renee's favorite mandarin resources

a chinese dictionary you will never stop using, easy input that actually worked in class, and anki decks that make vocabulary stick

used these at every level

beginner to advanced

how to actually make mandarin stick

mandarin has tones and a totally different writing system. the trick is to build your ear before you stress about characters, and keep a good dictionary within arm's reach at all times.

listen a lot

same tones, same patterns

look everything up

a good dictionary is your best friend

speak when it clicks

your voice starts to come out

♪

tones stick

you stop guessing and your pronunciation becomes natural

🤪

vocab builds fast

anki with audio makes it actually stay in your head

🥳

speaking gets easier

you can practice your own voice sooner than you think

mandarin feels huge until you have the right tools. a good dictionary at your side from day one changes everything. pair that with easy comprehensible input and vocabulary drilling and you'll be surprised how fast it moves.

pleco (the chinese dictionary app)

i have used this at every level of my chinese learning. i love it SO MUCH. just a fabulous reference.

download pleco (iOS) download pleco (Android)

happy chinese (快乐汉语)

i grew up watching this in chinese class. this was a very easy to follow series.

watch happy chinese (youtube)

intermediate mandarin series (still watching it now)

this may be more advanced beginner but super helpful. i still watch it now.

watch the series (youtube)

tones video (her whole channel is good too)

this series also could be good. i will be so for real, i do not remember how i learned mandarin because i just did it in school, so i don't remember the structure. but as i've learned cantonese, being able to follow videos like this and practice speaking as they go over them has been helpful. this is a good video on tones.

watch on youtube

anki hsk decks (free, with audio)

there are a TON of free anki resources with sound, particularly if they are around the HSK (the chinese language exam) content. things like this, but you can also search hsk 1 through hsk 6 anki deck to find your level.

browse hsk anki decks (ankiweb)

bottom line

i have used pleco at every level of my chinese learning. i love it SO MUCH. happy chinese got me started in class, and the anki hsk decks with audio are how vocab actually sticks. as i've learned cantonese, following along with videos and practicing speaking has been the move.

when you're ready to start speaking

resources only get you so far. download language soup and join the mandarin group to practice with real people!

download iOS download Android