How to learn Chinese from scratch?

Learning Chinese from scratch can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Set Clear Goals: Determine why you want to learn Chinese. Is it for travel, business, or personal interest? Having clear goals will motivate you throughout the learning process.

2. Choose the Right Chinese Variety:

Mandarin (Standard Chinese): This is the most widely spoken and official language of China. It’s a good choice for most learners.

Cantonese: Spoken in parts of China (e.g., Hong Kong) and among overseas Chinese communities. Choose this if you have specific regional interests.

3. Learn Chinese Pinyin : Pinyin is the Romanization of Chinese characters. It’s essential for pronunciation. Invest time in mastering the Pinyin system.

4. Learn Chinese Basic Vocabulary : Learn Chinese common words and phrases for greetings, numbers, and everyday communication.

5. Learn Chinese Grammar and Sentence Structure : Learn Chinese basic sentence structure and grammar rules. Chinese grammar is quite different from English. Practice constructing simple sentences.

Learn Chinese

6. Learn Chinese Characters : Learn Chinese characters are a key part of the language. Start with basic characters and gradually build your vocabulary. Use textbooks or online resources to learn stroke order and writing.

7. Language Learning Resources: Invest in textbook, Online platforms, audios and videos.

8. Listen and Speak: Practice listening to native speakers to improve your comprehension. Speak as much as possible to improve your pronunciation.

9. Join a Language Class: Find a language partner or join a class to learn Chinese.

10. Immerse Yourself : Watch Chinese movies, TV shows, and listen to Chinese music or podcasts to expose yourself to the language.

11. Practice Regularly : Consistency is key. Dedicate a set amount of time daily to study and practice Chinese.
Set achievable short-term and long-term goals.

12. Visit China or Chinese-Speaking Regions: If possible, spend some time in a Chinese-speaking country to practice in real-life situations.

13. Keep a Language Journal : Record new words, phrases, and sentences you learn. It can help reinforce your learning.

14. Stay Patient and Persistent: Learn Chinese language takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged by challenges.

15. Get feedback on your speaking and writing from native speakers or experienced learners to improve your skills.

16. Advanced Study: Once you have a solid foundation, consider more advanced topics like Chinese culture, literature, or specialized vocabulary for your interests.

Remember that learn Chinese is a gradual process. Be patient and stay committed, and you will make progress over time.

Learn Chinese in BBC Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced level

1. Learn Chinese Beginner Level

A001     What’s your name?    你叫什么名字?
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?

A002     Where were you born?    你在哪儿出生的?
Nǐ zài nǎr chūshēng de?

A003     Where is your hometown?    你的家乡在哪儿?
Nǐ de jiāxiāng zài nǎr?

A004     What do you like to eat?    你平时喜欢吃什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan chī shénme?

A005     What do you like to drink?    你平时喜欢喝什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan hē shénme?

A006     How old are you?    你多大了?
Nǐ duōdà le?

A007    What do you study?    你学什么的?
Nǐ xué shénme de?

A008    Where do you work?    你在哪儿工作?
Nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò?

A009    What did you do today?    你今天做了些什么?
Nǐ jīntiān zuò le xiē shénme?

A010    What kind of music do you like?    你喜欢什么样的音乐?
Nǐ xǐhuan shénmeyàng de yīnyuè?

A011    What animal would you most like to be?     你最想成为哪种动物?
Nǐ zuì xiǎng chéngwéi nǎ zhǒng dòngwù?

A012    What languages do you speak?    你都会说哪种语言?
Nǐ dōu huì shuō nǎ zhǒng yǔyán?

A013     How long have you lived in this city?    你在这个城市住了多久了?
Nǐ zài zhège chéngshì zhù le duōjiǔ le?

A014    How many people are in your family?    你家有几口人?
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?

A015    Have you been to Sydney?    你去过悉尼吗?
Nǐ qù guò Xīní ma?

A016    Do you have a best friend? Who is s/he?    你有最好的朋友吗?他或她是谁?
Nǐ yǒu zuìhǎo de péngyǒu ma? Tā huò tā shì sheí?

A017    Do you prefer summer or winter?    夏天和冬天,你更喜欢哪一个?
Xiàtiān hé dōngtiān, nǐ gèng xǐhuan nǎ yīgè?

A018    What do you do on the weekend?    你周末喜欢做些什么呢?
Nǐ zhōumò xǐhuan zuò xiē shénme ne?

A019    What hobbies do you have?    你有什么爱好?
Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?

A020    What sports do you like?    你都喜欢哪种体育项目?
Nǐ dōu xǐhuan nǎ zhǒng tǐyù xiàngmù?

A021     What is your favourite food?    你最喜欢的食物是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de shíwù shì shénme?

A022    What do you normally have for breakfast?     你早饭平时都吃些什么?
Nǐ zǎofàn píngshí dōu chī xiē shénme?

A023    How do you get to work or university?    你平时上班或上学都怎么走?
Nǐ píngshí shàngbān huò shàngxué dōu zěnme zǒu?

A024    What do you do on holidays?    你放假都做些什么?
Nǐ fàngjià dōu zuò xiē shénme?

A025     What’s your favourite film?    你最喜欢的电影是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de diànyǐng shì shénme?

A026    What is your greatest wish?    你最大的愿望是什么?
Nǐ zuìdà de yuànwàng shì shénme?

A027    Are you married or single?    你结婚了还是单身?
Nǐ jiéhūn le háishì dānshēn?

A028    Do you drive or take public transport?    你开车还是做公交?
Nǐ kāichē háishì zuò gōngjiāo?

A029    What do you like to do in your spare time?     你平时喜欢做些什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan zuò xiē shénme?

A030    What’s your favourite TV show?    你最喜欢的电视剧是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de diànshìjù shì shénme?

A031    Do you like shopping? Why or why not?     你喜欢购物吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan gòuwù ma? Wèishénme?

A032    What subjects did you study in school?    你在学校时都学了哪些科目?
Nǐ zài xuéxiào shí dōu xué le nǎxiē kēmù?

A033    Do you prefer trains, trams or buses?    火车,电车和公共汽车,你更喜欢哪一个?
Huǒchē, diànchē hé gōnggòng qìchē, nǐ gèng xǐhuan nǎ yīgè?

2. Learn Chinese Intermediate level

B034     Do you often eat fast food? Why or why not?    你经常吃快餐吗?为什么?
Nǐ jīngcháng chī kuàicān ma? Wèishénme?

B035    What is a major achievement in your life?    你生命中一项重要的成就是什么?
Nǐ shēngmìng zhòng yī xiàng zhòngyào de chéngjiù shì shénme?

B036    Do you like karaoke? Why or why not?    你喜欢卡拉OK吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan kǎlāOK ma? Wèishénme?

B037    What are the best ways to keep healthy?     保持健康的最好方法是什么?
Bǎochí jiànkāng de zuì hǎo fāngfǎ shì shénme?

B038     What is the best way to make new friends?    结交新朋友的最好方法是什么?
Jiéjiāo xīn péngyou de zuì hǎo fāngfǎ shì shénme?

B039    What is the best holiday you’ve ever had?    你所度过最愉快的一个假期是哪一个?
Nǐ suǒ dù guò zuì yúkuài de yīgè jiàqī shì nǎ yīgè?

B040    Do you think you are a “nerd”?    你觉得你是一个“宅男”或“宅女”吗?
Nǐ juéde nǐ shì yīgè “zháinán” huò “zháinǚ” ma?

B041    What are some of the traditional foods in your home country?    你国家传统的食物是什么?
Nǐ guójiā chuántǒng de shíwù shì shénme?

B042    Do you have an iPhone? Why or why not?     你有一部iPhone吗?为什么?
Nǐ yǒuyī bù iPhone ma? Wèishénme?

B043    Are you interested in politics? Why or why not?    你对政治感兴趣吗?为什么?
Nǐ duì zhèngzhì gǎnxìngqù ma? Wèishénme?

B044    What do you think about this city’s public transport system?    你觉得这个城市的公共交通系统怎么样?
Nǐ juéde zhège chéngshì de gōnggòng jiāotōng xìtǒng zěnme yàng?

B045     Are you a fan of anime or other cartoons?    你是日本动漫或其他卡通的粉丝吗?
Nǐ shì Rìběn dòngmàn huò qítā kǎtōng de fěnsī ma?

B046    Are you a night owl or an early bird?    你是个夜猫子,还是早起者?
Nǐ shìgè yèmāozi, háishì zǎoqǐ zhě?

B047    Do you see your family often?    你经常看望你的家人吗?
Nǐ jīngcháng kànwàng nǐ de jiārén ma?

B048    Do you like going to pubs and nightclubs?    你喜欢去酒吧和夜总会吗?
Nǐ xǐhuan qù jiǔbā hé yèzǒnghuì ma?

B049    Who is your favourite celebrity?    你最喜欢的名人是谁?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de míngrén shì sheí?

B050    What are your impressions of this city?    你对这座城市的印象怎么样?
Nǐ duì zhè zuò chéngshì de yìnxiàng zěnmeyàng?

B051    Is money important?    金钱重要吗?
Jīnqián zhòngyào ma?

B052    Do you like reading? What books do you like to read?    你喜欢看书吗?平时都看些什么样的书?
Nǐ xǐhuan kà shū ma? Píngshí dōu kàn xiē shénme yàng de shū?

B053    What are your future goals?     你未来的目标是什么?
Nǐ wèilái de mùbiāo shì shénme?

B054    Do you celebrate Christmas?     你过圣诞节吗?
Nǐ guò shèngdànjié ma?

B055     What are some of your bad habits?    你都有哪些坏习惯?
Nǐ dōu yǒu nǎxiē huài xíguàn?

B056    What are the personalities of your parents and other family members?    你的父母和其他家人的性格都是什么样的?
Nǐ de fùmǔ hé qítā jiārén de xìnggé dōu shì shénmeyàng de?

B057    Are you religious?    你信教吗?
Nǐ xìnjiào ma?

B058    How long have you been learning your second language?    你学习第二语言多长时间了?
Nǐ xuéxí dì èr yǔyán duō cháng shíjiān le?

B059    Do you have a good sense of direction?    你的方向感好吗?
Nǐ de fāngxiànggǎn hǎo ma?

B060    How do you spend your money?    你怎样来支配自己的花销?
Nǐ zěnyàng lái zhīpèi zìjǐ de huā xiao?

B061    Do you like to travel? What places have you been to?    你喜欢旅游吗?你都去过哪些地方?
Nǐ xǐhuan lǚyóu ma? Nǐ dōu qù guò nǎxiē dìfang?

B062    What is your favourite item of clothing, and why?    说说你穿过的衣服中,哪一件你最喜欢?为什么?
Shuō shuō nǐ chuān guò de yīfu zhōng, nǎ yī jiàn nǐ zuì xǐhuan? Wèishénme?

B063    Do you like surfing the web? What websites would you recommend?    你喜欢上网吗?有哪些网站你可以推荐一下?
Nǐ xǐhuan shàngwǎng ma? Yǒu nǎxiē wǎngzhàn nǐ kěyǐ tuījiàn yīxià?

B064     Have you ever been in love?    你曾经恋爱过吗?
Nǐ céngjīng liàn’ài guò ma?

B065     What are some of the problems of tourism?    旅游业带来的问题是什么?
Lǚyóuyè dàilái de wèntí shì shénme?

B066    Do you like to take risks? Why or why not?    你喜欢冒险吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan màoxiǎn ma? Wèishénme?

3. Learn Chinese Advanced level

C067     Do you think advertising has a negative effect on society?     你觉得广告会给社会带来负面影响吗?
Nǐ juéde guǎnggào huì gěi shèhuì dàilái fùmiàn yǐngxiǎng ma?

C068    Do you think women should be allowed to fight in the front line?    你认为应该允许妇女在前线战斗吗?
Nǐ rènwéi yīnggāi yǔnxǔ fùnǚ zài qiánxiàn zhàndòu ma?

C069    Some people have suggested we should raise the legal drinking age in Australia to 21. Do you think this a good idea?     有人建议我们应该把澳洲的法定饮酒年龄提高到二十一岁。你认为这是一个好主意吗?Yǒurén jiànyì wǒmen yīnggāi bǎ Àozhōu de fǎdìng yǐnjiǔ niánlíng tígāo dào èr shí yī suì. Nǐ rènwéi zhè shì yīgè hǎo zhǔyì ma?

C070    Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree?    有些政府已经禁止在公共场所吸烟,你是否同意?
Yǒuxiē zhèngfǔ yǐjīng jìnzhǐ zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ xīyān, nǐ shìfǒu tóngyì?

C071    To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?     在什么限度内使用动物来做科学研究可以被接受?
Zài shénme xiàndù nèi shǐyòng dòngwù lái zuò kēxué yánjiū kěyǐ bèi jiēshòu?

C072    Are zoos cruel to wild animals?    动物园对于野生动物来讲是不是过于残忍?
Dòngwùyuán duìyú yěshēng dòngwù lái jiǎng shì bùshì guòyú cánrěn?

C073    To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?     在过去的二十年中,传统的男性角色变化到了什么样的程度?
Zài guòqù de èr shí nián zhōng, chuántǒng de nánxìng juésè biànhuà dào le shénmeyàng de chéngdù?

C074     Should money be spent on space exploration?    我们应该把钱花在空间探索上吗?
Wǒmen yīnggāi bǎ qián huā zài kōngjiān tànsuǒ shàng ma?

C075    Should primary school students be taught sex education?    应该对小学生进行性教育吗?
Yīnggāi duì xiǎoxuéshēng jìnxíng xìngjiàoyù ma?

C076    What is the meaning of life?    人生的意义是什么?
Rénshēng de yìyì shì shénme?

C077     What does it mean to be happy? How does one find happiness?     幸福的定义是什么?人们如何才能找到幸福?
Xìngfú de dìngyì shì shénme? Rénmen rúhé cáinéng zhǎodào xìngfú?

C078    Euthanasia has been a controversial topic for many years. What are the pros and cons to it being legalised?     “安乐死”多年以来一直是一个充满争议的话题。使其合法化的优缺点各是什么?
“Ānlèsǐ” duōnián yǐlái yīzhí shì yīgè chōngmǎn zhēngyì de huàtí. Shǐ qí héfǎhuà de yōuquēdiǎn gè shì shénme?

C079    In your opinion, under what conditions should abortion be acceptable, if at all?     在你看来,如果可以的话,在什么条件下流产可以被接受?
Zài nǐ kàn lái, rúguǒ kěyǐ de huà, zài shénme tiáojiàn xià liúchǎn kěyǐ bèi jiēshòu?

C080    Should students be required to wear a school uniform?    应该要求学生穿校服吗?
Yīnggāi yāoqiú xuéshēng chuān xiàofú ma?

C081    Should the age to vote be reduced to 16?    法定的投票年龄应该被缩短至十六岁吗?
Fǎdìng de tóupiào niánlíng yīnggāi bèi suōduǎnzhì shí liù suì ma?

C082    In what circumstances is patriotism justified?    在什么样的情况下,爱国主义才算是合理?
Zài shénme yàng de qíngkuàng xià, àiguó zhǔyì cái suàn shì hélǐ?

C083     Can politicians be trusted?    政治家可信吗?
Zhèngzhìjiā kě xìn ma?

C084     What characteristics should a great leader have?    一位伟大的领袖都需要具备哪些特点?
Yī wèi wěidà de lǐngxiù dōu xūyào jùbèi nǎxiē tèdiǎn?

C085    What are the signs of teenage depression? How can teenage depression be prevented or treated?    青少年抑郁都有哪些迹象?如何避免或者治疗青少年抑郁?
Qīngshàonián yìyù dōu yǒu nǎxiē jīxiàng? Rúhé bìmiǎn huòzhě zhìliáo qīngshàonián yìyù?

C086     What are the advantages and potential dangers of cloning?     克隆技术的优点和其潜在的危险都有哪些?
Kèlóng jìshù de yōudiǎn hé qí qiánzài de wéixiǎn dōu yǒu nǎxiē?

C087    Should the death penalty be abolished?     应该废除死刑吗?
Yīnggāi fèichú sǐxíng ma?

C088    What are your views on global warming and climate change?    你对全球变暖和气候变化有什么看法?
Nǐ duì quánqiú biànnuǎn hé qìhòu biànhuà yǒu shénme kànfǎ?

C089    Do you  play any musical instruments? If not, are there any you would you like to play?    你会演奏哪种乐器?如果不会的话,那你希望自己能会演奏哪种乐器?
Nǐ huì yǎnzòu nǎ zhǒng yuèqì? Rúguǒ bù huì dehuà, nà nǐ xīwàng zìjǐ néng huì yǎnzòu nǎ zhǒng yuèqì?

C090    Can terrorism ever be justified?     恐怖主义从来都不合理吗?
Kǒngbù zhǔyì cónglái dōu bù hélǐ ma?

C091    Does Hollywood have a negative influence on the world?     好莱坞会给世界带来不良的影响吗?
Hǎoláiwù huì gěi shìjiè dài lái bu liáng de yǐngxiǎng ma?

C092    Should junk food be banned in public schools?    应该在公立学校内禁止提供垃圾食品吗?
Yīnggāi zài gōnglì xuéxiào nèi jìnzhǐ tígōng lājī shípǐn ma?

C093    Do you use social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook? Why or why not?     你使用像Twitter或者Facebook这样的社交网站吗?为什么?
Nǐ shǐyòng xiàng Twitter huòzhě Facebook zhèyàng de shèjiāo wǎngzhàn ma? Wèishénme?

C094    Do you think university students are under a lot of stress nowadays?     你觉得当今大学生的压力是不是很大?
Nǐ juédé dàngjīn dàxuéshēng de yālì shì bù shì hěn dà?

C095    Do you think the government or the individual should pay for tuition fees?    你觉得学费应该由政府还是个人来支付?
Nǐ juéde xuéfèi yīnggāi yóu zhèngfǔ háishì gèrén lái zhīfù?

C096    In your opinion, which invention most benefitted humanity?    在你看来,哪一项发明给人类带来了最大的好处?
Zài nǐ kàn lái, nǎ yī xiàng fāmíng gěi rénlèi dài lái le zuìdà de hǎochù?

C097     Should suicides be reported in news media?    应该在媒体中报道关于自杀的新闻吗?
Yīnggāi zài méitǐ zhōng bàodào guānyú zìshā de xīnwén ma?

C098    What kind of challenges do international students face studying at universities in Australia?    你觉得在澳洲大学学习的国际学生将会面临哪些挑战?
Nǐ juéde zài Àozhōu dàxué xuéxí de guójì xuéshēng jiāng huì miànlín nǎxiē tiǎozhàn?

C099     What do you think about your country’s education system?     你觉得贵国的教育系统如何?
Nǐ juéde guìguó de jiàoyù xìtǒng rúhé?

C100     What role does art play in modern societies?    在现代社会中,艺术起到了怎样的作用?
Zài xiàndài shèhuì zhōng, yìshù qǐdào le zěnyàng de zuòyòng?

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