Hacking Chinese Podcast
Hacking Chinese Podcast

Hacking Chinese Podcast

Olle Linge

Overview
Episodes

Details

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!

Recent Episodes

280 -Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches
DEC 15, 2025
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 #srsLink to article on Hacking Chinese: Chinese characters and words that refuse to stick: Killing leeches: https://www.hackingchinese.com/killing-leeches/Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chineseAnki, the best of spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-systemSpaced repetition software and why you should use it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-softwareAnki documentation about leeches: .html: https://docs.ankiweb.net/leeches.html?highlight=review+modeSkritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learningDealing with Chinese characters you keep mixing up: https://www.hackingchinese.com/dealing-with-chinese-characters-you-keep-mixing-upAbout cheating, spaced repetition and learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/about-cheating-spaced-repetition-and-learning-chineseThe building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshellSame building blocks, different characters: How component placement changes meaning in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/memory-aids-and-mnemonics-to-enhance-learning7 mistakes I made when writing Chinese characters and what I learnt from them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/7-mistakes-i-made-when-writing-chinese-characters-and-what-i-learnt-from-themCultivate your Chinese flashcard garden… or burn it down and start afresh: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cultivate-your-chinese-flashcard-garden-or-burn-it-down-and-start-afreshMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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12 MIN
279 - Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality
DEC 8, 2025
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 #charactersLink to article on Hacking Chinese: Learning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-importance-of-knowing-many-words/Anki, the best of spaced repetition software: https://www.hackingchinese.com/anki-a-friendly-intelligent-spaced-learning-systemAn introduction to comprehension-based Chinese teaching and learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-comprehension-based-chinese-teaching-learningSeeing through the illusion of advanced Chinese learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-illusion-of-advanced-learning-and-what-to-do-about-itWhen spaced repetition fails, and what to do about it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/when-spaced-repetition-fails-and-what-to-do-about-itFree and easy audio flashcards for Chinese dictation practice with Anki: https://www.hackingchinese.com/free-and-easy-audio-flashcards-for-chinese-dictation-practice-with-ankiReview: Mandarin Companion: Easy to read novels in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/review-mandarin-companion-easy-to-read-novels-in-chineseAn introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learners8 great ways to scaffold your Chinese listening and reading: https://www.hackingchinese.com/8-great-ways-scaffold-chinese-learningMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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15 MIN
278 - A minimum-effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand
NOV 30, 2025
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 #strategyA minimum-effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-minimum-effort-approach-to-writing-chinese-characters-by-handThe building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshellMy best advice on how to learn Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/my-best-advice-on-how-to-learn-chinese-characters16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-handDo you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-handHow to improve your Chinese handwriting: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-chinese-handwritingAn introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learnersWhat to read to improve your Chinese and why: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-to-read-to-improve-your-chinese-and-whyLearning to pronounce Mandarin with Pinyin, Zhuyin and IPA: Part 1: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-pronounce-mandarin-with-pinyin-zhuyin-and-ipa-part-1How to learn Zhuyin (Bopomofo) in two hours: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-zhuyin-bopomofo-in-two-hoursPhonetic components, part 1: The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: http://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-charactersSpaced repetition software and why you should use it: http://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-softwareSkritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: http://www.hackingchinese.com/boosting-your-character-learning-with-skritterLearning to write Chinese characters through communication: http://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-write-chinese-characters-through-communicationReal communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-itMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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14 MIN
277 - Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden... or burn it down and start afresh
NOV 24, 2025
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 #wordsLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: Cultivate your Chinese flashcard garden... or burn it down and start afresh: https://www.hackingchinese.com/cultivate-your-chinese-flashcard-garden-or-burn-it-down-and-start-afresh/Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-great-for-learning-chineseWhy flashcards are terrible for learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-flashcards-are-bad-for-learning-chineseWhich words you should learn and where to find them: https://www.hackingchinese.com/which-words-you-should-learn-in-and-where-to-find-themSpaced repetition software and why you should use it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-softwareWhy manually adding and editing flashcards is good for you: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-manually-adding-and-editing-flashcards-is-good-for-youDo you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-handFree and easy audio flashcards for Chinese dictation practice with Anki: https://www.hackingchinese.com/free-and-easy-audio-flashcards-for-chinese-dictation-practice-with-ankiLearning Chinese words: When quantity beats quality: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-importance-of-knowing-many-wordsAnalyse and balance your Chinese learning with Paul Nation’s four strands: https://www.hackingchinese.com/analyse-and-balance-your-chinese-learning-with-paul-nations-four-strandsMeasuring your language learning is a double-edged sword: https://www.hackingchinese.com/measurable-progress-is-a-double-edged-sword6 benefits of learning Chinese through sports: https://www.hackingchinese.com/practising-sports-to-learn-chineseSkritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: https://www.hackingchinese.com/skritter-chinese-review-boosting-your-character-learningMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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13 MIN
276 - 4, 3, 2, 1: Fluency! A great technique to boost your Mandarin speaking ability
NOV 17, 2025
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 #paulnationLink to the article on Hacking Chinese: How to talk about Chinese characters in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/talk-chinese-characters-chinese/How to become fluent in Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-chineseHow to improve fluency in Chinese by playing word games: https://www.hackingchinese.com/playing-word-games-to-practise-fluencyLearning Chinese through comprehensible input: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-chinese-comprehensible-inputHow narrow reading and listening can help you bridge the gap to real Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/narrow-listening-reading-can-help-learn-chineseHone your Chinese writing ability by writing summaries: https://www.hackingchinese.com/hone-your-chinese-writing-ability-by-writing-summariesEn route to spoken fluency via task repetition – the ‘4, 3, 2 technique’ and ‘Market place’ (The Language Gym): https://gianfrancoconti.com/2017/03/04/en-route-to-spoken-fluency-via-task-repetition-the-4-3-2-technique-and-market-placeMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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15 MIN