i have been living in china now for 9 months and am loving it. i have also taken to the language rather well. i believe it is reletively easy to learn as it isnt bound by all the grammatical rules as english/french/german etc are. however i find the writing impossible to learn and the pinyin difficult. i can hold simple conversations with people and understand key words but i have been wondering if anyone out there has learnt chinese (mandarin/putonghua) and if so how long it took them. and also if it is renowned as a difficult or easy language to learn
thanks xie xie :D
2007-03-03 18:16:30 · 9 answers · asked by wang zi (peter) 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I have been studying full-time for 4 semesters, in Shanghai, I am 35, so my age does not help, but, it will take at least 1 1/2 years to be to a point where you can effectively communicate, but it will take longer much longer to be fluent, the Chinese language is complicated, the grammar is the opposite of English, and to be able to read a newspaper I am told I should know at least 3500 characters, the best thing to do is get out on the street and practice, bu yong xie!
2007-03-03 18:28:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what level of fluency you desire. If you want the full out results, with in-depth conversations, writing, and reading, it will take years of hard work. You need to make sure that you are constantly exposed to the language and that you practice it daily, which shouldn't be too hard since you are living in China. Just keep working at it and it will pay off in the end.
Zhu ni hao yun :) I wish you luck
2007-03-03 18:40:20 · answer #2 · answered by sWtnsiMpLe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would watch chinese movies with English subtitles if I were you...
I am Italian and never had anyone teaching me English, but within a year of watching DVDs I mastered the language!
2007-03-03 18:40:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two rifle butts to the side of the head and you will speak it from then on. Just wait until they get here and send you to a sweat shop.
2007-03-03 20:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought Chinese grammar was like English.....I don't know. Like as in the order of saying things it was the same.
I'm learning Japanese (which isn't really close to Chinese other than the Kanji). I think the kanji is easy, it's just very time-consuming.
私は中国語を話すことができません。でも日本語を話します。
今学校で日本語を習っています。Yay! Lol
2007-03-03 18:46:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get some professional help from I Love Chinese http://www.hellomandarin.com/ilovechinese/tips/20060620-02.html
Study advisers will help you.
2007-03-03 19:35:51 · answer #6 · answered by Bruce L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh very easy to learn!! You just stub ur toe or bang your funny bone and everyone has the ability to speak it! LMAO
2007-03-03 19:22:07 · answer #7 · answered by sweetfemaleattitudeuk2076 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
HOW long is a piece of string?
it will take as long as it take, the more effort you put it the sooner you get results.
2007-03-03 18:18:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your stupid along time, if not and i highly doubt not that long
2007-03-03 18:18:51 · answer #9 · answered by toymod 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋