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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Totally different writing system.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mandarin, like other East Asian languages such as Korean and Japanese, has an entirely different writing system than Latin languages like English. It might take some effort to get used to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are thousands of unique characters in Mandarin. You will need to remember how to read and write them. Many characters can mean different things in various contexts; plenty also looks alike but have entirely different meanings. It\u2019s pretty easy to get confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6a21 (m\u00f3) means model, and \u6478 (m\u014d) means to touch. The only difference between them is the left side, and it\u2019s really easy to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The tonal system.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mandarin has four tones: first, second, third and fourth (\u7b2c\u4e00\u58f0 d\u00ec y\u012b sh\u0113ng\u3001\u7b2c\u4e8c\u58f0 d\u00ec \u00e8r sh\u0113ng\u3001\u7b2c\u4e09\u58f0 d\u00ec s\u0101n sh\u0113ng\u3001\u7b2c\u56db\u58f0 d\u00ec s\u00ec sh\u0113ng). It means that a word can be pronounced in four different ways, each representing a different character with a different meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, the word \u201cma\u201d in the first to the fourth tone, respectively:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5988 (m\u0101): mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u9ebb (m\u00e1): numb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u9a6c (m\u01ce): horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u9a82 (m\u00e0): to scold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also more complex pronunciations, such as \u7fd8\u820c\u97f3 (qi\u00e0o sh\u00e9 y\u012bn), which are very difficult for many learners to differentiate. Not to mention \u591a\u97f3\u591a\u4e49\u5b57 (du\u014d y\u012bn du\u014d y\u00ec z\u00ec), making one character hold different definitions in the way it\u2019s pronounced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is It As Hard As It Seems?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The reasons listed above could seem intimidating, but we are also here to bust some myths that make Mandarin seem \u201cextremely difficult\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is – verb tenses and gender-specific grammar don\u2019t exist in Mandarin! It is an obstacle often faced by people learning European languages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use the same verb in Mandarin at different timeframes just by adding a time in your sentence. Unlike in English, where you have to use different tenses. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u53bb\u5b66\u6821\u3002(w\u01d2 q\u00f9 xu\u00e9 xi\u00e0o): I go to school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6b63\u5728\u53bb\u5b66\u6821\u3002(w\u01d2 zh\u00e8ng z\u00e0i q\u00f9 xu\u00e9 xi\u00e0o): I\u2019m going to school now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6628\u5929\u53bb\u5b66\u6821\u3002(w\u01d2 zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n q\u00f9 xu\u00e9 xi\u00e0o): I went to school yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u660e\u5929\u53bb\u5b66\u6821\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00edng ti\u0101n q\u00f9 xu\u00e9 xi\u00e0o): I\u2019ll go to school tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All in all, basic Mandarin grammar is pretty straightforward. Most of the time, the sentence structures are similar to English, subject + verb + object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might be intimidated by the tonal system in Mandarin that we\u2019ve explained just now, but fear not! Some sounds are similar to English words. Try finding their counterparts in English when you stumble upon a Mandarin character that seems hard to pronounce. For instance: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u79cb (qi\u016b), which means autumn or fall. The \u201cq\u201d is pronounced as \u201cch\u201d here. So, \u201cqi\u016b\u201d sounds similar to \u201cchew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7eb8 (zh\u01d0), which means paper. The \u201czh\u201d may look complex, but it\u2019s actually pronounced just like the \u201cge\u201d in \u201cstrange.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find plenty of Mandarin pronunciation guides like this online that cater to English speakers. But most importantly, you need to listen frequently and practice speaking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned before, there are tons of characters you may need to memorize. But there are some useful tricks too. Mandarin characters are hieroglyphics, meaning they originate from real-life images. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, try finding the similarities between these characters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6d17\u6fa1 (x\u01d0 z\u01ceo): to take a shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6cb3 (h\u00e9): river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6e56 (h\u00fa): lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6d77 (h\u01cei): sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All these characters have something to do with \u201cwater.\u201d That is why they all have a \u201c\u4e09\u70b9\u6c34\u201d (s\u0101n di\u01cen shu\u01d0) at the left, which looks like three droplets of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is one of the fun ways to learn Mandarin characters! You\u2019ll discover more similarities like this as you learn more. Also, don\u2019t worry about remembering thousands of them, as 200-300 is enough for daily conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ways that can definitely help you in your journey of learning Mandarin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Consuming entertainment and media is a highly effective way to learn the language. Pick a form of media you enjoy – music, animation, or podcasts, and start learning Mandarin! It\u2019ll keep you interested and engaged, and you get to learn more about Chinese culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some great Mandarin media to start with are Mandopop songs<\/a>, ancient Chinese costume dramas (\u53e4\u88c5\u5267 g\u01d4 zhu\u0101ng j\u00f9), and Taiwan Dramas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Studying a foreign language alone can be difficult without help and support from like-minded pals. You might quickly lose motivation whenever you encounter any problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can solve it by looking for study buddies to study Mandarin together. You can attend language classes or join online learning communities. Discuss your problems with them, and set goals to achieve together. More is always better than one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, it is essential to have a native Mandarin speaker help you in your learning progress. Mandarin is a language with many deep nuances, and many things could get lost in translation. Therefore, a native speaker who is also good at English can help you overcome many obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to find a native speaker to teach you Mandarin? You could find a language teacher or a language partner in various online communities, like Chinese Discord<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, Mandarin definitely seems complicated. But, as long as you know how to study smart, it will not be too big of a problem. After all, you can\u2019t expect to master any foreign language in one day without any hard work or dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/kjXst02zAw8MwB9eW2UfRAHvsHJaa9Le7i4zNXRgWbHIK7MLyEY9JkCB4q4DbRIoFNiQaf8BXQgrvtVmXjLrTdZSm3Ww76Z2zj_Cgp0rA8JAxzZwaxziV9653MEKIkLr9vYOeKQL__JgYHQcdSVaeyA\")
1. Simple grammar.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Pronunciation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Similarities in characters.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tips to Overcome the Difficulties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Increase exposure to media.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Find study buddies.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Learn with native speakers.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n