How to learn Mandarin Chinese on your own? Our 13 tips for making rapid progress

Whether it's to boost your career, satisfy your curiosity or prepare for a future trip to China, maybe you want to learn to speak Chinese. But faced with the differences between this language and English, you are probably wondering where to start, or even if it is possible to learn Mandarin on your own.

Don't worry: you will be able to studying Chinese on your own ! And in this article, we're sharing 13 tips that will help you progress at your own pace. Happy reading!

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1. Set aside time slots in your schedule to learn Chinese on your own

Learning Chinese won't be done in a week, but good news: that doesn't mean you'll need to spend several hours a day doing it to make progress! More than the duration of your sessions, what counts above all is your regularity. So you don't need to study for hours every day, which might make you disgusted, but you should try to make learning Chinese a habit you don't break.

The most important thing is not to put off your revision sessions forever until the next day, which can be tempting if you're trying to learn Chinese on your own. You need to create a sustainable routine that is so deeply embedded in your daily routine that you almost look forward to it. To do this, you can get into the habit of block an apprenticeship slot in your schedule. This one doesn't have to be long: 10 to 20 minutes can be enough to make great progress if you stick to it over the long term! That's what we call the Darren Hardy's principle of cumulative effect. Even though your efforts may seem minimal at the time, it is these small actions that are repeated every day that will lead you to the greatest successes.

Extra tip: try to incorporate moments of practice into your existing habits. For example:

• Learn new Chinese characters while traveling, going to school, or at work.
• Listen to podcasts in Mandarin while you play sports, cook...
• Instead of scrolling on the networks, try an application to learn to speak Chinese (or else, scroll on Chinese speaking accounts).

And above all, stay motivated! Even a short daily session can make a big difference in the long run.

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2. Create your long-term learning plan

Your goal is to learn to speak Chinese quickly, but keep one thing in mind: the most important thing is that you maintain your level over time. Chinese is often considered to be one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn, and without a long-term plan, you may relax and forget what you learned at the beginning of your journey.

It is therefore in your interest to set up a long-term learning plan, and to set clear and achievable goals (learn 20 new characters per week, memorize 5 common sentences, review 10 minutes every day, take one grammar and conjugation course per week, take HSK 1 after 6 months of learning...). These milestones will help you stay on track and motivate you to review regularly. However, these regular sessions will boost your long-term memory, helping your brain retain your new knowledge.

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3. Find the most suitable learning method

There are lots of language methods that can help you learn to speak Mandarin. (private teacher, Hanzimap, online courses, Assimil, YouTube videos, exchanges with native speakers, use of an application, online or face-to-face Chinese lessons...). One is not necessarily better than the other, the main thing is to find the one that suits you the most and helps you to progress in the long term.

The first step in your learning can therefore be to compare the different resources available. Some will prefer video lessons, while others will need written material to better assimilate the concepts of grammar, conjugation, or get used to the structuring of sentences. And if you're looking for a fun way to remember Chinese characters and improve your pronunciation, you should Take a look at Hanzimap. The principle? You recompose the sinograms on a grid and form their phonetic signature that will help you anchor them in your memory.

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4. Learn how to pronounce Mandarin using pinyin

One of the first difficulties you will encounter in learning Chinese is the characters used in this language, which are very different from those we are used to in English. If they are already difficult to remember, it is especially impossible to guess how to pronounce them if you don't already know them! And that's exactly where the pinyin.

Kind of Chinese alphabet Phonetically, Pinyin is a transcription system that uses the Latin alphabet to represent Mandarin sounds. Thanks to it, you will be able to read, pronounce and memorize Chinese words, phrases and everyday expressions without having to immediately learn their sinograms. In short, it is a must for progress!

More than just a phonetic alphabet, pinyin is therefore also a memory tool, since by associating sounds with letters that are familiar to you, it reduces your cognitive load. So you can focus on what matters most: the pronunciation and anchoring of sounds. And with Hanzimap, you can go even further, because we rely on pinyin to create the visual signature of each character. By graphically combining the initial, the final and the tone, you will get a structure that is easy to remember, and that you can easily remember when you need it!

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5. Don't neglect learning Chinese tones

One of the particularities of Mandarin is that there are tones that influence the pronunciation of a syllable. There are thus 4 tones of Chinese, and also a neutral tone.

Depending on these tonal accents, the same syllable can thus have several meanings. Let's take an example: depending on its emphasis, the syllable “ma” can also mean “mom”, “horse”, “hemp” and “insult/scold” in Chinese. Result: if spoken incorrectly, a word can completely change the meaning of a conversation and therefore lead to confusion.

Mastering tonal accents is therefore crucial to avoid misunderstandings and to make yourself understood by native speakers. And for that, it is essential that you practice distinguishing and pronouncing tones well. And if this stage scares many foreigners, know that with a little practice and the right method, you can get out of it! Thanks to the principle of visual signature, Hanzimap will precisely help you remember the tones associated with each character, and therefore to pronounce them correctly.

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6. Rely on the right tools

Learning Chinese alone does not mean doing it without resources! And today, there are multiple quality tools that can help you progress, even if you are starting from scratch and do not intend to take face-to-face courses. For example, think of:

• Mobile applications, which you can use in all circumstances. They each have their strengths, and while some can help you enrich your vocabulary, others can help you with grammar.

• YouTube channels dedicated to learning Chinese, where you can find lots of free courses.
• Content in Chinese easily available on the Internet, such as podcasts in Mandarin for beginners, movies, series and videos, or music in Chinese. All of this audio content will help you become familiar with the sounds and rhythm of the language, while immersing yourself in Chinese culture.
• Language manuals, some of which are precisely designed to help you learn Chinese by yourself.
• Specialized platforms like Hanzimap, which can help you remember new words in a sustainable way.

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7. Gamify your learning

Learning Chinese doesn't have to be a chore! If you want to last for the long term, it is essential that you enjoy learning this language. And good news: there are now many ways to make this adventure both fun and motivating. For example, think:

• With flashcards, which help you remember new words without feeling like you're cramming.
• To interactive quizzes, with which you can test your knowledge at any time.
• With varied cultural contents created by native speakers (manhua, songs, podcasts, YouTube videos, YouTube videos, Chinese dramas, audiobooks...) that will help you progress while having fun.
• To gamified applications and platforms like Hanzimap, which will make your lessons look like a mini-game to motivate you to progress.

All these materials will help you progress without even feeling like you are learning! The result: you can more easily stick it out over the long term and start to see real progress.

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8. Familiarize yourself with the Chinese writing system

Learning to speak Mandarin is one thing, but learning to write Chinese is another. Many beginners tend to overlook character writing (or Hànzì), thinking that pinyin would be enough for them. However, if you really want to make progress, it is essential that you get used to recognizing and drawing these symbols, for several reasons:

• Pinyin is almost not used in writing in China. If you have the opportunity to discover the country, not mastering the characters could quickly get you frustrated.
• If you really want to learn to speak a language, it is impossible to separate the spoken from the written. With Chinese, you will also discover that the construction of sinograms can help you understand their meaning, their origin, and therefore to better remember them. This visual dimension is new if you are used to alphabetic languages like English, and it makes Chinese even richer.
• Practicing how to write words helps you remember them in the long run. In any case, that is what the supposes Writing Effect theorized by Professor Charles Perfetti, who suggests that by training yourself to draw sinograms, you activate your visual, motor and semantic memories at the same time, facilitating the lasting anchoring of characters in your brain.

In short, practicing how to write the sinograms could have a huge impact on your learning of Chinese.

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9. Use an app to learn Chinese on your own

Dedicated apps could prove to be valuable allies if you want to learn to speak Chinese on your own. Accessible at any time, they allow you to transform every timeout (whether in transport to class or to work, during lunch break, or instead of scrolling on social networks) into a revision session.

All have their own specificities and strengths. Some will help you memorize vocabulary, others help you review grammar, and others will help you improve your listening comprehension through interactive dialogues. Their main advantage? They will allow you to move forward at your own pace.

And if you are looking for a web app to make progress, you should try Hanzimap. In addition to phonetic signatures that will help you permanently memorize the pronunciation of Chinese characters, to progress, you can also take advantage of numerous quizzes and an interactive dictionary thanks to which you can easily review all the vocabulary you have already learned.

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10. Soak up Chinese culture

One of the most effective ways to learn a language quickly is immersion. And for good reason: the more you hear this language in a natural context, the more your brain will get used to it, making it easier for you to learn. And good news: you don't necessarily have to be in China to immerse yourself in Chinese culture. But how do you do it then? For example, you could:

• Watch Chinese movies and dramas, with or without subtitles;
• Listen to podcasts, songs, or audiobooks;
• Read manhua (Chinese comics) to progress while having fun;
• Watch videos in Chinese, whether on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.
• Participate in cultural and linguistic events near you, which can be given by Confucius Institutes or associations aimed at promoting Chinese language and culture (calligraphy workshops, Chinese New Year celebrations...).
• Try to find a Sinophone tandem to be able to talk with a native speaker.

And if you have the opportunity to study or live in China, even temporarily, go for it! During your stay, you will be constantly exposed to the language, which will naturally boost your understanding and help you progress even further.

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11. Plan to take a language exam

When you decide to learn a language alone, it can sometimes be difficult to stay on track. That's why setting concrete goals for yourself can make all the difference. And as suggested by Washback Effect, some goals might even be more motivating than others. This principle is simple: it highlights that prepare yourself consciously to take a language exam you:

• Motivate to review more regularly.
• Encourages you to better structure your learning to help you progress.
• Offers a directly measurable goal (= passing the exam) that helps you in your efforts over the long term.

The result: you progress more quickly. One recent study even came to highlight the positive impact of the preparation ofHSK exam On learning Chinese.

And just know that if you decide to take the HSK, the reference Chinese language exam, at Hanzimap, we offer you dedicated grids to prepare you for its various levels.

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12. Stay motivated and be kind to yourself

Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. There are bound to be days when you are tired, unmotivated, or frustrated that you are not progressing as quickly as you would like. And in those moments, the most important thing will be not to give up.

If your consistency will be an important factor in your learning, so will your kindness towards yourself. So try not to blame yourself if you sometimes skip a day of revision, or if you remember a few fewer words than expected. The main thing is to continue your efforts despite this!

And if it helps, you can also set micro-goals (learn 20 new characters per week, unlock 5 new phonetic signatures per day on Hanzimap, review 15 minutes a day...) and reward yourself when you reach them, for example by allowing yourself to watch an episode of your favorite series or by cooking your favorite meal.

These small rewards will help keep you motivated, and there's even a scientific explanation for that! They will allow your brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is activated by small wins, and that also plays a big role in maintaining motivation.

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13. Find a Sinophone buddy

Even if you decide to learn Chinese alone, that doesn't mean you have to do it in your own corner; you can definitely try to find a Chinese speaking buddy to help you progress! Practicing speaking with a native or advanced speaker is even one of the best ways to make rapid progress, as it will allow you to:

• To put into practice the vocabulary you are learning;
• To gain your speaking fluency;
• To gain confidence when you have to speak in Chinese.

By getting in the habit of interacting with a native speaker, you can also learn more about Chinese culture and discover idiomatic expressions that you might not have necessarily found in textbooks. And on top of that, practicing with someone is generally much more motivating than studying alone!

But how do you find a buddy? Several solutions are available to you for this, the most popular being to test applications such as Tandem or HelloTalk, or even to join a Facebook or Discord group dedicated to learning Chinese where you can often find native speakers.

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In short: how do you learn to speak Chinese quickly?

In short, several best practices will help you learn to speak Chinese effectively, even on your own:

• Create a routine by reserving a short time slot each day dedicated to your learning.
• Develop a long-term learning plan, where you set clear and achievable goals.
• Choose a suitable method to your needs and preferences.
• Learn Pinyin, a valuable tool that will help you improve your pronunciation.
• Don't neglect learning the tones of Chinese.
• Use tools varied (mobile or web apps, videos, books, platforms like Hanzimap) to multiply your learning materials and anchor information more permanently in your mind.
• Make your review sessions fun, for example by using gamified applications, or by doing quizzes or games in Chinese.
• Familiarize yourself with the writing of sinograms to improve your writing skills.
• Try apps to learn Chinese to study anywhere, anytime.
• Soak up Chinese culture, either by consuming Chinese content (manhua, drama, drama, podcasts, songs...), or by staying in China if the opportunity arises.
• Prepare for an exam like the HSK to structure your learning and benefit from Washback Effect.
• Maintain your motivation by celebrating all of your victories and by staying kind to yourself.
• Find a Sinophone buddy to practice speaking Chinese regularly.

By combining these tips and being regular, you are putting every chance on your side to make rapid progress, even if you are self-taught.

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Frequently asked questions: learn to speak Mandarin on your own

Is it possible to learn Chinese on your own?

With the right tools, a suitable method and a bit of consistency, it is entirely possible to learn to speak Chinese alone! If you are self-taught, you can rely on applications and platforms like Hanzimap to help you, but also the courses and content available online.

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Is it difficult to learn Chinese?

Chinese has a reputation for being difficult to learn, especially because of its writing system that does not rely on any alphabet. But with the right approach and consistency, you can overcome these challenges and make progress!

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How to learn Chinese quickly and easily?

To make rapid progress in Chinese, you will need to:

• Create a learning routine and stick with it.
• Use a method that is effective and adapted to your preferences.
• Immerse yourself as much as possible in Chinese culture and language.
• Practice speaking as soon as possible.
• Be kind to yourself, even on days when you're not making as much progress as you'd like.

In any case, remember this: progressing quickly is good, but what will make all the difference is your ability to maintain your efforts over the long term to notice a real difference!

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How long does it take to speak Chinese fluently?

It depends on your pace and goals, but it takes about 1 to 2 years to be able to have a smooth conversation if you work regularly. To reach an advanced level, several years will be needed. Of course, if you go to live in China, thanks to immersion, your progress can be faster, provided of course that you work regularly.

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What is the best app for learning Chinese?

The best app for learning Chinese is the one that fits your needs. And if you are looking for a web application that allows you to improve your pronunciation while offering you a visual method to remember new characters, then you should try Hanzimap !

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