Learn how to use Chinese measure words correctly, from the essential 个 and 块 to 100+ classifiers organized by category, with examples,…
Learn how to use Chinese measure words correctly, from the essential 个 and 块 to 100+ classifiers organized by category, with examples,…
Chinese assessment is about more than test scores. This guide explains how feedback, HSK preparation, placement, self-assessment, and real-world practice can help…
Planning a trip to China or learning Mandarin? Start with these basic Chinese words and phrases for beginners — greetings, family terms,…
The idea that Chinese is impossibly hard is a myth—its grammar is often simpler than English. This beginner's guide breaks down nine…
Chinese sentence structure starts with simple SVO word order, but Mandarin handles time, place, questions, negation, and topic-comment differently from English. This…
The complete HSK 3.0 Band 1 grammar syllabus — 48 essential grammar points organized by category, each with pattern breakdowns and example…
The complete HSK 3.0 Level 4 word list — 1000 essential Chinese words with pinyin, definitions, 10 grammar patterns, 48 example sentences…
The complete HSK 3.0 Level 3 word list: 500 new words (1,000 in total) with pinyin and definitions, plus example sentences, grammar…
The complete HSK 3.0 Level 2 word list: 200 new words (500 in total) with pinyin and definitions, plus example sentences, grammar…
The complete HSK 3.0 Level 1 word list — 300 essential Chinese words with pinyin, definitions, 10 grammar patterns, 48 example sentences…
Think you're too old to learn Chinese? The largest study on age and language learning — 670,000 participants — tells a very…
The 2 Sigma Problem shows one-on-one tutoring can outperform classrooms. See how immersion plus personalized instruction speeds up Mandarin fluency.
Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers on Earth, while English leads in total speakers. Discover the world's top 10 most spoken…
Mandarin is a language that is growing globally. It’s already one of the world’s most spoken languages, with more than 1.14 billion…
Have you heard of Yoyo Chinese, a popular online platform for learning Mandarin? Established in 2012 by native Chinese speaker and expert…
Flashcards are one of the best study tools for language students and there are many different options available. As you spend more…
Learn how to say “yes” in Chinese naturally with 10 common Mandarin responses, including 是, 对, 好, 可以, 没问题, and more, with…
The weather has the power to impact almost every aspect of daily life and shared experiences with various meteorological events are common…
Discover the world of Chinese language, tradition and modern society while improving your Chinese skills along the way. We welcome you to…
Many people are often fascinated and attracted by Chinese characters. At first glance, characters may look like bizarre pictograms, randomly drawn at…
Curious about how China's money actually works? Read on to discover why the currency is called renminbi but priced in yuan, why…
Thinking about learning Chinese? It's worth knowing a few things first: what "Mandarin" actually means, why tones and pinyin matter early, and…
Chinese idioms, or chengyu (成语), pack entire stories into four characters. Discover 28 of the most common Chinese idioms with pinyin, English…
The FSI says Chinese takes 2,200 hours — but that number describes diplomats studying full-time, not your situation. Here's what the research…
Anki uses spaced repetition to help you retain Chinese vocabulary more efficiently. Learn how to install the app, create flashcards, and find…
谢谢 (xièxie) is the most common way to say thank you in Chinese. Learn 23 ways to thank someone, from casual to…
The Chinese Language Institute Interactive Pinyin Chart Tap a syllable to hear it. Every sound in Mandarin is here, recorded in all…
The 100 Most Common Chinese Characters By the teachers of the Chinese Language Institute (CLI) in Guilin, China. Updated September 28, 2026.…
Free Chinese Course Six short Mandarin lessons for complete beginners, from your first tone to reading your first stories in Chinese. You…
Set along the Li River among limestone peaks, Guilin is a friendly, affordable city where Chinese becomes part of your day. Discover…
The next Year of the Rat runs from 11 February 2032 to 30 January 2033 — but the Rat is the most…
Learning Chinese in China can accelerate progress by connecting structured lessons with daily conversations, errands, travel, and real-world problem-solving. Discover how immersion…
What makes a Chinese language school the best choice for serious learners? This guide examines CLI’s one-to-one teaching, three-teacher model, Guilin immersion…
Spaced repetition can help Chinese learners remember vocabulary, characters, tones, pinyin, and grammar more efficiently. This guide explains how SRS works, how…
喜爱中文培训学校 · 事件报告 CLI · Incident Report 中文 English 🛡️ 事件报告表 Incident Report Form 举报可以口头提出，也可以书面提出，可使用英文或中文。举报人无须使用法律术语或固定格式。如部分信息暂不清楚，可填写"不清楚"或留空。 A report may be made orally or…
A practical guide to living with a Chinese host family — covering daily routines, hospitality culture, common friction points, key Mandarin phrases,…
Free interactive flashcards for HSK 1–3 vocabulary. Flip through 1,000 words with tone-colored pinyin, English translations, and part of speech — organized…
Business Chinese is more than workplace vocabulary. This guide covers the key phrases and etiquette for real professional situations, so beginners can…
Look up any Chinese character to see its radical, stroke count and related characters, or browse all 214 Kangxi radicals. Free, no…
How long does it really take to learn Chinese? This beginner-friendly guide explains realistic timelines for speaking, HSK progress, and long-term fluency,…
The HSK is China's official Mandarin proficiency test, and in 2026 the system is transitioning from six levels to nine. This guide…
At CLI, we recognize that the people you interact with every day can enrich your learning experience in incredible ways. We’re dedicated…
China is one of the most family-centric societies on earth. This belief in the importance of family is clearly reflected in the…
The HSK 6 is the highest level in the series of Chinese proficiency tests known as the 汉语水平考试 (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì). Notoriously…
If you’ve ever taken a Chinese class, you’ve probably already heard of the HSK. But what is the HSK, exactly? In this…
If you are studying Chinese or planning to and wondering how many characters you need to learn, here are some numbers that…
What's the difference between traditional and simplified Chinese characters? Explore side-by-side examples, the history behind the split, and which script you should…
Who built the Great Wall of China, and are the famous stories about it true? A guide to twenty centuries of construction,…
Chinese chess has been played in China for at least two thousands years. It can quickly be picked up by anyone who…
Why grammar drills leave you mute — and what works instead. Six ways not to learn a foreign language, plus what it…
There was no turkey. There was a long table at a Guilin Buddhist restaurant, a room split between Chinese and international students,…