A little birdie told me you’re considering learning Chinese. Let’s find out whether or not it’s a good idea. The Chinese language is fascinatingly complex, with various subdivisions such as Mandarin, Jin, Wu, Gan, Xiang, Min, Hakka, Yue, Northern Pinghua, and Huizhou. Today we’ll discuss the most common type, which is Mandarin.
When starting to learn a language, it’s helpful to ask yourself the following questions: Do I like the culture? Do I like the people? Does the language sound interesting? Do I feel like I want to repeat and understand what people are saying? Do I want to visit this country at some point? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the first step is made: being genuinely interested. 
To motivate you further, here are some facts that might be beneficial to know for those starting to learn Mandarin:
Career and Economic Advantages
Career Opportunities: Proficiency in Mandarin opens up job opportunities in various fields such as international business, translation, and education.
Economic Advantage: China’s significant role in the global economy means Mandarin speakers have an edge in business and trade sectors.
Cultural and Social Enrichment
Cultural Understanding: Learning Mandarin provides deeper insights into Chinese culture, history, and traditions.
Expanded Social Network: Knowing Mandarin allows you to communicate with over a billion people, expanding your social and professional network.
Personal Growth
Boosted Confidence: Mastering a challenging language like Mandarin can boost your self-confidence and sense of accomplishment.
Lifelong Learning: Learning Mandarin encourages a habit of lifelong learning and adaptability.
These benefits highlight how learning Mandarin can positively impact various aspects of life, from personal development to professional success. How does that sound? It is true that career perspectives open new horizons with the knowledge of other languages. 1.35 billion people speak Chinese today. It seems soon there will be 1.35 billion plus one.
So, to cut a long story short, where do you start, and what is it like to learn Chinese?
1. Tonal Nature of the Language
Mandarin Chinese has four main tones and one neutral tone. The meaning of a word can change completely depending on the tone used. Practicing tones is crucial from the beginning. I’ve been down that road, and it can be both funny and awkward.
2. Character-Based Writing System
Characters vs. Alphabet Chinese uses characters rather than an alphabet. Each character represents a word or a part of a word, and there are thousands of characters to learn.
Simplified vs. Traditional Characters: Simplified characters are used in Mainland China and Singapore, while Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Decide which one to focus on based on your goals.
Roll up your sleeves because you will need to know:
Basic Literacy: Around 1,000 characters. This is sufficient for basic reading and understanding of simple texts, such as children’s books and basic signage.
Functional Literacy: 2,000 to 3,000 characters. This range is generally considered necessary for functional literacy. It allows individuals to read newspapers, understand most common texts, and handle everyday communication.
Full Literacy: 3,000 to 4,000 characters. Knowing this many characters enables one to read most books, newspapers, and magazines, and engage in more complex and nuanced written communication.
Highly Educated Individuals: 5,000 to 7,000 characters. This level is typical for highly educated individuals, including scholars and professionals who need to read specialized texts and literature.
Comprehensive Knowledge: Over 7,000 characters. This level is more typical for scholars of Chinese language and literature, linguists, and historians who work with ancient texts and classical literature.
3. Pinyin System
Pinyin is the Romanization of Chinese characters based on their pronunciation. It’s a helpful tool for beginners to learn pronunciation and tones.
4. Grammar Structure
Grammar: Chinese grammar is relatively straightforward compared to many Western languages. There are no verb conjugations, gendered nouns, or plural forms.
Word Order: The basic word order is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), similar to English.
5. Cultural Context
Cultural Nuances: Understanding Chinese culture and social norms can enhance your language learning and communication skills.
Idioms and Expressions: Chinese is rich in idioms and proverbs that often reference historical events or cultural stories.
6. Listening and Speaking Practice
Regular listening practice is essential to grasp the tones and rhythms of the language.
Find language partners or tutors to practice speaking and receive feedback.
7. Consistent Practice
Consistent daily practice is crucial for retaining and progressing in the language.
Immersing yourself in the language through media, conversation, and, if possible, travel to a Chinese-speaking region can significantly accelerate learning.
8. Learning Resources
Utilize a variety of resources such as textbooks, online courses, language apps, flashcards, and Chinese media (TV shows, movies, music).
9. Challenges and Patience
Learning Chinese can be challenging at the beginning, especially with tones and characters.
Stay patient and persistent, as progress may seem slow initially but will improve over time.
10. Community and Support
Joining a language learning community can provide motivation, support, and opportunities to practice with others.
So, ready or not, learning even basic Chinese is very beneficial for you. It can help you to communicate effectively with Mandarin speakers, understand Chinese culture more deeply, and open up new opportunities in both personal and professional realms.
Understanding these aspects can help set realistic expectations and provide a solid foundation for starting your Chinese language learning journey. While Chinese is drastically different from languages that use only alphabetic systems, the benefits may exceed your expectations. After reading this article, if you still have doubts, check out the Duolingo app to play with the language and learn some simple sentences. As Chinese people say: 加油 (Jiayou or Gayau) – a ubiquitous Chinese expression of encouragement and support. Come on!