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How can I learn to read Chinese if I already speak Mandarin?

How can I learn to read Chinese if I already speak Mandarin?

“I speak Mandarin with my family, but how can I learn to read?” “I can read some Chinese characters, how can I learn more?” and “I used to be fluent in Chinese, but I’ve forgotten it. How can I regain this and learn to read?” are common questions asked by many people of Chinese heritage around the world.

Technology and the internet have changed our world in unimaginable ways and have affected how we learn languages. With access to millions of hours of content from all over the world, learning and improving a language couldn’t be easier, especially if you already have some experience with Chinese.

I’m a heritage speaker from a Cantonese-speaking background. I’ve been learning Mandarin Chinese for over five years. In this post, I will show you ways you, as someone with a background in Mandarin, can quickly and easily improve your reading abilities!

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Best Chinese Historical Dramas for Newcomers

Best Chinese Historical Dramas for Newcomers

Chinese historical drama (also known as costume or period drama) is gaining popularity in the global entertainment space.

They are a brilliant form of escapist entertainment, but due to their traditional, cultural, and historical references and nuances, they’re not easy to understand if you’re completely new to them.

Whether you are interested in diving into Chinese historical drama or are a Chinese second-language learner looking to consume more content, I have just the right recommendations for you.

I’ve put together a list of interesting Chinese historical dramas with straightforward plots and not much politics. I feel these types of shows are perfect for newcomers to the genre.

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Easy-to-follow Chinese historical dramas for language learners

Easy-to-follow Chinese historical dramas for language learners

Chinese historical dramas (also known as costume/period dramas) can be particularly challenging for second-language learners. They are rich in historical and cultural references, and along with formal dialogue and archaic language, the comprehension difficulty is much higher than that of modern dramas.

With the rising popularity and sheer volume of available drama on international platforms, it’s overwhelming for newcomers to the genre and Chinese language learners to figure out where to begin.

To make your immersion journey easier, I have put together a selection of historical-theme Chinese dramas that not only provide an excellent introduction to the genre but are also well-suited for language learners to start picking up common vocabulary.

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《天官赐福》 by 墨香铜臭 – I wished I never read the English translation

《天官赐福》 by 墨香铜臭 – I wished I never read the English translation

Four years of learning Chinese, I achieved this goal and finished the 2024 edition of 《天官赐福》at the end of July 2024. This edition was heavily revised from the original. While the overarching plots and side character backstories remained the same, many individual subplots were heavily altered.

Having read the new edition in Chinese, I slightly regret reading the English translation and wish it had been a different series that got me into learning Mandarin Chinese.

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Top 6 best free danmei webnovels for newcomers (2024)

Top 6 best free danmei webnovels for newcomers (2024)

Have you been learning Mandarin Chinese for a while, are familiar with basic grammar, and know approximately 1500 words? If that’s you, then try out these 6 free danmei webnovels.

You don’t need an account; go straight to the website and start reading! I recommend setting up a browser popup Chinese -> English dictionary such as ZhongWen!

Don’t forget to regularly review vocabulary using SRS (spaced repetition system) with tools like Anki or the paid Pleco SRS flashcard add-on.

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I did.