LTL BLOG

Free Mandarin Ebook

Download your free Mandarin ebook! Packed with tips, resources, and tools to help you start learning Chinese the smart way. Get it instantly by email.

TOPIK Vocabulary Quizzes

These TOPIK quizzes will help you practice your vocabulary knowledge whether you are a beginner and intermediate-advanced levels.

JLPT Vocabulary Quizzes

Select your language level and test your knowledge of the Japanese language with our JLPT vocabulary quizzes. Results are instant, so you can review mistakes.

HSK Vocabulary Quizzes

Whether you just started studying Chinese or are already a bit more advanced with your studies, these quizzes will help you review the vocabulary of…

How to Say No in Chinese: Essential Phrases Guide

Learn the Different Ways to Say “No” in Chinese Like A Local Saying “no” in Chinese is a bit trickier than just saying “no” in…

Chinese Alphabet 🗣 What is it? Does it Exist? A Definitive Guide

Does the Chinese Alphabet exist? What's the history of Chinese Characters? What are the most common Chinese characters? All your questions, answered

Du Chinese 🀄 Rated and Reviewed (for 2025)

How good is Du Chinese? Is it worth downloading? How would you rate Du Chinese? All your questions answered with our comprehensive review.

Memrise Review | Should I Download It to Learn Chinese in 2025?

Memrise is a popular tool with Chinese learners but with so many learning Chinese apps out there does it rank with the best? Check out…

SuperTest HSK Review (Formerly HSK Online) // Our Complete 2024 Guide

The Complete Guide to SuperTest HSK To Download or Not To Download 🤔 SuperTest (HSK Study and Exam) Review: 9/10An invaluable companion for HSK studies.…

The Chairman's Bao App Review - Updated for 2023

Our ‘The Chairman’s Bao’ Definitive Review & Guide to this Chinese Reading App  A simplified Chinese news site, specifically aimed at Mandarin learners. Ease of…

Ninchanese Review // Rated and Reviewed by LTL Mandarin School

Welcome to LTL's Ninchanese review! Ninchanese is a website and app that uses gamification and SRS to teach you Mandarin. Here, we'll be reviewing the…

Real Time Mandarin Review // Mastering Modern Mandarin with this Magnificent Membership

Slow Chinese Review // Slow Chinese have recently launched a membership service to gain access to every more content. Is it any good? We reveal…

Shanghai Language 🗣 Shanghainese or Mandarin?

What is the Shanghai Language? Mandarin or Shanghainese? Shanghainese is a part of the Wu Dialect family but should I learn Shanghainese?

6 Cantonese Tones || Learn and Speak Cantonese like a Native!

As a tonal language, Cantonese is considered very difficult to learn. But don't worry, in this article we've simplified the six tones to get you…

10 Greetings in Cantonese || Useful Phrases to Use in Hong Kong

Do you want to travel to Cantonese-speaking regions? Then it'd be a good idea to learn some greetings in Cantonese such as hello and goodbye.

What Are The 7 Main Differences Between Learning Cantonese and Mandarin?

What are 7 key differences between Mandarin and Cantonese? They're both Chinese, right? Well, for starters, when spoken, you'd barely even notice a similarity

Learning Shanghainese 📖 Alex's Journey

Follow Alex's journey as he aims to add Shanghainese to his long list of languages. Can he crack Shanghainese, how different is it from Mandarin?

7 Hilarious Chinese Jokes That Will Make You Laugh (With Explanations!)

Chinese jokes can be a fun way to learn new vocabulary and cultural nuance. Time to unlock the secrets to learning Chinese with this hilarious…

Chinese Memes and Funnies 😂 The Ultimate Collection (for 2025)

Chinese Memes for 2021 😅 Learning Chinese is a long road, so we've got to have some fun along the way, right? Check out our…

8 of The Best (& Cheesy) Chinese Pick-Up Lines || Chinese Rizz

Pick Up Lines in Chinese - Living in China and have a HUGE crush? Here are LTL's top 8 Chinese Chat Up Lines to help…

Chinese + English = Chinglish 😲 You Must See To Believe

Chinglish - Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. You will be amazed at some of these language mishaps that are made when…

41 Ultimate Examples Of Chinese Slang 🤫 Speak Like The Locals

Check out the best ways to speak Chinese in 2021! Chinese Slang is the ultimate way to level UP your Mandarin and we've got a…

I Learnt 55 Swear Words From Native Chinese Speakers

Chinese swear words are the most exciting thing for newbies is learning how to say bad things. Here are 55 I learnt from native speakers.

Sweet Dreams 🌜 How to Say ‘Goodnight’ in Chinese

Discover the Different Ways to Say Goodnight in Chinese and How to Wish Sweet Dreams Saying “goodnight” is a simple and sweet gesture. There are…

Happy New Year in Chinese 🎉 Don't Say The Obvious, These Ways Are Better!

How to say Happy New Year in Chinese? Opt for something more elaborate and personalized with some of these alternate ways of wishing in the…

Simplified or Traditional Chinese? Which One Is Right For Me in 2025?

Simplified Chinese vs Traditional Chinese 🤔 This will depend on your goals and where you want to study or live. Let's help you decide.

Chinese Animal Names: 172 Translations 😼 (Zodiac, Sea, Land, Birds & More)

Learn the Names of 172 Animals in Chinese 🙉 Do you know how to say your favorite animals in Chinese? 🐼🐯🐬If not, you’re in the…

HSK EXAM || THE COMPLETE 2025 GUIDE

Everything You Need to Know About the HSK Exam The HSK Exam in Chinese is Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试) literally meaning “Mandarin Level Test”. It…

Chinese Proverb of the Day | Learn a New Chinese Saying Daily

Get a Daily Dose of Wisdom With Our Chinese Proverb of the Day Looking for a daily dose of ancient Chinese wisdom? You’re in the…

A Beginners Guide on How to Eat and Order Chinese Hot Pot

Chinese hot pot (火锅 huǒguō) literally means fire-pot. It's history goes back over 1,000 years. It is one of the most traditional and popular meals in…

Ultimate Guide to WeChat 2025 📱 How to Use WeChat's Features

We've got 5 great things you never knew Wechat could do. It's the most used app in all of China, but how to use Wechat?…

Chinese Hongbao 🧧 Everything You Need To Know About The Lucky Red Envelope

A lucky red envelope is a traditional gift for Chinese New Year. But who gets them, and how much are they filled with? We answer…

The Complete Guide to Time in China ⏱ Timezones & Daylight Savings

Time in China : Why China Doesn't Have Daylight Saving Time? One of the main aims of DST is to make people’s active hours match…

9 Travel Tips for Beijing 🧳 - A Useful List for 2025

With long history, rich culture and nice people, Beijing is a city which deserves several days of your time.

A Complete Guide to ALL The Languages Spoken in China (300+)

Chinese really is an umbrella term for a very complex subject. Get answers to all your questions about the languages in China, with explanations and…

7 Reasons Why You Should Learn Chinese in China in 2025

Reasons You Never Expected // Learn Why YOU Should Come to China Learning a language is not just about vocabulary and grammar—it’s about culture, context,…

Studying Chinese in Chengde - William's Story

Studying Chinese in the Birthplace of the Mandarin Language This blog was written by LTL student William Shaw, who studied Chinese in Chengde. I’d studied…

My Review of LTL Chengdu || Intensive Chinese Course

This blog post has been written by LTL student, Mark from Canada. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with everyone.

Learning Chinese As A Beginner - Andrew's Story

My biggest concern when making my 3.5 month commitment wasn’t whether or not I could learn the language but whether or not I would actually…

Getting Fluent in Chinese Whilst Working Full Time || It Can Be Done

Getting fluent in Chinese whilst working full-time is a challenge. However, it is possible with a well-thought out plan and plenty of determination.

School Trip to China || When Ancona Came to Beijing (Again!)

In April 2024, we welcomed Istituto d’istruzione Superiore Savoia Benincasa to LTL for the third time. Here is a summary of how the trip went.

Chinese Zodiac Calculator | Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal

DISCOVER YOUR CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMAL HERE Ever wondered if you were a dragon, a rabbit or a tiger? Wonder no more, you’ve stumbled across the…

The Great Race 🐯 Ultimate Guide to Chinese Zodiacs

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the Chinese Zodiacs and how the animal were selected? Did you know there was a Chinese Zodiac…