GIVE ANSWERS - 官話

100% GOOD (4 votes)Жауап бердіLanguage Question
To learn Mandarin, do I learn the character first or pin yin first


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vincent profile picture vincentMay 2019

Good question. laugh

If you want to go faster I suggest to start with pinyin and learn the characters thanks to pinyin. 

Using your computer or smartphone, if you type the pinyin "ma", you will be able to select in the drop dow list, one of several characters: 嗎, 吗 (...).

Nowdays, thanks to computers I think it is not so important to learn how to write characters, but more learn how to read characters.

This is my method to learn fast. Because learning how to write characters can take many years...

  • Berlusconi profile picture BerlusconiMarch 2020
    I am doing the same. Thanks for share that great idea. When you get accustomed to writing by seeing characters popping up on your keyboard, you'll be better prepared ahead to write them. Why don't we create a Chinese WhatsApp group? I really need to improve my skills in Mandarin.
Jimmy_in_Shenzhen profile picture Jimmy_in_ShenzhenMay 2019
I suggest you can start with pinyin first. It's easy and help you a lot. You can speak any Chinese character by the help of pinyin.
linyu_li profile picture linyu_liMarch 2020

Hello, my name is LunaLi and right now I’m a teacher from IMCPI. I usually teach Chinese in classrooms, however due to the effects of COVID-19, I can only teach online now. Right now, I’m teaching voluntarily (Four classes) and looking for enthusiastic Chinese learners to join my class online! I can speak English fluently, and will teach from the basic. Therefore, don’t worry if you don’t know any Chinese yet, as long as you have passion, please feel free to contact me! After you finish four classes, whether not to continue with me it up to you! (After four classes, I will start charging). If you are interested, please feel free to contact me directly!

tinh_le2 profile picture tinh_le2March 2020
I used to start with pinyin, because I scared of complicated words.
But quickly, I realized I couldn't go far. And then I came back with horror characters.
That was a surprise. It's so easy and funny. I thought I was waste of a lot of time. Because many people said that It's so difficult.
Of course, learning for travelling, to say or understand some easy sentences, You should learn with pinyin. Otherwise, consider!
I think the most important thing is What makes you love Chinese and Ready to start now?

Good luck!
Anmist profile picture AnmistMarch 2020
it depends on what do you want from learning Mandarin. if you are the ones who just want to communicate and may not have the interest in advanced studies in China, I recommend you learning Pinyin first. otherwise, learn character accompanied with its own pronunciation could help you building a good foundation for further learning.