How to Learn Chinese Fast: 5 Steps for Effective Learning

Are you looking for an efficient way to learn Chinese?

The ability to speak, read, and write in Chinese is becoming more and more valuable in today’s globalized world. However, learning Mandarin Chinese can be daunting, given its complexity. You know the saying, "Time is money."

To quickly improve your Chinese language skills, we will provide valuable Chinese learning tips and strategies to help you learn Chinese faster and with better efficiency.

Step 1. Determine your learning goals

Before you start your Chinese journey, it is important to determine your learning goals. Think about your position and the goals you want to accomplish:

• What do you hope to achieve in the short term? In the long-term?

• Do you want to learn writing, speaking, reading, or all?

• Are you preparing for an upcoming trip to China, aiming to pass a Chinese exam?

• Are you looking to communicate effectively with Chinese friends?

Depending on your position, you might be looking for different goals. Such as:

• Student: Pass AP Chinese, a college-level Mandarin course, or the HSK test

• Business person: Be able to read, write emails, or know Chinese business phrases for work

• Tourist: Learn enough basic conversation skills to get around when traveling in Chinese speaking countries

By understanding your purpose, you can tailor your learning approach accordingly. For example, focusing on public interactions, Chinese history, and cultural aspects would be beneficial if you're planning a trip. Or, if you are hosting a Chinese person or participating in a Chinese host family, then daily conversation skills are the best way to go.

By establishing specific objectives, you can better plan how to learn Chinese fast and effectively.

Step 2. Make a specific plan with short-term and long-term targets

Once you have established your learning goals, it's time to develop a specific plan to achieve them.

Short-term goals can be accomplished within the first few weeks of your studies, such as mastering basic conversational words, while long-term goals could involve having fluent conversations with native Chinese speakers within six months or being able to read over 2,000 Chinese characters within a year.

These goals should follow SMART(specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). For example, instead of setting a vague goal such as "to improve my Chinese writing skills," try a more measurable objective like "learn to write 40 new simplified Chinese characters this month." You can easily track your progress and stay motivated by setting clear targets.

Regularly review your short-term goals, at least monthly, if not weekly, and make necessary adjustments based on your performance. This approach lets you be flexible and adjust your plans when necessary.

Step 3. Make a daily learning schedule

Consistency is key to learning Chinese quickly and effectively, so the best way to learn Chinese fast and effectively is by setting a daily learning schedule with your learning style.

While weekly lessons can be helpful, they are not sufficient on their own. Short and focused learning sessions are more advantageous, as our brains can absorb only a certain amount of information at a time.

Aim to study Chinese for at least an hour daily, alternating between reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities. The spaced repetition system (SRS) is an effective method for learning Chinese as it optimizes memory retention by spacing out practice sessions according to individual learning needs.

While plenty of Chinese learning apps are on the market, Pandanese is one of the best apps out there. Pandanese combines the SRS and mnemonics to help you memorize as many Chinese characters as possible. After learning a certain amount, you will be tested on their meaning and pronunciation. Correct answers will result in seeing those characters more frequently than the characters you've already memorized.

Additionally, use any free time during the day, lunchtime, or waiting in line to practice what you’ve studied. Even if it is for 5 minutes, learning an extra character, grammar, or meaning will move your learning forward.

Step 4. Try to think in Chinese

To truly master a language, thinking in Chinese when trying out new words or phrases is important. One way is to try out sentences that use the new Chinese words you've learned. By incorporating Chinese thinking into your daily life, you can improve your Chinese skills rapidly.

Additionally, whenever you encounter an object or experience an event, try expressing your thoughts in Chinese. For example, you can start with simple phrases and gradually construct complete sentences for daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, or commuting.

By constantly thinking and using Chinese words, this practice will sharpen your language reflexes and facilitate faster language acquisition.

Step 5. Combining listening, reading, speaking and writing in Chinese

To effectively learn Mandarin fast, it's best to combine 4 language skills–listening, reading, speaking, and writing—when studying.

Listening

For listening comprehension, there are plenty of Chinese media to watch and listen to. There are Chinese movies, Chinese dramas, Chinese music, Chinese radio stations, Chinese podcasts, Youtube videos, etc. You can even watch your favorite show in Chinese by changing the language option on your streaming device. Exposure to how native speakers will help you pick up and differentiate Chinese tones.

Reading

There are also plenty of Chinese reading materials for you. Chinese novels (wuxia books and xianxia novels) are quite popular worldwide. Reading them in Chinese allows a deeper understanding before their names, meanings, and impact on the story. If these stories are not your preference, you read Chinese news, or social media posts, forums from online Chinese communities.

Speaking

Finding a native Chinese speaker might but tough, but once you find one, they are your #1 resource. Not only will it improve your Chinese speaking, but it will also simultaneously improve your listening skills. Your Chinese teacher, a Chinese language partner, or any Chinese-speaking friends works perfectly, too! If you have the courage, you can order in Chinese at your local Chinese restaurant. The main goal is not to have perfect Chinese grammar but to convey your thoughts. Soon, you will gradually develop your conversational Chinese.

Writing

A simple way to improve your writing is to write in a journal. Nothing has to be perfect, so there is no pressure. You can start with basic vocabulary and simple sentences. You can give yourself prompts to write about, or you can write about your day. Once you have increased your vocabulary and grammar, you can make corrections. You can post on Chinese forums or social media apps where people can correct your writing.

A combination of these language skills will enhance your Chinese learning journey. When you have the chance, embrace the opportunities to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and communicate with others to express your thoughts.

Final thoughts

It's not about knowing how to learn Chinese fast, but the effort put forth to learn Chinese fast.

You can make steady progress in Chinese when you set goals, develop a plan, and maintain a daily learning schedule. With dedication and consistent practice, you can read, write, listen, and speak Chinese in no time.