Mandarin Zest Duolingo for Chinese: Is It Actually Worth It for Serious Learners? Duolingo is probably the most downloaded language learning app in history. It's free, it's colourful, it gives you streaks and badges and little notifications that guilt you into coming back. And for ... Tips May 30, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest Chairman's Bao vs Mandarin Zest Substack: Which Is Better for Advanced Chinese Learners? If you're at HSK 4 and above, you've probably hit the same wall that most advanced learners do: the beginner resources feel too easy, authentic Chinese news feels overwhelming, and you're not quite su... Tips May 29, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest Simplified vs Traditional Chinese: Which Should You Learn? Before you learn your first character, there's a question that trips up almost every Mandarin beginner: Simplified or Traditional? Ask ten people and you'll get ten different opinions — some passionat... Tips May 28, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest The Best Free Resources to Supplement Your Mandarin Chinese Classes (2026) You're taking Mandarin classes. You show up, you take notes, you do the homework. But somewhere between Thursday's lesson and the following Tuesday, things start to slip. Vocabulary fades. Characters ... Tips May 27, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest Chinese Stroke Order Rules Every Beginner Must Know You sit down to write your first Chinese character. You stare at it. It has lines going in every direction — horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving — and you have no idea which one comes first. Most ... Chinese Characters Tips May 24, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest Chinese Measure Words (量词): The Complete Guide + Free PDF Cheat Sheet In Mandarin Chinese, you cannot simply say "three book" or "two cat." Between every number and noun, you must insert a measure word (量词 liàng cí) — also calle... Free PDF May 23, 2026 Free Resources
Mandarin Zest 10 Reasons Why Learning Mandarin Is Worth It in 2026 When US President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing on May 13, 2026 — greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, 300 uniformed schoolchildren chanting "Welcome" in Mandarin, and skyscrapers lit u... May 20, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest 10 Chinese Tongue Twisters to Master Mandarin Pronunciation (With Pinyin & English) Whether you're a beginner Mandarin learner or an advanced speaker looking to sharpen your tones, Chinese tongue twisters — known as 绕口令 ( ràokǒulìng , literally "speech that winds around the mouth") —... Pronunciation May 17, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest HSK 2 Study Plan: How to Pass in 3 Months So you've made it past HSK 1. You can greet someone, count to 100, and maybe order a coffee without completely panicking. That's genuinely real progress — more than most people who say they "want to l... HSK May 17, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest How to Type Chinese on Your Phone and Computer At some point in your Mandarin learning journey, you'll need to type in Chinese — whether it's messaging a language partner, practising on a flashcard app, or simply searching for something in Chinese... Tips May 16, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest Mandarin Chinese Tones: A Complete Beginner's Guide to the Four Tones If you've just started learning Mandarin, you've probably already encountered the most common piece of discouraging advice about Chinese: "It's a tonal language. The same word means completely differe... Tips May 13, 2026 Our blog
Mandarin Zest 20 Must-Know Chinese Slang Words to Sound Like a Native If you want to sound more natural in Mandarin Chinese, textbook vocabulary alone is not enough. Native speakers use slang expressions every day in conversations, social media posts, and online chats. ... Free PDF Vocabulary May 12, 2026 Free Resources