Remembering is not a fixed, innate ability; it's a skill you can learn. In fact, there are many proven and easy ways to improve your memory!

#learnchinese #memory #mnemonics #vocabulary

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Remembering is a skill you can learn: Mnemonics for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/remembering-is-a-skill-you-can-learn/

Feats of memory anyone can do (Joshua Foer, TED): https://youtu.be/U6PoUg7jXsA

Secrets of a Mind-Gamer: How I trained my brain and became a world-class memory athlete (Joshua Foer, NY Times): http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/20/magazine/mind-secrets.html

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything (Joshua Foer, Amazon): https://amzn.to/460tCFN

How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/extending-mnemonics-inspiration-and-insights

The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell

The building blocks of Chinese, part 2: Basic characters, components and radicals: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-2-basic-characters-components-and-radicals

The building blocks of Chinese, part 4: Learning and remembering compound characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-4-learning-and-remembering-compound-characters

The building blocks of Chinese, part 6: Learning and remembering compound words: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-words-really-fast

How to create mnemonics for general or abstract character components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-create-mnemonics-for-general-or-abstract-character-components

Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-mnemonics-too-slow-for-chinese-learners

Spaced repetition software: What it is and how to use it to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software

Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything

What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-a-big-rubiks-cube-taught-me-about-chinese-characters

How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Motivation is not a personality trait that you either have or lack. It is a system you can design. Picture your future Mandarin self, make study sustainable, and let steady action close the gap.

#learnchinese #motivation #l2mss #dörnyei

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: A practical guide to your ideal Mandarin self: Build motivation that lasts: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-practical-guide-to-your-ideal-mandarin-self-build-motivation-that-lasts/

How to learn Chinese in the long term with intrinsic motivation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-chinese-in-the-long-term-with-intrinsic-motivation

Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-i-learnt-chinese-part-1-why-i-started-learning-chinese

How I learnt Chinese, part 1: Where it all started: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-i-learnt-chinese-part-1-why-i-started-learning-chinese/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Mnemonics are clever memory devices designed to make it easier to remember things, but considering that they take time both to create and retrieve, are they really that useful for learning Chinese?

#learnchinese #mnemonics #characters #memory #vocabulary

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-mnemonics-too-slow-for-chinese-learners/

5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Superficial forms to deep structure: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure

How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning

How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/remembering-is-a-skill-you-can-learn

You can’t learn Chinese characters by rote: https://www.hackingchinese.com/you-cant-learn-chinese-characters-by-rote

How to create mnemonics for general or abstract character components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-create-mnemonics-for-general-or-abstract-character-components

Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything

4 Types of Mnemonic Devices and How to Use Them: https://www.tckpublishing.com/mnemonic-devices

Hacking Chinese: A Practical Guide to Learning Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/practical-guide-to-learning-mandarin

How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/extending-mnemonics-inspiration-and-insights

Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-importance-of-knowing-many-words

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Are you tired of learning Chinese characters and words only to forget them a day, a week or a month later? What if there were a simple method that would allow you to remember almost everything you learn, and that didn't take too much time and energy to use? There is: spaced repetition!

#learnchinese #srs #vocabulary #flashcards #memory

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Spaced repetition: What it is and how to use it to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software/

Cramming vs. spaced repetition: When to use which method to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cramming-vs-spaced-repetition-when-to-use-which-method-to-learn-chinese/

The Leitner System: https://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/study-revision/leitner-system

Spaced repetition is not limited to flashcards: https://www.hackingchinese.com/spaced-repetition-not-limited-flashcards/

Reading is a lot like spaced repetition, only better: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reading-is-a-lot-like-spaced-repetition-only-better/

An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners/

Anki, the best of spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-system/

Pleco: https://www.pleco.com/

Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/

Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/

Analyse and balance your Chinese learning with Paul Nation’s four strands: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analyse-and-balance-your-chinese-learning-with-paul-nations-four-strands/

Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden… or burn it down and start afresh: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cultivate-your-chinese-flashcard-garden-or-burn-it-down-and-start-afresh/

Measuring your language learning is a double-edged sword: https://www.hackingchinese.com/measurable-progress-is-a-double-edged-sword/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

I started Hacking Chinese to help people learn Mandarin, and your feedback is essential, so please fill out my listener survey. Also, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, I'm offering a hefty discount on three of my courses.

#learnchinese #cny #discount #courses #survey

Hacking Chinese reader and listener survey: https://forms.gle/FNKLcnDbxoBgULpK9

Chinese New Year and New Semester Course Discount: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-new-year-and-new-semester-course-discounts/

Hacking Chinese Pronunciation: Speaking with Confidence: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/mandarin-chinese-pronunciation-course/

Unlocking Chinese: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/unlocking-chinese-ultimate-guide-beginner/

Hacking Chinese: A Practical Guide to Learning Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/practical-guide-to-learning-mandarin/

The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at: https://www.hackingchinese.com/

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

I have published a book! It's called Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection and contains articles I wrote in 2024, the Year of the Dragon. The articles cover a wide variety of topics, but tones, listening comprehension and motivation are the most prominent.

#learnchinese #anthology #hackingchinese #dragon

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: New book: Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection: https://www.hackingchinese.com/new-book-hacking-chinese-the-dragon-collection/

Purchase the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aghT6G

Best of Hacking Chinese 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/best-of-hacking-chinese-2024

The Dragon Collection contents with links to articles and podcast episodes: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dragon

Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Feedback is important for learning, because it can show you how to not use the language and highlight things you hadn't noticed before. But getting honest feedback on your Chinese is harder than you might think.

#learnchinese #feedback #correction #speaking #writing

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: How to get honest feedback to boost your Chinese speaking and writing: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-art-of-being-corrected/

The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-listening-resource-collections-for-learning-chinese

The 10 best free reading resource collections for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-reading-resource-collections-for-learning-chinese

How to learn from your mistakes and errors when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/about-the-importance-of-separating-various-kinds-of-mistakes

16 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back: https://www.hackingchinese.com/tone-errors-in-mandarin-that-actually-can-cause-confusion

Two reasons why pronunciation matters more than you think: https://www.hackingchinese.com/two-reasons-why-pronunciation-matters-more-than-you-think

Making progress in Chinese in spite of praise: https://www.hackingchinese.com/advancing-in-spite-of-praise

Making mistakes in Chinese is necessary to adjust your mental models: https://www.hackingchinese.com/making-mistakes-and-correcting-models

Chinese listening, fast and slow: Three ways of slowing down Mandarin speech: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-third-tone

A smart method to discover problems with Mandarin sounds and tones: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-smart-method-to-discover-problems-with-tones

Don’t try to improve everything at once when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-try-to-improve-everything-at-once-limit-your-focus

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

The best way to learn to read Chinese is to read texts you can understand without constantly using a dictionary. As a beginner, those texts aren’t always easy to find, but let’s look at the best reading resources I know for beginners.

#learnchinese #beginner #reading #resources

Link to article on Hacking Chinese:  Chinese reading practice for beginners: 7 resources to improve your Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/best-chinese-reading-practice-for-beginners/

The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/10-best-free-chinese-reading-resources-beginner-intermediate-advanced

6 challenges students face when learning to read Chinese and how to overcome them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/6-challenges-students-face-when-learning-to-read-chinese-and-how-to-overcome-them

Introduction extensive reading chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners

8 great ways to scaffold your Chinese listening and reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/8-great-ways-scaffold-chinese-learning

Why you should use more than one Chinese textbook: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-you-should-use-more-than-one-chinese-textbook

Review: Mandarin Companion: Easy to read novels in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-mandarin-companion-easy-to-read-novels-in-chinese

Escape: A text adventure game for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/escape-text-adventure-game-chinese-learners

Free and easy audio flashcards for Chinese dictation practice with Anki: https://www.hackingchinese.com/free-and-easy-audio-flashcards-for-chinese-dictation-practice-with-anki

The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners

12 ways chatting online will improve your Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chat-your-way-to-better-chinese

The virtues of language exchanges: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-virtues-of-language-exchanges

Beginner Chinese listening practice: what to listen to and how: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beginner-chinese-listening-practice-what-to-listen-to-and-how

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Subtitles and transcripts can help you understand spoken Chinese, but do they also help you become a better listener? Should you read along, read first, or save the text for after you’ve listened?

#learnchinese #listening #reading #subtitles #transcripts

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Chinese subtitles and transcripts: Reading before, while or after listening: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-subtitles-and-transcripts-reading-before-while-or-after-listening/

The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water

Listen more than once: How the replay button can help you learn more Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/listen-more-than-once-how-the-replay-button-can-help-you-learn-more-chinese

Listen before you read: Improve your listening ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/listen-before-you-read-improve-your-listening-ability

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese

The best podcasts for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podcasts-for-learning-chinese

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Spoken Mandarin can feel like an onslaught of similar sounds, half-recognised tones and unknown words. To add insult to injury, it's often too fast! Should you slow it down? If so, how?

#learnchinese #listening #speed #rateofspeech #fast #slow

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Chinese listening, fast and slow: Three ways of slowing down Mandarin speech: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-listening-fast-and-slow-three-ways-of-slowing-down-mandarin-speech/

Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 4: Learning to process spoken Mandarin quickly and effortlessly: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-4-learning-to-process-spoken-mandarin-quickly-and-effortlessly

The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water

Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input

Learning the third tone in Mandarin Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-third-tone-mandarin-chinese

Learning the neutral tone in Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-neutral-tone-in-mandarin

Listen more than once: How the replay button can help you learn more Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/listen-more-than-once-how-the-replay-button-can-help-you-learn-more-chinese

Using Audacity to learn Chinese (speaking and listening): https://www.hackingchinese.com/using-audacity-to-learn-chinese-speaking-and-listening

The 10 best free C listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners

Beginner Chinese listening practice: what to listen to and how: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beginner-chinese-listening-practice-what-to-listen-to-and-how

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

2025 has come to an end. Which were the most popular articles on Hacking Chinese last year? The most popular podcast episodes? It's time to summarise the year that was and highlight the things you really shouldn’t miss!

#learnchinese #2025 #bestof #hackingchinese

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Best of Hacking Chinese 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/best-of-hacking-chinese-2025/

All articles on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/archive-2

Hacking Chinese Resources: http://resources.hackingchinese.com/

Hacking Chinese Challenges: https://challenges.hackingchinese.com/

Zi.Tools: A powerful free resource for exploring Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zi-tools-a-powerful-free-resource-for-exploring-chinese-characters

Classroom Mandarin: Essential expressions for learning Chinese in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/classroom-mandarin-essential-expressions-for-learning-chinese-in-chinese

Using AI chatbots for low-stress Mandarin speaking practice: https://www.hackingchinese.com/using-ai-chatbots-for-low-stress-mandarin-speaking-practice

Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese in 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese

Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/language-learning-with-a-chinese-girlfriend-or-boyfriend

16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand

7 characteristics of a great chinese tutor or private teacher: https://www.hackingchinese.com/characteristics-of-a-great-chinese-tutor-or-private-teacher

16 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back: https://www.hackingchinese.com/myths-about-learning-chinese-that-are-holding-you-back

What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-a-big-rubiks-cube-taught-me-about-chinese-characters

4, 3, 2, 1: Fluency! A great technique to boost your Mandarin speaking ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/4-3-2-1-fluency-a-great-technique-for-boost-your-mandarin-speaking-ability

How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-mandarin-speaking-skills-with-a-tutor

The three roads to mastering Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-three-roads-to-mastering-chinese

The Input Pyramid: Chinese Listening for Any Situation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-input-pyramid-chinese-listening-for-any-situation

Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)