Learning Blog
Practical advice on learning Chinese characters: what works, what doesn't, and how to build a habit that sticks.
HSK 1: The Complete Guide (Words, Characters, and How Long It Really Takes)
Everything you need to know about HSK 1: how many words and characters it covers under HSK 3.0, what the exam looks like, how long it takes, and a realistic study plan.
Read more →Simplified vs Traditional Chinese: Which Should You Learn?
Simplified or traditional Chinese characters? An honest guide to the real difference, where each is used, whether one is harder, and which a beginner should actually start with.
Read more →Anki for Learning Chinese: Does It Actually Work? (An Honest Take)
Anki is the default flashcard tool for serious Chinese learners. Here is an honest look at what it does brilliantly, where it quietly fails beginners, and when something more structured is the better call.
Read more →HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: What Actually Changed
HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0 explained: the real structural changes, from nine levels to 300 characters per level, and how Hanzi Express rebuilt its course to match.
Read more →Chinese Tones for Beginners (and How Not to Call Your Mom a Horse)
Mandarin has four tones, and the wrong one can turn mom into horse. A beginner's guide to all four, with simple examples and tips for learning them.
Read more →The 100 Most Common Chinese Characters (and How Far They Actually Get You)
The 100 most common Chinese characters in frequency order, with pinyin and meaning, plus an honest look at how much reading this small set really unlocks.
Read more →Chinese Radicals for Beginners: Radicals vs Components
Radical or component? The two get muddled constantly. Here is the difference in plain terms, why it matters, and the handful of parts worth learning first.
Read more →How to Type Pinyin With Tone Marks (Mac, Windows, iPhone & Android)
Type pinyin tone marks like ā á ǎ à on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. The methods that work, the tone-number shortcut, and where the mark actually goes.
Read more →Why Stroke Order Actually Matters in Chinese (From Someone Who Ignored It)
I skipped stroke order when I started learning Chinese characters. I told myself I'd never need to handwrite them. I was wrong.
Read more →Is There a Chinese Version of WaniKani?
WaniKani made structured kanji learning click for a lot of Japanese learners. If you've been looking for the same thing for Chinese, here's what to know.
Read more →How to Learn Chinese Characters More Effectively
After three years in China and a lot of trial and error, here's what actually made the difference and what didn't.
Read more →