273 - What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters

How small can Chinese characters be while still being legible? How much information do they contain per unit area? And what can a big Rubik’s cube teach us about Chinese characters?#learnchinese #hanzi #characters #pixelfont #rubikscubeLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-a-big-rubiks-cube-taught-me-about-chinese-characters/What’s in a name? Hacking Chinese, 揭密中文: https://www.hackingchinese.com/whats-name-hacking-chineseLargest rotating puzzle cube mosaic: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/473622-largest-rubiks-cube-mosaic-imageAre simplified characters really simpler to learn? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-simplified-characters-really-simpler-to-learnBeyond tīng bu dǒng, part 2: From sound to meaning in Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-2-from-sound-to-meaning-in-mandarinBeyond ting bu dong part 3 using what you already know to aid listening comprehension in chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-3-using-what-you-already-know-to-aid-listening-comprehension-in-chineseEscape: A text adventure game for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/escape-text-adventure-game-chinese-learners36 samples of Chinese handwriting from students and native speakers: https://www.hackingchinese.com/36-samples-of-chines-handwriting-from-students-and-native-speakersMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Slang and swearing often top the list of what people want to learn in a foreign language. But is this curiosity actually helpful for learners, or just a fun distraction?#learnchinese #slang #vocabulary #swearingLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: Learning (or not learning) Chinese slang: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-not-learning-chinese-slang/3 things I wish I had known as a beginner student of Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/three-things-i-wish-i-had-known-as-a-beginner-student-of-chinese-the-time-machine-part-1/Which words you should learn and where to find them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/which-words-you-should-learn-in-and-where-to-find-them/Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/Duang - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuangMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Learning to write characters is an integral part of learning Chinese, but how do you practise writing them? Do you type? Write on paper? Or… on the canvas of your mind?#learnchinese #chinesecharacters #hanzi #writing #vocabulary #typingLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: 7 ways to learn to write Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/7-ways-of-learning-to-write-chinese-characters/Should you learn to speak Chinese before you learn Chinese characters? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-to-speak-chinese-before-you-learn-chinese-characters/The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements: https://www.hackingchinese.com/handwriting-chinese-characters-the-minimum-requirements/16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-hand/All the resources you need to learn and teach Chinese stroke order: https://www.hackingchinese.com/everything-you-need-to-learn-chinese-stroke-order/How to improve your Chinese handwriting: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-chinese-handwriting/The building blocks of Chinese: Mastering compound characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-characters/The real challenge with learning Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-real-challenge-when-learning-characters/Pleco Software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/go/pleco/Anki, the best of spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-systemSkritter Review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learning/About cheating, spaced repetition and learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/about-cheating-spaced-repetition-and-learning-chinese/Chinese character learning for all students: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-learning-for-all-students/25 books I read in Chinese last year: https://www.hackingchinese.com/25-books-i-read-in-chinese-last-year/How I learnt Chinese, part 6: Graduate program in Taiwan: https://www.hackingchinese.com/i-learnt-chinese-part-6-graduate-program-taiwan/Remember how to write Chinese characters with less effort: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-minimum-effort-approach-to-writing-chinese-characters-by-handMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

I started learning Chinese well over a decade ago, and I have encountered many great teachers. But I have also seen truly terrible teaching, especially when it comes to Chinese characters.#learnchinese #characters #hanzi #teachingLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-not-teach-chinese-characters-to-beginners-a-12-step-approach/Note: This is an updated version of episode 3, originally published in 2020.How to learn Chinese characters as a beginner: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-chinese-characters-as-a-beginner/Should you learn the names of the strokes in Chinese characters? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-the-names-of-the-strokes-in-chinese-characters/Real communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-it/The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/Why you should think of characters in terms of functional components: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-you-should-think-of-characters-in-terms-of-functional-components/Should you learn the pronunciation of radicals? https://www.hackingchinese.com/learn-pronunciation-of-radicals/Learning Chinese characters through pictures: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-characters-through-pictures/Phonetic components, part 1: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-characters/5 levels of understanding Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/5-levels-of-understanding-chinese-characters-superficial-forms-to-deep-structure/An introduction to spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software/Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements: https://www.hackingchinese.com/handwriting-chinese-characters-the-minimum-requirements/A minimum effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-minimum-effort-approach-to-writing-chinese-characters-by-hand/Learn to read Chinese with ease: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learn-to-read-chinese-with-ease/Chinese character learning for all students: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-character-learning-for-all-students/Should you learn to speak Chinese before you learn Chinese characters?: https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-to-speak-chinese-before-you-learn-chinese-characters/Simplified and traditional Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/simplified-and-traditional-chinese/Are simplified characters really simpler to learn? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-simplified-characters-really-simpler-to-learn/Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-review-boosting-your-character-learning/Pleco: http://hackingchinese.com/plecoOutlier Linguistics character dictionary review: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-the-outlier-linguistics-dictionary-of-chinese-characters-with-discount-code/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Chinese character components are usually placed in predictable ways, so if you remember the components, you can often write the character. But not always. Some characters share components but differ only in how they're arranged.#learnchinese #charcaters #hanzi #compounds #components #compositionLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: Same building blocks, different characters: How component placement changes meaning in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-characters-components-different-meanings/The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/Memory aids and mnemonics to enhance learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning/How to best use flashcards to learn Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-best-use-flashcards-to-learn-chinese/An introduction to spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-software/Why spaced repetition software is uniquely well suited to learning Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-spaced-repetition-software-is-uniquely-well-suited-to-learning-chinese-characters/My best advice on how to learn Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/my-best-advice-on-how-to-learn-chinese-characters/Shapeshifting Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/shapeshifting-chinese-characters/Don’t use mnemonics to remember things you don’t need to remember: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-use-mnemonics-for-everything/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let's explore 8 more myths that might be holding you back!#learnchinese #myths #hanzi #input #studyLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: 16 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back: https://www.hackingchinese.com/myths-about-learning-chinese-that-are-holding-you-back/Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input/Learning to unicycle, learning anatomy and learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-unicycle-learning-anatomy-and-learning-chinese/Learning the third tone in Mandarin Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-third-tone-mandarin-chinese/Learn Chinese implicitly through exposure with a seasoning of explicit instruction: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learn-chinese-implicitly-exposure-seasoning-explicit-instruction/The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshell/Learning Chinese characters through pictures: A warning and a how-to: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-characters-through-pictures/Phonetic components, part 1: The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-characters/Kickstart your learning with the Skritter Character Course: https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-learning-with-the-skritter-character-course/Are there any shortcuts for learning Chinese? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-there-any-shortcuts-for-learning-chinese/ Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 4: Learning to process spoken Mandarin quickly and effortlessly: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-4-learning-to-process-spoken-mandarin-quickly-and-effortlessly/Which words you should learn and where to find them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/which-words-you-should-learn-in-and-where-to-find-them/The importance of knowing many words: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-importance-of-knowing-many-words/How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/ An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners/20 Actually Useful Chengyu (Carl Gene Fordham) https://carlgene.com/blog/2010/07/20-actually-useful-chengyu-%E6%88%90%E8%AF%AD/Chengyu, a magic key to Chinese language and culture, or a waste of time? https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-right-chengyu-the-right-way/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Most Chinese learners want one thing above all: to speak better. Many turn to a teacher for guidance, but that is only the first step. True progress depends on how you work with that teacher.#learnchinese #tutor #teacher #speaking #lessonsLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-mandarin-speaking-skills-with-a-tutor/The best podcasts for learning Chinese in 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podcasts-for-learning-chinese/The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-10-best-free-chinese-listening-resources-for-beginner-intermediate-and-advanced-learners/The best resources for learning Chinese through listening in 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/guides/chinese-listening-resources/Beginner Chinese listening practice: the best resources and tools: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beginner-chinese-listening-practice/The best YouTube channels for learning Chinese in 2025: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-youtube-channels-for-learning-chinese/Unlocking Chinese: The Ultimate Course for Beginners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/unlocking-chinese-the-ultimate-course-for-beginners/The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water/Classroom Mandarin: Essential expressions for learning Chinese in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/classroom-mandarin-essential-expressions-for-learning-chinese-in-chinese/Is taking a Chinese course that’s too hard good for your learning? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-taking-a-chinese-course-thats-too-hard-good-for-your-learning/How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/Learning too many words at once: Consequences and solutions: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-too-many-words-at-once-consequences-and-solutions/Don’t try to improve everything at once: Focus on one thing at a time instead: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dont-try-to-improve-everything-at-once-focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time-instead/Will a Chinese-only rule improve your speaking ability?https://www.hackingchinese.com/will-chinese-only-rule-improve-your-speaking-ability/Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-through-comprehensible-input/Why you should preview before every Chinese lesson: https://www.hackingchinese.com/preview-every-chinese-lesson/How I learnt Chinese, part 4: My second year in Taiwan: https://www.hackingchinese.com/i-learnt-chinese-part-4%EF%BC%9A-second-year-taiwan/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

HSK is the most widely used proficiency test for Chinese, and many learners aim to master the vocabulary at each level. Yet some of the most important words are missing from the HSK.#learnchinese #hsk #vocabularyLink to article on Hacking Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-important-words-are-missing-from-hsk/Note: This is a rerecorded version of episode 2 originally published in 2020.Hacking Chinese Pronunciation: Speaking with Confidence: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/mandarin-chinese-pronunciation-course/Using the HSK as a roadmap to learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/using-the-hsk-as-a-roadmap-to-learning-chinese/Should you learn Chinese vocabulary from lists? https://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/The most common Chinese words, characters and components for language learners and teachers: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-most-common-chinese-words-characters-and-components-for-language-learners-and-teachers/Filling gaps in your Chinese vocabulary: https://www.hackingchinese.com/mapping-the-terra-incognita-of-vocabulary/Skritter Review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-review-boosting-your-character-learning/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Can you ask questions in Mandarin but struggle to understand the answers? Do you feel that you know the words, but people just speak too fast? And why do words in Chinese sound so similar?#learnchinese #listening #fluent #comprehension #courseLink The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water: https://www.hackingchinese.com/courses/the-fluent-listener-navigating-mandarin-like-a-fish-in-water/Real communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-itAnalyse and balance your Chinese learning with Paul Nation’s Four Strands: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analyse-and-balance-your-chinese-learning-with-paul-nations-four-strandsBeyond tīng bu dǒng, part 4: Learning to process spoken Mandarin quickly and effortlessly: https://www.hackingchinese.com/beyond-ting-bu-dong-part-4-learning-to-process-spoken-mandarin-quickly-and-effortlesslyBeyond tīng bu dǒng, part 6: Why is listening in Chinese so hard?: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-is-listening-in-chinese-so-hardMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Can you really learn Mandarin through listening and reading alone? What is comprehensible input, and how do you get enough of it?And how do speaking, writing, grammar, and flashcards fit in?#learnchinese #comprehensibleinput #ci #input #reading #listeningLink to article on Hacking Chinese: Learning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-input/Are authentic texts good for learning Chinese or is graded content better? https://www.hackingchinese.com/are-authentic-texts-good-for-learning-chinese-or-is-graded-content-better/Learning the third tone in Mandarin: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-third-tone-mandarin-chinese/20 tips and tricks to improve your Chinese writing ability: https://www.hackingchinese.com/20-tips-and-tricks-to-improve-your-chinese-writing-ability/How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chinese/Playing word games to practise fluency: https://www.hackingchinese.com/playing-word-games-to-practise-fluency/Reading is a lot like spaced repetition, only better: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reading-is-a-lot-like-spaced-repetition-only-better/Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chinese/Why spaced repetition software is uniquely well-suited to learning Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-spaced-repetition-software-is-uniquely-well-suited-to-learning-chinese-characters/An introduction to comprehension-based Chinese teaching and learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-comprehension-based-chinese-teaching-learning/More information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found  at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)