How to learn Chinese: every way, compared

What each way is good for, what it trains, roughly what it costs, how much time it takes each week and its main downside. Prices change, so the table only says free or paid. In the “What it trains” column, a dark label is a main skill and a pale label is a skill it trains a little.

What it is, who it suits, who it does not suit, how to start and the usual mistake.

1. 1Language apps (Duolingo, HelloChinese and similar)

   An app on your phone with short lessons. You tap answers, match words and sometimes say a sentence.

   Good for

   Complete beginners who want a free start and a daily habit. People who want to learn characters a little at a time.

   Not for

   People who need to hold a conversation soon. Apps give you very little real conversation.

   How to start

   1. Pick one app with a Chinese course. Duolingo teaches many languages. HelloChinese teaches only Chinese.
   2. Do one lesson a day at a fixed time, for example on the bus.
   3. Say every sentence out loud, even when the app does not ask you to.

   Common trap. Keeping a long streak and still not being able to answer a simple question. Add one way where you have to speak, such as a tutor or a speaking game.

   Compared in detail: Duolingo and HelloChinese.

2. 2Audio courses (Pimsleur and similar)

   Recorded lessons. A voice asks you to say something in Chinese, waits for you to answer, then gives the right answer.

   Good for

   People who learn by ear and have time on a commute, a walk or a drive.

   Not for

   People who want to read and write. The lessons are almost all audio.

   How to start

   1. Try the free trial before you pay.
   2. Do one lesson a day and answer out loud every time.
   3. Repeat a lesson when you miss many answers.

   Common trap. Answering in your head. The method works because you speak, so say every answer out loud.

   Why it works. Saying words out loud helps you remember them. In experiments, people remembered words they read aloud better than words they read silently (MacLeod and colleagues, 2010).

   Pimsleur compared in detail.

3. 3Classes (at a school, a university or online)

   A teacher and a group of students. You meet at set times and follow a course book.

   Good for

   People who like a plan, a teacher and classmates. People studying for the HSK, the official Chinese proficiency test.

   Not for

   People with a changing schedule, or who need to speak soon. In a group of ten, each person speaks for only a few minutes per class.

   How to start

   1. Look for beginner Chinese at a local university, community college or language school, or for an online group class.
   2. Ask which course book they use and whether they follow HSK levels.
   3. Go to a trial class before you pay for a full term.

   Common trap. Doing the homework but never speaking outside class. Read the class dialogues out loud at home.

4. 4A one-to-one tutor (italki and similar)

   Private lessons with a teacher, usually by video call. You book them one at a time.

   Good for

   Anyone who wants to speak. A tutor can practise exactly what you need, such as a job interview or a dinner with family.

   Not for

   People on a tight budget who want many hours a week. The cost adds up quickly.

   How to start

   1. On a tutor site such as italki, look at the Chinese teachers and read their reviews.
   2. Book trial lessons with two or three tutors. Keep the one you find easiest to talk to.
   3. Tell the tutor your goal. Ask them to spend most of each lesson on speaking.

   Common trap. Letting the tutor do most of the talking. Ask for role-plays and questions, so that you speak more than they do.

5. 5Self-study with a textbook

   A course book with dialogues, grammar notes and exercises, usually with audio. You work through it on your own.

   Good for

   People who like to study on their own schedule and want to understand how the language works. People preparing for the HSK.

   Not for

   People who need to speak soon. No one hears you or corrects you.

   How to start

   1. Choose one beginner book with audio. Books written for HSK levels make it easy to see your progress.
   2. Do one unit a week. Listen to the dialogue, read it out loud, then do the exercises.
   3. Look up words in a dictionary app. Pleco is a common one: the dictionary is free, with paid add-ons.

   Common trap. Stopping after a few units, because no one is waiting for you. Set a fixed time each week, or add a tutor who checks your progress.

6. 6Podcasts and videos for learners

   Episodes made for learners. People speak slow, clear Chinese, often with English explanations or subtitles.

   Good for

   People who want more listening and have time on a commute or while cooking.

   Not for

   Complete beginners on their own. Until you know some words, you will understand very little.

   How to start

   1. Search your podcast app or a video site for “Chinese for beginners” and try a few.
   2. Pick one where you understand most of each episode.
   3. Listen to the same episode two or three times.

   Common trap. Playing episodes in the background without following them. Listen closely for short stretches instead.

7. 7Flashcards (Anki and similar)

   Cards in an app, with a word on one side and its meaning on the other. The app shows each card again just before you are likely to forget it.

   Good for

   Anyone who has to remember many words, such as an HSK word list or a set of characters.

   Not for

   Learning to talk. Cards teach single words, not how to use them in a conversation.

   How to start

   1. Install Anki. It is free on computers and Android. The official iPhone app is paid.
   2. Use a ready-made deck for your course or HSK level, or make cards from words you have just met.
   3. Review every day for 10 to 20 minutes. Read each word out loud.

   Common trap. Adding too many new cards. Reviews pile up, and after a few missed days hundreds are waiting. Start with about 10 new cards a day.

   Why it works. Reviewing over several days works better than one long session. A review of hundreds of experiments found this (Cepeda and colleagues, 2006).

8. 8Language exchange (HelloTalk, Tandem and similar)

   You talk with a Chinese speaker who is learning your language. Half the time you help them, half the time they help you.

   Good for

   Learners who know the basics and want real conversation for free.

   Not for

   Complete beginners. Your partner is not a teacher and may not know how to explain things simply.

   How to start

   1. Install a language exchange app such as HelloTalk or Tandem. Both are free to join.
   2. Start with text and voice messages. Move to calls when you feel ready.
   3. Agree on a split, for example 15 minutes in Chinese, then 15 minutes in English.

   Common trap. Speaking mostly your own language, because it is easier for both of you. Keep to the split.

9. 9Games for learning Chinese

   Computer games made to teach Chinese. Some are role-playing games, some are word or memory games, and some put you in everyday situations.

   Good for

   People who learn better with a story or a goal, and want practice that does not feel like homework.

   Not for

   People who want a full course. Most games cover one part of the language, such as words, characters or everyday speaking.

   How to start

   1. Check what each game trains. Some are built around speaking, others around words or characters. Our list of games for learning Chinese sets this out for six games.
   2. Pick one that matches your goal and play in short sessions.
   3. Use it alongside a course, an app or a tutor.

   Common trap. Clicking through the Chinese to get on with the story. When the game lets you speak, say the lines out loud.

   We make one of these games, Very Chinese Time in My Life. You spend a week in a present-day Chinese city and say each line out loud to the people you meet. It is for everyday spoken Chinese. It does not teach reading or writing.

10. 10Living in China for a while

    Spending weeks or months in China and using Chinese every day, ideally with a language course there.

    Good for

    People who can spend weeks or months there, such as students, people moving for work, or anyone on a long stay.

    Not for

    Most people, most of the time. It costs the most and takes planning.

    How to start

    1. Learn the basics before you go: greetings, numbers, ordering food and asking the way.
    2. Look for a Chinese course for foreigners at a university or language school there.
    3. Choose places where people speak Chinese with you, such as local shops, a sports club or a shared flat.

    Common trap. Spending your free time with other foreigners and speaking English. Being in China helps only when you use Chinese.

    More on studying in China and moving to China for work.

11. 11Chinese TV shows, films and music

    Watching and listening to things made for Chinese speakers, with subtitles.

    Good for

    Learners who know the basics and want to hear how people really talk. Anyone who wants to stay motivated.

    Not for

    Complete beginners, as the main way to learn. Normal speech is fast, and you will understand very little at first.

    How to start

    1. Pick one show you enjoy with everyday conversation, such as a modern drama or a comedy. Many are on streaming services and video sites.
    2. Watch with Chinese subtitles, or with Chinese and English together if your player allows it.
    3. Write down one or two phrases from each episode and say them out loud.

    Common trap. Reading only the English subtitles. Switch to Chinese subtitles as soon as you can follow a little.

Most people mix two or three ways. Here is a simple plan for five common goals.

• A trip to China in two weeks

  Learn about 20 phrases and say them out loud every day. Leave characters for later.

  • 15 minutes a day: say the phrases you will need, such as 你ní好hǎo (hello), 谢xiè谢xie (thank you), 多duō少shao钱qián (how much), 这zhè个ge (this one) and 听tīng不bu懂dǒng (I don’t understand).
  • Take them from a short list, such as our 50 phrases for the first week, and keep the ones for your trip.
  • Practise whole exchanges: ordering food, paying, a taxi ride. Two or three tutor lessons or a speaking game both work.
  • Learn the numbers 1 to 10, so you can follow prices.

• Passing the HSK 3 exam

  HSK 3 is the third level of the official Chinese test. You need a course that teaches characters, flashcards for the word list and regular listening. Plan for several months.

  • A course that follows HSK levels, 3 to 4 hours a week: a class, a textbook or an app such as HelloChinese.
  • Flashcards for the official word list, 15 minutes a day.
  • Listening a few times a week: a podcast episode or a video for learners.
  • In the last month, do mock tests. The official HSK site has sample questions. The test is moving to a new version (HSK 3.0), so check which one you are taking.

• Talking with your partner’s family

  Speaking and listening first. Practise the things people say at the dinner table.

  • Ask your partner which language the family speaks at home. Many families also speak a local dialect or Cantonese.
  • A tutor once or twice a week. Ask them to role-play a family dinner.
  • Learn the table phrases: 好hǎo吃chī (delicious), 吃chī饱bǎo了le (I’m full) and 干gān杯bēi (cheers). Ask your partner what to call each family member.
  • Short video calls with the family, even five minutes. Your partner can help at first. More on meeting a partner’s family.

• Moving to China for work

  Start a few months before you go, with a tutor and a daily app or flashcards. Keep learning once you are there.

  • Two tutor lessons a week on daily life: shops, food, directions, small talk with colleagues.
  • An app or flashcards every day for words.
  • Learn to read common signs and menu words a few at a time.
  • Once you are there, join a local class and use Chinese in shops and restaurants. More on moving to China for work.

• Watching Chinese shows

  A lot of listening, starting with videos for learners and moving to real shows.

  • Start with podcasts or videos made for learners, with Chinese subtitles.
  • When you can follow those, pick one real show you like. Watch with Chinese subtitles and watch episodes again.
  • Put phrases that come up often into flashcards.
  • A normal show takes a long time to follow without subtitles. Most learners need years.