Recent Posts

American YouTuber iShowSpeed visits China

American YouTuber iShowSpeed visits China and receives a hero’s welcome. Six-hour livestreams showcase his China experience. Plain propaganda or good news?

45 Chinese slang words that are too cool for textbooks

Slang is the heartbeat of everyday language and Chinese has plenty of it. Here are 45 commonly used slang words and expressions that will help you sound more native in an instant.

李宗盛 Jonathan Lee – 凡人歌 (1999)

“凡人歌” (Song of Ordinary People) is a classic Mandarin pop song released in 1988, written and performed by 李宗盛 (Jonathan Lee). Here are the Chinese lyrics with pinyin, English translations and more.

周華健 – 朋友 (1997)

“Pengyou” (朋友), released in 1997, is a classic song by Taiwanese singer Wakin Chau (周华健), with lyrics and composition by Liu Siming (刘思铭). Here are the Chinese lyrics, pinyin and English translations.

庾澄慶 Harlem Yu – 蛋炒飯 (2003)

“Egg Fried Rice” (《蛋炒饭》) is a lively and humorous song performed by Harlem Yu (庾澄庆), a well-known Taiwanese singer. Here are the Chinese lyrics with pinyin and English translations.

Chinese vocabulary notes (March 2025)

In this edition: Do Chinese care about learning English, why has the Chinese divorce rate gone up so much, a day in Suzhou, why it’s not useful to study grammar rules, a flat tire in Tibet, strict Chinese parenting, more Chinese learning advice, Chinese insults and a trip to Nepal.

崔健 – 一块红布 (1991)

Red Cloth” (一块红布, Hóng Bù) is a song by Cui Jian (崔健), often called the father of Chinese rock. Cui Jian rose to fame in the 1980s as a pioneer of rock music in China, using his music to express deep emotions, social critique, and personal struggles. Here’s the Chinese lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.

The 10 most downloaded apps for learning Chinese

In this post, I take a closer look at the 10 most downloaded apps for learning Chinese. What are they and why are they so popular?

Chinese vocabulary notes (February 2025)

In this first edition of 2025: Tiktok refugees, being rich in Shanghai, cycling in Tibet, “letting it rot”, discussing China’s economy, dealing with hate comments, ideological flexibility for the sake of collective wealth and Chinese stereotypes about foreign countries.

Teacher AI for Chinese: innovative but expensive

Teacher AI has garnered significant attention on social media, promoted by prominent polyglots on YouTube and other platforms. Could this be the reason behind its premium pricing and the absence of a free trial? Here’s a first look at what the app has to offer, particularly for learners of Chinese.

Why Duolingo won’t help you learn Chinese in any real way

Duolingo – the gamified language-learning app with its infamous owl mascot – has charmed millions of users with its promise of making language acquisition easy and fun. But if you’re serious about learning Chinese, let me save you some wasted time: Duolingo is not the tool for the job.

Talkpal: the Chinese AI-teacher you’ve been waiting for? (review)

Forget hunting for Chinese classes or tandem partners – could an AI-powered language tutor be the game-changer for mastering Chinese? I put Talkpal, an AI language tutor app, to the test. Here’s my review.

Chinese vocabulary notes (December 2024)

In this edition: Applying for a job in the Chinese army, the challenges of traveling in Africa, hiring Chinese street workers, surfing in Portugal, gap year in Norway and a survival guide for tiny apartments.

Finding the perfect calligraphy paper for Chinese handwriting practice

A key component of Chinese handwriting practice is choosing the right calligraphy paper. Discover how to find the best material to enhance your practice.

What’s the best AI-voice generator for Chinese?

AI-powered Text-To-Speech (TTS) technology is a big step forward for Chinese learners all over the world. In this blog, I set out to find the best AI-voice generator for the Chinese language currently available.

Kaohongshu on the I’m Learning Mandarin Podcast: Maintaining your Mandarin skills while living outside China

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mischa Wilmers on his I’m Learning Mandarin podcast.

Reading Chinese novels: Chronicle of a Blood Merchant《许三观卖血记》

“The little chickens will grow to be ducks, the ducks will become geese, and the geese will become oxen, and tomorrow will be better”.

Learning Chinese with Google Gemini – can it beat ChatGPT?

How can Google Gemini be used to learn Chinese and does it outperform ChatGPT in any respect?

Chinese vocabulary notes (October 2024)

In this edition: Applying for a job in the Chinese army, the challenges of traveling in Africa, hiring Chinese street workers, surfing in Portugal, gap year in Norway and a survival guide for tiny apartments.

Chinese vocabulary notes (September 2024)

In this edition: Chinese travelers in Afghanistan and Malawi, settling down in Norway, the rising popularity of low-priced housing in China’s backward cities, why do Chinese men not want to marry any more, Chinese-American stand-up comedy and more…

Suno AI: Producing Chinese hit songs to boost your Mandarin skills

AI is revolutionizing language learning through the power of music. To boost my Chinese skills, I made my own “Chinese hit songs,” combining language practice with creativity and fun.

Absorbing Chinese through series (my experience with Lingopie)

Can you learn Chinese by watching TV series and movies? I tried Lingopie, the video-based language learning platform offering premium TV shows and movies, for 14 days. Here I sum up my experience.

Chinese vocabulary notes (August 2024)

In this edition: living as a black American in China, how the Chinese see the US, Chinese reactions to Trump’s assassination attempt, Chinese businessman collides with Al Jazeera show, Nord Stream bombing and more.

9 tips to help you choose online Chinese lessons

How to find online Chinese lessons that are truly worth your time and money? In this blog,…

Everything you need to know about eunuchs in Chinese history

Eunuchs, or huanguan (宦官, huàn guān), have been a notable and often controversial presence in Chinese history. These castrated men held unique and powerful positions within the imperial court, shaping the political and cultural landscape of China for centuries. From their origins to their roles, this blog post explores the role of eunuchs in Chinese history and how they were perceived by the people of their time.

What has running a marathon to do with learning Chinese?

This post I’ve been wanting to write for years. Now I finally did. A reflection on marathon…

Can ChatGPT be your Chinese language tutor?

Generative AI is fast, affordable and advancing rapidly. Can AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Gemini perform tasks of a language tutor and make costly Chinese lessons dispensable?

How do you say ‘Chinese language’ in Chinese?

You want to know how to say ‘Chinese Language’ in Chinese? This is a in-depth guide to the name and nuances that should answer all your questions.

Chinese vocabulary notes (June 2024)

In this edition: understanding parasocial interaction with Laolei and Afu, exclusive interview with famous Buddhist teacher Agya Hotogtu, discovering China’s most populous city Chongqing and insider tips on how to survive Chinese summer.

Learning Chinese: 80’s & 90’s vs now

Learning Chinese, the language of over a billion people, has always been an intriguing endeavor for language enthusiasts. But for learners the landscape has changed a lot over the past 40 years. Let’s look back and reflect the differences of learning Chinese 40 years ago compared to the present-day situation. How much easier has learning Chinese become?