Top 10 mistakes beginners make when learning Chinese

Top 10 mistakes beginners make when learning Chinese:

1. Wrong tones = wrong word. Practice tones correctly from day 1.
2. Use standard pinyin only (zh/ch/sh + proper ü).
3. Train your ear first, record & compare, don’t guess pronunciation.
4. Correct order: pinyin → speaking → characters (not reverse).
5. Don’t memorize characters first — learn to speak 1000 sentences before writing.
6. Stop applying English grammar (no tenses, no plurals, no articles).
7. Master 了/着/过 and measure words early.
8. Realistic goal: 3 months = order food & take taxis, not fluency.
9. Dare to speak badly — Chinese people love when foreigners try.
10. Pay for 1-on-1 lessons (italki/Preply); free language exchange is 10× slower.

Best apps: HelloChinese, SuperChinese, italki teachers.

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