Learning Chinese
7 articles. Guides to learning Chinese with Notion: tones, radicals, measure words, sentence structure and the HSK levels.
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How to Learn Chinese: A Realistic Plan for Adult Learners
A realistic way to learn Mandarin as an adult: work on sounds, characters, words, grammar patterns and input together. With FSI time data (88 weeks for Mandarin vs 30 for Spanish), word milestones from the new 2025 HSK syllabus, and a 12-month plan.
HSK Levels Explained: The HSK 3.0 Test, Level by Level
The HSK now has nine levels in three stages. HSK 3.0 launches worldwide on 13 December 2026; earlier sittings use the six-level exam. Here is what each level tests, how many words it needs (300 to 11,000, per the 2025 syllabus), and the new exam format from CTI's sample papers.
HSK 1: Vocabulary, Grammar and How to Pass
HSK 1 under HSK 3.0 asks for 300 words, not 150 or 500. This guide uses the official 2025 syllabus: the word count and where to find the list, a full grammar checklist with page numbers, the 40-question format, the pass mark, and a sample 8-week plan.
Chinese Sentence Structure: Word Order and Core Grammar Patterns
Chinese is subject-verb-object like English, but time, place and manner go before the verb. Learn the slot order, the topic-first habit, where adjectives go, and 12 core sentence patterns mapped to the official HSK 3.0 syllabus with page numbers.
Chinese Tones: The Four Tones, Tone Changes and How to Practice
Mandarin has four tones plus a light neutral tone. This guide gives a tone chart, one cheat sheet for every common tone change (two third tones, 一 and 不, the neutral tone), a 20-word tone-pair grid and a 10-minute daily drill.
Chinese Measure Words: The Ones You Actually Need
Chinese needs a measure word between a number and a noun. Learn how they work, whether 个 is enough, measure words for actions, and the official HSK 3.0 measure-word list by level, with both syllabus lists merged and page numbers.
Chinese Radicals: How to Learn Chinese Characters Faster
Radicals are the parts dictionaries use to file Chinese characters, and they often hint at meaning. This guide explains why lists show 214 or 201, the 23 radicals behind 55% of HSK 1–2 characters, how many characters you need, simplified vs traditional, and a five-step method.