Many learners ask the same question at some point: How hard on earth is learning Chinese?
This question rarely appears at the beginning. It usually comes later, after you have learned basic grammar, memorized vocabulary, practiced tones, and perhaps even learned to read …
You can produce grammatically correct Chinese sentences, yet real conversations still feel restrictive. When the conversation moves in an unexpected direction, you may struggle to respond, relying on memorized sentences instead of expressing your own ideas.
The issue isn’t accuracy. It’s flexibility.
Many learners of Chinese reach a stage where they understand the words, but still misunderstand the message. A sentence sounds polite, neutral, or even positive. But the conversation suddenly stops, changes direction, or quietly ends. That’s because in Chinese, sometimes what a sentence literally says …
Many learners of Chinese experience the same frustration: in real conversations, you often hear only parts of sentences. Subjects seem missing, objects are left unsaid, and the meaning isn’t always explicit. Even when you know the vocabulary, conversations can feel confusing and incomplete.
This …
Many Chinese learners reach a frustrating stage where everything feels familiar, yet nothing feels clear.
You recognize the characters. You can read the sentence smoothly. But when it comes to explaining what it really means, you hesitate.
This kind of confusion doesn’t come from a …
You can learn to drink hot water, master using chopsticks, and even understand the cultural importance of balance and routine. But there’s one skill most Chinese learners don’t realize they need until it’s urgent: the ability to accurately describe symptoms in a doctor’s office.
While
Wǒ bù shū fu. 我不舒服。 I don’t feel well.
Wǒ shēng bìng le. 我生病了。 I’m ill.
Wǒ yǒu diǎn bù shū fu. 我有点不舒服。 I’m a bit unwell.
Wǒ gǎn jué bù tài hǎo. 我感觉不太好。 I don’t feel very good.
Wǒ gǎn jué hěn bù shū …
Biàn shòu le 变瘦了 You’ve lost weight / You look slimmer
Pí fū biàn hǎo le 皮肤变好了 Your skin looks great / Your complexion has improved
Shēn cái hǎo 身材好 Good figure / Great shape
Qì zhì hǎo 气质好 Elegant demeanor / Great poise
Gèng …
Xiàng mào yīng jùn 相貌英俊 Handsome appearance
Qì zhì bù fán 气质不凡 Exceptional poise / Distinguished demeanor
Yǒu dà jú guān 有大局观 Strategic vision / Big-picture thinking
Yǒu dān dāng 有担当 Accountability / Responsible and reliable
Qiú zhēn wù shí 求真务实 Pragmatism and truth-seeking
Sī …
Wǒ shì zuò cǎi gòu de. 我是做采购的。 I work in purchasing.
Wǒ shì zuò fáng dì chǎn de. 我是做房地产的。 I work in real estate.
Wǒ shì zuò fú wù háng yè de. 我是做服务行业的。 I work in the service industry.
Wǒ shì zì yóu zhí yè …
Dà fāng 大方 Generous and easy-going; someone who doesn’t act petty
Zhǔ dòng 主动 Proactive; someone who takes initiative without being asked
Gěng zhí 耿直 Straightforward and honest, even if it’s not always sugar-coated
Chún zhēn 纯真 Pure and innocent in a sincere, not childish, …
帅到犯规 (Shuài dào fàn guī) – So handsome it’s almost illegal 帅得一批 (Shuài de yī pī) – Insanely handsome (slang) 五官好精致 (Wǔ guān hǎo jīng zhì) – Your features are so refined 长在我审美点上 (Zhǎng zài wǒ shěn měi diǎn shàng) – You’re exactly my type …
Wǒ shì kuài jì. 我是会计。 I’m an accountant.
Wǒ shì zuò cái wù de. 我是做财务的。 I work in finance.
Wǒ shì zuò rén lì de. 我是做人力的。 I work in HR.
Wǒ shì zuò kè fú de. 我是做客服的。 I work in customer service.
Wǒ shì zuò …
你真帅 (Nǐ zhēn shuài) – You’re really handsome 你也太帅了吧！ (Nǐ yě tài shuài le ba) – You’re so handsome 帅到不行 (Shuài dào bù xíng) – Crazy handsome 帅爆了 (Shuài bào le) – Super handsome 颜值在线 (Yán zhí zài xiàn) – Looks are on point 很有男人味 …
Wǒ shì zuò shì chǎng de. 我是做市场的。 I work in marketing.
Wǒ shì zuò xiāo shòu de. 我是做销售的。 I work in sales.
Wǒ shì zuò chǎn pǐn de. 我是做产品的。 I work in product.
Wǒ shì zuò yùn yíng de. 我是做运营的。 I work in operations.
Wǒ …
太养眼啦～（Tài yǎng yǎn la）– A feast for the eyes! 笑起来超甜！（Xiào qǐ lái chāo tián）– Your smile is so sweet! 超有范儿！（Chāo yǒu fànr）– Such a vibe! 又美又飒 (Yòu měi yòu sà) – beautiful and badass 这气质绝了！ (Zhè qì zhì jué le) – This aura is insane！ …
Fǎ guān 法官 Judge
Xiāo fáng yuán 消防员 Firefighter
Sī jī 司机 Driver
Yǎn yuán 演员 Actor
Dǎo yóu 导游 Tour guide
Fú wù yuán 服务员 Waiter / Service staff
Mó shù shī 魔术师 Magician
Gōng rén 工人 Worker
Want to learn more? Try your …
你真好看！（Nǐ zhēn hǎo kàn）– You look so beautiful! 这颜值绝了！（Zhè yán zhí jué le）– Your looks are next level! 颜值天花板！（Yán zhí tiān huā bǎn）– Total beauty icon! 你气色真好！（Nǐ qì sè zhēn hǎo）– You’re glowing! 清新又脱俗！（Qīng xīn yòu tuō sú）– Fresh and unique! 温婉又大方！（Wēn wǎn yòu dà …
Shè jì shī 设计师 Designer
Lǐ fà shī 理发师 Hairdresser
Gē shǒu 歌手 Singer
Zuò jiā 作家 Writer
Huà jiā 画家 Painter
Yá yī 牙医 Dentist
Jì zhě 记者 Journalist
Kuài dì yuán 快递员 Delivery courier
Want to learn more?
Try your first free 1-on-1 …
社恐 (Shè kǒng) – social anxiety 不敢开口 (Bù gǎn kāi kǒu) – too shy to speak 内向型选手 (Nèi xiàng xíng xuǎn shǒu) – introvert 闷葫芦 (Mèn hú lu) – quiet, keeps everything inside 存在感为零 (Cún zài gǎn wéi líng) – invisible presence 手脚无处安放 (Shǒu jiǎo …
