Tones scare people off before they even start — but they're really just four shapes and a few rules. A plain-language guide to the four Mandarin tones, the three traps that trip up almost every beginner, and how to actually practice them.
1,200 words, 15 minutes a day. A detailed week-by-week plan, self-check milestones, and the right moment to sign up for the real exam.
再想也想不出。Why do native speakers say it so tersely while you keep rambling on? One pattern, ten minutes to learn, and you sound noticeably more natural.
Retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and dual coding: the science behind Myra's 41 games, explained in plain language.
Why slowing the audio down doesn't help, why you should listen twice before looking at the text, and how to do a "third listen with the text".
The most common words for meetings, email, and small talk at work — grouped so they stick, with the character breakdowns that make them memorable.
One app wants you to open the app every day. One app wants you to actually speak Chinese. Those two aren't always the same thing.
The signs you're picking a lower level out of fear, the signs you're overreaching, plus a 10-minute self-assessment.
Enough, if those 15 minutes are structured. Not enough, if it's just 15 minutes of swiping cards. Where's the line?
Most Chinese characters combine a meaning clue and a sound clue. Once you can see the pattern, new characters stop looking like random strokes.
Beta users vote on what we write next, inside the app.