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KAOHONGSHU

All about learning Mandarin

  • Starting out
    • What are the pros and cons of learning Chinese?
    • What has running a marathon to do with learning Chinese?
    • Lingosteve’s wisdom on learning Mandarin
    • “How to learn any language in six months”
    • Knowing your learning style to master Chinese
    • Three character traits you need to improve your Chinese skills
    • 5 simple things to remove from our lives to focus on Mandarin
    • 5 things we tell ourselves that keep us from studying Chinese
  • Study
    • 11 things I wish I knew before starting to learn Mandarin
    • The worst advice for learning Chinese (and what actually works)
    • The neuroscience of effectively self-studying Chinese
    • Learning to write Chinese characters: 7 bad practices you should avoid
    • Chineasy vs Uncle Hanzi: two radical approaches to Chinese characters
    • Tutoring platforms: Chinese lessons on a budget?
    • 9 things to expect from a good Chinese teacher
    • Getting fluent in Mandarin: Underestimating the four tones
    • Can you learn Chinese from a textbook?
    • Should I read Chinese texts above my level?
    • “Should you still learn Chinese?”
    • Learning Mandarin: how to continue after you leave China?
  • HSK
    • How hard is HSK 6?
    • How long does it take to get HSK 6?
    • How hard is HSK 9?
    • What does your HSK level really tell about your Mandarin skills?
    • 5 great apps to help you prepare for the HSK exam
    • My best tips to beat any level HSK test
  • Resources
    • My 2025 overview of resources for Mandarin Chinese
    • Learning Mandarin the low-budget way
    • Learning Chinese? 11 BLOGS you should know about
    • 10 Chinese audiobooks for advanced Mandarin learners
    • 10 extremely helpful YouTube channels for learning Mandarin
    • Slow listening: boost your vocabulary with Mandarin Corner
    • Learn Mandarin with Defense Language Institute online resources
    • 19 China podcasts to better understand 中国
  • Tools
    • The 10 most downloaded apps for learning Chinese
    • Best apps to help you understand and write Chinese characters (2026 Guide)
    • Learning Mandarin: what’s the best Chinese dictionary app?
    • Review: Chinese dictionary app Pleco
    • Review: Hanping Chinese Pro + Hanping Camera + Hanping Popup
    • Chinese dictionary apps: Pleco vs Hanping Lite
    • The best pop-up dictionaries for learning Chinese
    • Pleco flashcards: yes or no?
    • Learning Chinese with flashcards: Anki vs Pleco
    • Vocabulary trainer app: Daily Chinese
    • 9 great apps to boost your Chinese reading skills
    • DuShu: a powerful reading tool for Mandarin Chinese
    • Reading Chinese web novels with Readibu
    • Two free online tools to hack Chinese texts
  • Movies
    • Understanding China and Mandarin with 7 Chinese film classics
    • The Chinese cultural revolution – in 10 movie classics
    • 13 Great movies about rural China: A guide to Chinese countryside cinema
    • Raw China: the strongest independent Chinese documentaries
    • The best (and strangest) cartoons from 1980s China
    • Journey to the West (1986 TV Series): China’s most iconic classic
    • Love defense wars: 爱情保卫战
    • Film tip: 书记 – The Transition Period (2010)
    • 人生第一次 – The Firsts in Life
    • New show: Granny knows best 奶奶最懂得 (2019, TV series)
    • Women in Shanghai: 上海女子图鉴 (TV series)
    • Film tip: My Ferry / 我的渡口
    • Chinese dreams (2019): must-watch China doc
  • Music
    • Top 10 Chinese songs for Mandarin beginners
    • 任賢齊 – 心太軟 (1996)
    • 趙傳 – 我是一只小小鸟 (1990)
    • 宋祖英 – 辣妹子 (1998)
    • 张伟进 – 猴哥 (1998)
    • 大壮 – 我们不一样 (2017)
    • 大张伟 – 葫芦娃 (2018)
    • 屠洪刚 – 中国功夫 (1997)
    • 崔健 – 一无所有 (1986)
    • 崔健 – 花房姑娘 (1989)
    • 张国荣 – 倩女幽魂 (1987)
    • 李娜 – 青藏高原 (1994)
    • 王菲 – 你快乐 所以我快乐 (1997)
    • 王菲 – 紅豆 (1998)
    • 腾格尔 – 天堂 (1997)
    • 花儿乐队 – 果汁分你一半 (2006)
    • 蒋大为 – 敢问路在何方 (1986)
    • 费翔 – 故乡的云 (1987)
  • Reviews
    • Improving Chinese reading & writing: one month using maayot – a review
    • Improving your Chinese writing skills on Journaly
    • HSK Standard Course books review
    • Pleco’s graded reader: Journey to the West
    • HSK 6 Chinese graded reader review: The Art of War
    • HSK 6 Chinese Graded reader review: The New Housekeeper
    • Reading Chinese novels: To Live《活着》
    • Reading Chinese novels: Chronicle of a Blood Merchant《许三观卖血记》
    • Review: Language Hacking Mandarin – a conversation course for beginners
    • Review: “Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide”
    • Review: John DeFrancis – “Beginning Chinese Reader Part 1”
    • Reading above your level: Game of Thrones in Chinese
    • “Dutch Mandarin” Robert van Gulik
  • AI
    • Learning Chinese with ChatGPT – a game changer?
    • Can ChatGPT be your Chinese language tutor?
    • Learning Chinese with Google Gemini – can it beat ChatGPT?
    • Chinese text correction: ChatGPT vs professional Chinese teacher
    • Talkpal: the Chinese teacher you’ve been waiting for? (review)
    • Teacher AI for Chinese: innovative but expensive
    • Fully Fluent Review: Can AI finally act like a real language tutor?
    • What’s the best AI-voice generator for Chinese?
    • NotebookLM review: Your personal podcast generator for Chinese listening
    • Discussing ChatGPT’s learning tips for Chinese learners – from complete beginners to advanced
  • About
  • Bookshop

About the author

Hi, this is Kaohongshu. I'm a long-term Mandarin learner focused on efficient self-study methods, graded reading, and realistic language acquisition strategies. Feel free to reach out to me!

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Top Posts

  • Everything you need to know about eunuchs in Chinese history
    Everything you need to know about eunuchs in Chinese history
  • 13 Great movies about rural China: A guide to Chinese countryside cinema
    13 Great movies about rural China: A guide to Chinese countryside cinema
  • The Chinese cultural revolution - in 10 movie classics
    The Chinese cultural revolution - in 10 movie classics
  • Absorbing Chinese through series (my experience with Lingopie)
    Absorbing Chinese through series (my experience with Lingopie)
  • Best apps to help you understand and write Chinese characters (2026 Guide)
    Best apps to help you understand and write Chinese characters (2026 Guide)
  • Reading Chinese novels: To Live《活着》
    Reading Chinese novels: To Live《活着》
  • Improving Chinese reading & writing: one month using maayot - a review
    Improving Chinese reading & writing: one month using maayot - a review
  • China or Taiwan: Which One to Choose for Learning Chinese?
    China or Taiwan: Which One to Choose for Learning Chinese?
  • 大壮 - 我们不一样 (2017)
    大壮 - 我们不一样 (2017)
  • 赵传 - 我是一只小小鸟 (1990)
    赵传 - 我是一只小小鸟 (1990)

The hidden gem of Chinese Graded Readers

Chinese graded reader Shadow Mouse by Kaohongshu
Ready to invest $9.99 in your Chinese reading skills? Be the first person to read the story in print or e-book; includes audio files, vocabulary lists and exercises.
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