The following are the best resources for this dive, broken down by beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
This Chinese (Mandarin) Resource Handbook Below
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Chinese (Mandarin) - Resources
Resources
Hack Chinese
2 Break Diver Votes
This Chinese learning tool is absolutely fantastic. It fully has Break Diving's Fluency Project's stamp of approval. If you are trying to improve your Chinese vocabulary, look no further. As of this writing, you get a free 20-day trial, with no credit card needed. Whatever your Chinese level, take advantage. This tool is an absolute must if you want to dramatically improve your Chinese vocabulary, from beginnner to total fluency.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
BD's Chinese Fluency Project
1 Break Diver Vote
The Mandarin Chinese Fluency Project is a program of Break Diving (this website). We all work together to improve our foreign language skills in hundreds of languages. Visit www.breakdiving.org for more information about our not-for-profit corporate mission, and then visit breakdiving.io to join our inspiring worldwide community! We look forward to meeting you.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Main Corporate Site
ChineseClass101
1 Break Diver Vote
This is a popular Mandarin Chinese course that includes downloadable podcast-styled lessons, videos, grammar explanations, and a vocabulary database and dictionary. Premium members gain access to PDF lessons, grammar reviews, dialogue audio, and interactive learning.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
eChineseLearning
1 Break Diver Vote
Online live study with teachers all throughout China, all via skype, and very reasonably priced. The one "downside" is that they require you to make a commitment of one year minimum, and it must be paid within the first 4 - 6 months. The upside to that though is that once you commit, you're going to be studying every week for the entire year. You really improve.
Category: Schools
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
HSK Online
1 Break Diver Vote
This is an amazing tool to help you learn the vocabulary you need to pass the HSK tests, from Levels 1 to 6. Practice sentences for each word, listening exercises, and practice tests truly make it shine. If you are looking for a tool to help you learn the HSK words (Hanzi as well as listening comprehension), this is one of the best tools on the market. It's really spectacular.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Language Drops
1 Break Diver Vote
One of the best vocabulary learning apps, regardless of your level. You will learn words here that no other app will teach you, and in many cases, words you won't even find in traditional language textbooks. It's fun too! Download from the app store. Note: unless you pay, you are limited to 5 minutes per day. If you can afford it, upgrade to the lifetime plan.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Living Language
1 Break Diver Vote
Living Language offers a very comprehensive course of self study, through both online courses and self-study textbooks. You can sign up online, or buy the self-study textbooks and audio on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble bookstores. Each set comes with three textbooks: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
100 Core Chinese Words
0 Break Diver Votes
These are 100 words you should probably get to know first as they will help you navigate your first conversation and put sentences together.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
Basic Chinese Grammar
0 Break Diver Votes
This is an amazing free resource that explains the grammar for basically any structure you need to know in Mandarin. The grammar points are neatly organized into levels from A1 to B2 (of the Common European Framework)
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Boya Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Boya Chinese (博雅汉语) - This book series is structured with different scenarios, daily situations, and teaches grammar. It's a more traditional textbook, and useful for self or guided study. If you think you're too advanced, we assure you that even the 'pre-intermediate' textbooks will likely challenge you tremendously.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
BSC Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Phone App (www.bsctextbooks.com) - These low-cost digital textbooks are available for order and are downloadable via their app. They’ll systematically take you through what you need to know to get your head around basic Chinese.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Busuu
0 Break Diver Votes
Busuu is probably the most comprehensive language learning app on the market. This app teaches Mandarin Chinese down to the nitty gritty grammatical nuances, and really helps you to gain comfort using the language. One of its best features is that you can get feedback from native speakers on written and spoken exercises. Download from your phone's app store.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Chineasy
0 Break Diver Votes
Phone App (https://www.chineasy.com)- Chineasy breaks down the strokes and makes them simpler to learn and understand. Chineasy Cards are mainly aimed at children, which makes it perfect for beginner Chinese learners.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
Chinese Breeze Graded Readers
0 Break Diver Votes
Chinese Breeze graded readers are well-written and interesting novels, each written at graded levels of 300 words, 500, 750, 1100, etc. So far, they go up to 1100 words, and they keep releasing more each year. They help make you feel like you're really capable of reading real Chinese novels, because, with them, you can and will be!
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Chinese For Foreigners
0 Break Diver Votes
An excellent book (offered in many foreign languages) that will provide all you need to live, study, and work in China, presented in a very user friendly manner. There is a ton of vocabulary, and you won't be able to memorize it all on the first read-through, but it's a great course and something you can regularly study in order to continually improve. The book is broken down by virtually every major situation in which you may find yourself in China.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Chinese in 3D
0 Break Diver Votes
A fun and visually stunning way to learn all the vocabulary up to HSK4. We wish they went up to HSK 5 and 6! Available as an app for your phone.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Chinese Made Easier
0 Break Diver Votes
Chinese Made Easier (实用速成汉语) - This text focuses on commonly-used vocabulary and conversational sentences. It is a must-have book for those Chinese language learners looking to be able to travel within China and get around using basic Chinese language conversation and sentences. The vocabulary and phrases are presented in an easy to understand format and can be practiced easily with others.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Chinese Stroke Order
0 Break Diver Votes
Phone App - This app helps you learn the correct stroke order when you are writing characters. If you are ever writing a character and are not 100% sure of the stroke order, pop it into this handy app and you’ll instantly get a visual demonstration of how to correctly write the character.</li>
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Clozemaster
0 Break Diver Votes
Clozemaster helps you to learn language in context. According to Clozemaster, learning a language through mass exposure to vocabulary in context is one of the best ways to build proficiency. The site/app uses well-structured fill-in-the-blanks and spaced repetition to ensure you retain new words. Sentences are also grouped according to the HSK level, so if you’re studying for exams you can ensure the vocabulary you learn is relevant to your level.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Colloquial Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
This Chinese learning book is useful for learning some of the most common Chinese characters and also provides pinyin pronunciation. The directions are concise and it assists by giving sentence examples.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Developing Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
This is an amazing textbook series because it focuses on the four required disciplines of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For example, you can get the DC Reading Course, at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Same with DC Writing, DC Listening, and DC Speaking. Every serious Chinese learner should use this book series. The writing courses are something you just don't find anywhere else.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Dig Mandarin
0 Break Diver Votes
These guys have courses on anything you need to speak and use Mandarin. They offer practical usage courses, writing and pronunciation courses, grammar courses, and even courses for preparing for HSK exams.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Du Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Du Chinese has short texts that emulate what you would expect from a daily conversation, audios of native speakers reading the text, and you can change the speed to make it faster or slower. If you tap a sentence it will give you the full translation, and the option to save the word to a list. It then has a “flashcard” feature to test you on all the words you saved from your readings. Everything you need to get better at reading!</li>
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Duolingo
0 Break Diver Votes
Duolingo is a popular language-learning platform that includes both a website and a mobile app. It offers over 94 different language courses, including Mandarin Chinese. Duolingo teaches the basics of Mandarin Chinese, including some basic vocabulary and grammar. However, there is no way you will truly learn a language through Duolingo. It is best used as an introduction to a language and as a refresher to keep your skills up and to potentially build some new vocabulary. Note: their podcast on Apple Podcasts is excellent!
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
FluentU
0 Break Diver Votes
FluentU is a video learning site that helps you learn through real video conversations, similar to Yabla. Try it for 14 days free (as of this review).
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Forvo
0 Break Diver Votes
Forvo is a fascinating tool that shows how words are pronounced in various foreign languages. Just type the word you’re looking for into the Forvo search bar, and voilà, you’ll hear it spoken by multiple native speakers. This is excellent for pronunciation. Note: it will take you a few minutes to figure out how the tool works, but it's worth spending a few minutes to master how it works.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Fundamental Written / Spoken Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Fundamental Written Chinese & Fundamental Spoken Chinese by Nora Yao and Robert Sanders - These are two separate books but we've listed them together as they really go hand in hand. The Written Chinese book focuses on learning characters by their radicals and starting to read in Chinese. The Spoken Chinese book focuses on vocabulary, grammar, and conversation. They also come with audio files so you can listen to the dialogues you see in the books as spoken by native speakers. The only criticism is that the written one focuses exclusively on pinyin.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Fundamental Spoken Chinese
Glossika
0 Break Diver Votes
Glossika improves your fluency through a highly repetitive ‘listen and repeat’ approach. It uses an adaptive learning algorithm and structured content to help you improve. Definitely not a conventional course but you’ll be amazed at how effective it is at improving your fluency if you use it daily.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Hello Talk
0 Break Diver Votes
Hello Talk links you together with language partners to help you practice your Mandarin Chinese skills. Worth taking a look at.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
HSK Frequency Lists
0 Break Diver Votes
HSK Frequency Lists - This resource lists the words you must know in order to pass the HSK exams at every level. They are 'ugly' bare-bone lists, but you can copy the words, paste into Word, and then create your own mini tests, by printing the word list out, and seeing how many you know, and how many you still need to study.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
HSK Standard Course
0 Break Diver Votes
With HSK test papers as its primary source, HSK Standard Course is "characterized by a humorous style, familiar topics, and a scientific course design". The series, going from HSK1 to HSK6, mimics the HSK test in all aspects. If there ever was a textbook that 'teaches to the test', this would be it. However, they are not hinged to the HSK exams--they are very well crafted and presented and stand alone as excellent textbooks.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
HSK Sticky Study
0 Break Diver Votes
Phone App - Fantastic for learning all vocabulary for all HSK levels.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
HSK Vocabulary Workbooks
0 Break Diver Votes
This book series is currently printed for HSK Levels 1 - 5. Each book contains one practice fill in the blank sentence for each word, broken down into 5 sentence groups, so you have to fill in the blank five times for each group, choosing from the five words provided. This workbook series is really helpful as you prepare for the HSK exams, and simply to improve your reading, writing, and fluency. The HSK5 version is one big thick book. Frightening to think what the HSK6 one is going to look like, haha. Note: we only found 1 copy on Amazon, and it cost $60. This may only be available in Shanghai and Beijing.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
iLanguages
0 Break Diver Votes
A website that will teach you the basics of Chinese Mandarin vocabulary, phrases, grammar with audio, flashcards, and quizzes. The site provides Mandarin writing with English translation and Pinyin along with the Mandarin pronunciation that can help you learn the foundation of Chinese Mandarin.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
Integrated Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Integrated Chinese (中文听说读写) - This book focuses on the rules of pinyin and pronunciation. It gives you a solid foundation on the phonetics of the Chinese language. You’ll understand the pronunciation of each character and the differences in the tones used. There are dialogues and grammar explanation in every lesson. It’s available in both traditional and simplified Chinese.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Internet Polyglot
0 Break Diver Votes
Internet Polyglot is an awesome site that offers a huge variety of free games to help you improve your Mandarin Chinese vocabulary.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Language Learning with Netflix
0 Break Diver Votes
This is a Chrome extension that allows you to learn Mandarin Chinese by watching movies or shows on Netflix. It displays two sets of subtitles: one in your native language and the other in a language of your choice. Keep in mind that you do need a Netflix subscription in order to use this resource.
Category: Video
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Larousse Dictionary
0 Break Diver Votes
This dictionary is probably one of the best available. Unfortunately, it only supports translating from French into Mandarin. If you're a serious Mandarin Chinese learner who's also fluent in French, use this site.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Lingo Bus
0 Break Diver Votes
An online Chinese learning platform with game-based classes for children from 5 to 12 years old.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
LingoDeer
0 Break Diver Votes
LingoDeer is similar to Duolingo. Some say that they prefer LingoDeer to Duolingo, so if you don't like Duolingo, give this a try.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
LingQ
0 Break Diver Votes
LingQ is similar to Yabla. They describe the service as surrounding yourself with meaningful input that matters to you. You can start at an easy level and work your way up. It features a range of entertaining materials, such as YouTube videos, news broadcasts, blog posts, and Netflix shows. You can choose the topics that interest you and build your language lessons around subjects that will keep you motivated.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Linguee
0 Break Diver Votes
Linguee is a dictionary used to translate between Mandarin Chinese and English words. Aside from giving helpful information about parts of speech, the site also allows you to search for the vocabulary word in real Mandarin Chinese articles, so you can translate phrases more accurately.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Lyrics Gaps
0 Break Diver Votes
Lyrics Gaps lets you learn languages through music by filling in the gaps of your favorite songs. Similar to Lyrics Training, but not as cleanly presented.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Mandarin HQ
0 Break Diver Votes
An amazing and extensive collection of high-quality video lessons for Mandarin Chinese. The lesson delivery style is succinct, clear, and very easy to follow.
Category: Video
Skill Levels:
- Intermediate
- Advanced
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Mango Languages
0 Break Diver Votes
Mango Languages helps you to study foreign language by adapting to how you learn using smart technology. Compare your own recordings with those of native speakers. Mango also gives tips on Mandarin Chinese culture.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Memrise
0 Break Diver Votes
A language-learning website/app that uses repetition and proven memory techniques to help you learn faster. Good for getting started and learning vocabulary. They also offer native speaker videos which are often pretty cool.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Michel Thomas Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Michel Thomas Mandarin Chinese is an audio course with a variety of levels to which you can commit. In some ways, it is similar to Pimsleur in that it is all audio. Many language learners like the Michel Thomas approach. Helpful for developing your ear in the language.
Category: Audio
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar
0 Break Diver Votes
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar by Claudia Ross - Anyone who says there is no grammar in Chinese is wrong. The grammar of Chinese is simply so different from that of most other languages that it is hard for some people to identify it as grammar. Certainly, you’d be lost with no knowledge of sentence structure. This book helps you to make sure you’re aware of basically all the Chinese grammar you need to know.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Mondly
0 Break Diver Votes
Mondly lets you learn Mandarin Chinese through matching games and fill in the blank activities. The first few lessons are free.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Nin Chanese
0 Break Diver Votes
Phone App (ninchanese.com) - Yes, it's NinChAnese. The a is correct. This app’s free version has a lot of value. It gives you lessons to learn new vocabulary and grammar, and you can practice what you learned in the form of games. The premium version at $10/month gives you access to grammar lessons, reading and writing practice, games, vocabulary lists, HSK training, dialogues, listening comprehension and more.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Pimsleur
0 Break Diver Votes
Pimsleur is a good option if you want to listen to complete audio or focus on learning conversational Mandarin Chinese. You’ll hear a series of phrases that get broken down and repeated to you slowly. You then repeat and participate in conversations. It's perfect for learning on the go, and the app even has a driving mode so you can learn while commuting without looking at the screen. The downsides are that the lessons can feel slow sometimes, and there are no books or grammar.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Project Gutenberg
0 Break Diver Votes
Project Gutenberg is an online library of over 60,000 free electronic books. This link will take you to a list of openly accessible Mandarin Chinese books.
Category: Other Books & Resources
Skill Levels:
- Advanced
Road to Success
0 Break Diver Votes
Road to Success - This is another standard and popular textbook series. It provides comprehensive and rich content. Learners get systematic language development as well as training in Chinese culture. It's fun and easy to work through these textbooks.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Rocket Languages
0 Break Diver Votes
Rocket Mandarin Chinese doesn’t follow a "cookie-cutter" approach. It's designed to get you using your new language quickly, correctly, and confidently with audio and written content for all levels.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Rosetta Stone
0 Break Diver Votes
Rosetta Stone is a language-learning website/app that’s widely known and respected, but sometimes criticized because it only teaches you with pictures, when you could more quickly learn by having them just tell you that it's an apple using your native language. It features a TruAccent speech recognition program that helps you work on pronunciation. Keep in mind that the program does require payment.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Short Term Spoken Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
Short Term Spoken Chinese - The name makes it seem like the textbook series is easy and will magically teach you Chinese. It won't. But all of these excellent books focus exclusively on oral Chinese. Yes, there is extensive use of hanzi, but all of the words and grammar are focused on conversational Chinese. The selected linguistic materials are practical, lively, and vivid, illustrated with pictures and supplemented with speaking exercises. You can use these for self-study if you already have a grasp of reading, writing, and speaking.
Category: Textbooks
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Sticky Study
0 Break Diver Votes
Sticky Study is fantastic for learning Mandarin Chinese vocabulary at any level.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Super Chinese
0 Break Diver Votes
This is another app created by the folks at HSKonline, and really teaches you Chinese. It's like a course in a box, and is comparable to the Busuu Chinese lessons, but also different enough to allow it to stand on its own. You get 10 free minutes a day, and it's worth every minute. Upgrade for access to more features. As of this writing, it only goes up to the intermediate level, but they keep adding content and allegedly, it'll soon go all the way up to HSK6 level. The site isn't secure (as of this writing), but you can just download the app from the app store.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
ThoughtCo
0 Break Diver Votes
ThoughtCo is a site dedicated to learning Mandarin Chinese through instructive articles at all levels of experience. Articles range from discussing basic grammatical rules to improving analytical skills.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Udemy
0 Break Diver Votes
Udemy is an online learning platform with video courses on a variety of subjects, including Mandarin Chinese. This link will take you to the top Mandarin Chinese courses on Udemy, although some of the results require payment.
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
WoHok
0 Break Diver Votes
Provides you with information, tools, and more to help you learn Mandarin and prepare for HSK exams. It's a really cool site. Go check it out!
Category: Self-Study
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
WordReference
0 Break Diver Votes
WordReference is a dictionary used to translate between different languages (including Mandarin Chinese) accurately. Each word has a variety of translations based on the context.
Category: Other Apps & Websites
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yabla
0 Break Diver Votes
Yabla is an excellent site that teaches Mandarin Chinese through videos with adjustable speed of playback and definitions of words in the subtitles. It also has games and quizzes, but no grammar.
Category: Video
Skill Levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Chinese (Mandarin) - Resources
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