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Opinionated writing about learning Mandarin Chinese — what the research actually says, what works, and what doesn't.
April 5, 2026
The complete New HSK 3.0 Level 1 vocabulary list — all 150 words grouped by category, with pinyin, English translations, and a short example sentence for every entry.
Read more →April 5, 2026
You grew up speaking Cantonese, Hokkien, or Mandarin at home — but never learned to read or write. You already speak Chinese. You just can't read it yet. Here's the heritage learner path that skips what you already know.
Read more →April 5, 2026
Millions of people use Duolingo for Chinese. Almost none reach conversational fluency. The problem isn't commitment — it's the method. Here's what the research says and what actually works instead.
Read more →April 5, 2026
China's HSK exam expanded from 6 levels to 9 in 2021–2022. More vocabulary, speaking requirements, and cultural content. Here's what changed and how it affects your study plan.
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