Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
UNIT 1
der this qDisculpe.
n hu shu yng wn ma? Speak English?
qng wnPlease let me ask.
n hu shu ma? You can speak?
b huNo (lit. can't).
w bhu shu p tng huI does not speak Mandarin.
I know little
w hu shu y dinr p tng huI can speak some Mandarin.
My Gua America
mi gurn american (person)
Shyness; be
W sh my gu rnYou are American.
n sh mi gu rn ma? are you american
sh, w sh my gu rn Sim, hijo americano.
UNIT 2 In Mandarin, the answers change and do not change
depending on the question. For example, a positive reaction to nhu shu ma? it would be hello
Hello; Good
b hoI w shu does not speak well.
n for hello
n ho ma? How are you doing? (With good friends. Do not use in conjunction with N ho.)
hn ho, xi xi (n) Very good, thanks.
Bye
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 1 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
UNIT 3
zhg guchina
n b sh zhng gu rn You are not Chinese.
nn?¿are you there?
w sh mi gu rn, n ne? I'm american. And you?
what the hell
w b sh zhng gu rn, k sh w hu shu p tng huI'm not Chinese, but I speak Mandarin.
n p tng hu shu de hn ho You speak Mandarin very well.
UNIT 4
b sh hn ho Not very good.
n mng biYou understand. (Understanding situation, but not language.)
w b mng bin shu shn me I don't understand what you're saying.
xu yun l zi nr?Where is college road?
chng n ji zi zhr This is Long Peace Street.
sh zi zhr ma are you here? (Sh is used because it's a yes or no question.)
b sh, b sh zi zhr No, it's not here.
sh zi nrIt is located there.
b zi zhr, zi nrIt's not here, it's over there.
chng n ji zi zhr, k sh xu yun l zi nr Long Peace Street is here, but College Road is there.
PART 5
w b zh I don't know.
n zh ma? You know?
zh tun, w zh doYes, I know.
w xingI would like to.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 2 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
n xing ch y dinr dng xima? Do you want to eat something?
y dinr dng xi (a little) something
xing, w xing ch y dinr dng xiYes, I want to eat something.
b xing, xi xi nNo gracias.
k sh w xing h y dinr dng xi But I want a drink.
k sh w b xing ch But I don't want to eat.
UNIT 6
n xing q nr ch Where would you like to (go) to eat?
wnrmy ort
what about my place
w xing q w nr Child wants to come to my house to eat.
You too
I want w and xing too.
n xing q w nr ch ma Would you like to come to my house to eat?
Shn me sh ho? If?
Khan Sinów
n xing shn me sh ho ch? When would you like to eat?
w b xing xin zi ch I don't want to eat anything now.
face and hurlater
w b xing zi zhr h I don't want to drink here.
n boy xing hur h ma? want a drink later
UNIT 7
n xing zi nr ch ma? Would you like to eat there?
OK.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 3 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
in your restaurant
what a fn in a restaurant
But I have? OK?
n xing ch shn me? What would you like to eat?
and dinr chsome has
W xing h dinr ch I would like to have some tea.
to kid
w xing q fn din I want to go to a restaurant.
k sh gu and hur, ho ma? More later, okay?
xin zi b hoNo now.
w xing q bi jng fn din I want to go to a restaurant in Beijing.
bi jng fn dan zi nr
k sh w xin zi b xing hBut I don't want to drink right now.
k sh w xing xin zi h y dinr dng xi But I'd like a drink now.
UNIT 8
chw for lunch
q w nr ma? A mi casa?
lingtwo (when using a measure)
Ling Bido's cups/receivers
Ling Bi P Jidos Biere
want
___I sing ___I want to ask ___.
W xing yo ling bi p jiId like to order two brains.
Hello cut
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 4 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
n xing h ch hi sh p ji Would you like some tea or a beer?
n xing to shn me? what would you like to do
q ji dinto no hotel (Note! Hotels are called fn din in Taiwan).
w xing mi y dinr dng xiId like to buy something.
n xing mi shn me What do you want to buy?
Dog
shiwho/wer
y qalong
gn shi and what? (Together) com quem?
gn n and what about you
n xing gn w y q h y dinr dng xima? would you like to eat something with me
UNIT 9
n zh do chng n ji zi nr ma? Do you know where Long Peace Street is?
hu zhor
In Mandarin, two different words are used for or depending on whether they are in a statement (hu zh) or a question (hi sh).
w xing mi ch hu zh p ji I would like to order tea or beer.
n xing ch y dinr dng xi hi sh h y dinr dng xi? Would you like something to eat or drink?
k sh b sh zi zhr But not here.
j din zhng When?
Y din zhng (at) uma hora.
ji din zhngnine horas
ver
sh b din zhng ma? Eight o'clock?
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 5 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
b sch, sch ji din zhng No, it's nine o'clock.
ling zu zhng two oclock
b din zhng hello sh ji din zhng? At eight or nine?
lo name of zi ji ok no hotel
Friend in pain How about later?
b ho, xi xi n, w b xing ling din zhng h. No thank you. I wouldn't want to drink either.
b xng Impossible.
and din zhng b xng, ling din zhng b xng One hour impossible, two hours impossible.
w b mng bi shn me? What I do not understand?
UNIT 10
w b xing h dng xI don't want to drink anything.
dng xithing/alles
xin zi j din zhng? What time is it?
and din zhng It's one o'clock.
wcinco
sntres
four
sh s din zhng ma? It's four o'clock?
you go
w i xin zi ch w fn I'm going to have lunch now.
n yo xin zi ch y dinr dng xima? will you eat something now
oh yeah (if you answer yes to any question)
as for me...
w a, w i ch w fn As for me, I'm going to have lunch.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 6 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
n xing shn me sh ho gn w y q ch w fn? When would you like to have lunch with me?
UNIT 11
xin zi s din zhng It's four o'clock now.
zi ma?Now?
b sh xin zi Not now.
Lisix
what seven
n my in this case; So
ballet dance
n me q din zhng ba Let's say seven hours in this case.
jn tinhoje
wn shngin in the night
jn tin wn shng tonight
Own search engine
jn tin wn shng w i ch wn fn I'm going to have dinner tonight.
schein
morning
mng tin w yo gn n y q ch wn fn Tomorrow I will have dinner with you.
mng tin wn shng q din zhng tomorrow night at seven o'clock
jn tin w b xing ch dng xi I don't want to eat anything today.
n xing jn tin to shn me? What would you like to do today?
mng tin jin See you tomorrow.
UNIT 12
sh din zhng ma? Ten o'clock?
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 7 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
you sho A few?
you shoqin? How much money? / How much is it?
rn mn brenminbi (currency of the People's Republic of China)
and kui rn mn osso (unit of) renminbi
sh ye1ven
Kurdoc
sh r kui rn mn b12 renminbi
ling kui rn mn bdos renminbi
UNIT 13
Shn me sh ho? sh jn tin ma? If? Is today?
hello sh mng tin?o tomorrow?
n yu du sho rn mn b How much renminbi do you have?
The word kui measure is not necessary when asking how much.
W Yu Sh S Kui Rn Mn BI Tiempo 14 Renminbi.
n yu you sho mi jn? How many US dollars do you have?
I have $14.
n yu ma? do you have?
n yu mein yu hast du?
you don't have mine
n du mi du q kui rn mn b?¿Tienes siete renminbi?
my yuNo (I don't have it).
jiplus
sh and ji eleven one more
No tengo (no) renminbi.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 8 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
[n]n, sh kui mi jnHere they are, ten dollars.
n xing b xing ch y dinr dng xi?
[n]ho, n and bi p jiOk, here it is, a beer.
UNIT 14
bozh zeitung
what I want.
w for your rn mn b I don't want renminbi.
n I am me? Want?
Idiot
n yu you sho mi jn? How many US dollars do you have?
W Yu Hn Do Rn Mn b I have a lot of money.
w yu and dinr my jnI have some american dollars.
gi w y dinr rn mn b The renminbi has something.
b sh hn you Not much.
sh b sh zi nr does it say there?
b k q Do not mention.
gi w sh q hu zh sh b kui mi jn Give me seventeen or eighteen dollars.
w gi n sh kui mi jn I'll give you ten dollars.
UNIT 15
n shu shn me? What did you say?
gi n defor you
ch sh gi n deTea is for you.
and bi p ji du sho qin how much is a beer?
and kui rn mn for BiUm renminbi for a woman.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 9 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
ch ling kuiO woven units.
w b k and I can't.
What I can do?
k y = able tohu = know how
n k b k y? May?
n k b k y xin zi ch? can you eat now
k y, w k y xin zi chSim, posso comer agora.
w b k y xin zi ch I can't eat right now.
n k b k y gi w y dinr qin? can you give me some money
w b k y gi n i can't give you (none).
w yu y dinr, b sh hn du I have some. Not many.
n jn tin wn shng k b k y? can you tonight
k y, w jn tin wn shng k yYes I can tonight.
UNIT 16
sh b sh gi w de?sh gi w de ma?is it for me?
hn du qin That's a lot of money.
titoo; too much
ti you can too.
ti du qin leaves a lot of money.
r shtwenty
rsh twenty four
go. It's enough.
b Guts are not enough.
You are not needed with the negative.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 10 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
sn sh w, gu le Thirty-five, that's enough.
ti du le ma?sh b sh ti du le?É demais?
b sh, k sh gu le No, but it's enough.
nyu qin ma? do you have some money
n k y gi w y dinr qin ma?n k b k y gi w y dinr qin?
UNIT 17
n you rn mn give it to me ma? n your rn mn give it to me? Do you have renminbi for me?
gu ma?gu b gu?É or sufficient?
w gu leI have had enough.
So gu le can also mean to have enough.
w qin gu le I have enough money.
Xin Zi W Yu S Sh Y Kui Rn Mn bTengo 41 Renminbi.
n qin gu ma? n qin gu b gu Hast du genug Geld?
w b gu I don't have enough.
ti gu leIt is very expensive.
b ti guIts not very expensive.
n you i jn gi w ma?n you i you i jn gi w? Do you have US dollars for me?
n shu de ti kui le You speak too fast.
w shu de b kuiI does not speak fast.
n shu de hn kuiYou speak too fast.
w shu of kui ma?Schneller Phallus?
n shu de b kuiYou don't talk fast.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 11 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
n qin gu ma? n qin gu b gu Hast du genug Geld?
UNIT 18
and bion-hundred
hn well too expensive.
zi nr, b ti gu It's not too expensive there.
b jio guIts more expensive. (Literature. It is relatively expensive.)
w from xin shng shu from hn kuiMy husband speaks very quickly.
You Thai woman
w de ti tai zi nrMy wife is over there.
w de ti xing h y dinr dng xi My wife would like something to drink.
zi zhr b jio guHere is more expensive.
Shuwater
m fn n gi w shu Please give me water.
M fn n literally means to bother you.
shi zi nr, who is there?
w i gn w de xin shng y q ch wn fn I will jantar with my husband.
n me n xing h y dinr dng xima? Do you want a drink?
n me ch ne? So what about the tea?
UNIT 19
li sh b kui ti gu le Sixty-eight units is too expensive.
t zi nrhes ali.
where is she?
Chn xin shng xing h shn me? O que o Sr. Chen gostaria de beber?
qng jn Please enter.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 12 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
M fn n is used to ask for something. It's like saying please give it to me.
Qng is used to make an offer or invite someone to do something.
n menyou (Plural)
n homens zh zi nr?
n Männer zhYou (Plural) live.
w men zh zi zhrWe live here.
thousand
w de xin shng h weu and my husband
w men b zh zi zhrWe don't live here.
EllisEllis is the number? Where is Mrs. Ellis?
w de ti tai zi w nrMy wife is in my house.
w men zh zi hu shng dnVivimos en Washington.
n zh zi nr Where do you live?
n gn n de ti tai zi y q ma Are you and your wife dating?
An affirmative answer to the previous question: sh.
ski? Who is it?
sh w de xin shngÉ mein Mann.
m fn n w men xing h ch Please, we would like some tea.
UNIT 20
t gn n zi and q ma? Is she with you?
t gn n from xin shng zi and qEla is with her husband.
n men yu xio hr ma Do you have children?
j g xio hr How many children?
Ge is a measure word used to refer to the size of a group of people.
n men yu j ge xio hr How many children do you have?
w men yu sn ge xio hr We have three children.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 13 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
ling ge r zitwo hijos
and gn rone daughter
w me you r ziI hat no Kinder.
hn du xio hr There are many children.
large
w der zi h n d leMy son is very grown up.
The ending le, along with d, indicates maturity rather than size.
n de zi hn d le ma Is your child very grown up?
sh, t n d le Yes, he is very mature.
tb sh hn dShe's not very mature.
men h n d le are very mature.
UNIT 21
dr Ziolder son
dng and hurWait a moment.
n k and dng and hur ma? can you wait a moment
some n is smaller
w de zi hn xioMy son is very young.
t zhn de hn xioHe is really very young.
zhn?really?
sh, zhn from Yes, really.
x shu jin zi nr Where is the bathroom?
ji rnfamily
d r zi gn w men zi y q The eldest son is (together) with us.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 14 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
dr zi gn w men zi zhr The eldest son is here with us.
n men de ji rn hn duYou have a very large family.
b sh hn du Not many.
UNIT 22
wnPergunte.
zi wn and cask again.
w de ji rn gn w zi y qMy family is with me.
j ge rn How many people?
n ji l yu j ge rn How many people are in your family?
Inner
w men mng tin yo q xing gngVamos para Hong Kong.
w de ji rn yo q xing gngMi familia se va a Hong Kong.
fi jairplane
n men I zu fi j what else are you going to take a plane?
t yo to fi j q xing gngShe takes a plane to Hong Kong.
fi j chng zi nr?where is the airport?
ling qintwo-mil
Geist xio
j ge xio sch? how many hours?
sn ge xio sh three o'clock
I j ge xio sh? how many hours is
I sn ge xio shIts lasts three hours.
UNIT 23
ling ge d rndois adultos
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 15 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
___p tng hu ___ zn me shu How do you say ___ in Mandarin?
w men ji l yu hn du rnThere are many people in our family.
Bicentenarians
I j ge xio sh? how many hours is
hun yun It's too far.
xing gng b sh hn yun Hong Kong is not far away.
xing mng hn yun ma? xing mng sh b sh hn yun? Ist Hongkong zu weit weg?
hn gu ma is it too expensive?
ti yun le It's too far.
billion flight
even
n ge bn j Which flight?
n ge bn j q xing gng Which flight goes to Hong Kong?
zugo (when describing an ongoing movement)
y zh wng qem frente
y zh wng qin zu Siga em frente.
zh ge bn is voo
zh ge bn j q xing gng ma?Este voo vai para Hong Kong?
UNIT 24
zi zhng gu zu fi j hn gu ma?zi zhng gu zu fi j sh b sh hn gu?Na China, viajar de avião é caro?
14yo sh s g xio shLevel 14 Students.
to fi j hn gu Flying is very expensive.
ms hongkong dollar
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 16 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
70W Yu Q Sh Kui Gng Bi Zeit 70 Hong Kong-Dollar.
w gu leI have had enough.
yng hang do King's Road
zu yng hang do Pegue a King's Road
uncle lroad (uncle is a word measuring roads)
you binto richtig
you were n Uncle l then Weg to the right
n Uncle l Which street?
b sh y zh wng qin to no it's straight.
im should
n yng gi zu yu bin n tio l You have to take the path to the right.
w yng gi zu n tio l Which way should I go?
uncle sh yng hang do? What is the King's Road? (The word Mass Uncle is used to indicate "in which direction.")
to binto left
to bin n tio l ma?The way to the left?
zu zu bin n tio l ma?Take the left path?
rn huthen
rn hu y zh wng qin to Then move on.
uncle sh yng hang do This is the King's Road.
gu and Mandarin (The term is mainly used in Hong Kong).
n shu de ti kui le You speak too fast.
Qng zi shu and cPlease say it again.
fn din b sh hn yun, the restaurant is not far away.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 17 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
w zhn de b zh I really don't know.
UNIT 25
n tio l zi nrThe way is over there.
w k y zi zhr mi y dinr dng x ma? can I buy something here?
n b k y mi dng xi You can't buy anything.
are you sending me because
because of
tienda de shng
dated weapon
Inner
gun mn leThe doors were locked. (The file indicates that this was the case.)
shng din gun mn leThe shops were closed.
yn wi ti wn leBecause it's too late.
a kiop
open doors ki mn
shng din ki mn le ma? shng din yu mi yu ki mn? Are the rooms open?
mi yu, shng din mi yu ki mnNo, the shops are not open.
xin zi shng din ki mn le ma? Are the shops open now?
mng tin shng din ki mn? Are the shops open tomorrow?
w xing mi y dinr dng xi gi w de ti tailI want to buy something for my wife.
UNIT 26
b sh hn wn It's not too late.
n yu you sho gng b? How many Hong Kong dollars do you have?
n i zi nr to shn me? What are you going to do there?
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 18 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
png friend
w i kn j ge png yuIm indo see some friends.
t men b sh zi xing gng You are not in Hong Kong.
W Yu J Ge Png Yu Zi Bi Jng I have some friends in Pequim.
Sra. to work
w I q nr gng zuIm I go to work there.
ling tintwo days (no measure required for days)
remain
w yo zi nr di sn tin I stay there for three days.
n I say you stay.
j tin How many days?
k nngtalvez
k nng sn tinMaybe three days.
w k nng yo kn j ge png yuMaybe I'll visit some friends.
k nng me Maybe yes (I will).
wxing i think.
w xing with yo gng too. i think i will work.
Peter I know Peter Ma. will you see peter
w k nng i maybe i will.
m fan n gi w j kui rn mn b Please give me some Renminbi.
w i zi bi jng di j thing I will be in Beijing for a few days.
n xing mi dng x ma Would you like to buy something?
n i zi nr to shn me? What are you going to do there?
w xing w yo zi nr gng to i think i will work there.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 19 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
UNIT 27
n me q nr to shn me? What are you going to do there?
n yo zi bi jng di j tin? How many days are you staying in Beijing?
w xing too leId want to go.
n xing to le ma?n xing b xing to? (he lets go) Would you like to go out?
w b xing zuId would not want to go. (He is discarded)
mng tin w yo zu le tomorrow i go out.
w men me and q zu let's go out together. (I discarded him)
w xing gn n y q zuId would like to go out with you.
jisolo
ji w y gr rn I'm alone.
ji n and like ma? You are alone?
w h w from xin shng and qmy husband and i are dating.
w men me and q zu let's go out together.
ji w y gladly to I'm going alone.
k nng shTalvez sim.
UNIT 28
Shn me and when? What is the meaning?
and if meaning
w men zi zhr j tin leWe have been here for a few days. (Le = to have been)
you ji le? For how long?
j tin leFor a few days.
ji thing lepor nove diese.
w xing di j tinI would like to stay for a few days.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 20 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
n men yo di you ji? How long are you going to stay?
k nng w i kn j ge png yu maybe you'll see some friends.
___y if sh ___The meaning is ___.
sh jintime
yn we w men mi you sh jin because we don't have time.
n men zi zhr du ji le How long have you been here?
ri and hn le That's really a shame.
UNIT 29
xng qsemanas
j ge xng q a few weeks
and ge xng q per week
and ge xng q leHas passed a week.
w men sh zu tin do de We arrived yesterday.
n to tin mi le shn me? what did you buy yesterday
n my leYou bought it.
n mi le shn me What did you buy?
w mi le y dinr dng xi h I bought something to drink.
ch le ma? You ate?
ch le Yes, I ate.
w zu tin ch le.Eu comi ontem.
w x hun p ji. I like beer.
w x hun ch dng xI like to eat.
zu tin w mi yu ch dng xi I didn't eat anything right away.
Mi yu is used to express that something did not happen in the past.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 21 of 22
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by EricNishiowww.self-study.com
w men k y y q chWe can eat together.
n sh shn i sh hou do de? When did you arrive?
UNIT 30
to tin zo shng yesterday morning
w men sh jn tin zo shng do de We arrived this morning.
n men sh shn me sh hou do bi jng de? When did you come to Beijing?
Word order: from [place] from
w sh gn w de ji rn y q do de I arrived with my family.
gn w de sn g xio hr y qwith my three children
n men to tin q le tin tn ma? Did you go to the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) yesterday?
n shn me sh hou q le when did you leave?
w men zi fn din ch le y dinr dng xi We had lunch at a restaurant.
Updated April 26, 2012 Page 22 of 22
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9 Unit 10 Unit 11 Unit 12 Unit 13 Unit 14 Unit 15 Unit 16 Unit 17 Unit 18 Unit 19 Unit 20 Unit 21 Unit 22 Unit 23 Unit 24 unit 25 unit 26 unit 27 unit 29 unit
FAQs
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Pimsleur Mandarin is one of the best options to start learning Chinese with. You will have a very clear action plan (listen to one audio recording every day for 30 minutes) and develop strong listening & pronunciation skills along the way. I'd highly recommend it as a first program for new learners.
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Is Mandarin easy to learn Quora? ›It's pretty hard! For oral communication the hardest part is probably the four tones and the importance of differentiating between them. For written it is a lot more difficult, because there is no alphabet. For some people, like me, oral Chinese can be at a good level while reading characters is quite hard.
Is Rosetta or Pimsleur better? ›Which is better, Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone? After a thorough review of the language learning courses from both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone, our team gives the edge to Pimsleur as the better course. Compared to Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur offers a more robust course from top to bottom.
What is the most efficient way to learn Mandarin? ›Immersion forces Chinese learners to use the language on a daily basis, helps them connect with native speakers, and teaches them valuable knowledge about Chinese culture. Not only that, but it does all of this within a very short period of time. Immersion is, without a doubt, one of the fastest ways to learn Chinese.
What level of Mandarin is fluent? ›Language level 4 – Full professional proficiency
The person uses language fluently and accurately on all topics.
Other languages with non-Latin alphabets, such as Russian and Greek, are also hard for Mandarin speakers. The Cyrillic alphabet that Russian uses can be especially confusing for Chinese learners because it has letters that look similar to English letters, but are pronounced completely differently.
How many Mandarin characters do you need to know to be fluent? ›How many Chinese characters do I need to know to be fluent? The average Chinese person only needs to know around 2,000 characters to be recognized as fluent. Those characters represent a basic education level that can help you make it in day-to-day life.
Which is harder Japanese or Mandarin? ›Japanese is slightly easier to learn. But, Chinese is much more widely spoken. Both languages have their pros and cons.
How hard is it for an American to learn Mandarin? ›
Mandarin Chinese
Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the writing system is extremely difficult for English speakers (and anyone else) accustomed to the Latin alphabet.
As Group 5 languages, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese need a good 2200 hours of study to properly learn. For most people, however, the goal is to learn enough Chinese to carry on conversations and read Chinese menus, magazines, and other publications -- which takes a lot less time.
How long does it take the average person to learn Mandarin? ›It takes about 4-7 years (roughly 2200 to 4000 hours) to become fluent in every aspect of the language, if you spend at least an hour and a half to study every day. However, it's quite common for learners to become more fluent in some areas than others depending on how they allotted their study time.
What is the best age to learn Mandarin? ›What age is best for you (or your kids) to start learning Chinese? A general consensus is that in order to develop a native accent easily, children should start learning Chinese before the age of 12.
Is Pimsleur enough? ›The Bottom Line. Pimsleur is one of the most accurate and effective programs for learning to speak and understand a new language. This audio-based system won't teach you reading or writing, however, nor does it have any games or interactive exercises for many of its languages.
How fluent Will I be after Pimsleur? ›Many people wonder what level will Pimsleur get you. Pimsleur will not make you fluent like a native speaker, but it will give you a practical understanding of the language that will get you through most everyday social situations graciously.
How many Pimsleur lessons should you do a day? ›How to Use Pimsleur. Each conversational lesson is 30 minutes long and is focused on developing your listening and speaking skills. It is recommended to do one lesson per day (you can break it up into several sittings if needed) and to avoid referring to outside materials or taking notes.
Can you learn Mandarin in 3 months? ›With the right work and attitude, you can make massive progress in your Chinese learning in three months. And if having a conversation in Mandarin Chinese is your primary goal, it can be achievable with just three months of study, even if you're starting from zero.
Can you learn Mandarin in 2 years? ›Of course, this could be divided up in very different ways depending on how you structure your learning. Studying five hours a day, five days a week? FSI says you will need 88 weeks, somewhere between 1.5–2 years. Another yardstick is the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK)—the standard proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese.
How do you become fluent in Mandarin fast? ›- Ask Your Chinese Friends to Speak Mandarin Chinese With You. ...
- Go to Chinatown and Eat at the Local Restaurants. ...
- Watch Chinese Movies or TV Shows. ...
- Listen to Chinese Songs in Mandarin. ...
- Teach English While Living in China or Taiwan.
How many hours a day to learn Chinese? ›
A more realistic goal is becoming fluent in Chinese in three years. But if you want a good start in your first year, four hours a day is good. I'd like to mention some things that others have not yet: It's important to be regular in your studies of any language, not only Chinese.
How many words does the average person know in Mandarin? ›The average educated Chinese person knows around 8,000 characters. The Table of General Standard Chinese Characters has 8,105 characters, with 6,500 being common.
Which version of Chinese is most spoken? ›Mandarin Chinese alone is the most widely spoken native language in the world: nearly a billion within China alone and 1.2 billion worldwide—a few hundred million people more than the next most widespread languages, Spanish and English.
Which is harder Latin or Mandarin? ›One reason Mandarin is seen as the most challenging language to learn is because its writing system uses characters that might be difficult to grasp for those accustomed to writing with the Latin alphabet, Babbel says.
Is Mandarin easier than Korean? ›Generally speaking, we might assert that Korean is easier for an English speaker to learn than Mandarin Chinese. But this is very relative. In fact, the US Foreign Service Institute assigns Mandarin Chinese and Korean the same level of difficulty. Both languages are in “Category Four”.
What is the 7 hardest language to learn? ›- 1 – Chinese (Mandarin)
- 2 – Arabic.
- 3 – Japanese.
- 4 – Korean.
- 5 – Hungarian.
- 6 – Finnish.
- 7 – Xhosa.
1) Mandarin
Approximately 15 percent of the world's population are native speakers of Mandarin.
According to China's Education Ministry, about 30% of the population cannot speak the country's national language.
How many Chinese can speak English fluently? ›| Country | Eligible population | Total English speakers |
|---|---|---|
| No. | ||
| China | 1,432,035,200 | 10,000,000 |
| Sweden | 10,377,771 | 9,236,000 |
| Kenya | 43,013,431 | 8,100,000 |
Many people wonder what level will Pimsleur get you. Pimsleur will not make you fluent like a native speaker, but it will give you a practical understanding of the language that will get you through most everyday social situations graciously.
What app should I use to learn Mandarin? ›
Duolingo: Everybody's Favorite Language App
If you're at all interested in learning languages, you've probably already used Duolingo. It's one of the best language-learning apps available with courses for over 30 languages, including Mandarin Chinese.
The Bottom Line. Pimsleur is one of the most accurate and effective programs for learning to speak and understand a new language. This audio-based system won't teach you reading or writing, however, nor does it have any games or interactive exercises for many of its languages.
What is the hardest language to learn for Mandarin speakers? ›Arabic is a language most Mandarin speakers will find challenging. Its writing system is an abjad, which functions very differently from both Chinese characters and the English alphabet because it uses letters to represent consonants but not all vowels, and it uses a cursive script, so letters combine and change forms.
Which is better Babbel or Pimsleur? ›Babbel teaches more holistically, including grammar and written exercises – two areas mostly ignored by Pimsleur. Learners using Babbel would have a more well-rounded knowledge of the language, but lower speaking and listening skills compared with students using Pimsleur.
Is Pimsleur or Duolingo better? ›Though we rate Pimsleur out as the far superior language learning program, we do think there could be some benefits to using the two programs together. While Pimsleur provides a robust learning framework, Duolingo provides fun games to help fill in learning gaps and adds an additional way of learning new material.
Can I self study Mandarin? ›Self-studying Chinese online and learning the language alone is possible. There are plenty of helpful and high-quality online resources to help you build a solid foundation in Mandarin Chinese! If you plan to visit or study in China in the future, it's never too early to start learning Chinese online.
How do you memorize Mandarin fast? ›- Focus on the components. Instead of focusing on radicals, focus on the components of the characters. ...
- Read Mandarin books. One of the best methods for improving your Mandarin language skills is by reading Mandarin books. ...
- Test yourself with flashcards.
This program includes all of Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. With this program you start from zero, learning first survival phrases and vocabulary, and eventually progress to a high-intermediate level of speaking and understanding.
Is Rocket languages or Pimsleur better? ›Pimsleur and Rocket French are comparable because they both feature a conversation/dialogue between native speakers in each lesson. Pimsleur has a much stronger focus on pronunciation and helps you focus on learning how to speak correctly. Rocket is good because it focuses more on conversation and cultural topics.
What is the best way to use Pimsleur? ›Pimsleur's Golden Rules”: respond out loud, don't take notes or look anything up during lessons, and stick to one lesson a day. If you follow these rules, Pimsleur claims, you'll be able to pick up the language through the conversations and narratives that make up a bulk of the program.