Merry Mandarin logo Merry MandarinBlog

How to Memorize Chinese Characters Using Radicals

Study Methods

How to Memorize Chinese Characters Using Radicals

How to memorize Chinese characters using radicals: the top 15 radicals, a four-step Hanzi decomposition workflow, and the cognitive science behind why rote copying fails.

14 min read

World Cup Mandarin: 22 Football Words, Two Characters

Words & Vocabulary

World Cup Mandarin: 22 Football Words, Two Characters

Two characters, 球 and 门, unlock 15 of the 22 Mandarin words you need to follow a World Cup match. A grouped vocabulary primer for HSK 2-4 learners.

8 min read

Traditional or Simplified? It's Not the Question You Think

Study Methods

Traditional or Simplified? It's Not the Question You Think

Traditional or Simplified Chinese? The real answer isn't which is better, it's where you'll use it. A clear decision guide for new learners.

5 min read

Welcome to the New Merry Mandarin Blog

Behind the Scenes

Welcome to the New Merry Mandarin Blog

The Merry Mandarin Blog is live today: original, carefully-researched articles on learning Chinese, sitting alongside the free tools suite and Grammar Lab.

2 min read

Why Gamified Apps Stall You at Beginner Mandarin

Study Methods

Why Gamified Apps Stall You at Beginner Mandarin

Streak apps get you to HSK 2 then stall. Here's the input-review-production pipeline that actually breaks the Mandarin plateau.

6 min read