The Chinese language is the group of languages used by Chinese people in China and elsewhere. It forms part of a language family called the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Chinese includes many regional language varieties, the main ones being Mandarin, Wu, Yue, and Min.
Chinese is one of the most difficult languages that require familiarity of thousands of characters and accurate pronunciation in order to attain fluency. However, this article will help you discover some techniques on how to learn Chinese in five minutes every day. Daily language exercises in small doses can make the memorization of vocabulary words easier without overwhelming your brain with too many unfamiliar Asian character strokes in one sitting.
We live in a hectic world today, where it’s common to relegate activities because we are too busy. This is true when learning a language such as Mandarin Chinese. Although being bilingual brings about an array of professional, cultural, and social benefits, it is a long term investment some of us may not be able to afford.
But if you are trying to become fluent in Mandarin without spending a lot of time per day, here is some good news: you can learn Chinese spending only a few minutes of your time. Want to know how? Keep on reading and find below 9 tips to learn Chinese in only 5 minutes a day!
Some ways to learn Chinese!
1. Learn a New Word Every Day
Experts claim that you need 150 words in Chinese to be able to hold basic and intermediate conversations. Those 150 terms include frequently used nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and conjunctions you need to get by in China or in any Chinese-speaking setting. So, if you are interested in learning these 150 words for free and from the comfort of your home, you can sign up for the HSK Level 1 course offered by Memrise. This course consists of a vast array of exercises, videos, and audio recordings so you can acquire the most basic vocabulary in Chinese and advance from there. All the lessons are designed for busy people, so they won’t take you more than 3-4 minutes.
2. Get Familiar with the Chinese Tones
When learning new vocabulary, don’t forget to focus on pronunciation in addition to meaning. Different from English, Chinese is a tonal language. As a result, the same character or word can have an array of different meanings depending on the tone with which it’s pronounced. Luckily, there are only four tones in Mandarin (neutral, rising, falling, and fall-rise), all of which exist in English.
It won’t take you long and, with just 5 minutes of practice every day, soon you’ll master the Chinese tones like a pro!
3. Learn the Most Useful Phrases
You’ll need a lot more than just words and sounds if you plan to travel to China soon. Luckily, the internet is full of materials and series you can use to acquire the most basic phrases to get by in China. One of them is the Learn Chinese in 3 minutes series by ChineseClass101.
4. Learn With Music!
Once you know a bit of Mandarin Chinese, you can start training with music! Sing along to them and practice your pronunciation! Plus, you’ll get familiar with new words, learn collocations, and overall develop your ear for the language while enjoying great music.
5. Learn the Characters for HSK Level 1
The HSK is the official Chinese proficiency test. It consists of six levels, with Level 1 being an absolute beginner and Level 6 being native-like fluency, similar to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels.
HSK Level 1 is the most basic level and consists of 150 vocabulary words.
These 150 words are some of the most frequently used vocabularies in the Chinese language, making them incredibly useful to learn.
6. Download an App for Learning Chinese
Want to know the best way for busy people to learn a language? Downloading an app.
Think about it: We’re constantly on the go, whether it be commuting to work, cooking in the kitchen, or browsing the grocery store aisles. And, believe it or not, these everyday tasks are the perfect opportunities to get in a quick five-minute Chinese learning session.
When you have fun study materials directly on your phone, they go wherever you go, and there’s no reason not to use them.
7. Watch a 5-Minute YouTube Video
If you’re on a budget, have access to a computer or phone, or simply enjoy using YouTube, you can leverage the insanely popular platform to learn Chinese in five minutes a day.
Content creators from around the world make and publish videos to the site on a minute-by-minute basis, meaning there’s plenty of creators from Chinese-speaking countries like China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
That also means that it’s fairly easy to find short, timely videos to enjoy and learn from.
8. Incorporate Flashcards into Your Routine
You’ve heard it a million times, I’m sure: Flashcards are a must-use technique when learning a new language.
Well, it’s true!
And what’s even better is using a flashcard app that’s designed to help you master vocabulary and remember words for a long time.
9. Find a Language Exchange Partner
The great thing about language exchange partners is…
Well, there are multiple things actually.
Language partners are a free resource, can become great friends, give you access to native speakers, are easy to talk to, are accessible from anywhere you take your phone, and are a great way to learn Chinese in five minutes.
Conclusion
Suddenly, learning Chinese in five minutes seems perfectly doable, right? With these tips and resources, I know you’ll be making impressive progress no matter how busy you are or what level you’ve already achieved.
So what are you waiting for?
Start trying out resources, draw up a five-minute study plan and begin learning!
All the best!