Hacking Chinese Podcast

Flashcards can teach you to write Chinese characters, but they can be boring and hide problems. Communicative handwriting is more engaging and prepares you for real-world tasks.

#learnchinese #characters #hanzi #handwriting #communication

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: Communicative handwriting: Writing Chinese with a real purpose: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-write-chinese-characters-through-communication/

How to best use flashcards to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-best-use-flashcards-to-learn-chinese/

Spaced repetition software: What it is and how to use it to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software/

Real communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-it/

16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/

Do you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/

How I learnt Chinese, part 6: Graduate program in Taiwan: https://www.hackingchinese.com/i-learnt-chinese-part-6-graduate-program-taiwan/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Mountains, trees and rocks are easy to use in mnemonics. But what do you do with character components whose meanings are general, abstract or overlapping?

#learnchinese #mnemonics #characters #components #vocabulary

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How to create mnemonics for general, abstract or overlapping character components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-create-mnemonics-for-general-or-abstract-character-components/

Remembering is a skill you can learn: Mnemonics for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/remembering-is-a-skill-you-can-learn/

Chinese characters, ideograms and words: A beginner's guide: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/

The building blocks of Chinese, part 4: Learning and remembering compound characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-4-learning-and-remembering-compound-characters/

How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning/

Panning: Keeping similar Chinese characters and words separate: https://www.hackingchinese.com/panning-keeping-similar-chinese-characters-and-words-separate/

Dealing with Chinese characters you keep mixing up: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dealing-with-chinese-characters-you-keep-mixing-up/

Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches: https://www.hackingchinese.com/killing-leeches/

Learning Classical Chinese is for everyone (no, seriously!): https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-classical-chinese-is-for-everyone-no-seriously/

5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: Superficial forms to deep structure: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure/

Review: The Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/

Zi.Tools: A powerful free resource for exploring Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zi-tools-a-powerful-free-resource-for-exploring-chinese-characters/

Don’t use mnemonics for everything when learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything/

How to use mnemonics to learn Mandarin tones and pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/extending-mnemonics-inspiration-and-insights/

Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-mnemonics-too-slow-for-chinese-learners/

Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden... or burn it down and start afresh: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cultivate-your-chinese-flashcard-garden-or-burn-it-down-and-start-afresh/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Listening to a podcast about learning Chinese is not the same as learning Chinese, so why spend your limited time on the Hacking Chinese Podcast?

#learnchinese #podcast #hackingchinese

Link to The Hacking Chinese Podcast: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast/

Will Hacking Chinese help you learn Mandarin? https://www.hackingchinese.com/will-reading-hacking-chinese-help-you-learn-mandarin/

30 minutes of podcast, 3 minutes of Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/30-minutes-of-podcast-3-minutes-of-chinese/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

90% of an iceberg is underwater, yet we mostly pay attention to the bit that sticks up. The same is true for proficiency in Chinese: speaking ability is easy to see, but relies on a much larger system underneath.

#learnchinese #speaking #input #iceberg

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: The Chinese iceberg: Why speaking more isn’t enough to speak better: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-chinese-iceberg-why-speaking-more-isnt-enough-to-speak-better/

The Input Pyramid: Chinese Listening for Any Situation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-input-pyramid-chinese-listening-for-any-situation/

Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input

How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-mandarin-speaking-skills-with-a-tutor/

Get to know your Chinese voice to level up your speaking ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/know-your-chinese-voice/

Focusing on tone pairs to improve your Mandarin pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/focusing-on-tone-pairs-to-improve-your-mandarin-pronunciation/

The art of being corrected: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-art-of-being-corrected/

Chengyu, a key to Chinese language and culture, or a waste of time? https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-right-chengyu-the-right-way/

Don’t learn Mandarin pronunciation by reading, listen and mimic instead: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-learn-mandarin-pronunciation-by-reading/

How learning some basic theory can improve your pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-learning-some-basic-theory-can-improve-your-pronunciation/

Chinese tones explained: The four Mandarin tones: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-hacking-chinese-guide-to-mandarin-tones/

How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/

Real communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-it/

Improving your Chinese pronunciation by mimicking native speakers: https://www.hackingchinese.com/mimicking-native-speakers-way-learning-chinese/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

I have published a book! It's called Hacking Chinese: the Snake Collection and contains articles I wrote in 2025, the Year of the Snake. The articles cover a wide variety of topics, but Chinese characters, tutors and input are the most prominent.

#learnchinese #anthology #hackingchinese #snake

Link to article on Hacking Chinese: New book: Hacking Chinese: The Snake Collection: https://www.hackingchinese.com/new-book-hacking-chinese-the-snake-collection/

Purchase the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bOH8i5

Best of Hacking Chinese 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/best-of-hacking-chinese-2025

The Snake Collection contents with links to articles and podcast episodes: https://www.hackingchinese.com/snake

Courses on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Most learners know they should “listen more”, but what they listen to matters. To improve, you need to make sense of spoken Mandarin, not listen to people explain Mandarin in English.

#learnchinese #listening #podcast #english #input

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: 30 minutes of podcast, 3 minutes of Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/30-minutes-of-podcast-3-minutes-of-chinese/

Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 4: Learning to process spoken Mandarin quickly and effortlessly: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-4-learning-to-process-spoken-mandarin-quickly-and-effortlessly/

Chinese language logging, part 1: Why and how to track your progress: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-language-logging-part-1-why-and-how-to-track-your-progress/

How much Chinese should you listen to every day? https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-much-chinese-should-you-listen-to-every-day/

The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-fluent-listener/

Analyse and balance your Chinese learning with Paul Nation’s four strands: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analyse-and-balance-your-chinese-learning-with-paul-nations-four-strands/

How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/

The best podcasts for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podcasts-for-learning-chinese/

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese/

The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

When we first start learning Chinese, each new character is hard to learn, but as we learn more, it gets easier. But a new problem soon appears: Mixing up similar characters.

#learnchinese #characters #vocabulary #forgetting

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: Dealing with Chinese characters you keep mixing up: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dealing-with-chinese-characters-you-keep-mixing-up/

The real challenge with learning Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-real-challenge-when-learning-characters/

Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-review-boosting-your-character-learning/

Anki, the best of spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-system/

How to learn Chinese characters as a beginner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-chinese-characters-as-a-beginner/

Which words you should learn and where to find them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/which-words-you-should-learn-in-and-where-to-find-them/

5 websites to help answer your questions about Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-websites-to-help-answer-your-questions-about-chinese/

Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches: https://www.hackingchinese.com/killing-leeches/

Zooming in: The tools you need to break down and understand Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zooming-in-the-tools-you-need-to-break-down-and-understand-chinese/

Zooming out: The resources you need to put Chinese in context: https://www.hackingchinese.com/zooming-out-the-resources-you-need-to-put-chinese-in-context/

Panning: Keeping similar Chinese characters and words separate: https://www.hackingchinese.com/panning-keeping-similar-chinese-characters-and-words-separate/

Dealing with near-synonyms in Chinese as an independent learner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dealing-with-near-synonyms-in-chinese-as-an-independent-learner/

How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning/

Phonetic components, part 2: Hacking Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-2-hacking-chinese-characters/

7 mistakes I made when writing Chinese characters and what I learnt from them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/7-mistakes-i-made-when-writing-chinese-characters-and-what-i-learnt-from-them/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Listening is the most important skill. To improve your listening ability in Chinese, you need to listen a lot, but how much should you listen every day?

#learnchinese #listening #time #practice #immersion

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How much Chinese should you listen to every day? https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-much-chinese-should-you-listen-to-every-day/

The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water

Beginner Chinese listening practice: what to listen to and how: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beginner-chinese-listening-practice-what-to-listen-to-and-how

The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese

The best podcasts for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podcasts-for-learning-chinese

100 hours of Chinese listening in 3 weeks: what I learnt and how to apply it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/100-hours-of-chinese-listening-in-3-weeks-what-i-learnt-and-how-to-apply-it

The input pyramid: Chinese listening for any situation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-input-pyramid-chinese-listening-for-any-situation

Chinese language logging, part 1: why and how to track your progress: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-language-logging-part-1-why-and-how-to-track-your-progress

The time barrel: or why you have more time than you think: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-time-barrel-you-have-more-time-than-you-think

How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese

Listen more than once: how the replay button can help you learn more Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/listen-more-than-once-how-the-replay-button-can-help-you-learn-more-chinese

Habit hacking for language learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/habit-hacking-for-language-learners

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Technology can make learning Chinese easier, but only if it helps you engage more with the language. Used poorly, the same tools can get in the way of learning instead of supporting it.

#learnchinese #technology #traps #ai

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How technology can make learning Chinese easier: https://www.hackingchinese.com/technology-makes-learning-chinese-easier/

How technology can make learning Chinese easier: https://www.hackingchinese.com/technology-makes-learning-chinese-easier

Analysis paralysis and learning Chinese: When thinking too much holds you back: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analysis-paralysis-choosing-method-becomes-problem

How going shopping can help you learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/going-shopping-can-help-learn-chinese

Chinese subtitles and transcripts: Reading before, while or after listening: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-subtitles-and-transcripts-reading-before-while-or-after-listening

Is it necessary to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand

Chinese character learning for all students: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-learning-for-all-students

The new paperless revolution in Chinese reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-new-paperless-revolution-in-chinese-reading

How to get past the intermediate Chinese learning plateau: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-get-past-the-intermediate-chinese-learning-plateau

Spaced repetition software and why you should use it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software

Seeing through the illusion of advanced Chinese learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-illusion-of-advanced-learning-and-what-to-do-about-it

Effective progress or experience points? The double-edged sword of measuring your Chinese learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/measurable-progress-is-a-double-edged-sword

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Technology can make learning Chinese easier, not by doing the learning for you, but by helping you spend more time on what actually matters: listening, reading and communicating in Chinese.

#learnchinese #technology #ai #benefits

Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How technology can make learning Chinese easier: https://www.hackingchinese.com/technology-makes-learning-chinese-easier/

The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners

The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/10-best-free-chinese-reading-resources-beginner-intermediate-advanced

Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input

The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese in 2026: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese

How to use YouTube and other video platforms to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-use-youtube-and-other-video-platforms-to-learn-chinese

8 great ways to scaffold your Chinese listening and reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/8-great-ways-scaffold-chinese-learning

Chinese listening, fast and slow: Three ways of slowing down Mandarin speech: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-listening-fast-and-slow-three-ways-of-slowing-down-mandarin-speech

Immersion at home or: Why you don't have to go abroad to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/immersion-at-home-or-why-you-dont-have-to-go-abroad

Using voice messaging as a stepping stone to Chinese conversations: https://www.hackingchinese.com/using-voice-messaging-practise-speaking-listening

8 tips and tricks for introverts learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-as-an-introverted-student

Using AI chatbots for low-stress Mandarin speaking practice: https://www.hackingchinese.com/using-ai-chatbots-for-low-stress-mandarin-speaking-practice

How to get the most out of your Chinese tutoring sessions: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-chinese-tutoring-sessions

7 characteristics of a great Chinese tutor or private teacher: https://www.hackingchinese.com/characteristics-of-a-great-chinese-tutor-or-private-teacher

How to find the perfect Mandarin tutor for you: A complete guide: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-find-the-perfect-mandarin-tutor-for-you-a-complete-guide

The new paperless revolution in Chinese reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-new-paperless-revolution-in-chinese-reading

Chinese character learning for all students: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-learning-for-all-students/

More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.com

Music: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)