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If I had to identify the single most important aspect of learning Mandarin, itâs increasing your Chinese vocabulary.
Because of how Chinese works as a language, grammar plays second fiddle when it comes to the language, which means a limited vocabulary will stifle your progress way more than not knowing how to switch between active and passive sentences.
Although learning Chinese vocabulary is a long and constant process, itâs not as difficult as you may think. To help you out, here are 14 effective tips to improve your Chinese vocabulary. Trust me, Iâve been using them for over 20 years!
1. Master Hanyu pinyin and Chinese radicals
Iâm aware that at this point, I sound like a broken record. However, having a firm grasp of Hanyu pinyin (romanized pronunciation of Chinese words) and radicalsâé¨éŚ is indeed the most fundamental step in mastering any aspect of the language, including learning Chinese vocabulary.
By just learning and mastering these two basic concepts, youâll be able to pronounce new words accurately, guess the meaning of some words (for example, the ććć â raised hand radical (ć) often denotes a verb), and look up almost any word in the dictionary.
In some cases, you can even communicate with native speakers using Hanyu pinyin even though you canât write a single word in Mandarin! So, before you learn how to improve your Chinese vocabulary, you need to master these two Chinese concepts!
2. Use flashcards to rapidly expand your word bank
Now that you have a firm grasp of Hanyu pinyin and radicals, itâs time to expand your Chinese vocab. One of the easiest ways to do that is simply to learn new words using Chinese vocabulary flashcards.
You could make your own flashcards by looking up words online and printing them out or by copying words from a book (hey, bonus Chinese writing practice!). However, if you donât have the time to make your own flashcards, just use an app instead!
When it comes to Chinese learning apps, I love Mondly. The app is interactive and effective in helping you memorize new words. Plus, the user interface is so smooth and pleasing to the eyes. Other apps I recommend are Anki and Pleco, which doubles up as a dictionary app too!
3. Keep a mobile dictionary with you at all times
Speaking of dictionaries, one of the best ways to improve Chinese vocabulary passively is simply to have a pocket dictionary with you at all times. In todayâs world, that often means a dictionary app like the aforementioned Pleco or the Chinese Learnerâs Dictionary app.
Of course, Iâm not saying to flip through the pages of a dictionary during your daily commute (although you can certainly do that too!). The reason why having a mobile dictionary can help increase your Chinese vocabulary is that it provides a convenient way for you to look up words that might spring to your mind throughout the day.
Because Chinese is a language of immersion (meaning youâll have to really surround yourself with the language to master it fully), youâll likely have random thoughts about the language, such as how to say certain things in Mandarin. When that happens, a dictionary comes in handy!
4. Use Chinese vocabulary games to keep yourself engaged
Because of the complexity and long history of Mandarin, continuing to learn Chinese vocabulary can prove to be quite a tedious task. This is especially true once you reach a certain level of proficiency. Your word bank just seems to plateau.
When this happens, what I recommend doing is using Chinese vocabulary game apps to spice things up. Not only does it inject a little bit of fun into the learning process, but gamified lessons also help you review words that you already know and give you a sense of achievement when you unlock certain levels.
Of course, the most famous gamified language app is Duolingo, which presents learners with daily challenges to complete. However, personally, I prefer Ling app simply because it offers more extensive explanations and examples.Â
5. Supplement your learning with other resources
While Chinese vocabulary flashcards and apps are great for rapidly expanding your word bank, I do not recommend solely relying on those resources to improve your Chinese vocab.
One of the weaknesses of flashcard apps is that they often teach words without really touching on other aspects of the language. Even though Mandarin does not have as many grammar rules as most other languages, you would still need a basic understanding of it if you want to properly use the new words you learn.
There are plenty of different ways to supplement your learning. You could check out some Chinese textbooks, sign up for some online Chinese courses on platforms like Pimsleur, or simply engage in daily lessons on comprehensive apps like Babbel or Rocket Languages, which is great for learning Chinese pronunciation as you simultaneously learn Chinese vocabulary. Alternatively, you could also subscribe to Youtube channels that teach Mandarin!
6. Get talking to other people!
While I canât deny that a lot of the online resources these days can help you learn Chinese vocabulary fast, one thing I dislike about them is that they often donât consider the conversational context.
Mandarin is a complex language and not everything is as clear-cut as it seems. Take, for example, the most common Chinese word, nihao (ä˝ ĺĽ˝). Probably every language app will tell you that it means âhelloâ. Itâs not wrong but nihao isnât a universal greeting either. If my good friend who Iâd just met yesterday came up to me and said nihao, my immediate thought would be that heâs trying to sell me something.
To get fluent in Mandarin and use the new words you learned without sounding like a robot, you need to practice conversing with real people. Not only will you get better at pronunciation, but chances are, youâll also pick up new words along the way.
Whatâs more, thanks to apps like The Mimir, HelloTalk and Italki, you can even choose between casual conversations with native speakers and fellow learners, or sign up for one-on-one Mandarin lessons!
7. Keep a handwritten notebook of Chinese vocab
Call me old-fashioned, but one of the things I used to do in high school that really helped me improve my Chinese vocabulary was keeping a handwritten notebook called the çĺç°ż (sheng zi bu) which literally means âthe book of new wordsâ.
What we were told to do as students was to read a few pages of a book each day and every time we identified a word we were unfamiliar with (yes, even after five years of Chinese classes, there were still words we didnât know), we would write them down.
We then had to look up the dictionary to fill in the Hanyu pinyin, the meaning of the word, and form a sentence using that word. Itâs a tedious task that will remind you of actually being back in school but I can guarantee you itâs one of the most effective ways to improve your Chinese vocabulary!
8. Fall in love with Chinese classic literature
On the subject of reading, another way to improve your Chinese vocabulary and learn Chinese words that lie beyond the threshold of basic Mandarin, pick up some Chinese books and read them.
For a start, I would recommend nursery rhymes and childrenâs storybooks. However, once youâve reached intermediate proficiency, then itâs time you get introduced to the four Chinese classics: Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Dream of the Red Chamber.
Each one of these works is a compelling read (so much so that they have all been translated into English, but of course, you should read in Mandarin!) that contains plenty of rich expressions and profound Chinese words. Whatâs more, as you dive into them, youâll learn more about Chinese history, culture, and the communityâs way of life!
9. Pick up some idioms along the way
In most other languages, idioms are something like a bonus feature to add some flair to your language. Mandarin isnât like most other languages. In fact, using common idioms is an integral part of learning Chinese vocabulary!
Not only do Chinese idioms allow you to express yourself in complex ways, but they also add cultural nuance to your daily conversations. The most common type of Chinese idiom you can learn is ćčŻ chengyu, which are idioms made of four characters. Many of these originate from stories and Chinese historical records.
One such example is ç ´éć˛č (po fu chen zhou) which literally translates to âbreaking the cauldrons and sinking the boatsâ. It means to commit oneâs self irrevocably to something, derived from the famous Battle of Julu during the Chu-Han Contention Era of China.
Realizing that his army was facing a far superior enemy, the Chu warlord, Xiang Yu, commanded his troops to break the cauldrons and sink their boats. It was his way of telling his men that if they did not emerge victorious, they would starve to death on the battlefield. With nothing left to lose, the Chu troops scored a resounding victory.
10. Watch English shows with Chinese subtitles or vice versa
There are both active and passive ways of learning Chinese vocabulary while enjoying shows or movies in your free time.
The active way is to put on watch a show in English (or any other language aside from Mandarin) accompanied by Chinese subtitles. As you follow the story, look at the subtitles and try to spot familiar words. If there arenât any, then note those words down and look up the meaning.
On the flip side, you could watch a Chinese show (Chinese dramas are becoming popular on Netflix) using English subtitles. That way, you get to enjoy the show and follow along with the story. However, as watch along, youâll subconsciously start matching the Chinese words you hear to the English subtitles on the screen!
If you really want to take it up a notch, just watch a Chinese show with Chinese subtitles! Youâre learning Chinese vocabulary while also practicing your listening, reading, and pronunciation! Thatâs ä¸çłäşé¸ (two birds with one stone)!
11. Play some video games
This isnât the same as playing a gamified Chinese vocabulary game like Duolingo. This is basically loading up your favorite game (I think RPGs work the best) and switching everything to Mandarin!
As an avid gamer, I can tell you itâs one of the most effective and engaging ways to learn Chinese vocabulary. Even though you would probably be really confused in the beginning, eventually youâll start figuring things out and before you know it, youâll be adding a new lexicon of Chinese vocab to your repertoire.
Iâm not exactly sure what real-world scenario would require you to explain how âfire-type Pokemon are weak to water attacksâ but itâs good to know how to say it, just in case!
12. Listen to trendy Mandopop songs
If movies and games arenât your thing, then listen to Mandarin songs to improve your Chinese vocabulary. Call me biased but I do feel that the late 90s and 2000s were the peak period of Mandopop, punctuated by catchy tunes and meaningful lyrics.
Check out songs by Jay Chou, JJ Lin, Jolin Tsai and more to get started. Jay Chou especially, given his hip hop background, produces plenty of songs with rich vocabulary, although not all of them are suitable for daily conversations! Alternatively, you could simply tune into some Chinese podcasts.
13. Create a TikTok account and get scrolling!
No matter how much you may or may not knock it, TikTok is now one of the leading social media platforms on the market. For the avid Chinese language learner, TikTok isnât just an avenue to keep up with the latest trends in culture, but also a way to learn Chinese vocabulary you donât read about in books!
There are plenty of accounts that produce content specializing in teaching users Mandarin such as @chinesewithmia and @chinachinese. More importantly, as you consume Chinese media on TikTok, youâll also pick up colloquial Chinese â modern words and expressions that help you sound even more natural when you speak the language.
If you really want to immerse yourself in Chinese TikTok, download Douyin, the original Chinese version of the app.
14. Think and do things in Mandarin
Finally, the best tip to improve your Chinese vocabulary is to learn how to live in a Mandarin environment. Learning this ancient language is going to take a lot of time. One way to gently nudge the process along is to start going through your daily routines in Mandarin.
Have to make a shopping list? Use Mandarin words to list down your items. Trying to remember the steps for making a frittata? Try translating the recipe to Mandarin! Having lunch at a cafe? Try translating everything you see on the table into Mandarin as a little game!
Once you get used to Mandarin being part and parcel of your daily life, your Chinese word bank will expand without you even noticing!
Final thoughts
And there you have it: 14 effective tips to improve your Chinese vocabulary! Learning Chinese words may be challenging, but I can guarantee you itâs extremely worthwhile, especially once you realize how far youâve come. Hopefully, these tips can help make things easier for you as you learn more Chinese words and improve your fluency!
If you want to practice your Chinese vocab, or any other aspects of the language, check out these Chinese workbooks too!