When dramas and films are mostly boring to you, you shouldn't watch them for a purpose of linguistic learning. I mean, a book or a news program might be much better for you to learn a language more deeply. I'd strongly recommend you watch a TH-cam travel channel with Chinese subtitles. It's not only interesting but down to earth as well 😊
This is really good advice. I love watching historical drama because of the beautiful setting but I don’t understand most of it. Just trying to catch up whatever I can. I been doing it more or less a year now I definitely feel my listening skill improves but my vocabulary still have limitations 😅
As a learner with fewer than 600 words, the value of listening to Chinese in CDramas is in becoming comfortable with the speed and intonation of modern Chinese speech and conversation. Also it can help with recognition of words and phrases you're already familiar with. If you watch the little 2 or 3 hour vertical shows, the frequently repeated expressions and similar dialogue can increase recognition. Especially if you can't experience an IRL immersive situation, modern short and long form dramas can help.
@@theultimate341 I watch the short "vertical" dramas that people compile and post here on TH-cam. They can be from 1 - 3 hours long, and the benefit is that a lot of the dialogue is repetitive. Some of this is because they are publishing different drama companies' versions of the same story / play, but also these productions are heavily trope-laden, with certain scenes being almost "required". e.g. the class reunion, the celebratory banquet, and so on. For me the main advantage, aside from the relatively short time commitment, is the speech patterns can be a lot more natural and unscripted than seen in the more upscale longer dramas. Plus they often include Mandarin subtitles directly on screen with the English subtitles available through TH-cam, so you can turn them off the first time you watch. The down side of this, of course, is that they can get pretty ridiculous plot wise, and the repetition can become boring. Additionally the subject matter is not always what you may be focusing on in your study, and often revolve around themes that may not be to your taste. And the production values can be ... off-putting ... if you like good sound / costuming. If you're looking for better quality shows like this, you should check out channels like Tencent, Youku, and Mango TV, all of whom regularly publish short plays, usually on a dedicated "short play / short drama" channel. But there are loads of "scrap" compiler / uploader channels out there, too.
@@theultimate341 I also strongly recommend longer dramas if you have the time... Even if you only watch the first 5 minutes without the Eng subs then go back and watch with, you'll find your ear for tones and sentence intonation will improve. All the best!!!
Thank you for your recommendation about the "vertical" short dramas!！ I’ve never watched any Chinese vertical dramas before because I assumed the stories might be a bit boring 😂. But I think your suggestion is very inspiring. I guess I should give these short dramas a try.
I have been learning using TV shows. And Xianxia was my entry point. The plot is easier to understand, many characters speak slowly and in an exaggerated, colorful way. This is important because I was new to tones. Deng Lun was terrible, actually, because he whispers all his lines. Obviously a historical drama can be the most difficult with court language, technical language, too many characters, cultural subtleties, and rapid dialogue, so I've had to ease in and mostly watch lighter costume romance assumed at a younger audience. With xianxia (or wuxia) the weird jargon specific to the genre is fine because you learn it quickly of you like it. Same with court terms of precedence in harem dramas. Foreign fans learn those words first-- because of the ceremony, they're said in a stiff way and it's very repetitive. The point about ancient flavor is a good one, though I argue you can often tell when this sort of language is being used. The speech cadence totally shifts away from modern Mandarin. I think the examples you have show it can sometimes be more subtle, with the modern rephrasing being much easier for me to understand, which underlines my fundamental thesis that a modern production is going to be in the modern language with ancient "color" sprinkled on top. It's like Shakespeare, from 1500 years ago it's very difficult for a modern English speaker to understand, instead people use little phrases and words like "thou" to signal "Tudor" speech, they don't actually use Tudor English because they fundamentally don't know it.
Thank you for sharing! Your analysis of xianxia and historical dramas is very insightful and well-reasoned. It’s true that although some lines in costume dramas are adapted from modern Chinese, they are deliberately sprinkled with an ancient “flavor” to make the language feel more historical. I really admire your deep understanding of xianxia and historical dramas! For those who truly enjoy xianxia as a genre and have a passion for ancient history and culture, learning the specific terms and ceremonial expressions can certainly be very fascinating. That said, the purpose of my video is mainly to offer suggestions to beginner and intermediate Chinese learners, as well as those who want to learn conversational expressions through TV shows. For learners who have not yet grasped the basics of Chinese-such as fundamental sentence structures and core vocabulary-it can be difficult to distinguish between ancient ceremonial language and expressions that are actually used in real life. It’s great to see how much you’ve gained from learning Chinese through TV shows, and thanks again for your comment!
I loled at the advice about speeding up the videos... My standard speed for drama watching is 1.5x 😂 I only slow down to 1x when I want to clearly hear an expression or read the mandarin subs.... 😂 But you give overall sound advice for learning from dramas... I'm usually more interested in the story, and generally don't have the time to rewatch. However, I've used all the other tricks you have suggested at one point or another. Instead of screenshotting the phrases, I put them into my Pleco as flashcards and review them that way.
You must be a really efficient learner! I’ve never heard of a Chinese learner watching dramas at 1.5x speed! 😂 Also, putting useful phrases into Pleco as flashcards is a great method-definitely a smart way to review and retain them. 👍
Another excellent video. Thank you so much for creating and sharing so much clearly defined information and delivering it in a way that can be easily understood. Finding comprehensible input takes work at times. I am going to locate a channel for these shows.
thank you so much, your video is super helpful, especially for the part of how to practice. Appreciate if you may advise some other TV series titles related to business, office environment as I still find news are very very formal.
Excellent point in all aspects and gosh have I found them to be true. I've watched a movie with english subtitles and I recognized most to be close to the translations. But when I tried watching it again with Chinese subtitles half of them didn't match what's actually being said. I'm trying to learn the southern accent knowing how each and every single time foreigners surprise Chinese people the second reaction they always get is "you have that Beijing accent" which I want to try to avoid but I found that most movies and shows have the Beijing accent.
You’re absolutely right! I’ve also noticed that many actors, even if they’re not from northern China, tend to develop a northern accent once they become actors, especially in TV shows and movies. However, having a Beijing accent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you end up with a southern accent, northern people might say, “Why do you have a southern accent?” 😊
No I wouldn't say having the northern accent is a bad thing. I still consume northern accents as much as the southern one. I guess I just want to fish for a "you have that southern accent" reaction 😋😁
Thank you for this. I really liked it. If I was going to give one suggestion, it would be that you make the English subtitles optional. Maybe just have the Chinese on the video, and then use TH-cam captions for English, so people can turn them on if needed. As it is, even though I mostly understood, if there's English there, I can't help but read it first.
Very good tips, thanks for sharing ❤ I need to separate dramas based on learning needs. So far historical dramas are easier to listen, but due to vocab and old grammar are hard to grasp in the beginning. Modern ones on the other hand are easier from vocab/grammar point, but you made a point about speed/dialects which can overwhelm.
Thank you so much for this lesson! I'm so happy to find your channel! This video is brilliant, full of insights! What do you think of watching children's cartoons to practice listening? Cartoons like 哆啦A梦 or 熊出没? By the way, I'm a lower intermediate student (from 巴西 😊）. 非常感谢！
Thank you for your kind words! 😊 I'm so glad you found the video helpful. I think watching cartoons is actually a great way to practice listening, especially for lower intermediate learners. I didn’t mention it in the video because I thought most people might not be interested in cartoons, but you're absolutely right! Cartoons like 哆啦A梦 and 熊出没 have very clear pronunciation, and the speed is usually slower compared to adult dramas, making them perfect listening materials for learners at the intermediate level. You might also want to check out喜羊羊与灰太狼xǐ yánɡ yánɡ yǔ huī tài lánɡ , which is one of my favorite Chinese cartoons!😄
Thanks for your question! I think the best way to learn new vocabulary is by focusing on words you’ll actually use in your daily life. For example, when you’re buying a drink, think about how you would say that drink in Chinese. Also, try to consume content that interests you, like books, movies, or interviews with Chinese celebrities you like. This way, you’ll naturally pick up vocabulary that is both practical and engaging!
A 6 year old kid knows 20000 words and expressions. If you can become a good doctor in 7 years, you can become a good speaker in a language too. Anyone who thinks the above analogy doctor/speaker isn't correct, is lying to you.
Thank you for your suggestion! I agree, adding pinyin would definitely be helpful! If I have more time in the future, I will definitely include it in upcoming videos!
Useful video, thank you! It would be very helpful if there were subtitles done on youtube platform, not coded in, then we can use extensions like langreactor to directly save words or turn off English translation for practice 🫶
I suggest keeping the Chinese hardcoded but adding the English on TH-cam. This could also allow TH-cam to use its auto translate feature for those speaking other languages.
老外要是看古装剧学中文 ，估计在日常交流中会让我们觉得很懵逼😂
When dramas and films are mostly boring to you, you shouldn't watch them for a purpose of linguistic learning. I mean, a book or a news program might be much better for you to learn a language more deeply. I'd strongly recommend you watch a TH-cam travel channel with Chinese subtitles. It's not only interesting but down to earth as well 😊
You’re right! Finding an engaging way to learn a language is crucial, and it’s not limited to dramas or films.
这个用中文的视频很有用。我明白了百分之六十的内容。而且你的建议也很帮助
Thank you for another excellent lesson. I just watched the first episode of Meet Yourself. What a tear-jerker!
Hi Jeff, I'm glad you enjoyed the recommendation. The story gets lighter and more heartwarming as it progresses-hope you continue to enjoy it!😄
It's a really great drama, not just because it's a good learning tool...
This is really good advice. I love watching historical drama because of the beautiful setting but I don’t understand most of it. Just trying to catch up whatever I can. I been doing it more or less a year now I definitely feel my listening skill improves but my vocabulary still have limitations 😅
Very helpful.
As a learner with fewer than 600 words, the value of listening to Chinese in CDramas is in becoming comfortable with the speed and intonation of modern Chinese speech and conversation. Also it can help with recognition of words and phrases you're already familiar with.
If you watch the little 2 or 3 hour vertical shows, the frequently repeated expressions and similar dialogue can increase recognition. Especially if you can't experience an IRL immersive situation, modern short and long form dramas can help.
I'm beginner what do you recommend
@@theultimate341 I watch the short "vertical" dramas that people compile and post here on TH-cam. They can be from 1 - 3 hours long, and the benefit is that a lot of the dialogue is repetitive. Some of this is because they are publishing different drama companies' versions of the same story / play, but also these productions are heavily trope-laden, with certain scenes being almost "required". e.g. the class reunion, the celebratory banquet, and so on. For me the main advantage, aside from the relatively short time commitment, is the speech patterns can be a lot more natural and unscripted than seen in the more upscale longer dramas. Plus they often include Mandarin subtitles directly on screen with the English subtitles available through TH-cam, so you can turn them off the first time you watch.
The down side of this, of course, is that they can get pretty ridiculous plot wise, and the repetition can become boring. Additionally the subject matter is not always what you may be focusing on in your study, and often revolve around themes that may not be to your taste. And the production values can be ... off-putting ... if you like good sound / costuming.
If you're looking for better quality shows like this, you should check out channels like Tencent, Youku, and Mango TV, all of whom regularly publish short plays, usually on a dedicated "short play / short drama" channel. But there are loads of "scrap" compiler / uploader channels out there, too.
@@theultimate341 I also strongly recommend longer dramas if you have the time... Even if you only watch the first 5 minutes without the Eng subs then go back and watch with, you'll find your ear for tones and sentence intonation will improve.
All the best!!!
Thank you for your recommendation about the "vertical" short dramas!！ I’ve never watched any Chinese vertical dramas before because I assumed the stories might be a bit boring 😂. But I think your suggestion is very inspiring. I guess I should give these short dramas a try.
感谢你的分享！通过你的视频，我能够学到中文在不同语境下的表达区别。这个视频对我很有帮助 🙆♀️
谢谢你！很高兴能帮到你！😊
That was super useful and helpful. Thank you so much and please make more videos like this 🙏 💕 ❤️
Thank you for your kind words, and I'll definitely keep making more videos like this! 😊
Best teacher for Ever❤❤🎉
Thank you, Linda! I'll keep working hard to become an even better teacher! ❤
我看了很多 TH-cam 视频，但这个视频很特别。它确实教会了我一些有价值的东西！太感谢了!
谢谢你的支持！很高兴能帮你学中文😄
I have been learning using TV shows. And Xianxia was my entry point. The plot is easier to understand, many characters speak slowly and in an exaggerated, colorful way. This is important because I was new to tones. Deng Lun was terrible, actually, because he whispers all his lines.
Obviously a historical drama can be the most difficult with court language, technical language, too many characters, cultural subtleties, and rapid dialogue, so I've had to ease in and mostly watch lighter costume romance assumed at a younger audience.
With xianxia (or wuxia) the weird jargon specific to the genre is fine because you learn it quickly of you like it. Same with court terms of precedence in harem dramas. Foreign fans learn those words first-- because of the ceremony, they're said in a stiff way and it's very repetitive.
The point about ancient flavor is a good one, though I argue you can often tell when this sort of language is being used. The speech cadence totally shifts away from modern Mandarin. I think the examples you have show it can sometimes be more subtle, with the modern rephrasing being much easier for me to understand, which underlines my fundamental thesis that a modern production is going to be in the modern language with ancient "color" sprinkled on top. It's like Shakespeare, from 1500 years ago it's very difficult for a modern English speaker to understand, instead people use little phrases and words like "thou" to signal "Tudor" speech, they don't actually use Tudor English because they fundamentally don't know it.
Thank you for sharing! Your analysis of xianxia and historical dramas is very insightful and well-reasoned. It’s true that although some lines in costume dramas are adapted from modern Chinese, they are deliberately sprinkled with an ancient “flavor” to make the language feel more historical.
I really admire your deep understanding of xianxia and historical dramas! For those who truly enjoy xianxia as a genre and have a passion for ancient history and culture, learning the specific terms and ceremonial expressions can certainly be very fascinating.
That said, the purpose of my video is mainly to offer suggestions to beginner and intermediate Chinese learners, as well as those who want to learn conversational expressions through TV shows. For learners who have not yet grasped the basics of Chinese-such as fundamental sentence structures and core vocabulary-it can be difficult to distinguish between ancient ceremonial language and expressions that are actually used in real life.
It’s great to see how much you’ve gained from learning Chinese through TV shows, and thanks again for your comment!
I loled at the advice about speeding up the videos... My standard speed for drama watching is 1.5x 😂 I only slow down to 1x when I want to clearly hear an expression or read the mandarin subs.... 😂
But you give overall sound advice for learning from dramas... I'm usually more interested in the story, and generally don't have the time to rewatch. However, I've used all the other tricks you have suggested at one point or another.
Instead of screenshotting the phrases, I put them into my Pleco as flashcards and review them that way.
You must be a really efficient learner! I’ve never heard of a Chinese learner watching dramas at 1.5x speed! 😂 Also, putting useful phrases into Pleco as flashcards is a great method-definitely a smart way to review and retain them. 👍
I followed your tips on TV series, fantastic!! Very good and easy to understand
谢谢你喜欢！😊
你的方法真的很容易和帮助学习好还有明白中文
Excellent video with great advice I recommend to all. You also speak fairly fast but also clearly and simply so easier to understand.
谢谢你 Tom, glad you like it!😊
Starting with Ren Jialun, the best choice 😁❤❤❤
Haha, you must be a big fan of Ren Jialun! 😁❤
@@LalaChinese 我在学习汉语因为他😁😁😁
Thank you
❤❤❤❤❤
Another excellent video. Thank you so much for creating and sharing so much clearly defined information and delivering it in a way that can be easily understood. Finding comprehensible input takes work at times. I am going to locate a channel for these shows.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, finding comprehensible input can be a bit challenging, but it’s worth the effort!
Very helpful, I wished I watched this long time back when I started learning Chinese
I'm glad this video could help you! It's never too late to start new learning habits😊
thank you so much, your video is super helpful, especially for the part of how to practice. Appreciate if you may advise some other TV series titles related to business, office environment as I still find news are very very formal.
This information is great encouragement to learners. The truth❤
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊I'm glad you found it encouraging！
Very good video. I liked the ideas. Thank you!
This was such a good video. Really well made. Thank you!
Glad you like it! 谢谢你！😊
Excellent point in all aspects and gosh have I found them to be true. I've watched a movie with english subtitles and I recognized most to be close to the translations. But when I tried watching it again with Chinese subtitles half of them didn't match what's actually being said. I'm trying to learn the southern accent knowing how each and every single time foreigners surprise Chinese people the second reaction they always get is "you have that Beijing accent" which I want to try to avoid but I found that most movies and shows have the Beijing accent.
You’re absolutely right! I’ve also noticed that many actors, even if they’re not from northern China, tend to develop a northern accent once they become actors, especially in TV shows and movies. However, having a Beijing accent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you end up with a southern accent, northern people might say, “Why do you have a southern accent?” 😊
No I wouldn't say having the northern accent is a bad thing. I still consume northern accents as much as the southern one. I guess I just want to fish for a "you have that southern accent" reaction 😋😁
Thank you for this. I really liked it. If I was going to give one suggestion, it would be that you make the English subtitles optional. Maybe just have the Chinese on the video, and then use TH-cam captions for English, so people can turn them on if needed. As it is, even though I mostly understood, if there's English there, I can't help but read it first.
Thank you so much for your suggestion! I’ll try to implement this in future videos.
Wow very helpful, thank you so much, please keep it up 💪
This was extremely helpful! 謝謝
謝謝你！Glad you like it!
谢谢你，这是有意思的节课。
谢谢老师！❤
不客气！😊
thank you❤
Thanks for the video
Glad you like it!!!
What you said makes sense.
You nailed it!😄
great tips. Thank you
Very well done video
谢谢你！！！
Very good video. I like how uncomplicated you speak. Some new words for me in this video, i definitely need to learn.
Thank you for your feedback!😊 If I come up with more helpful topics in the future, I'll definitely make more videos like this.
Very good tips, thanks for sharing ❤ I need to separate dramas based on learning needs. So far historical dramas are easier to listen, but due to vocab and old grammar are hard to grasp in the beginning. Modern ones on the other hand are easier from vocab/grammar point, but you made a point about speed/dialects which can overwhelm.
Thank you for your summary-it’s very helpful for me too! 😄I'm glad the video could support your learning journey.
老师， 你说得有道理啊！
哈哈，谢谢你 Micheal ！
Thank you so much for this lesson! I'm so happy to find your channel! This video is brilliant, full of insights! What do you think of watching children's cartoons to practice listening? Cartoons like 哆啦A梦 or 熊出没? By the way, I'm a lower intermediate student (from 巴西 😊）. 非常感谢！
Thank you for your kind words! 😊 I'm so glad you found the video helpful.
I think watching cartoons is actually a great way to practice listening, especially for lower intermediate learners. I didn’t mention it in the video because I thought most people might not be interested in cartoons, but you're absolutely right! Cartoons like 哆啦A梦 and 熊出没 have very clear pronunciation, and the speed is usually slower compared to adult dramas, making them perfect listening materials for learners at the intermediate level.
You might also want to check out喜羊羊与灰太狼xǐ yánɡ yánɡ yǔ huī tài lánɡ , which is one of my favorite Chinese cartoons!😄
this was very helpful, 谢谢！🙂↕️
谢谢你喜欢！😊
妳說的有道理呀😊
哈哈哈，回答正确！！！
我好像找到了，学习英语的方法！！！
哈哈哈，学习语言的方法是相通的，都需要模仿和重复。
你说的一定有道理啊
哈哈哈，谢谢你！😄
你今天的内容很有意思， 谢谢你
谢谢你喜欢！！！
Good practical advice
Zero words because of eyes and hands i.e. all the pictures BUT around 300 to have a clue 1000 would be better.
❤😊
What is the best way to learn new vocabulary words?
Thanks for your question! I think the best way to learn new vocabulary is by focusing on words you’ll actually use in your daily life. For example, when you’re buying a drink, think about how you would say that drink in Chinese. Also, try to consume content that interests you, like books, movies, or interviews with Chinese celebrities you like. This way, you’ll naturally pick up vocabulary that is both practical and engaging!
5:05🎉
Hi teacher, I think the best way to learn chinese , I have to marry chinese girl😂, beside this way, it is difficult 😊
Haha, maybe your Chinese wife would like to practice your language too! 😄
A 6 year old kid knows 20000 words and expressions. If you can become a good doctor in 7 years, you can become a good speaker in a language too. Anyone who thinks the above analogy doctor/speaker isn't correct, is lying to you.
谢谢你在这个视频中只说中文。请在youtube上添加CC中文字幕，而不是嵌入到屏幕上，这样我们就可以使用阅读器软件了。
谢谢你告诉我！！！我正在学习怎么添加CC字幕，我想我需要多学习怎么用TH-cam。😂
Very useful tips! As a beginner such advices saves a lot of time xièxie
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad the tips are helpful to you!😊
Hi, great video, but i would be even better if you would add pinyin Than you.
Thank you for your suggestion! I agree, adding pinyin would definitely be helpful! If I have more time in the future, I will definitely include it in upcoming videos!
Useful video, thank you! It would be very helpful if there were subtitles done on youtube platform, not coded in, then we can use extensions like langreactor to directly save words or turn off English translation for practice 🫶
Totally agree.
Thank you for the suggestion！！！I'm currently learning how to add CC subtitles. Your feedback is very helpful! 🫶
I suggest keeping the Chinese hardcoded but adding the English on TH-cam. This could also allow TH-cam to use its auto translate feature for those speaking other languages.