Speaking
Speaking Chinese Learning Guides
This speaking hub collects 14 focused Mandarin Chinese guides for learners who want more than a word list. Each article explains a practical learning problem, shows how the pattern appears in real conversation, and links to an interactive practice page where you can turn reading into speaking, listening, vocabulary, or grammar work.
Use the page as a study path rather than a random archive. Start with the guide that matches your current blocker, practice the example sentences out loud, then open the related AI Chinese Coach activity to test the same language in a short scenario. The complete set takes about 91 minutes to read, but it is more useful when split into small daily practice sessions.
How to study this speaking path
- Step 1: Read one speaking guide and copy three sentences that feel useful for your level.
- Step 2: Say the sentences out loud, then change one noun, verb, place, or time expression to make the pattern personal.
- Step 3: Open the related practice page and use the same pattern in a short AI conversation.
- Step 4: Save corrected words and review them later so the guide becomes active vocabulary, not passive reading.
7 min read
The Best Way to Practice Chinese Speaking When You Do Not Have a Tutor
A practical plan for improving Mandarin speaking with scenarios, self-recording, AI correction, vocabulary review, and short daily routines.
Read guide6 min read
Chinese Business Small Talk: Simple Mandarin for Work Conversations
Learn practical Chinese business small talk for introductions, meetings, schedules, polite questions, and workplace conversation starters.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Numbers, Time & Dates — Master 数字, 时间 and 日期 for Everyday Mandarin
Learn how to count, tell time, and talk about dates, money, and quantities in Chinese. Covers numbers 0–10 up to 万/亿, telling time with 点/分/半/刻, dates and weekdays in the correct 年月日 order, money and prices with 块/毛/分, asking 多少钱, ages with 岁, and reading phone numbers. Includes pinyin, examples, and the key difference between 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng).
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Campus & Study Abroad Phrases — 校园 and 留学 Mandarin for Students
Essential Chinese for campus life and studying abroad in China: university and classroom vocabulary, enrolling and choosing courses (报到/选课/学分), asking teachers for help, international student basics (留学/签证/奖学金/HSK), dorm and campus daily life, and making Chinese friends. Includes pinyin, examples, and natural phrases for 上课 and 校园生活.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Sports & Watching Games — 体育 and 观赛 Mandarin for Fans
Essential Chinese for talking about sports and watching games: naming popular sports, reading scores and results, cheering for your team, discussing players and matches, and planning to watch together. Includes pinyin, examples, and natural fan phrases.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Seasons & Weather Small Talk — 四季 and 天气 for Daily Conversation
Talk about the four seasons, describe weather and temperature, talk about seasonal clothing, and plan seasonal activities and holiday travel in Mandarin. Includes pinyin, examples, and natural phrases for daily small talk.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Family & Kinship Terms — 爸爸, 妈妈, and Relatives for Self-Introductions
Name your immediate family, distinguish paternal and maternal grandparents, address aunts, uncles, and cousins correctly, and talk about in-laws and generation (辈分) in Mandarin. Covers 爸爸, 妈妈, 爷爷, 奶奶, 外公, 外婆, 叔叔, 阿姨 with pinyin and example phrases.
Read guide5 min read
Chinese Colors — 颜色: 红 / 黄 / 蓝 / 绿 / 白 / 黑
Learn the six core Mandarin color words — 红 red, 黄 yellow, 蓝 blue, 绿 green, 白 white, 黑 black — plus the 色 suffix, 深/浅 dark and light shades, and how to describe objects with 红色的花 (a red flower) and 我喜欢蓝色 (I like blue).
Read guide5 min read
Chinese Body Parts — 身体部位: 头 / 手 / 脚 / 眼睛 / 嘴巴 / 耳朵 / 鼻子
Learn the core Mandarin body part words — 头 head, 眼睛 eye, 鼻子 nose, 嘴巴 mouth, 耳朵 ear, 手 hand, 脚 foot — plus how to describe people (他有大眼睛), talk about pain (我头疼), and use the right measure words (一只眼睛, 一双手, 两条腿).
Read guide5 min read
Chinese Clothing and What to Wear — 衣着服饰: 衣服 / 裤子 / 裙子 / 鞋 / 帽子 / 袜子
Learn the core Mandarin clothing words — 衣服 clothes, 裤子 pants, 裙子 skirt, 衬衫 shirt, 毛衣 sweater, 鞋 shoes, 帽子 hat, 袜子 socks — plus how to use 穿 vs 戴, count clothes with 件/条/双/顶, describe colors, and shop for the right size.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Money, Prices & Payment — 人民币 / 元 块 角 毛 分 / 多少钱 / 付款
Talk about money in Mandarin: RMB units 元/块, 角/毛, 分, how to read prices like 五块三, ask 多少钱, bargain with 太贵了/便宜一点/打折, and pay with 现金/刷卡/微信支付/支付宝.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Emotions & Feelings — 高兴 / 开心 / 难过 / 生气 / 害怕 / 紧张
Express how you feel in Mandarin: happy 高兴/开心, sad 难过, angry 生气, scared 害怕, worried 担心, nervous 紧张, tired 累, hungry 饿, comfortable 舒服, with 很/有一点儿/极了 patterns.
Read guide7 min read
Chinese Tastes & Flavors — 酸 / 甜 / 苦 / 辣 / 咸 / 好吃 / 难吃
Describe how food tastes in Mandarin: sour 酸, sweet 甜, bitter 苦, spicy 辣, salty 咸, delicious 好吃, bad-tasting 难吃, with 很 / 有一点儿 / 太...了 degree patterns and taste preferences.
Read guide7 min read
Describing Personality in Chinese — 性格 / 温柔 / 开朗 / 内向 / 外向
Describe personality in Mandarin: personality 性格, gentle 温柔, cheerful 开朗, introverted 内向, extroverted 外向, friendly 友好, with 很 + adjective and 是...的人 sentence patterns.
Read guideCommon questions about this category
How should I use the Speaking guide category?
Choose one guide, practice the example language, and then use the linked practice page to test the same speaking skill in context. Short repeated sessions work better than reading every article once.
Are these speaking guides for beginners?
Most guides are written for beginner to intermediate learners. If a page feels difficult, start with the examples and related HSK or speaking practice links before reading every explanation.
Why combine guides with AI conversation practice?
Guides explain the pattern, while conversation practice shows whether you can recall it under pressure. Corrections help turn the article into a personalized review loop.