Welcome to Trusty Chinese, I’m so glad you’re here. (Check your message inbox, I've sent you a message 😊) This is a calm, supportive space for beginners and early learners who want to actually speak Mandarin, not just memorise words. You don’t need to be “good at languages." You don’t need lots of time. You just need the right structure and consistency. This community is here to help you: - Build real, usable Mandarin - Speak with more confidence - Stop feeling overwhelmed by too much content - Follow a clear learning path, step by step ✅ Your First Steps (Please Do These First) 1️⃣ Watch the Welcome video below. This shows you how to use the community, courses, and calls properly. 2️⃣ Introduce yourself below 👇Just a few lines is perfect: - Your name - Your current Mandarin level (total beginner is welcome!) - Your main goal with Mandarin 3️⃣ Join a free Mandarin practice call. We run regular live sessions where you can practise speaking in a relaxed way. No pressure, cameras optional — everyone is welcome. ⭐ Want More Support? (Reach your goals faster) Some members want extra structure, guidance, and speaking practice. To really boost their learning. For those learners, I also offer a Premium tier with: - Guided speaking classes - Structured video courses (including the 7 Power Verbs strategy) - Extra learning resources and personal support from me  If you’re curious, you can learn more here: 👉 https://www.skool.com/trustychinese/plans Book a free 1:1 call with me we’ll see if it’s the right fit: https://calendly.com/trustychinese/15-minute-intro-meeting I’m really happy you’re here! I look forward to talking with you. — Natasja

Hey everyone! I'm really struggling with listening practice right now. When I try to listen to Chinese, it feels like the words just go straight through my head and nothing sticks - like my brain can't even catch the sounds properly. I'm not sure if I'm starting listening practice too early, or if there's a specific way I should be drilling to make progress. For those of you who've gotten past this phase, when did things start to click? Did you use any specific drills or methods that helped? Would really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice! 加油!

Hi I'm Richavee from Thailand. I'm a just retired English teacher, hoping to practice speaking Chinese.

I’ve just shared a quick 3-minute video about learning Mandarin without feeling overwhelmed. It’s for anyone who’s ever thought: - “I don’t know what I should be focusing on” - “I’m doing a bit here and there but not making progress” - “I don’t have loads of time to study” In the video, I explain: - why Mandarin often feels confusing at the start - what actually helps you make progress - why a weekly focus works better than trying to do everything every day If you’re unsure what to work on next, this should help. No pressure, just something I think will make things feel clearer 😊 What do you struggle with most right now?

哪 nǎ - which 哪儿 nǎ’r / 哪里 nǎ lǐ - where 那 nà - that 那儿 nà’r / 那里 nà lǐ - (over) there Example sentences: - 在哪儿？zài nǎ’r / 在哪里？zài nǎ lǐ? - where - 博物馆在哪儿？bó wù guǎn zài nǎ’r? - where is the museum? - 你是哪国人？nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? - what’s your nationality? (You are which country person?) - 你更喜欢哪一个？nǐ gèng xǐ huan nǎ yī gè? - which one do you prefer? - 那本书很有意思。nà běn shū hěn yǒu yì si. - that book is very interesting. - 咖啡店在那里。kā fēi diàn zài nà lǐ. - the coffee shop/cafe is over there. Suggested practice activities (Inspired by our Weekly Checklist). 1. Do shadowing (listen and repeat) with the audio. 2. Write the sentences in characters. 3. Test yourself writing out the new word in characters to memorise. 4. Add the new word to your Mandarin flashcard app to learn it. 5. Make sentences of your own with the new word. 6. Use a dictionary (e.g. Pleco) to search for other example sentences using the key word in context. 7. Break down the characters of the new word - have you seen these characters before? Where? What key radicals are there? What components have you seen before? Make links between this word and others you know (synonyms/antonyms etc.) Submit your speaking / writing for feedback!