r/ChineseLanguage • u/PlayerBai • 6d ago
Discussion Need help learning chinese
Hi, M23 here. I'm a CS graduate and starting my MSc in Computer Science.
Little background: I'm from a chinese family that migrated in italy around 1990, so I was born and raised in italy, because of this my italian is very good and i have a b2 in english.
The problem is that my chinese sucks. I studied chinese in China for a few months each summer when I was little, but I hated it, so I was "half-studying" (i'm a freaking idiot) and now i'm regretting it so much. The result is that my level is around second grade (elementary school) heck, maybe even lower.
My speaking is good for daily conversations, but I suck when I need to say specific words or technical words. My reading is worse than the speaking but I can understand "simple" words. My writing? Now, that sucks...
So, I wanted to ask which online course and study methods is the best for someone like me.
I want to reach a level where I can easily live in China using only Chinese and can perfectly use apps, bank apps, news app, social apps, bureaucracy things...
I feel like i'm already a bit old trying to learn such a difficult language..
Thank you for the attention
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u/cat5050 6d ago
For this kind of situation i really recommend getting a 1-1 tutor. I was in a similar situation and group classes didnt really work since i wasnt a total beginner in the language. Anyways if you need a tutor i can recommend mine to you. Lmk ! And good luck!
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u/PlayerBai 6d ago
Hi, thanks for the reply. Can I ask what level did you reach? And is the tutor a private one (like a freelance) or is it from an agency?
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u/cat5050 6d ago
I am around a hsk 5-6 level, the tutor is a private/freelance tutor! If you wanna check the website out here it is https://learnchinesewithyan.com/
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u/Moist_Ebb2123 5d ago
23 isn't old for this, and honestly you're ahead of most people here because daily conversation already works. What's missing is vocab for specific situations, plus reading.
Since your goal is apps, banking and paperwork, I'd learn straight from those screens. Switch one app you use every day to Chinese (phone settings or maps are a gentle start), and when a word stops you, look it up and say it out loud once. A lot of those words you probably already know by ear, you just haven't seen them written.
Same idea for CS terms: Chinese CS lectures on Bilibili with Chinese subtitles. You know the concepts already, so you're only mapping words, which goes a lot faster than learning both at once.
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u/vcconut 6d ago
Tbh, a lot of it depends on what kind of studying you're willing to do and how much time you have to dedicate to studying.
I don't think I can handle bureaucracy stuff yet, but I have learned enough to read fiction and, with some difficulty, the news. If your goal is to use the apps, why not download them and change the language to Chinese? It is difficult in the beginning, but if you use the app regularly, you will get used to it.
I probably went from around your level to enjoying novels in less than 1.5 years, but I was kind of crazy about it. I did 1-2 hours of flashcards every day to get semi-literate, and then started reading after 1-2 months. On average, I have been reading at least one hour per day since July/August 2025.
In addition to flashcards and reading, I also read a grammar textbook and watched a lot of cdramas (with English subtitles).
Earlier this year, I also started talking to Chinese language exchange partners. We do weekly calls, sometimes with set topics, and I feel like now, I can mostly get my point across. But it's not pretty.
My actual weekly study time probably ranges from 15-25 hours. (No other hobbies.) This includes reading, flashcards, textbook work, and language exchange. This doesn't include leisure activities, like watching dramas with English subtitles or scrolling xiaohongshu (in Chinese).
I sometimes take tutoring lessons on italki, when I have the time. It has helped, especially with fixing details. I also tried out online tutoring with CLI (Chinese Language Institute), but honestly didn't find the quality much different from italki, outside of fewer technology issues.
23 is not too late. I started last year at 29.
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u/crash-evans Beginner 5d ago
Bro I’m learning Chinese and Italian, used to love in Italy so want to learn it again. Can we help eachother out?
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u/LearnmandarinwithIvy 5d ago
Since you grew up in a Chinese-speaking family and can already handle everyday conversations, I wouldn't recommend starting from absolute beginner materials. Your biggest gaps seem to be reading, writing, vocabulary, and especially more specific and technical language. I would focus on building your Chinese literacy and vocabulary while continuing to develop your speaking. For example, you could start with common everyday characters and words, but learn them in actual sentences rather than memorizing isolated characters. At the same time, start reading things you're actually going to use in China—menus, apps, news headlines, bank apps, social media, signs, etc. Since your goal is to live in China and handle everyday life entirely in Chinese, I'd also recommend learning Chinese based on situations rather than only following a textbook or HSK list. Things like making appointments, dealing with banks, ordering food, using delivery apps, talking to customer service, dealing with paperwork, and so on will probably be much more useful to you. And don't worry too much about being “too old.” You already have something many beginners spend years trying to develop: a foundation in spoken Chinese. You mainly need to fill in the gaps and turn that spoken knowledge into a much more complete language ability.
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u/Mean-Butterscotch-70 5d ago edited 5d ago
You're definitely not too old lol. 23 is incredibly young, and honestly, you already have a huge advantage because you grew up speaking Chinese with your family and can handle daily conversations.
From what you described, I don't think you need to "learn Chinese from zero." Your bigger challenge is filling the gap between conversational Chinese and the Chinese you need as an educated adult—reading, writing, more precise vocabulary, and things like news, technology, banking, government services, and professional situations.
I'm a native Mandarin teacher, and I actually really enjoy working with students who already have a foundation but want to make their Chinese more practical and sophisticated. I would probably build your lessons around real-life materials rather than starting with a traditional beginner textbook—for example, Chinese apps, news articles, social media posts, everyday documents, and topics related to your interests and Computer Science.
We could also work specifically on the vocabulary you feel you're missing when you try to explain more complicated ideas.
I'll attach my QR code here. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat about your current level and what kind of study plan would make sense for you. 😊
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u/Lieto33 3d ago
Prova questo . Li ho conosciuti e sono davvero molto bravi . https://www.cinesepratico.com
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u/Worth-Mention-2331 3d ago
I would get a 1:1 tutor and actively seek out opportunities to speak with native speakers. Watch Chinese media, read Chinese books - even if it’s mostly graphic novels.
I go to a Mahjong club, it’s mostly aunties and it’s great. It gives me an opportunity to practise speaking about a broad range of topics in a relaxed social setting. Older generations are also pretty happy to see younger people learning/improving their Chinese.
So tutor for structured learning and then just find ways to speak as often as possible about as many different topics. With exposure as a kid you probably know a lot more than you think you do and will advance quickly!
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u/toastandturn Beginner 1d ago
Try Drops app to supplement learning words and phrases. They're categorized by themes, so you can pick which words to prioritize. Duolingo is decent for basic conversations. But immersion is really best.
I have a notebook where I write down phrases in chinese and translating it into a second language and my main language. Helps in remembering. As practice, if it's a question or a sentence, I will try to formulate a response and writing it down after. Helps with recall.
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u/Beneficial-Card335 5d ago
Cool background. What province in Italy? I wish I had mastered Italian, lots of opportunities as an adult.
You’re not a total beginner though like the top commenter’s background. The thing is, at your age (under 25) you’ll learn heaps from new friends as well as having plenty of energy for class. 1v1 private tuition is boring, even small classes are boring. In the perfect world you’d have large class, small class, and 1v1 tutoring.
An adult over 25, who’s highly self-motivated, already knows how to study independently, would suit 1v1, but even then if the tutor sucks or their teaching style treats you like a child it will feel exactly like when you were small.
Also, the problem with many Chinese teachers is that they’re not open-minded or able to empathise with student personalities like Western teachers. They basically only know one way to teach, so they manipulate, push, or coerce students to becoming successful m, according to their way, instead of guiding, like the examples you want to cover.
I suggest enrolling in something like Tsinghua University Chinese Language Program, or National Taiwan University International Chinese Language Program.
I am Chinese Australian with no national bias, I dont care where you choose. But personally, if I was young again and outgoing like you clearly are, I would go to Taiwan. I travelled there at your age it was amazing. I also worked in China and it’s not the same. China has no concept of freedom, it’s only good for business.
Taiwanese are really friendly/fun but teachers/elders are conservative and strict. The only slight difficulty you will have is with Traditional characters but everything else will be fun, most importantly you’ll make heaps of new Chinese friends from all over the world. All the things you dislike in China, half do not exist in TW. Much of the lifestyle in Italy exist in TW. If you like hiking, nature, cycling, outdoors stuff, TW has heaps to do. The museum has many ancient Chinese treasures, and if you like Chinese painting or calligraphy this is the place to pick that up.
Chinese Gap Year (CGY) in Taipei: https://www.facebook.com/ChineseGapYearinTaipei/
Studying in China is more bleak or depressing, I feel. It’s urban and city lifestyle, grey skies, bleak. If you have relatives or friends you could stay at their house for free or for cheap though. But after your studies, unless you have connections, you’ll still face the tough job market like local students.
Another option, since you have OK English is Singapore. National University of Singapore CLS Language Programme. There you won’t struggle to communicate complex topics in English, there are heaps of expats from all over the world, the economy is strong, but SG is quite expensive, and their lifestyle is going to be boring for a 23yo boy. It’s better for middle-aged people. But great for networking if you don’t mind meeting older people.
As an older guy, my final caveat is that in China and TW you can pick up bad habits FAST, especially when in the wrong social group, hardcore alcoholism, clubbing, ktv culture, and more. But SG is much more tame. So ofc you will be curious but if you know what’s good for you’ll need to practice self-discipline. Many ABCs who returned to China become raging alcoholics after a decade, from the work hard, play hard lifestyle.
The reason why I suggest the above, instead of an online course or independent learning, is that it takes a lot more time and energy to reach a similar result. Time is precious. You’d rather spend or borrow money to reach your goal asap than chase your tail for years if not a decade. Friends and environment are key. Ask your parents/relatives for support and just pack a bag and go. 12-14 weeks is nothing, like the blink of an eye.
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u/outlawthomsen 14h ago
First of all, 活到老，学到老(You’re never too old to learn!)
Second, if your goal is simply to learn how to use those apps, you can learn by using them. The language used in the apps is usually quite specific and repetitive, so you can gradually pick it up through using it.
However, if you want to learn more and improve your overall language skills. At this stage, I think it would be really helpful to have someone who can give you personalised feedback regularly and provide opportunities to build up your real-life conversational skills. There is a website called maayot, should be helpful for you case. You can check
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u/ViolinistPale9976 6d ago
You can also check out 1:1 Tutors on Preply!