r/learnmandarin

▲ 33 r/learnmandarin+14 crossposts

Daily 30s 🚀 Simple Chinese Real Life Conversation

🏷️ Overall Approach
Listen first, then speak — keep it simple and consistent

🏷️ Time & Frequency
~5-8mins daily
Focus on short clips (10-15 lines)

🏷️ Content (Student Mode: HSK 1–4)

* Daily topics: interview, campus, travel, house tour, etc.
* Focus on high-frequency, real-life vocabulary
* Built for comprehensible input → learn what you can understand, not memorize

📌 Listening (Understand First)
1️⃣ Watch once for context (with/without subtitles)
2️⃣ Slow to 0.7x–0.9x
3️⃣ Loop sentence → listen carefully
4️⃣ Check meaning + note new words
5️⃣ Repeat difficult lines

📌 Speaking (Use What You Hear)
1️⃣ Loop sentence
2️⃣ Shadow key words
3️⃣ Repeat full sentence from memory
4️⃣ Focus on tone & rhythm
5️⃣ Retell in your own words

🌏 Why This Works
Instead of forcing HSK memorization, this builds comprehensible input through real scenarios.

You’re not just learning words —
you’re getting used to how Chinese is actually used daily.

That’s what helps the language stick. 🚀

u/eeasonloo — 8 hours ago

I made a better Anki! And just maybe a Tiktok for learning Chinese too!

Hey all!

I wanted to share with you guys a passion project of mine that I've been working on for the last year that's finally ready for everyone to use!

Many of you already know that spaced repetition systems are the best way to grow vocab over time, but Anki decks can get really repetitive and you don't have control over what you learn, so I built an app with same core as Anki but that generates/recommends sentences specifically for you based on your vocab and the words you want to learn! All the sentences you get contain the words you need to review.

It even adjusts difficulty, comes with sound and you can ask AI questions and filter by topic too! I used this to go from HSK 2.5- HSK4 the last few months.

I then figured, well, if I made something that finds the best sentence for my exact level, I can probably use the same system to find good videos too. And it turns out it works really well! I can just infinitely scroll through short videos that are right at my level, and now you can try it too!

So check it out and let me know what you think and if I should keep working on it! It's all totally free right now, and I'd love some feedback. I promise to read all the comments and try to make it better for you all if you like it!

Web App
iOS
Android

PS: The video mode is only available on the web app right now, Apple and Google require a bunch of stuff to allow videos and UGC on the store, so I still have to go through the approval process there.
I recommend either using a phone browser or installing the web app through the browser if you want to try the video feature from your phone.

u/FluoLuis — 1 day ago

I built an interactive learning dashboard for HSK 1, would anyone want it?

Hi everyone! =)

I’m studying Mandarin and wanted a more structured way to work through HSK 1, so I made a free browser based dashboard for HSK 1 prep. It's working really well for me so I thought I it could be nice to share it!

I want to be superrrr clear this isn't a business, or affiliated with one in any way. Just me sharing something I built!

It's designed around the 150 word HSK 1 vocabulary list, with a 38 day study plan at 4 new words per day. Made to be intuitive and easy to use.

As you mark days complete, more practice unlocks automatically. The review tools like flashcards only use words from completed days, so the dashboard grows with you instead of overwhelming you at the start.

It includes:

  • Daily vocabulary (character, pinyin, translation, listening, sentences, and stroke order)
  • Flashcards & mistake review deck (clears once you get it correct twice)
  • Tone practice (selecting the right tones for pinyin vocab)
  • Full sentence listening practice
  • Sentence builder for grammar and word order
  • HSK 1 grammar notes
  • HSK 1 exam info and official practice links
  • Progress tracking across sessions using local browser storage to keep you motivated!

It’s 100% free, no account required, and progress is saved locally in your browser. There’s also an export option if you want to back up your progress. Absolutely no data gets sent to anybody, 100% private.

I made this as a labor of love and thought it might help other beginners too. Feedback is very welcome, especially if you notice anything off in the Mandarin, pinyin, translations, or HSK-style practice sentences.

Some screenshots of the dashboard here (imgur)

How to Get (in 30 seconds)

  1. You can get it from Github here
  2. Download the zip file (imgur screenshot to help you find the button). The file will include a ReadMe file (an overview of how it works, like this reddit post) and the .html file which is the dashboard.
  3. When you open the html file, it will launch as a webpage in your browser. That's it!

Hope it helps!

u/TheStudyDynasty — 1 day ago
▲ 132 r/learnmandarin+1 crossposts

Why standard textbooks never teach you "凑 (còu)"—The most versatile character for real-life Mandarin. (Decoded 4 ways)

Hey everyone, Edward here from Shanghai!

As a language learner myself (currently acquiring English using CI methods), I always find it fascinating how a single, seemingly rare character can carry so much weight in a native speaker's daily social and economic life.

In standard textbooks, you might only learn "凑" as "to gather," but in the real world here in Shanghai, we use it to split the bill, lower social expectations, play e-commerce shopping games, or just tolerate life's minor imperfections.

Subtitles and full natural context are on my channel if you want to hear how these flow in a real conversation!

u/ClaimPuzzleheaded183 — 2 days ago
▲ 2 r/learnmandarin+2 crossposts

What apps would you recommend to learn chinese?

I decided to learn chinese just because and i’ve found the duolingo isn’t really helpful and hellochinese is pretty much oriented towards american (Im australian). So what’s a good app i can use, preferably one that’s free and has minimal to no ads :)

reddit.com
u/Designer-Care-5344 — 3 days ago
▲ 39 r/learnmandarin+3 crossposts

The news in easy French: Madonna, Shakira et BTS se produiront à la finale de la Coupe du monde

La chanteuse américaine Madonna, la chanteuse colombienne Shakira et le groupe sud-coréen BTS vont se produire à la finale de la Coupe du monde. Ils vont chanter pendant la mi-temps. La finale aura lieu le 19 juillet dans le New Jersey, aux États-Unis. C’est la première fois que la finale de la Coupe du monde aura un spectacle musical. Chris Martin, du groupe britannique Coldplay, va organiser le spectacle.

Vocabulaire: chanteuse (f) = singer / sud-coréen = South Korean / se produire = to perform / mi-temps (f) = half-time / avoir lieu = to take place / spectacle (m) = show / britannique = British

English translation

Madonna, Shakira and BTS will perform at the World Cup final

American singer Madonna, Colombian singer Shakira and South Korean group BTS will perform at the World Cup final. They will sing during the half-time break. The final will take place on 19 July in New Jersey, in the United States. This is the first time the World Cup final will have a music show. Chris Martin, from the British band Coldplay, will organise the show.

You can read more news in easy French here: https://lenewsineasyfrench.substack.com/p/madonna-shakira-et-bts-a-la-coupe

u/Difficult_Hearing_90 — 4 days ago