Pleco: best Chinese to English dictionary.
Stroke Order: not an app but a website, does what it says in the tin: shows stroke order for a specific character.
YouGlish: also a website, you can put a word or phrase and it shows videos where people say that word/phrase. Very cool.
Todaii is a graded news app that has only two levels: easy and hard. I'm around level HSK4 and the "easy" level is quite hard though (but I admit reading is my nemesis).
I also use YouTube and Spotify a lot.
#personal#resources#langblr#language learning#learning chinese#chinese langblr#chinese language#mandarin#中文
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i haven't seen anyone talk about it before, but there's a site called 21st Century Chinese Poetry that has a massive collection of contemporary chinese poetry, including english translations thereof, for anyone who, like me, is interested in poetry but may feel a bit intimidated by the more literary nature of classical poetry. currently, they have poetry from between 2000-2021, and i, personally, have rather enjoyed poking around the site.
#chinese langblr#mandarin langblr#chinese#chinese language#mandarin#mandarin chinese#langblr#language learning#langblr resources#resources#汉语#indigo ink
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Working on traditional chinese again today,,,copying down the last couple translations then learning the necessary vocabulary. I got about a week left until the exams and my anxiety levels are skyrocketing.
Also all the snow just vanished overnight, which kinda bummed me out...🥲
#study blog#studyblr#university#chinese studies#student#student life#learning languages#study motivation#languages#mandarin
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今天的成语 An Idiom I Learned Today
recently learned about a new idiom and thought i would share! not sure if it counts as a 成语 per se, since it is 8 characters instead of 4. nonetheless here it is.
三天打鱼，两天晒网
sān tiān dǎ yú, liǎng tiān shài wǎng
literally: fish for 3 days, sun-dry the net for 2 days
figuratively: to lack perseverance; to not earnestly work toward something
example:
你要是三天打鱼两天晒网，那你永远不会进步。
If you "fish for 3 days but sun-dry the next for 2," then you won't ever improve.
it's the idea that if you work towards something for 3 days but then rest for 2, you're basically wasting your time and not putting in as much effort as you could—since you could be putting that effort in all 5 days.
it's definitely a very chinese concept 😅 i'm pro resting myself LOL
#chinese langblr#mandarin langblr#chinese learning#chinese#langblr#mandarin chinese#language learning#mandarin#learning languages#成语#chengyu#idioms#vocab#zhuzhu rambles
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The directional "下/上/出/去/来" puzzle guide
I for one still confuse the usage of 出来 and 出去 and other similar structures so here's a guide to slightly depuzzle this puzzle.
上去 (Shàngqù): To go up and away from the speaker
下去 (Xiàqù): To go down and away from the speaker
出去 (Chūqù): To go out and away from the speaker
出来 (Chūlái): To go out and towards the speaker
上来 (Shànglái): To go up and towards the speaker
下来 (Xiàlái): To go down and towards the speaker
过来 (Guòlái): To ask someone to come over to the speaker
过去 (Guòqù): This one is tricky as it can have a few meanings so here are some random examples.
Movement away from the speaker e.g. 我来这家公司工作已经过去五年了= I have been working in this company for the past five years
Movement in time during the past e.g. 过去的年份里，公园里有很多树和花= In the past years, there were many trees and flowers in the park
Here's an illustration I made (it's been a while lol) to make it less (?) confusing：
#chinese#chinese grammar#mandarin langblr#chinese studyblr#learn chinese#studyblr#college#slavic roots western mind#student life#aesthetic#travel blog#study motivation#student#college life#study blog#langblr#language#linguistics
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Stumbled upon your blog by chance and it is SUCH A DELIGHT!!!! I’m new to Dracula daily and love the illustrations :3
hehe thank you so much!! I meant to answer this WAY earlier with a drawing but was going on a trip and couldnt find time to draw properly 😭 finally back so heres the quick doodle I meant to post...
#my art#dracula#dracula daily#note to self: dd2024#jonathan harker#inbox#ask tag#im slowly clearing out my inbox rn so sorry to the nice anons and mutuals whove @ed me. im in jobsearch hell rn if that clarifies things#regretting not learning chinese better because it couldve gotten me a banger remote job!!!!! but no i had to忽略my mother tongue...#anyways. im rusty can you tell#at both the art and language 😭😭😭
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