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FAQs from MB Community

FAQs from MB Community

266 articles
General
Why is it so hard to learn to listen/hear the target language compared to reading?
Is it better to think in Chinese or think first and convert in English?
How do you know when you're ready to speak?
How do I find motivation again when I'm feeling burned out?
What's the minimum amount of daily practice I need to avoid forgetting what I've learned?
How to find time for learning Chinese?
How should I experiment with timeboxing?
How do I read the different times on the clock in Mandarin Chinese?
How to identify names when reading or listening?
Shadowing: Should I fully comprehend the text that I'm shadowing?
What if I am feeling frustrated in the Intermediate Plateau?
Is it wise to de-couple character learning and word/grammar learning?
How to become an affiliate with Mandarin Blueprint?
How do you guarantee my success with Mandarin?
The system seems quite complex. Will I be able to use it?
This seems complicated and confusing. Is this method really going to pay off?
What should I do if I only want to learn to speak Chinese only?
When can I expect to start outputting?
How should I get started learning when I'm really busy?
When should I start shadowing?
Shadowing: Should there be any delay between audio and my voice?
How to think about top-down words?
When should I start using a tutor when following the Mandarin Blueprint method?
How long should I spend shadowing everyday?
How come I'm making such little progress with other apps after investing so much time?
Are your videos pre-recorded or live?
I don't know if I can stick to this, I've given up on course so many times.
How should I balance MB's course platform with the Youtube Channel and Podcast?
Can you learn Mandarin Chinese to fluency without ever going to China?
At what point should I focus on improving my listening comprehension?
Why is stroke order important?
How can I tell the gender of a Chinese name?
Hanzi Movie Method
How should Intermediate students handle the Hanzi Movie Method?
Do I need to remember my HMM scenes if I remember the character?
Will I confuse props (e.g., 早 'alarm clock') with words that have the same meaning (闹钟)?
Phase 4 stories are tough, am I behind?
How to distinguish between characters with the same components in different positions (办 vs. 为)
What if the props don't correspond perfectly to the character in the HMM? (e.g., 母 -> ㇆ + 七 + 丶丶)
What should I do if my props are getting mixed up in my scenes?
Do I really need to learn a whole mnemonic scene to remember a Chinese character?
Should I write down my movie scenes?
Why use the HMM for 口 but not 一 二 三?
Can I change a prop part way through this course?
Phase 4 is tough! I'm feeling a bit frustrated, what should I do?
How do I deal with props that have more than one shape? (e.g., 亿 -> 飞；冫 -> 飞)
What should I do if I forget an element (i.e, actor, prop, set) of my HMM scene?
Does it matter if I remember a character but not my HMM scene?
What if two characters components look similar? Should I choose different props for them?
Should I be able to understand and output 汉字 and words from Phase 1 and 2 while still in Phase 2?
Can I connect how I learn the 人 and 亻 props in the Hanzi Movie Method?
How to distinguish between similar looking characters? (e.g, 土 vs. 士)
Can I have more that one prop represent a single character component?
Must my HMM actor be female? Male? Fictional? God?
What does the "-Ø Null" set indicate in the HMM?
Why is the prop for 半 bàn different from the movie scene for 半?
How should I divide the props in 年 nián - 'year'?
Why is it "wu-/u" for fictional actors in some characters? (e.g., 我 wǒ)
How to deal with prop form changes?
Why not show all meanings of a 汉字 in a make a movie lesson keyword?
Why do character components mutate? How to deal with this using the HMM?
How do I distinguish between 己 已 巳 㔾? (dealing with similar-looking components and props)
Characters
How do I know when to use 来 or 去？
How to use 哪儿 nǎr rhetorically? 他哪儿知道你不吃面包
What's the difference between directional complements？(回来 & 回去)
再也不, 从来不 and 从来没 compared, 出事 explained and 一点也不 - 一点都不 explained
What's the difference of 负面 and 消极 "negative"? How to cleverly investigate minor differences?
When is 要 yào "will" vs. "want"?
How to use 反正 to indicate "regardless" and get straight to the point?
How did we determine the 汉字 order for the Intermediate Course?
Should I re-learn characters that I haven't totally solidified?
How many characters should I learn per day in Intermediate Course?
Should I also learn traditional characters if I'm already learning simplified characters with Mandarin Blueprint?
Am I good enough to do the HMM for learning characters?
Does MB teach traditional characters?
Why am I using the -en or -eng set for characters that don't have an "e"? (e.g., 'ming')
Why is "-ou" the set for "jiu"? "-en" the set for "lun"? "-ei" the set for "shui"?
How to distinguish between 未 and 末?
What's the difference between 攵 pū and 夂 zhǐ?
How do I deal with the multiple definition/ translations of individual Chinese characters?
Why does 讨 tǎo get a keyword of "to coax"? Why are MB keywords sometimes different from Pleco?
What's the difference between 感到 and 感觉？
What's the difference between 只有...才 and 只要...就?
What are some more colloquial ways of asking yes or no questions?
都有 vs. 都是
Isn't there a word for this using intermediate language to suss out advanced words?
What's the difference between 这么 zhème and 那么 nàme？
What's the difference between 记住 and 记得?
What's the difference between X character and Y character? (e.g., 自 & 己)
Should I focus on learning measure words?
What technique should I use to spot the difference between similar words? (袋子 & 包)
What is the difference of characters, words, and morphemes?
How to think about characters with similar keyword? (兄 and 哥 )
How to measure words for time?
How to use the 被 structure?
What's the difference between 后来 and 以后？
What's the difference between 家庭 jiātíng & 家人 jiārén?
How to make memorable flashcards for vocabulary or compound words?
What's the difference between 一份 yīfèn and 一块 yīkuài
What's the difference between 某些 mǒuxiē and 有些 yǒuxiē?
What's with saying 我们这儿 wǒmen zhèr or 你们那儿 nǐmen nàr?
What's the difference between 好 hǎo - 好的 hǎode - 好吧 hǎoba - 好了 hǎole?
What is technique for understanding a new word in context?
What does 小姐 xiǎojiě mean?
What's the difference between 最好 zuìhǎo and 还是 háishi？
What's the difference between 老人 lǎorén & 老年人 lǎoniánrén?
How to think about categorical words in Mandarin? Is 羊 yáng a goat or a sheep?
What are the correct terms of address for husband and wife? (丈夫-妻子 ｜ 先生 - 太太 ｜ 老公 - 老婆)
What's the difference between 不回家 - 不回家了 - 没(有)回家?
Why does 肉 mean "Pork"?
How do I use 打包 dǎbāo?
What's the measure word for love?
What's the difference between 该 gāi and 应该 yīnggāi？
Is there a guide for when you can shorten words?
What's the difference between 明白，理解, and 懂?
What's the difference between 有些 & 有点儿？(Also, what's up with "有另一些?")
How do I use 过去 guòqu/过来 guòlai?
What's the difference between "I have always done..., "I have never done...,"I always do..."
Does 不要 búyào mean "not want" or "don't"?
Why can you separate 见面 jiànmiàn (e.g., 见一次面)?
What is the function of 还 hái in "还行 háixíng" or "还可以 hái kěyǐ" ?
What's the difference between 行不行 xíngbuxíng & 可不可以 kěbukěyǐ?
What's the difference between 宝宝 bǎobao & 宝贝/宝贝儿 bǎobèi(r)?
What's the difference between 国外 guówài and 外国 wàiguó?
What's the difference between 闻 wén and 香 xiāng?
What's the difference between 有些人 & 有的人? How to trust your instincts on subtle differences?
借 jiè means both 'borrow' and 'lend.' How can one tell the difference?
What's the difference between 帮 bāng - 帮助 bāngzhù - 帮忙 bāngmáng? Three "helps"!
How to compare sizes with 大 & 小
What's the difference between 入 rù & 进 jìn?
What's the difference between 永不 and 从来; and 永远 and 总是?
What does 差 chà mean? Is it 'poor quality' or 'difference'?
How do you use "出问题" to mean "A problem emerged"?
What does 做人做事 zuòrénzuòshì mean?
Grammar
How do I know whether a sentence is in past tense or future tense?
When telling a story about the past in Chinese, can I omit 了？
How do I use "俩 liǎ" in a sentence? How do I say "the two of them" or "the five of them," etc.?
How can 什么 be used along with 吗？Aren't they contradictory question words?
How to figure out small differences in grammar?
How do I add 有 to turn nouns into adjectives?
Sentences are hard in Phase 3! Will I ever get it?
How do you use "再 something 也 something else" and contrasting antonyms (苦甜)?
How to use 区 qū to mean "administrative division" (e.g., 高新区 gāoxīn qū - "high-tech zone")
What's up with 的 in 我认识很多有想法*的*人? (or 定语 dìngyǔ sentence structure)
Can I change the word order without changing the meaning? 我马上上来 - 上来了一个人 - 一个人上来了
How do I use the character 理 lǐ?
What's the usage of analyzing sentence of 红肿 in 我的背上有一个红肿的包？
How to use 意外 yìwài? What's the difference between the noun and adjective versions?
在...下/上/中 & How to make excellent progress without learning grammar points?
Why are 是 & 的 placed where they are in 这张画是他三岁的时候画的?
How do I use 先... 再... properly for sequences?
Comparing “别 + action” & “别 + action + 了”
Comparing 很 & 是...的 (天很蓝 vs. 天是蓝色的)
What's up with 之?
Why is 太 tài frequently paired with 了 le? 太 + adjective + 了
"Proper Noun + 这个 + General Noun (i.e., 小天这个人，倪家桥这个地方)
How do I use '得 de' after verbs?
What's the difference between 了 after a verb & 了 at the end of a sentence?
What's up with 介绍给你认识 jièshào gěi nǐ rènshi? Why this structure?
When to say 来 or 去 based on context
How do I spot the difference between 把 bǎ & 对 duì in a sentence?
How to use 上 after nouns (e.g., 信上 xìn shàng - 杂志上 zázhì shàng - 报纸上 bàozhǐ shàng
Using 多 duō + verb & 多 duō + verb + 点 diǎn (多吃点 duō chī diǎn)
How do I handle sentences where I know the characters but still am not sure of the meaning?
What's the difference between '为了 wèile' & '因为 yīnwèi..., 所以 suǒyǐ'?
How does 又 yòu function in a sentence?
How to modify psychological verbs?
Why does Chinese use "从 cóng - from" to describe the sunset?
How to use 在 + location + 上/下/中/里, etc.?
How to use two verb phrases to describe something (VP1 + 又 + adj1 + VP2 + 又 + adj2)
Why are there sometimes two of the same verb in a sentence? (e.g., 你*骑*马*骑*得太快了)
When to use 的 地 得 "de" in sentences?
Why doesn't 我才上来 wǒ cái shànglai not need 了 le?
How to use 活动 huódòng as a noun?
How do I say "happy" in Chinese comparing 高兴 - 开心 - 幸福 - 快乐 - 愉快 - 欢乐
How do I use 还 in comparative statements? “我觉得他比我*还*聪明 Wǒ juéde tā bǐ wǒ hái cōngming"
Are 那儿/这儿 and 那边/这边 synonyms respectively?
How to use 一边 yībiān once and twice in a sentence?
What's 的 doing at the end of this phrase? (事物总是变化发展的)
How are 和 hé & 又 yòu different? How to use 既...又... & 又...又...
How to use 又 yòu to express repetitive action?
How to use the adverb 偏偏 piānpiān in a sentence? (Opposite 正好 zhènhǎo)
Where do you place 谁 shéi ("who") in a sentence?
Can I put two infixes in a row to express "Or?" (回得来回不来 huídelái huíbulái)
How to use 才 cái to indicate "Only then"?
Using 在 in relationship to time (e.g., 哥哥要*在*白天休息)
What's up with 儿化 érhuà (i.e., syllables adding "儿 er" at the end)? When to use it?
How do I use '也 yě - also' to connect phrases in Chinese?
How to use 起 qǐ after a verb? (比起买东西，给红包是一个更好的礼物)
Using 的 with time words (e.g., 加班的时间 jiābān de shíjiān - 'amount of overtime')
How do you determine where to apply 的? (我放在桌子上的面包)
How do you deal with word order in multi-verb sentences?
When to use 把 bǎ and when not to use 把?
Word order and context for 至少 zhìshǎo "at least"
Are there any tips and tricks to analyzing a Chinese structure?
How can word order change the meaning of multi-verb sentences?
What's up with 就 jiù in the second clause of a sentence? (不用我说，他自己*就*明白了)
What does adding 起来 to a verb do? How does 才 function in a sentence to express 'only'?
How can there be two “把 bǎ” in a sentence? How to spot measure words?
How should I handle Chengyu? (4 character Chinese idioms)
How does Chinese conceptualize time? How important is understanding it? Is it challenging?
What's up with 弄 nòng? It seems to have so many usages
Pronunciation
How do I handle multiple 4th tones in a row?
My biggest hurdle is Mandarin tones, what should I do?
How do I say "I had fun" in Chinese? 好玩儿 - 搞笑 - 开心 - 我过得很开心
How to pronounce 喂 when answering the phone?
Sometimes the "a" in "-üan" nasal finals sounds different to me, why?
Why does the "w" in "wo" sound intentionally pronounced when I know it isn't supposed to be?
Reading these sentences is pretty tough, will this get easier?
了 le sometimes sounds like "la," what's up with that?
Qu and Qi sound the same to me, can you clarify?
I have trouble saying Qù, it sounds too much like Chu. How do I fix it?
How will I distinguish between X and Y similar sounds? (Minimal Pairs)
Multiple 3rd tones, how do I deal with them?
How do I pronounce 儿 er when placed after another character (i.e., 一会儿 yī huìr)?
Why do different speaker's pronounce Mandarin syllables differently?
How to pronounce 份儿?
How do I know if my pronunciation is correct?
How do I pronounce 起来？Is it qǐlái? qilái? qilai?
What's the difference between 3rd and 4th tone?
It seems like the tongue position for Zh/Ch/Sh/R is impossible to say, is it?
Where should the tongue be for the retroflex consonants? (Zh/Ch/Sh/R)
Is the pinyin "R" similar to the middle sound of the word "Asia"?
What are the techniques for mastering the problem initial Qu?
5th tones and 一下 yixia, why isn't it "yíxià" in speech?
Why does the 2nd character in a compound word sometimes change to 5th tone?
How do I that I am pronouncing tones correctly?
Is there a method for memorizing alternate pronunciations of characters learned in MBM?
How do I avoid confusing two characters with the same pronunciation? (相 xiāng vs. 香 xiāng)
How do I say "one-by-one" with measure words? (E.g., 一个一个地 or 一项一项地)
Why does 多音字 this character have multiple pronunciations?
How to say "Sorry" in Chinese. 对不起 - 不好意思 - 抱歉
How do I say "Approximately" or "About?" 差不多 chàbuduō - 大概 dàgài - 大约 dàyuē?
When is 教 pronounced jiāo vs. jiào?
When is 给 pronounced gěi and when is 给 pronounced jǐ
How to express "taking selfies" and "selfies" in Chinese?
What's up with the "到 + place + 去" structure? Why just say "去 + place"?