Developing Your Mandarin Chinese
By Qiu Gui Su, About.com Guide to Mandarin Language
Once you have mastered the basics of Mandarin Chinese, it's time to move on to more advanced topics. In this section you will find articles about Mandarin grammar, learning Chinese characters, and exploring Chinese culture.
Pronunciation & Tones
Besides the four tones, Mandarin has some sounds which are not used in English. Mastering these sounds will help in your Mandarin communication skills, so be sure you understand Pinyin Romanization and the unique sounds of Mandarin. And don't forget the importance of tones - without them you will be lost in misunderstanding.
Listening
Become an effective communicator in Mandarin Chinese by working on your listening skills.
- Mandarin Audio Files
- Audio Quizzes
- Vocabulary Lists with Audio Pronunciation
- Daily Mandarin with Audio Examples
Mandarin Chinese Grammar
Understanding the grammar of Mandarin Chinese is your key to speaking fluently and correctly.
- Mandarin Fractions
- The Two Mandarin Twos
- Giving Reasons
- Measure Words
- Mandarin Chinese Sentence Structure
Reading Mandarin
Start by reading Pinyin Romanization, then gradually introduce Chinese characters into your curriculum.
- Pinyin Romanization
- BoPoMoFo - An Alternative to Pinyin
- Using A Chinese Dictionary
- Introducing Chinese Characters
- Weaning Yourself From Pinyin
Chinese Characters
Study of Chinese characters gives you deeper insight into Mandarin Chinese as well as a better understanding of Chinese culture.
- Introduction to Chinese Characters
- Displaying Chinese Characters
- Using Pinyin to Write Chinese Characters
- Chinese Character Profiles
- Stroke Order for Writing Characters
- Chinese Names - Combining Characters
- Chinese Names - Number of Strokes
Chinese Culture
An understanding of Chinese culture can help you learn Mandarin Chinese and prepare you for a visit to a Mandarin-speaking country.
Mandarin Jokes
Mandarin jokes depend a lot on word play, so are sometimes impossible to translate. So while these jokes may not always seem funny, they are useful for expanding your vocabulary while learning a little bit about Chinese culture.
