If you’re trying to learn Chinese, then you should be trying to get as many hours in as possible. Chinese is known for being one of the more difficult languages to learn, however it’s definitely not impossible.
As long as you dedicate the right amount of time to learning Chinese then you should be okay. In addition to tutoring, you can also use a Chinese learning app. This can help you to pick up the language much faster, and in addition to tutoring, should be all you need to learn Chinese. So, let’s look at a few of the best apps that can help you learn Chinese.
Best Chinese Learning App
Du Chinese
If you’re particularly interested in improving your Chinese reading ability, then Du Chinese is definitely an app you should download. It has both traditional Chinese characters and simplified versions too if you want to start a little easier.
Du Chinese has a really simple interface, which makes it very easy to learn the language – this is what makes it a good choice for those who want to read/write in Chinese. You can make things as difficult as you want them to be – you can turn the Romanization of the characters off (Pinyin) and you can also choose between traditional or simplified characters.
There’s a wide variety of different topics on Du Chinese for you to learn from, which makes it a good choice for those who want a comprehensive learning app. There are lessons in many different areas, from ancient Chinese culture to new funny stories in the news. If you want one of the best Chinese learning apps currently available, then I’d opt to go with Du Chinese.
Chinese Skill
Although Chinese Skill looks cute because of it’s adorable panda logo, the app itself is actually very useful. It has more than 1500 characters and 1000 words, so whilst it’s not an extensive learning app, it’s the perfect place for beginners to start.
It categorizes the words into simple topics like food or colors, much like any other basic language app out there. These bite sized lessons are perfect for those who don’t have much time to learn Chinese. It also has a lot of good quality recording you can use too, which can help you to improve your own spoken Chinese. Whilst it certainly isn’t going to be the best app out there that you can use, it’s a good starter app for free.
Anki
A good app for helping with your vocabulary is Anki. If you’re planning on taking your Chinese seriously, then Anki is the perfect app to help you along the way. To really learn with Anki however, you will need to put in a significant amount of time. Anki is a really good app to help you improve and build upon your vocabulary.
Another reason why I’d recommend Anki is that it’s free! You actually get a whole lot for a free app. So, if you’re thinking about learning Chinese, then it might be worth downloading a paid app and using that in tandem with Anki. This could make your whole Chinese learning experience a lot easier.
Common Questions about Learning Chinese
Is it difficult to learn Chinese?
Chinese is known as being one of the most difficult languages to learn, if not the most difficult of all of them. Some people think that this is due to the Chinese alphabet. The Chinese alphabet is very difficult, but even in addition to this the language is very difficult for Westerners too. The tonal nature of the Chinese language makes it hard for Westerns to pick up.
How long does take to learn Chinese?
If you’re trying to learn Chinese, then it’s going to take you quite a substantial amount of time. If you’re only investing 1 or 2 hours a day in learning Chinese, then it will likely take you between 3 and 5 years to learn this language properly.
Is Chinese worth learning?
Chinese is definitely worth learning if you consider the amount of Chinese people there are scattered across the globe – there are Chinese communities in many countries. As well as this, if you’re looking for a language to learn for business purposes, then Chinese is definitely going to be a good choice. Another to language to learn is Thai.
Should I learn Mandarin or Cantonese?
If you’re going to Hong Kong or various other places that speak Cantonese, then maybe it would be worth learning the language. However, the majority of mainland China speak Mandarin, so this is likely to be the better choice for most people.
Can Chinese understand Japanese?
Chinese can generally pick up parts of Japanese writing, because the Japanese alphabet is based on Chinese. However, the majority of it is different, and Japanese would definitely have problems trying to understand the Chinese language being spoken. Check here for Japanese learning apps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chinese is one of the hardest languages to learn, but this doesn’t mean that you should give up on learning it. In fact, it will likely be one of the most useful languages for you to learn if you’re thinking about things from a business perspective.
