Is Cantonese the second most spoken variety of Chinese after Mandarin?
Definitely not. I am sure Cantonese isn’t that big in China (everything is bigger in China), so I consulted Wiki for a quick look. According …
How useful is Mandarin Chinese outside of China?
The argument that the Chinese language isn’t very useful outside of China make some say 2 things: Duh. Like, a billion people speak it there. …
Why was 聽 simplified to 听? They seem to have nothing in common
I’ve wondered about this myself. I checked Lucas Lee’s source as well, but it was not very detailed, so I looked to other sources. Note …
What is the best way to memorize Chinese characters along with their sounds in Mandarin?
Not the best person to answer this question but since you requested to me, here’s how I memorize Mandarin pronunciation (spelling) of Chinese Characters. For …
How do I master Chinese tones?
Here’s something I wrote many years ago in answer to this very question: True story: When I was a grad student in the States, I …
When learning Mandarin, what mistakes waste time for beginners?
As a former Chinese beginner-level learner, I could give you my 2-cents in regard to 10 bad habits that many freshers have when they start …
Is it cultural appropriation to name my son “Chiang Kai-Shek” if I am not Chinese?
Is it cultural appropriation to name my son “Chiang Kai-Shek” if I am not Chinese? I am a White American who admires Chiang. Do NOT …
How do you say “Wow” in Chinese?
Interjections are commonly used in our daily life which are also known as “叹词 （tàncí）” or “感叹词 （gǎntàncí）” in Mandarin Chinese. ‘Wow’ is one of …
What is the difference between 可是（kě shì), 但是 (dàn shì), and 不过 (bú guò) in Chinese?
What is the difference between 可是（kě shì）， 但是 （dàn shì）， and 不过 （bú guò） in Chinese? I know they all mean ‘but‘， so what is …
What is it like to learn Mandarin Chinese as a nonnative speaker?
For me, there are two big things about Chinese: It is, as my Classical Chinese teacher called it, “the language of the Fool’s Paradise.” Whenever—and …