PODCAST · education
Hacking Chinese Podcast
by Olle Linge
A podcast about how to learn Mandarin. In-depth discussions about how to overcome challenges, solve problems and get the most out of your learning. For more information and inspiration, visit https://www.hackingchinese.com!
Episodes
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323 - How to get the most out of your first semester of Chinese
Taking a Chinese course is a great way to get started, but following the syllabus alone can leave important gaps. Here’s how to avoid unnecessary detours and make your first semester count. #learnchinese #course #semester Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How to get the most…
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322 - The forking path: A human approach to learning Chinese
Long-term goals are easy to set, but much harder to stick to. The forking path offers a more flexible way to make steady progress with your Chinese, one small choice at a time. #learnchinese #goals #approach Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: The forking path: A human approach…
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321 - How to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Chinese
Translating everything in your head makes speaking and listening to Chinese slow and difficult. Here’s why it happens, and how to stop doing it and start thinking in Chinese instead. #learnchinese #speaking #translation #listening Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How to stop...
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320 - Beginner Chinese listening practice: What to listen to and how
The best way to learn to understand spoken Mandarin is to listen as much as you can to engaging content that you can make sense of. But what should you listen to and how? #learnchinese #beginner #listening #comprehensibleinput Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: Beginner Chinese...
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319 - No, ChatGPT can't analyse your Mandarin pronunciation
ChatGPT can offer valuable feedback on Mandarin word choice and grammar, but can it help you improve your pronunciation? #learnchinese #pronunciation #chatgpt Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: No, ChatGPT can't analyse your Mandarin pronunciation:...
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318 - 9 questions about Pinyin and Chinese pronunciation
Learning to pronounce Mandarin can be tricky, and if you misunderstand the link between spoken sounds and Pinyin spelling, it gets a lot worse. Let’s discuss nine questions about learning Chinese pronunciation. #learnchinese #pinyin #pronunciation #questions Link to the article this podcast…
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317 - Getting the most out of Hacking Chinese in 2026 (back-to-school course discounts)
There are over 500 articles and more than 1 million words on Hacking Chinese. How are you supposed to absorb all that information and inspiration as a student? Let’s discuss how to get the most out of Hacking Chinese and the courses I've created to provide more structured guidance. Back-to-school...
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316 - How to nail dictation tests in Chinese: A guide to 听写/聽寫 (tīngxǐe)
Dictation tests, or 听写/聽寫 (tīngxiě), are common in Chinese courses, but many students struggle with them. Here is a guide for how to nail any dictation test! #learnchinese #dictation #tingxie #test #chinesecharacters #hanzi Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How to nail…
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315 - Communicative handwriting: Writing Chinese with a real purpose
Flashcards can teach you to write Chinese characters, but they can be boring and hide problems. Communicative handwriting is more engaging and prepares you for real-world tasks. #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #handwriting #communication Link to the article this podcast episode is based on:...
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314 - How to create mnemonics for general, abstract or overlapping character components
Mountains, trees and rocks are easy to use in mnemonics. But what do you do with character components whose meanings are general, abstract or overlapping? #learnchinese #mnemonics #characters #components #vocabulary Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How to create mnemonics for...
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313 - Why you should listen to the Hacking Chinese Podcast
Listening to a podcast about learning Chinese is not the same as learning Chinese, so why spend your limited time on the Hacking Chinese Podcast? #learnchinese #podcast #hackingchinese Link to The Hacking Chinese Podcast: https://www.hackingchinese.com/podcast/ Will Hacking Chinese help you learn...
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312 - The Chinese iceberg: Why speaking more isn’t enough to speak better
90% of an iceberg is underwater, yet we mostly pay attention to the bit that sticks up. The same is true for proficiency in Chinese: speaking ability is easy to see, but relies on a much larger system underneath. #learnchinese #speaking #input #iceberg Link to the article this podcast episode is...
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311 - New book: Hacking Chinese: The Snake Collection
I have published a book! It's called Hacking Chinese: the Snake Collection and contains articles I wrote in 2025, the Year of the Snake. The articles cover a wide variety of topics, but Chinese characters, tutors and input are the most prominent. #learnchinese #anthology #hackingchinese #snake…
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310 - 30 minutes of podcast, 3 minutes of Chinese
Most learners know they should “listen more”, but what they listen to matters. To improve, you need to make sense of spoken Mandarin, not listen to people explain Mandarin in English. #learnchinese #listening #podcast #english #input Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: 30…
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309 - Dealing with Chinese characters you keep mixing up
When we first start learning Chinese, each new character is hard to learn, but as we learn more, it gets easier. But a new problem soon appears: Mixing up similar characters. #learnchinese #characters #vocabulary #forgetting Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: Dealing with…
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308 - How much Chinese should you listen to every day?
Listening is the most important skill. To improve your listening ability in Chinese, you need to listen a lot, but how much should you listen every day? #learnchinese #listening #time #practice #immersion Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How much Chinese should you listen to...
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307 - How technology can stop you from learning Chinese
Technology can make learning Chinese easier, but only if it helps you engage more with the language. Used poorly, the same tools can get in the way of learning instead of supporting it. #learnchinese #technology #traps #ai Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How technology can...
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306 - How technology can make learning Chinese easier
Technology can make learning Chinese easier, not by doing the learning for you, but by helping you spend more time on what actually matters: listening, reading and communicating in Chinese. #learnchinese #technology #ai #benefits Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: How…
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305 - When spaced repetition fails, and what to do about it
Spaced repetition software is designed to delay reviews as long as possible without letting you forget. For learning Chinese, though, barely remembering something is not enough. #learnchinese #vocabulary #srs #flashcards Link to the article this podcast episode is based on: When spaced repetition...
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304 - How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques that can be used to memorise everything from decks of cards to speeches, but how do you use them to learn Chinese? #learnchinese #mnemonics #memory #vocabulary Link to article: How to make Chinese easier by using mnemonics and memory techniques:...
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303 - Learn Chinese by playing Chinese chess (象棋, xiàngqí)
Chinese chess, or 象棋 (xiàngqí), is more than a classic strategy game. It’s a fun, practical way into Chinese language and culture. #learnchinese #xiangqi #chinesechess Link to article: Learn Chinese by playing Chinese chess (象棋, xiàngqí):...
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302 - The best podcasts for learning Chinese in 2026
Podcasts let you create your own Chinese immersion experience, with level-appropriate stories and authentic conversations. Learn flexibly on the go with the best podcasts for beginners, intermediate and advanced students! #learnchinese #podcasts #listening #beginner #intermediate #advanced Link…
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301 - Effective progress or experience points? The double-edged sword of measuring your Chinese learning
Measuring your Chinese progress is a double-edged sword: it can keep you motivated, but it can also tempt you to chase numbers that don’t reflect real progress. #learnchinese #progress #motivation #measure #benchmark Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Effective progress or experience points? The...
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300 - Why learning Chinese pronunciation by using English words is a really bad idea
Learning Mandarin pronunciation is not easy, so some people try to use English words to learn or teach the sounds. This is a really bad idea. #learnchinese #pronunciation #english #sounds Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Why learning Chinese pronunciation by using English words is a really bad...
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299 - How to not memorise Chinese characters: The anatomy of bad mnemonics
Mnemonics are clever memory techniques that help you remember everything from PIN codes to Chinese characters. Good mnemonics make learning easier, but bad ones can distract you or even hold you back. #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #mnemonics #memory #vocabulary Link to article on Hacking...
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298 - The best time to start learning Chinese is now: A guide for expats
The best time to start learning Chinese might be behind you, but the second-best time is now. If you’ve been surrounded by Mandarin for years and keep putting off learning the language, this guide is for you! #learnchinese #expat #china #bubble #immersion Link to article on Hacking Chinese: The...
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297 - Improve your Chinese conversations by listening to the listener
The obvious way to learn Mandarin is to listen to a person speaking the language. The less obvious way is to listen to the person who isn’t speaking in a conversation. What can you learn by listening to the listener? #learnchinese #listening #conversations #responses Link to article on Hacking...
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296 - Chinese is fascinating and exciting, not weird and stupid
When learning a foreign language, some things might appear weird or even stupid. But does a negative attitude towards Chinese make it harder to learn? And if it does, how can you adopt a more positive approach? #learnchinese #attitude #motivation #stupid Link to article on Hacking Chinese…
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295 - Which Chinese language course should you take?
The answer to the question of which Chinese language course you should choose is that it depends. But what does it depend on, and how do you make the right decision about which course to take? #learnchinese #course #class #learning Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Which Chinese language course...
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294 - The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners
Listening is the most important skill of all, because it accelerates all other learning and is crucial for social integration. What are the best free Chinese listening resources out there for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners? Link to article: The 10 best free Chinese listening...
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293 - Remembering is a skill you can learn: Mnemonics for Chinese learners
Remembering is not a fixed, innate ability; it's a skill you can learn. In fact, there are many proven and easy ways to improve your memory! #learnchinese #memory #mnemonics #vocabulary Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Remembering is a skill you can learn: Mnemonics for Chinese learners:...
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292 - A practical guide to your ideal Mandarin self: Build motivation that lasts
Motivation is not a personality trait that you either have or lack. It is a system you can design. Picture your future Mandarin self, make study sustainable, and let steady action close the gap. #learnchinese #motivation #l2mss #dörnyei Link to article on Hacking Chinese: A practical guide to…
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291 - Are mnemonics too slow for Chinese learners?
Mnemonics are clever memory devices designed to make it easier to remember things, but considering that they take time both to create and retrieve, are they really that useful for learning Chinese? #learnchinese #mnemonics #characters #memory #vocabulary Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Are...
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290 - Spaced repetition: What it is and how to use it to learn Chinese
Are you tired of learning Chinese characters and words only to forget them a day, a week or a month later? What if there were a simple method that would allow you to remember almost everything you learn, and that didn't take too much time and energy to use? There is: spaced repetition!...
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289 - Reader and listener survey + Lunar New Year discount
I started Hacking Chinese to help people learn Mandarin, and your feedback is essential, so please fill out my listener survey. Also, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, I'm offering a hefty discount on three of my courses. #learnchinese #cny #discount #courses #survey Hacking Chinese reader and...
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288 - New book: Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection
I have published a book! It's called Hacking Chinese: the Dragon Collection and contains articles I wrote in 2024, the Year of the Dragon. The articles cover a wide variety of topics, but tones, listening comprehension and motivation are the most prominent. #learnchinese #anthology…
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287 - How to get honest feedback to boost your Chinese speaking and writing
Feedback is important for learning, because it can show you how to not use the language and highlight things you hadn't noticed before. But getting honest feedback on your Chinese is harder than you might think. #learnchinese #feedback #correction #speaking #writing Link to article on Hacking...
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286 - Chinese reading practice for beginners: 7 resources to improve your Mandarin
The best way to learn to read Chinese is to read texts you can understand without constantly using a dictionary. As a beginner, those texts aren’t always easy to find, but let’s look at the best reading resources I know for beginners. #learnchinese #beginner #reading #resources Link to article on...
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285 - Chinese subtitles and transcripts: Reading before, while or after listening
Subtitles and transcripts can help you understand spoken Chinese, but do they also help you become a better listener? Should you read along, read first, or save the text for after you’ve listened? #learnchinese #listening #reading #subtitles #transcripts Link to article on Hacking Chinese…
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284 - Chinese listening, fast and slow: Three ways of slowing down Mandarin speech
Spoken Mandarin can feel like an onslaught of similar sounds, half-recognised tones and unknown words. To add insult to injury, it's often too fast! Should you slow it down? If so, how? #learnchinese #listening #speed #rateofspeech #fast #slow Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Chinese…
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283 - Best of Hacking Chinese 2025
2025 has come to an end. Which were the most popular articles on Hacking Chinese last year? The most popular podcast episodes? It's time to summarise the year that was and highlight the things you really shouldn’t miss! #learnchinese #2025 #bestof #hackingchinese Link to article on Hacking…
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282 - Diversify how you study Chinese to learn more
How is it possible to spend 80 hours a week learning Chinese? And what can you learn from that, even if you're busy juggling work, family and other commitments? #learnchinese #immersion #busylife Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Diversify how you study Chinese to learn more:...
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281 - Reading is a lot like spaced repetition, only better
You can build vocabulary in Chinese with flashcard apps and spaced repetition, but reading is more effective and more enjoyable. It helps you recognise words, understand how they work in context and build your sense of how the language works. #learnchinese #reading #vocabulary #srs #flashcards...
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280 -Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches
How long does it take to learn a Chinese character or word? It varies, but some vocabulary just refuses to stick, no matter what you do. These are called leeches, and if you don't deal with them, they'll suck you dry. #learnchinese #leeches #vocabulary #flashcards #srs Link to article on Hacking...
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279 - Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality
Everybody knows that knowing many words is important, but how important is it? And how should you expand your vocabulary in Chinese? #learnchinese #vocabulary #words #characters Link to article on Hacking Chinese: Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality:...
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278 - A minimum-effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand
Chinese characters are beautiful and fascinating, but learning to write them by hand is time-consuming. If you want to learn to write Chinese characters by hand with the least possible time investment, what's the best approach? #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #handwriting #strategy A...
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277 - Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden... or burn it down and start afresh
Flashcards are powerful, but what if your deck feels more like an overgrown thicket than a carefully cultivated garden? Do you clear away the weeds and bring it back under control, or burn it all down and start afresh? #learnchinese #vocabulary #flashcards #srs #characters #words Link to the...
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276 - 4, 3, 2, 1: Fluency! A great technique to boost your Mandarin speaking ability
Do you want to speak Mandarin fluently, no matter what your level is? Use the 4/3/2 technique to build confidence and flow! #learnchinese #fluency #fluent #432 #speaking #paulnation Link to the article on Hacking Chinese: How to talk about Chinese characters in Chinese:...
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275 - How to talk about Chinese characters in Chinese
How do native speakers talk about Chinese characters? The writing system is not phonetic, so you can't spell out words, but it is still possible to talk about Chinese characters. Let's explore how! #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #spoken Link to the article on Hacking Chinese: How to talk about...
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274 - Why not going to China now could actually be good for your Chinese
Going abroad to learn Chinese in an immersion environment can be great, but unless you plan to stay for years, you might be better off delaying your trip. #learnchinese #immersion #travel #abroad #home Link to the article on Hacking Chinese: Why not going to China now could actually be good for...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hacking Chinese Podcast have?
Hacking Chinese Podcast currently has 324 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Hacking Chinese Podcast about?
A podcast about how to learn Mandarin. In-depth discussions about how to overcome challenges, solve problems and get the most out of your learning. For more information and inspiration, visit https://www.hackingchinese.com!
How often does Hacking Chinese Podcast release new episodes?
Hacking Chinese Podcast publishes regularly with 324 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Hacking Chinese Podcast?
You can listen to Hacking Chinese Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Hacking Chinese Podcast?
Hacking Chinese Podcast is created and hosted by Olle Linge.
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