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Starting to learn a new language is a real challenge, so it’s best to take it step by step. If you are new to Chinese and are looking to master this language but don’t know where to start, this guide is for you. How to learn Chinese ? Should we focus on pronunciation or characters? We go over the important points that you will need to address to start and progress in Chinese and we give you some useful resources for learning Chinese online.
What are the essential steps to get started in Chinese?
To learn Chinese easily, there is a golden rule: don’t skip steps. Some learners prefer to do without tones at first, and this is one of the main pitfalls to avoid! If you’re starting from scratch in Chinese, you might as well build a solid foundation.
Pronunciation: start with Pinyin and tones
It is important, from the beginning of your learning, to start practicing pronunciation. Do not neglect this aspect, because the way you pronounce a word in Chinese can change its entire meaning: this is what we call tones.
There are three elements to know which will determine the way in which a syllable, and more generally a word, is pronounced:
To learn the pronunciation of initials and finals, you will start by learning Pinyin . It is a phonetic transcription system, invented in 1958, which uses the letters of the Latin alphabet.
If Pinyin helps you a lot, you won’t be able to do without tones to learn the Chinese language and make yourself understood. There are in fact few combinations of consonants in Chinese, and the tones will be decisive in understanding the meaning of a word. There are four different tones:
There is also a neutral tone that stays flat. Of course, you’ll never learn tones by reading their descriptions in writing. To learn Chinese pronunciation, you must first listen and repeat it.
Once you have learned the main initials, finals and the 4 tones, practice pronouncing syllables and then words, taking your time and repeating them until you assimilate them well.
Become familiar with Chinese characters
When we think of Chinese, we often think first of the characters. If you can do without it at first and concentrate on Pinyin, you will have to get around to it one day. It might as well be as early as possible, because mastering characters requires familiarizing yourself with a whole new way of writing.
There are traditional characters and simplified characters in Chinese that are used in different regions of China. Depending on your goal, you will most often start with simplified characters . The ideal, in the long term, is to learn both systems.
Then, there is no secret: to learn the characters, you have to break them down, understand the layout, and repeat it. The order in which we draw the characters is indeed important! At the end of this article you will find online resources to practice tracing Chinese characters.
Learn the basics of Chinese grammar
Knowing how to speak Chinese also means knowing how to make sentences. No language escapes grammar. Chinese grammar is quite different from French grammar. This can confuse beginners: there is no conjugation or agreement. The sentence structure is also different.
To learn Chinese quickly and master the grammar, the best thing is to follow a real method, whether in online Chinese lessons with a teacher or by learning independently. As with pronunciation and characters, don’t rush and take the time to familiarize yourself with each concept.
