{"id":2703,"date":"2025-05-03T00:16:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T00:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/?p=2703"},"modified":"2025-05-05T14:10:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T14:10:52","slug":"take-your-chinese-to-the-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2025\/05\/03\/take-your-chinese-to-the-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Your Chinese to the Next Level"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2703\" class=\"elementor elementor-2703\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-000e1c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"000e1c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46d151f\" data-id=\"46d151f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a9f50c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a9f50c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have a good system for learning vocabulary, mastering Chinese grammar, and memorizing new characters, learners might overlook some more advanced aspects of Chinese that can help you reach new heights. Read on for our advice on how to take your Chinese to the next level!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a47b1d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a47b1d7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0cf5e1b\" data-id=\"0cf5e1b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8738887 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8738887\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When am I an  intermediate learner?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-02826e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"02826e6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fae137\" data-id=\"3fae137\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3754fc0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3754fc0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While tests like the HSK can help you track your progress as you learn Chinese, it can be hard to know exactly where you sit in the grand scheme of things. While there\u2019s no upper limit to how proficient you can get, this guide is primarily meant to help people who:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-731e369 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"731e369\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab8067d\" data-id=\"ab8067d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86fdb6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"86fdb6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are comfortable with pinyin, and feel confident pronouncing most syllables<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are familiar with tones<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can read material written in Chinese characters<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are comfortable with basic sentence structure and grammar<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel comfortable with basic conversation<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-98cfbca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"98cfbca\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-643cbd9\" data-id=\"643cbd9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b708ea9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b708ea9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve reached this point with your Chinese studies, the following tips can help you get to the next stage of your adventure! If you&#8217;re just getting started, you can also check out our guide for <a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/12\/02\/the-best-way-to-learn-chinese\/\">picking up Chinese as a beginner<\/a>.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dbb143 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dbb143\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5d4bd0f\" data-id=\"5d4bd0f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-574a662 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"574a662\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Onwards and upwards!<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-da56113 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"da56113\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-301a7d5\" data-id=\"301a7d5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb80462 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb80462\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are our suggestions for how to level up your Chinese if you\u2019ve mastered the basics of Mandarin and established a routine for learning.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf1b3f2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf1b3f2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e21193\" data-id=\"6e21193\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1ea719 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1ea719\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Master Difficult Sounds<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b9356 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76b9356\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chinese pronunciation is difficult to pick up in the first place, but not all sounds in Chinese are created equal. Some sounds are much more challenging than others, and might need more practice to master. Here are some sounds that might require some extra attention to get perfect:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e607877\" data-id=\"e607877\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ab1483 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8ab1483\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Thumbnail-2-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1238\" alt=\"Take your Chinese to the next level with tone pairs\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Thumbnail-2-1.png 768w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Thumbnail-2-1-300x199.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f886d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f886d1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d9e1a24\" data-id=\"d9e1a24\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0ae184 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b0ae184\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018\u00fc\u2019<\/strong> &#8211; this vowel, which appears in syllables like \u2018yu,\u2019 \u2018xu,\u2019 \u2018yuan,\u2019 etc. is especially tricky.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018e\u2019<\/strong> &#8211; This vowel appears in syllables like \u2018te,\u2019 and \u2018she.\u2019<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018an\u2019 and \u2018ang\u2019<\/strong> &#8211; These two \u2018a\u2019 vowels are actually different, despite looking the same in pinyin<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018si\u2019 vs \u2018shi\u2019<\/strong> &#8211; Another two vowels that look the same but are actually different<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018ri\u2019<\/strong> &#8211; Another sound that can take a while to pronounce authentically<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2018j\u2019 \u2018q\u2019 \u2018x\u2019 vs. \u2018zh\u2019 \u2018ch\u2019 \u2018shi\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; These consonants can sometimes sound similar, but they&#8217;re pronounced in completely different ways<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-31d0820 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31d0820\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-13fad02\" data-id=\"13fad02\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7765c8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7765c8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just because these sounds are mentioned here, doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that all of them will be equally difficult to master, only that they tend to be more difficult than the rest. It&#8217;s also worth mentioning that pronouncing some sounds with an accent isn&#8217;t the end of the world.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77929d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77929d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find a certain sound to be extra difficult, the best way to get better at these problem vowels and consonants is to parrot native pronunciation. You can do this while listening to our <strong>native audio<\/strong> in the Du Chinese app, or with online dictionaries like Pleco.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80f5271 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80f5271\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-aeb22fa\" data-id=\"aeb22fa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e800cdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e800cdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Attack Tone Pairs<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e9e2bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e9e2bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are actually several unwritten rules surrounding tones that are usually overlooked in the beginning stages of learning Chinese. These rules are referred to as \u201c<ruby>\u8b8a\u8abf<rt>bi\u00e0n di\u00e0o<\/rt><\/ruby>\u201d (tone changes, or tone sandhi) and are not reflected at all in standard pinyin, despite appearing all the time in actual speech. Knowing some basic tone sandhi rules is essential for pronouncing tones in the most authentic way possible. Here&#8217;s a list of these tone changes that can help guide your studies!<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2371519\" data-id=\"2371519\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5524559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5524559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2-1024x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2715\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Copy-of-Word-Template-2.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aac83a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aac83a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59f65fc\" data-id=\"59f65fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57c0b41 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"57c0b41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3rd Tone Combos<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9d09111 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9d09111\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-09f170d\" data-id=\"09f170d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3079c94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3079c94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When two characters with the 3rd tone are read consecutively, the first character is read with 2nd tone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ab2232 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ab2232\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bef33ab\" data-id=\"bef33ab\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-995d3eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"995d3eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><p><strong>l\u01d0<\/strong> \u7406 + xi\u01ceng \u60f3 \u2192 <strong>l\u00ed<\/strong>xi\u01ceng\u00a0\u7406\u60f3<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>y\u01d4n<\/strong> \u5141 +x\u01d4 \u8a31 \u2192 <strong>y\u00fan<\/strong>x\u01d4 \u5141\u8a31<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-88f7b3e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"88f7b3e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e9aafb\" data-id=\"2e9aafb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a89ab01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a89ab01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Changes for <ruby>\u4e00<rt>y\u012b<\/rt><\/ruby><\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-392fe8e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"392fe8e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c512d53\" data-id=\"c512d53\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffe4f60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ffe4f60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When \u4e00 occurs before a syllable with the fourth tone, its pronunciation changes to the second tone (y\u00ed). When it occurs before a syllable with the first, second, or third tone, its pronunciation changes to the fourth tone (y\u00ec):<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e12042a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e12042a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b09590a\" data-id=\"b09590a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-350ebf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"350ebf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><p><b>y\u012b<\/b> \u4e00 + zh\u0101ng \u5f35 \u2192 <b>y\u00ec<\/b> zh\u0101ng \u4e00\u5f35<\/p><\/li><li><p><b>y\u012b<\/b> \u4e00 + ti\u00e1o \u689d \u2192\u00a0<b>y\u00ec<\/b> ti\u00e1o \u4e00\u689d<\/p><\/li><li><p><b>y\u012b<\/b>\u00a0\u4e00 + w\u01cen \u7897 \u2192\u00a0<b>y\u00ec<\/b>\u00a0w\u01cen \u4e00\u7897<\/p><\/li><li><p><b>y\u012b<\/b>\u00a0\u4e00 + g\u00f2ng \u5171 \u2192\u00a0<b>y\u00ed<\/b>\u00a0g\u00f2ng \u4e00\u5171<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-652410e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"652410e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5fca943\" data-id=\"5fca943\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be8fe50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be8fe50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Changes for <ruby>\u4e0d<rt>b\u00f9<\/rt><\/ruby><\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b385c4f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b385c4f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-09f56fb\" data-id=\"09f56fb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6be369 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6be369\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When \u4e0d occurs before a syllable with the first, second, or third tone, its pronunciation (b\u00f9) does not change. However, when it occurs before a syllable with the fourth tone, its tone changes to the second tone b\u00fa.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0906fe4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0906fe4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9f87548\" data-id=\"9f87548\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa450c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa450c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> \u4e0d + h\u0113 \u559d \u2192 <strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> h\u0113 \u4e0d\u559d<\/li><li><strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> \u4e0d + l\u00e1i \u4f86 \u2192 <strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> l\u00e1i \u4e0d\u4f86<\/li><li><strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> \u4e0d + m\u01cei \u8cb7 \u2192 <strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> m\u01cei \u4e0d\u8cb7<\/li><li><strong>b\u00f9<\/strong> \u4e0d + q\u00f9 \u53bb \u2192 <strong>b\u00fa<\/strong> q\u00f9 \u4e0d\u53bb<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-153abb6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"153abb6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b7d39ba\" data-id=\"b7d39ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43b85bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"43b85bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">But wait... there\u2019s more<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b192529 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b192529\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e98e6ac\" data-id=\"e98e6ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ad650e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ad650e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are the tone change basics that you need to get started, but this topic actually goes a lot deeper. From what to do with a string of characters pronounced 3rd tone, to the elusive &#8220;half third tone,&#8221; there are many mysteries to be unraveled! For more tone pair secrets, check out this helpful<a href=\"https:\/\/chinesefor.us\/lessons\/guide-chinese-tone-four-tones-mandarin\/\"> tone guide<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7e5c2ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7e5c2ce\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f967ec3\" data-id=\"f967ec3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be3cc61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be3cc61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Develop Your Handwriting<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed81d5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed81d5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handwriting Chinese characters might seem overwhelming at first, but it can often be the best way to commit them to memory. Plus, it can be a lot of fun and help you gain a deeper understanding of their structure and logic. Here are some tips for taking your handwriting to the next level!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-00dfee9\" data-id=\"00dfee9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50e46a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"50e46a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2709\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maccy-qvF0aMnhwU-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d2dd160 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d2dd160\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0f3c5f\" data-id=\"b0f3c5f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-603d000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"603d000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stroke Order Intuition<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a00e6b5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a00e6b5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d362a04\" data-id=\"d362a04\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75e36e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75e36e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While stroke order can be tedious at first, practice and study across different characters will eventually make it second nature. If you spend some time familiarizing yourself with it, you&#8217;ll rarely have to think about it at all! Developing an intuition for stroke order will not only improve your handwriting, but also help you read other people\u2019s handwriting, and even calligraphy.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dc3c74 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dc3c74\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-319b99c\" data-id=\"319b99c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d18057f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d18057f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Grid Paper Training<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-84e32c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"84e32c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b9acdd\" data-id=\"3b9acdd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a726b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a726b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting the proportions down for Chinese characters is one of the challenges you might face as you try to make your handwriting look better. The proportions of hanzi are understood by how they relate to a square, so practicing your characters on grid paper can help you work on individual characters, and make strings of characters look consistent together. You can also play with writing characters at different sizes, which will further improve your feel for how they should be proportioned, and help you write smaller.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24c416c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24c416c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f8b7fc4\" data-id=\"f8b7fc4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-098e65a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"098e65a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Find a Tracing Book (<ruby>\u5b57\u5e16<rt>z\u00ec ti\u00e8<\/rt><\/ruby>)<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a5b4af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1a5b4af\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-02e834e\" data-id=\"02e834e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f81725c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f81725c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way that Chinese people work on their handwriting is with special tracing books called <ruby>\u5b57\u5e16<rt>z\u00ec ti\u00e8<\/rt><\/ruby>. These usually feature sample handwriting that you can trace over with tracing paper. <ruby>\u5b57\u5e16<rt>z\u00ec ti\u00e8<\/rt><\/ruby> can be great for adding some structure and guidance to your practice, and help you understand how real Chinese handwriting looks, instead of trying to copy digital fonts. These can be hard to track down in stores, so you might want to try to find one online! Usually, searching for &#8220;<ruby>\u5b57\u5e16<rt>z\u00ec ti\u00e8<\/rt><\/ruby>&#8221; in Chinese yields the best results.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-423e5c4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"423e5c4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46667be\" data-id=\"46667be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f985ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5f985ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to use Du Chinese to take your Chinese to the next level<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5168290 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5168290\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55cbd63\" data-id=\"55cbd63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0b8d34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0b8d34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Du Chinese is the perfect place to work on your reading and listening skills, regardless of where you are in your Chinese learning journey. Here are our tips for using Du Chinese as an intermediate learner:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4460c58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4460c58\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b680cd\" data-id=\"6b680cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dbd63a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dbd63a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Read higher level content: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your vocabulary, try reading our <\/span><em>Intermediate<\/em> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upper Intermediate<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> content to pick up new vocab and consolidate what you already know through effortless reading.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Experiment with reading tools: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our <em>tone marks only<\/em> mode allows you to read articles, lessons, and stories with only tone marks visible. For an even greater challenge, you can also activate our <em>difficult words only<\/em>\u00a0mode, which will only show pinyin or tone marks for difficult words.<\/span><\/li><li><b><\/b><b>Listen to native pronunciation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Du Chinese\u2019s audio is recorded by qualified native speakers. You can use our audio to practice parroting their pronunciation, which can help with tone pairs. You can also try increasing the speed of the audio for a greater challenge when working on listening comprehension.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08ca39e\" data-id=\"08ca39e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a46f741 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a46f741\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"456\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-456x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2708\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-456x1024.png 456w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-134x300.png 134w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-768x1724.png 768w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-684x1536.png 684w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515-912x2048.png 912w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250502-155515.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7485486 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7485486\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee09b80\" data-id=\"ee09b80\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78c02fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78c02fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u52a0\u6cb9<rt>ji\u0101 y\u00f3u<\/rt><\/ruby>\uff01(Add Oil!) <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2140342 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2140342\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db7ed16\" data-id=\"db7ed16\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9a8ea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e9a8ea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere is a Chinese saying: <ruby>\u5b78\u5982\u9006\u6c34<rt>xu\u00e9 r\u00fa n\u00ec shu\u01d0<\/rt><\/ruby>\uff0c<ruby>\u4e0d\u9032\u5247\u9000<rt>b\u00fa j\u00ecn z\u00e9 tu\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby>: &#8220;Learning is like going against the current. If you don&#8217;t advance, you&#8217;ll retreat.&#8221;\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfd954e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cfd954e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you\u2019ve found your stride with Chinese, you\u2019ve already done most of the hard work. Now that you\u2019ve entered this new world of language, take some time to arm yourself with the right tools and knowledge to take your Chinese to the next level!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once you have a good system for learning vocabulary, mastering Chinese grammar, and memorizing new characters, learners might overlook some more advanced aspects of Chinese that can help you reach new heights. Read on for our advice on how to take your Chinese to the next level! When am I an intermediate learner? While tests&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[5,6,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/raychan-cKDOH_R74tA-unsplash-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2703"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2768,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2703\/revisions\/2768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}