Hacking Chinese Podcast
Episodes
299 - How to not memorise Chinese characters: The anatomy of bad mnemonics
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques that help you remember everything from PIN codes to Chinese characters. Good mnemonics make learning easier, bu...
298 - The best time to start learning Chinese is now: A guide for expats
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The best time to start learning Chinese might be behind you, but the second-best time is now. If you’ve been surrounded by Mandarin for years and ke...
297 - Improve your Chinese conversations by listening to the listener
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The obvious way to learn Mandarin is to listen to a person speaking the language. The less obvious way is to listen to the person who isn’t speaking...
296 - Chinese is fascinating and exciting, not weird and stupid
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When learning a foreign language, some things might appear weird or even stupid. But does a negative attitude towards Chinese make it harder to learn?...
295 - Which Chinese language course should you take?
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The answer to the question of which Chinese language course you should choose is that it depends. But what does it depend on, and how do you make the ...
294 - The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Listening is the most important skill of all, because it accelerates all other learning and is crucial for social integration. What are the best free ...
293 - Remembering is a skill you can learn: Mnemonics for Chinese learners
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Remembering is not a fixed, innate ability; it's a skill you can learn. In fact, there are many proven and easy ways to improve your memory!#learn...
292 - A practical guide to your ideal Mandarin self: Build motivation that lasts
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Motivation is not a personality trait that you either have or lack. It is a system you can design. Picture your future Mandarin self, make study susta...
291 - Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mnemonics are clever memory devices designed to make it easier to remember things, but considering that they take time both to create and retrieve, ar...
290 - Spaced repetition: What it is and how to use it to learn Chinese
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of learning Chinese characters and words only to forget them a day, a week or a month later? What if there were a simple method that wou...
289 - Reader and listener survey + Lunar New Year discount
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I started Hacking Chinese to help people learn Mandarin, and your feedback is essential, so please fill out my listener survey. Also, to celebrate the...
288 - New book: Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I have published a book! It's called Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection and contains articles I wrote in 2024, the Year of the Dragon. The art...
287 - Ep 287 - How to get honest feedback to boost your Chinese speaking and writing
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Feedback is important for learning, because it can show you how to not use the language and highlight things you hadn't noticed before. But gettin...
286 - Chinese reading practice for beginners: 7 resources to improve your Mandarin
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The best way to learn to read Chinese is to read texts you can understand without constantly using a dictionary. As a beginner, those texts aren’t a...
285 - Chinese subtitles and transcripts: Reading before, while or after listening
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Subtitles and transcripts can help you understand spoken Chinese, but do they also help you become a better listener? Should you read along, read firs...
284 - Chinese listening, fast and slow: Three ways of slowing down Mandarin speech
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spoken Mandarin can feel like an onslaught of similar sounds, half-recognised tones and unknown words. To add insult to injury, it's often too fas...
283 - Best of Hacking Chinese 2025
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
2025 has come to an end. Which were the most popular articles on Hacking Chinese last year? The most popular podcast episodes? It's time to summar...
282 - Diversify how you study Chinese to learn more
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How is it possible to spend 80 hours a week learning Chinese? And what can you learn from that, even if you're busy juggling work, family and othe...
281 - Reading is a lot like spaced repetition, only better
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can build vocabulary in Chinese with flashcard apps and spaced repetition, but reading is more effective and more enjoyable. It helps you recognis...
280 -Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How long does it take to learn a Chinese character or word? It varies, but some vocabulary just refuses to stick, no matter what you do. These are cal...
279 - Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody knows that knowing many words is important, but how important is it? And how should you expand your vocabulary in Chinese?#learnchinese #voc...
278 - A minimum-effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese characters are beautiful and fascinating, but learning to write them by hand is time-consuming. If you want to learn to write Chinese characte...
277 - Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden... or burn it down and start afresh
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Flashcards are powerful, but what if your deck feels more like an overgrown thicket than a carefully cultivated garden? Do you clear away the weeds an...
276 - 4, 3, 2, 1: Fluency! A great technique to boost your Mandarin speaking ability
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to speak Mandarin fluently, no matter what your level is? Use the 4/3/2 technique to build confidence and flow!#learnchinese #fluency #flu...
275 - How to talk about Chinese characters in Chinese
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do native speakers talk about Chinese characters?The writing system is not phonetic, so you can't spell out words, but it is still possible to...
274 - Why not going to China now could actually be good for your Chinese
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Going abroad to learn Chinese in an immersion environment can be great, but unless you plan to stay for years, you might be better off delaying your t...
273 - What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How small can Chinese characters be while still being legible? How much information do they contain per unit area? And what can a big Rubik’s cube t...
272 - Learning (or not learning) Chinese slang
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Slang and swearing often top the list of what people want to learn in a foreign language. But is this curiosity actually helpful for learners, or just...
271 - 7 ways to learn to write Chinese characters
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to write characters is an integral part of learning Chinese, but how do you practise writing them? Do you type? Write on paper? Or… on the ...
270 - How to not teach Chinese characters to beginners: A 12-step approach
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I started learning Chinese well over a decade ago, and I have encountered many great teachers. But I have also seen truly terrible teaching, especiall...
269 - Same building blocks, different characters: How component placement changes meaning in Chinese
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese character components are usually placed in predictable ways, so if you remember the components, you can often write the character. But not alw...
268 - 16 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let's explore 8 more myths that might be holding you back!#l...
267 - How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most Chinese learners want one thing above all: to speak better. Many turn to a teacher for guidance, but that is only the first step. True progress d...
266 - What important words are missing from HSK?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HSK is the most widely used proficiency test for Chinese, and many learners aim to master the vocabulary at each level. Yet some of the most important...
265 - 5 common challenges in Mandarin listening comprehension and how to overcome them
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you ask questions in Mandarin but struggle to understand the answers? Do you feel that you know the words, but people just speak too fast? And why...
264 - Learning Chinese through comprehensible input
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you really learn Mandarin through listening and reading alone? What is comprehensible input, and how do you get enough of it?And how do speaking, ...
263 - Classroom Mandarin: Essential expressions for learning Chinese in Chinese
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The fastest way to learn to communicate in Chinese is to learn classroom expressions first. Master essential phrases that help you learn Mandarin with...
262 - Getting the most from Hacking Chinese in 2025: Back-to-school course discount, 2025
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are over 500 articles and more than 1 million words on Hacking Chinese. How are you supposed to absorb all that information and inspiration as a...
261 - Should you learn to speak Chinese before you learn Chinese characters?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you learn Chinese characters from the start, or focus on speaking first? There are good arguments for both approaches, but one makes more sense...
260 - 16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does handwriting still have a place in modern Chinese learning? Let's explore 8 more popular arguments in favour of writing characters by hand to ...
259 - Using AI chatbots for low-stress Mandarin speaking practice
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t need to be fluent to speak Mandarin with AI. These beginner-friendly chatbot activities offer low-pressure practice that builds confidence...
258 - How to find the perfect Mandarin tutor for you: A complete guide
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A great tutor can accelerate your learning, but finding the right one isn’t easy. To get the best results, you need to be patient and try many optio...
257 - Student Q&A: July, 2025: AI feedback, input methods and topics for writing
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get good feedback on your Chinese writing using AI? What’s the best input method for students? And how do you find interesting topics to ...
256 - 8 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does handwriting still have a place in modern Chinese learning? Let's explore 8 popular arguments in favour of writing characters by hand, each cr...
255 - 7 characteristics of a great Chinese tutor or private teacher
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A great tutor can transform your Chinese learning, but how do you know if a tutor is good? Let's explore the key qualities that make a tutor truly...
254 - How to get the most out of your Chinese tutoring sessions
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having a tutor can be great for learning Chinese, but how much progress you make depends as much on you as on the tutor. Come prepared, stay engaged, ...
253 - 8 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let's explore eight myths that might be holding you back!#le...
252 - Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 7: How to navigate different types of listening in Mandarin
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listening is essential when learning Mandarin, but not all listening situations are the same. By recognising different types of listening, you can imp...
251 - Student Q&A: June, 2025: Beginner listening, group conversations, and Chinese news
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get started with listening in Mandarin? What makes group conversations so challenging? And is it true that news broadcasts in Chinese are ...
250 - Will Hacking Chinese help you learn Mandarin?
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is learning how to learn worth your time, or should you just engage directly with Chinese instead? The answer depends, but the longer your perspective...
249 - Zi.Tools: A powerful free resource for exploring Chinese characters
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zi.Tools is a great free resource for exploring Chinese characters. See what it offers and how you can use it to boost your learning!#learnchinese #ch...
248 - Student Q&A: May, 2025: Learning Chinese characters and words with flashcard apps
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you focus on learning many words superficially or few words well? How do you stay motivated when flashcards get boring? And how can you tell if...
247 - 7 kinds of tone problems in Mandarin and what to do about them
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tones in Mandarin are tricky, and students face many different kinds of problems. Identifying the type of problem is important for fixing it.#learnchi...
246 - Why using a good dictionary can be bad for your Chinese reading ability
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Digital dictionaries make reading Chinese easier, but they might also prevent you from learning essential strategies. Let's have a look at why usi...
245 - The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reading is the best way to expand vocabulary and learn about new things, but how should you approach reading in Chinese? And what are the best free re...
244 - Student Q&A: April, 2025: Reading with Pinyin, Chinese texts on your phone, and deciphering handwriting
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you read Chinese with or without Pinyin? What are the pros and cons of reading on your phone? And how do you learn to read Chinese people’s h...
243 - How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Memory is a skill that can be practised, learnt, and mastered. By using the right method, remembering even abstract things like tones and pronunciatio...
242 - Don’t be a tourist if you want to learn Chinese
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Living and travelling abroad can help you learn Chinese, but your attitude matters. To truly learn, stop being a tourist!#learnchinese #tourist #trave...
241 - Cramming vs. spaced repetition: When to use which method to learn Chinese
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you cram or use spaced repetition to learn Chinese? Discover when each method works best and why spaced repetition is key to long-term success....
240 - The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Videos are ideal for learning Chinese, because the visual element enhances comprehension and engagement. But what videos should you watch? What are th...
239 - Student Q&A: March, 2025: Chinese slang, leaving expat bubbles, and competing with other learners
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is learning Chinese slang worth your time? What do you do when someone with less study time speaks better than you? And how can you escape the expat b...
238 - Learning Chinese by playing board games
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Board games are more than just fun, they’re a powerful way to learn Chinese, boosting vocabulary, fluency, and communication skills!#learnchinese #b...
237 - Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some say that dating a native speaker is the ultimate shortcut to fluency. “You’ll learn effortlessly with a teacher always by your side!” But i...
236 - The Input Pyramid: Chinese Listening for Any Situation
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most students of Chinese find listening comprehension a challenge. To truly become a fluent listener, use the Input Pyramid to rethink and upgrade you...
235 - Student Q&A: February, 2025: Improving listening ability quickly, using transcripts, and understanding rapid Mandarin
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you improve listening ability as quickly as possible? Are there any strategies to deal with rapid speech? And how many times should you listen ...
234 - Reader and listener survey + Lunar New Year discount
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I started Hacking Chinese to help people learn Mandarin, and your feedback is essential, so please fill out my listener survey. Also, to celebrate the...
233 - The three roads to mastering Chinese
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’d think that there are many roads to mastering Chinese, but in truth, there are only three. #learnchinese #mastery #fluency #work #social #hobby...
232 - Best of Hacking Chinese 2024
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Another year has come to an end. Which were the most popular articles on Hacking Chinese in 2024 The most popular podcast episodes? It's time to summa...
231 - Student Q&A, January 2025: Chinese that reads like English, feedback from AI, and writing formal Chinese
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do if your teacher says that your text reads like English written with Chinese words? How can you get good feedback on your Chinese writin...
230 - What native speakers know about Chinese (and what they don't)
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You say something in Mandarin, a native speaker corrects you, and you adjust. The next day, another native speaker tells you to revert to your origina...
229 - Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques you can use to learn and remember more, but this doesn't mean that you should always use them. If you do, you w...
228 - Benchmarking progress in Chinese to stay motivated
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The more Chinese you learn, the less noticeable your progress becomes. Benchmarking can make your improvements more visible and help you stay motivate...
227 - Can English learning materials help you learn Chinese?
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You step into a bookshop, exploring the Chinese section, only to find a few textbooks and a 'Learn Chinese in Your Car.' But in the English section, s...
226 - Student Q&A, December 2024: Learning similar Chinese characters, polyphonic characters, and flashcards vs. reading for building vocabulary
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can you remember the difference between similar Chinese characters? Are flashcards better than reading for building vocabulary? And how do you lea...
225 - Which Chinese learning resources are worth paying for?
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to the internet, learning Chinese is now more accessible than ever, and you can do it completely for free. Just because you can doesn't mean th...
224 - Welcome to The Fluent Listener, a new course from Hacking Chinese!
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Want to understand Mandarin naturally, at any level? This course guides you in building an immersive listening environment and equips you with essenti...
223 - Four key principles to improve your Mandarin listening comprehension
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Listening is the cornerstone of language learning, yet many students struggle to improve their Mandarin listening comprehension. Fortunately, making p...
222 - Student Q&A, November 2024: Pros and cons of digital tools for Chinese reading, and the struggle to find comprehensible and interesting texts
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is reading digitally in Chinese better than on paper? What are the best digital tools for reading? And what should you do if you can’t find texts th...
221 - How to learn Zhuyin (Bopomofo) in two hours
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people believe that learning a new script is challenging, but mastering systems like Zhuyin (Bopomofo) or Japanese kana is surprisingly easy. Wit...
220 - Do you really know how to count in Chinese?
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Counting is one of the first things we learn in a foreign language, yet mastering it takes time. While basic numbers may seem simple, using them effec...
219 - Three things I wish I had known as an advanced student of Chinese: Time machine, part 3
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Improving your Chinese after you reach an advanced level requires new ways of learning and new sources of motivation. If I could go back in time to gi...
218 - Don’t learn Mandarin pronunciation by reading, listen and mimic instead
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t try to learn pronunciation by reading. Instead, the best way to improve is to listen to and mimic native speakers. Focusing too much on how so...
217 - Student Q&A, October 2024: Pronouncing the final -i after sh-, the initial z- and if Pinyin is a good transcription system
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is the Pinyin final -i pronounced after sh? How is the initial z- pronounced compared to z in English? And is Pinyin a good transcription system f...
216 - How to use YouTube and other video platforms to learn Chinese
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube and similar platforms offer a vast treasure trove of content that can help you learn Chinese, whether you're watching videos in Chinese or...
215 - Three things I wish I had known as an intermediate student of Chinese: The time machine, part 2
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traversing the intermediate Chinese learning plateau requires a shift in focus. Here are three pieces of advice for intermediate learners of Mandarin....
214 - YouGlish: A free service to hear and see Chinese words in context
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How words are pronounced and used depends on context, but traditional learning materials lack the diversity to prepare you for real-world Chinese. For...
213 - Student Q&A, September 2024: Slowly spoken Chinese, passing listening exams and understanding numbers
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should you slow down the Mandarin you listen to? How can you prepare for difficult listening exams? And how can you understand Chinese numbers in cont...
212 - Getting the most from Hacking Chinese in024: Back-to-school course discounts
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are over 500 articles and more than 1 million words on Hacking Chinese. How are you supposed to absorb all that information and inspiration as a...
211 - Three things I wish I had known as a beginner student of Chinese: The time machine, part 1
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I started learning Chinese more than 15 years ago. Here are three things I wish I had known back then, as a beginner! #learnchinese #beginner #timemac...
210 - The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Listening is the most important skill of all, because it accelerates all other learning and is crucial for social integration. What are the best free ...
209 - Student Q&A, August 2024: Avoiding mental translation, untranslatable words and why practising translation is good
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can you stop translating in your head? What are some Chinese words that can’t be translated? And why is translation a worthwhile learning activi...
208 - Insights from my recent trip to China: The importance of top-down listening
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding Chinese involves more than just knowing words and phrases; it's about using context to interpret meaning. My recent trip to China hi...
207 - Chinese character variants and font differences for language learners
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Small details sometimes matter when writing Chinese characters, but sometimes they don't. Figuring out which details to pay attention to is made h...
206 - Why you should preview before every Chinese lesson
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Previewing before Chinese lessons is a simple yet frequently overlooked method to enhance learning. By previewing, you maximise the benefits of each l...
205 - How I used a notebook to learn more Chinese, and why you should too
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The humble notebook is a powerful tool for learners of Chinese. Whether an exquisite leather-bound journal or a digital text file, a notebook offers m...
204 - Student Q&A, July 2024: Reading speed, children’s books and Chinese literature
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can you read Chinese faster? Which children's books are best for second-language learners? And what's the ideal entry point into Chinese l...
203 - The three factors that determine how much Chinese you learn
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When learning Chinese, your progress depends on three factors: the content you study, the methods you use, and the time you dedicate. To achieve your ...
202 - Habit hacking for language learners
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Habits are routines that become smooth and effortless with repetition. By developing the right habits for learning Chinese, you can learn more with le...
201 - Should you learn the pronunciation of radicals?
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learning the building blocks of Chinese characters is a great idea, but what should learn about each character component? And more specifically, shoul...
200 - Student Q&A, June 2024: How much time on flashcards, Remembering the Hanzi, and resources for learning characters
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How much time should you spend on flashcards? Is Remembering the Hanzi good for learning Chinese characters? And what resources should you use if you ...