Programs for the study of Chinese. Top Useful Resources for Learning Chinese
We are lucky to live in 2017. Hundreds of new apps appear on the App Store and Google Play every day, and about one in ten of them are for language learners.
Now it's easier than ever - there are "smart" vocabulary cards, instant speech recognition systems, services that analyze handwritten hieroglyphs.
More than 300 icons of a wide variety of applications are issued for the request “learn Chinese” on Google Play - we were both delighted and confused from such a number. We decided to test the most popular ones and make a selection of ten effective, interesting and useful applications for Chinese learners for iOS and Android - this way it will be easier for you to sort through the inexhaustible choice and install the ones that are right for you.
- HelloChinese
iOS /
Android
We started with this app because it is 1) awesome 2) free. Premium account, which can be purchased for 419 rubles. per month, will give access to all training games, but they can be opened gradually, earning gold coins. HelloChinese, with a charming Chinese sage icon, is a startup from the creators of ChinesePod, a super popular Chinese learning platform with millions of users. The application has everything you expect from a gaming environment - earning points, tracking progress, bonuses. All material is divided into micro-lessons, each of which can be completed in 10 minutes, while learning a lot of new words and expressions. There is a speech recognition function and its comparison with the reference pronunciation. If you download all the lessons in advance, you can study offline.
- ChineseSkill
iOS /
Android
Another game app similar to HelloChinese in terms of learning sequence, rewards, competition, and progress tracking, so they complement each other perfectly. It is one of the best apps for beginners: it has a logical word repetition system, an automatic speech assessment service, a calligraphy practice technology, an interactive pinyin table, pronunciation examples recorded by a native speaker, the ability to study offline, great amount vocabulary and colloquial phrases, which are entered through the context. And very cute pandas that will accompany you during the lessons: at the beginning of each lesson you are given 4 pandas, but for each mistake you lose one. In total, the application has 42 sections, each of which consists of 3-6 mini-lessons. App alerts grab attention with the idiom 熟能生巧 - "mastery comes from experience", "repetition is the mother of learning".
- Skritter
iOS /
Android
With the advent of typing apps that convert pinyin to kanji, the need to know how to write the strokes of a character seems to have faded into the background. If 90% of communication takes place online, then why even be able to write hieroglyphs correctly? The creators of Skritter categorically deny this position, so they developed an application in which you can learn to write hieroglyphs directly on the phone screen, using your finger as a brush for calligraphy. You can select Simplified or Traditional characters and download lists of characters. While you memorize the outline of the hieroglyph, hints about the correct spelling and order of strokes appear. When you have correctly written the desired character, you can listen to its sound and move on to the next task. In addition, examples of the use of this hieroglyph are hidden under the magnifying glass icon. Chinese learners have been waiting for this app for 3,500 years. The only "but" - only a week of free trial period is given, after which you will have to purchase a subscription for a month or immediately for a year.
- Chinese Writer
iOS /
Android
Another application for practicing the correct and fast outline of hieroglyphs. This time everything turns into a game: hieroglyphs on parachutes descend from top to bottom, you need to touch them and manage to write all the features in the correct sequence before the hieroglyph completely disappears. In total, you can work with 5300 characters, which are divided into lists according to the level of difficulty in accordance with the HSK exam standards.
- Brainscape
iOS /
Android
Brainscape is one of the best flashcard apps with an excellent selection of Chinese flashcards of various themes. As the creators of the application themselves say about this, “the goal of working with cards is not to name all of them correctly, but to restore forgotten knowledge in memory.” Brainscape offers search, explore, and test modes. In total, there are about 5500 cards in the database, some sets can be downloaded for free, others will have to be paid for, but the uniqueness in another is in the updated spaced repetition system. When you open each card, you will rate on a scale from 1 to 5 how well you know this word or phrase, and Brainscape will independently determine the time after which you will need to repeat the concept. This principle also has a minus - you have to be extremely honest with yourself, because it is always easier to convince yourself that you know something, especially when the correct answer is in front of your eyes.
- Memrise
iOS /
Android
It is no coincidence that Memrise was chosen as the best app of 2017 in the Education category. Memrise developers use discoveries in the field of neurolinguistics and teaching methods. Memrise, like Brainscape, includes a spaced repetition feature, because it is important not only to learn words or phrases, but also not to forget them over time. Memrise has modules for all levels, from Basic Grammar and Top 100 Chinese Verbs to HSK1. The whole application is built on the principles of mnemonic memorization and connection of new information with the already known. Each module includes videos of native speakers that allow you to hear natural speech. The flower, which the developers have placed in the upper right corner of the application, is very motivating: after each correct answer, a new leaf grows on it.
- Pleco
iOS /
Android
Pleco is an offline Chinese dictionary on steroids that includes 130,000 words, 28,000 correct character animations, 34,000 pronunciation examples, and 20,000 sentences with examples of their use (pinyin of each phrase is given in the dictionary). You can enter a word in the search using hieroglyphs or pinyin. The application recognizes voice and handwriting, that is, you can say an unfamiliar word or draw an unfamiliar character, and Pleco will try to recognize it. For an additional fee, you can download an add-on with which you can translate the inscription in Chinese by simply pointing your phone's camera at it. Pleco works in other applications: you can highlight an unfamiliar word or phrase while chatting on WeChat and get its translation instantly. In the dictionary, you can create your own flash cards from any dictionary entry and repeat regularly Difficult words. The only downside is that the app only works in English.
- DuChinese
iOS /
Du Chinese can easily be considered the best Chinese reading app at the moment. Every week, the database of materials is updated with new articles about events in China, Chinese culture and world news, while the articles correspond to different levels of complexity: there are texts with simple vocabulary for beginners, there are more serious materials for those who have been learning Chinese for more than a year. Most importantly, in Du Chinese you can see the translation of any word by simply clicking on it, and the translation will match the context. You can also translate the entire sentence. Articles are also accompanied by synchronized audio so that you can listen to the article and follow through the text at the same time. Unfamiliar words can be added to a set of flash cards and repeated regularly. In addition, the text can include pinyin, which appears above the hieroglyphs - very handy feature for beginners.
- The Chairman's Bao
iOS /
Android
Another reading app, this time based on news articles written in simplified language, accessible to readers with different levels of Chinese proficiency. It belongs to the creators of the online newspaper of the same name, designed for foreigners learning Chinese. All articles have a mark of their compliance with the HSK level, there is a built-in dictionary and audio versions of the articles. There are already more than 2500 articles in the application database, and materials for different levels are added daily. A good option for getting your dose of Chinese reading on your way to work.
- Hello HSK 1-6
iOS /
Android
If you are hard at work preparing for the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK), then this series of applications will definitely come in handy. Hello HSK includes interactive vocabulary, listening, error correction, reading and comprehension tasks, as well as practice and final tests that follow the format of the real exam items. The language material of the tasks fully corresponds to a specific level and is divided into thematic collections.
We advise: do not download all the applications at once, otherwise you will only lose focus, waste time and not know where to start. Try them one by one, decide which one you like best in terms of interface and presentation of the material. And most importantly - do not ignore notifications from applications that remind you that it's time to take a few minutes to Chinese. 5 minutes a day means more than 30 hours a year, during which you can make good progress in learning Chinese.
Chinese is becoming the most widely spoken language. Today it is spoken by more than 1 billion people. Learning this difficult language seems difficult to many, but we have selected useful resources for you that will help you learn Chinese on your own and become assistants in classes with a teacher.
Internet resources
Publics
For beginners and those who continue learning the language, various publics in social networks dedicated to hieroglyphics, grammar, phonetics, sentence structure and much more will be useful. For advanced sinologists, these groups may seem a little informative for learning the language, however, you can find a lot there. useful information on the history, traditions and culture of China, learn last news from the underworld. Below is a small list of popular VKontakte publics:
listening
Listening is an important part of learning any language. Unfortunately, the Russian Internet does not yet offer any sites where you can watch adapted films or shows in Chinese, or listen to music. Offers social networks are also few. For these purposes, Chinese sites are most suitable. Of the most popular in China, one can single out YouTube analogues - http://www.tudou.com/
http://www.youku.com/ - here you can not only watch movies in Chinese (with subtitles), but also see the most popular Chinese TV shows, youth series, concerts, etc. For language learners, plus Chinese cinema and television - available subtitles, both on TV and on the Internet, subtitles are known to be of great help both at the initial level of learning and in the subsequent stages. And this is especially true for the Chinese language.
Books and textbooks
Modern Chinese. For beginners
Small in volume tutorial with relevant vocabulary and a good explanation of phonetics, grammar and hieroglyphics. This tutorial is accompanied by an audio course.
New Practical Chinese Course
Developed by Beijing University of Languages and Cultures. The textbook is written by Chinese teachers who professionally teach Chinese to foreigners. The book has detailed grammatical and lexical comments. A large amount of material is devoted to the study of the hieroglyphic system, the history and writing of hieroglyphs. The textbook is Russified.
Practical course of the Chinese language (in two volumes) Author A.F. Kondrashevsky
One of the most popular textbooks in Russia. This textbook was created by MGIMO staff and is maximally adapted to the study and teaching of the Chinese language in Russia. The textbook contains a large number of texts on various topics dedicated to Chinese society, culture, and traditions of the Celestial Empire. All texts are accompanied by lexical and grammatical comments, as well as grammatical and lexical exercises. The new edition is accompanied by an audio course recorded by native speakers.
Chinese for business communication. Authors: A.F. Kondrashevsky, G.Ya. Dashevskaya
The textbook is intended for teaching the language in business and in the international sphere. Suitable for use not only by advanced sinologists, but also by those who have an average level (HSK 4-5). The textbook will help you navigate the trade and economic topics. The book is also accompanied by an audio course.
Socio-political translation. Authors: I. V. Voitsekhovich, A.F. Kondrashevsky
The purpose of the textbook is to lay the foundations for knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar of social and political texts in Chinese. The book is intended for those who have fully studied the materials of the “Practical course of the Chinese language” according to Kondrashevsky. (vols. I and II). The topics of the lessons are designed to provide an initial level of language training for working with materials of reference and periodicals, produced in Chinese, as well as with reports from Chinese electronic media.
Teaching materials from Peking University Press
The common language is used for teaching Chinese as a foreign language in China. They are divided into books on listening, reading, grammar. All explanations and interpretations are in English and Chinese. There are three levels of difficulty: elementary, intermediate,advanced. All textbooks come with an audio course. They are convenient and understandable in use, unlike many Russian publications, they have more modern and relevant vocabulary.
Chinese civilization is recognized as one of the oldest in the world. Scientists claim that it is more than five thousand years old. According to statistics, in modern world Chinese is spoken by every fifth person on earth, however, this language is quite difficult to learn.
The goals of mastering the Chinese language can be different: some learn it for interest or communication with friends, others may need it in doing business and expanding business contacts, and others plan to completely move to live in the Celestial Empire.
- the site provides a practical Chinese course for beginners, which consists of 18 lessons. Everyone will be able to take a course of hieroglyphics, learn the basic rules of calligraphy and find a phrasebook with the most popular phrases in communicating with the Chinese. There are also dialogues, key hieroglyphs and audio. There is not only Chinese.
A versatile site about the Chinese language, constantly replenishing its content. Its visitors will find here language learning information, theoretical information, online lessons, grammar, useful materials, blog posts about China, and much more.
A resource that provides easy-to-understand Chinese grammar lessons for different levels. Rules in English.
An online resource where you can find a lot of useful information on learning a language: there is a section about hieroglyphs, grammar, and exercises. There are also some lessons, dialogues, the burning topic of entering Chinese characters from the keyboard, and more.
An actively growing Vkontakte community created for those who want to learn Chinese. Useful audio, video tutorials, tutorials for download and much more.
On the site you can find video tutorials in the format of an entertaining and educational program. You can follow the unfolding stories with interest and learn the language at the same time.
Several useful video tutorials on the phonetic alphabet of the Chinese language.
It will help in the phonetics of the Chinese language. Here you can download a special table with the pronunciation of all sounds. Description in English.
- a site where you can listen correct pronunciation words. Each word is pronounced by a native speaker of a different gender. There are not only Chinese, but also many other languages.
Big Russian-Chinese Dictionary. Here you will find new words, phrases, phraseological units and examples of sentences.
When the basics are taken, it is time to smooth the corners, that is, to polish your knowledge of the language. This will help to communicate with native speakers.
trainchinese
In the Trainchinese dictionary, you can not only find translations, but also use ready-made lists of words by topic, create your own lists and learn vocabulary using flash cards. There is also an animation of writing hieroglyphs: for better memorization of phonetics, each hieroglyph of the same tone has its own color. The dictionary has its own search system, which gives preference to those words that will be really useful. It is possible to enter not only words, but also phrases, popular expressions. The dictionary is suitable for both beginners and advanced. Another feature is the optical recognition system, which helps beginners to cope with the translation of menus, signs or even books.
Pleco
Chinese dictionary with "drawing" characters. For those who do not know how a particular character is read, you can redraw it in the application and get an answer. Suitable for beginners.
Hello HSK
A handy app to prepare for the Chinese Language Proficiency (HSK) exam. The application offers a variety of interactive tasks and tests that are similar in appearance to the tasks of the real HSK exam. You can download the application with the number for which the HSK level is being prepared. The application consists of three large sections: listening; correcting errors and drafting proposals; understanding of texts.
HelloChinese
In the free version of the application, grammar, phonetics, vocabulary, and listening on more than 30 topics are available. Among them: time, numbers, food, transport, shopping, diseases, weather and seasons, animals, realities Everyday life. The application allows you to train pronunciation: you will be asked to pronounce words, phrases and sentences, and the computer will check the correctness and point out errors. The level of vocabulary and grammar corresponds approximately to HSK 1.2.
HSK 1-5, YCT 1-4
A handy application from Around Pixels to prepare for the main international exams for knowledge of the Chinese language. There are free and paid versions, advanced or basic versions. In this application, vocabulary, phonetics and hieroglyphics are selected specifically for each level. The development of expressions and words takes place on various games and interesting tasks. Suitable for all levels of learning Chinese.
The material was prepared by the Chinese language teachers of school No. 1354 Anastasia Kondratieva, Svetlana Berezina, Yana Konovalova, Natalya Bochilo.
Learning Chinese The process is difficult and requires a lot of effort. Previously, you had to spend hours flipping through hieroglyphs in dictionaries and matching the right syllables and tones to come up with the cherished answer. Now, with the development of technology, the method of learning Chinese has changed, everything is becoming much easier and faster. It is enough to have a smartphone and several applications installed on it - and your process of learning Chinese is instantly transformed and becomes more comfortable.
If you are learning Chinese and don't know about these applications, I can say with confidence that you need to download them now!
Incredibly functional dictionary of Chinese words, which simply amazes with its fundamental base. The application provides the ability to enter not only words, but also phrases, winged expressions.
Also has a voice function. Chinese pronunciation words and displaying the order of drawing strokes when writing a hieroglyph.
All in all, best app among functional assistants in learning Chinese. In the category " Chinese dictionaries for android» takes honorary first place!
2.Pleco
Pleco — Chinese dictionary with character drawing. Those. if you don't know how to read this or that hieroglyph, you redraw it in the application and get an answer to your question.
Very convenient and practical! This application has helped me more than once in extreme Chinese conditions!)
3. Hello HSK
Hello HSK- a unique application for preparing for the exam on Chinese language proficiency (HSK).
The application is a collection of interactive tasks and tests that are similar in appearance to the tasks of the real HSK exam.
You download the application with the number for the HSK level you are preparing for.
Hello HSK consists of three major sections:
- Listening.
- Correction of errors / Drafting of proposals.
- Understanding texts.
To prepare for the exam - this is what you need!
Data three Chinese learning apps are a good base for passing HSK-5, so if you install only them on your phone, this will be quite enough to join the Chinese environment and feel confident when learning the Chinese language!
There are dedicated Chinese language learning sites that offer accelerated programs, super strategy know-how, but trust me, there is nothing better than practicing with a Chinese native speaker. Do not waste your money on Internet resources, sign up for language school your city, where a Chinese teaches - and you will understand what I'm talking about. You can console yourself with the fact that you have little time, you have better things to spend money on, etc. - but know that these are just excuses that you try to believe! If you do it, then do it with quality, if teach the most Difficult language in the world- so to teach already thorough and basic, so that later there would be a reason for pride!
The programs presented in this article can also be categorized as " programs for learning Chinese on the computer» , i.e. they are also available for download from the site to your PC, which makes their use even more practical and convenient.
I want to repeat myself and say that you don’t have to chase the number of applications on your gadget - the main quality. These three applications are the complete systematic knowledge base that a person who learns Chinese needs! They are used by millions of people around the world, so updates and improvements are made monthly, which is very pleasing! Just as happy as the realization that they are absolutely free!