How I Mastered Chinese in 1 Year
A deep dive into how I went from HSK1 to HSK4 in 1 year; my Chinese study guide
Have you ever wanted something so badly you could almost touch it? Even though it seemed impossible to reach and you couldn’t even think of a way to get to it?
Well, that’s exactly how I felt before I decided to finally learn the one language everyone says is the hardest in the world.
My fascination with Mandarin began long before I ever picked up a Chinese textbook. A novel I read in high school started the engine, but it was tales of ancient dynasties and the melody of the language itself that kept the wheels going.
I realised how deep my love for Mandarin ran, so I decided to plunge head-first into absorbing the language.
Now, I’m actively studying the vocabulary of HSK level 4 (equivalent to CEFR B2).
How crazy is that?!
Less than 24 months ago, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, nobody to tutor me, no money for classes or textbooks, and only the overwhelming information on the internet at my disposal.
So how did I learn Chinese so fast? From recognizing and reading characters to speaking and comprehending, in one year?
I used a 3-months-per-level study plan. I’ll get to that soon, but first, let’s talk about the really important stuff.
Pinyin and Character Variations
Pinyin is the romanization of Chinese characters.
It is very important for pronunciation and learning the language. By breaking down the sounds of Mandarin into familiar letters and tones, Pinyin is what will give you the solid foundation you need for your journey.
However, mastering Mandarin involves more than just pronunciation. Understanding the differences between simplified and traditional characters is also very important.
Simplified characters are used predominantly in mainland China and Singapore, while traditional characters are more common in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
You may decide to learn both to improve your overall comprehension and cultural awareness, but as the name implies, simplified Chinese is easier.
Tones
You may or may not know this right now, but learning Chinese tones is probably the most important detail if you’re aiming for clear and effective communication in Mandarin, and I’m sure you are. Since the language is tonal with four distinct tones and a neutral tone, learning to pronounce and distinguish between words can be challenging.
But, with practice and patience, you can train your ear and tongue to distinguish between tones and produce them accurately.
Towards the end of this post, where I give the study guide that will help you master Chinese, you will find the link to an interactive Pinyin chart that you can use to practice.
I suggest you repeat phrases you hear and record your own voice to help improve your tone accuracy over time.
Tools for Learning and Practice
Right now, learning Mandarin has never been more accessible thanks to the insane — and sometimes overwhelming — amount of online resources and mobile apps.
From language learning platforms like Chinesepod and MandarinBean to interactive websites like Quizlet and Anki and language exchange apps like HelloTalk, there are countless tools available to make studying easy and free. Yes, I currently use all these.
Also, technology has made writing Chinese characters super easy. With your phone’s keyboard, you can just type the characters when talking to a native speaker; but if you are ready to learn to write them by hand, you can.
There are apps and online resources, where you can practice stroke order, handwriting recognition, and character composition anytime, anywhere.
This flexibility allows you to focus on building vocabulary and grammar skills without the added pressure of mastering complex characters from the onset.
But I personally recommend you learn to write the characters. It would help with memory retention.
Your Personal Study Guide
When it comes to language learning, one size does not fit all, trust me.
This study guide I’m about to show you is what I used because it worked for me, and I’m someone who needs to be guided when learning. But YOU don’t necessarily have to do it this way, just how it feels right.
Depending on your goals, interests, and learning style, your study guide should be specific to YOU. Whether you’re learning Mandarin for fun, academic purposes, or professional development, there are several key components to consider:
If you’re just learning for fun, then you’ll get to do more enjoyable activities like watching Chinese dramas, listening to Mandarin podcasts and songs, and using flashcards to build vocabulary — maybe even using Duolingo.
But if you’re learning Chinese to get a degree or do a language exchange, then you’re going to need to invest more time. You’re definitely not going to rely on Duolingo.
In addition to using flashcards, watching dramas, and listening to podcasts, you might also need to invest in a comprehensive textbook. You don’t have to get an expensive one; you can just buy a used copy or find a free-to-use pdf copy. Textbooks are just good to guide your learning and give you a bit of structure, but they’re not necessary. I didn’t use any textbook when I started learning.
Also, I recommend you join language exchange communities to practice speaking with native speakers and seek out additional resources like online tutorials and study groups. There are so many free-to-join communities, like this one on Reddit.
If you can afford it, then consider enrolling in a language course or hiring a tutor for one-on-one learning, and supplement with language immersion programs or cultural exchanges.
So, maybe you want to get a bachelor’s degree at a Chinese university, and you’re in your final year of high school. Then you have roughly a year, and maybe a little more to reach HSK4 (this is the minimum requirement to get accepted to a Chinese institution), so you’re going to take a more intensive approach to studying Mandarin compared to someone who is just learning for fun.
That’s not to say that learning Mandarin is boring or difficult. Far from it!
Stay Motivated
Let’s be honest, no language is easy to learn, and Chinese is no different. But don’t expect to learn much with the mindset that it is a difficult language because it isn’t (in fact, you’ll find that Chinese has such a simple grammar system and is more straightforward than most languages).
You’ll encounter minor issues, of course, but you won’t have to worry. Just remember to pat yourself on the back often and celebrate your progress. Whether it’s mastering a new vocabulary list, completing a challenging lesson, or having a successful conversation in Mandarin, a win is a win, so celebrate.
Now, let’s move on to HOW I reached HSK4 in one year; a feat that takes regular people 2 years. I say regular people because it took me half that time, so call me superhuman!
I’m just joking, don’t pay attention to that! That is just a generic chart to show the average time it takes people. How long it would take you to reach whatever level you’re aiming for just depends on how patient, dedicated, and disciplined you are.
The only reason I was able to get so far so fast is because I actually like Chinese. I love the people, the culture, everything; so learning the language didn’t — doesn’t — feel like a chore. More like a ladder that I’m steadily climbing to attain native-like fluency and I suggest you also have this outlook.
Now, let’s dive into the three-month study guide I used to reach HSK4 level in Mandarin in a year.
The Study Guide I Used
Each 3 month period represents a level:
January — March; HSK1
April — June; HSK2
July — September; HSK3
October — December; HSK4
This is just an example; I didn’t really start in January. Also, know that these dates are not set in stone, and some levels are easier than others.
For instance, HSK1 might seem daunting to you as a beginner, so that could take the full 3 months or even 4 if you’re studying for about two hours every day — without taking into account other factors like your personal learning habits and abilities, the platforms you're using, and so on.
On the other hand, I noticed that HSK2 is much easier if you studied HSK1 properly and mastered your tones at the beginning. This could take you 3 months or less, depending on your consistency and attitude towards learning.
For me, I spent 3 months on HSK1, 2 on HSK2, and then 5 months on HSK3 before starting on HSK4 a couple months ago, and I’m still here.
Your journey might be different from mine, so don’t worry if you seem to be taking more time — or less — on a level. It’s not a race; take your time so you can properly master Chinese.
I chose this method because I found that by breaking down my goals into manageable chunks and focusing on one proficiency level at a time, it was easy to make steady progress.
Also know that throughout this journey, your dictionary is your best friend, so find one on your phone that lets you translate from your native language to Chinese and back.
- First Three Months (HSK1)
At this level, it’s just basic vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Tones are very important here. I suggest using this interactive chart to listen to and mimic the tones until you master it.
This is your foundational period, and you need to learn 150 words, so you should use flashcards.
I use Anki both on desktop and mobile, and you can get started by downloading this free deck.
During this period, you’re to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing through daily practice sessions. I highly recommend you draft a simple study timetable that you’ll follow every day.
Example: 60 minutes of daily study (minimum)
15 mins — Anki flashcards
15 mins — Chinesepod Podcast (available on all podcast platforms)
30 mins — Chinese drama episode
Your daily study time could be more than 60 minutes and can be spread out across your day, and you don’t have to do it all in one sitting. Just make sure to study consistently and often.
- Next Three Months (HSK2)
It's time to expand your vocabulary and grammar knowledge. I suggest running a simple Google search to see the HSK2 vocabulary list, so you can see what you’ll be working with, but if you get overwhelmed easily, then skip this part.
If you studied HSK1 well, at this point, you should be able to recognize a bunch of characters, already know the grammar rules and sentence structure, and you might even be able you put basic sentences together, so it’s time to go deeper.
At this point, you’ll need to increase the intensity with which you watch Chinese dramas and TV shows to fully become immersed in the language, which is very important.
But you won't just be watching.
This time, you’ll be learning with subtitles. So go ahead and download either of these two desktop-only extensions;
- Language Learning with YouTube and Netflix
- Language Reactor
While watching a show/drama, try to pick one set in modern times so they can use updated vocabulary — you’ll be doing a lot of pausing and playing.
When you see a word you recognise used with other words to form simple sentences, pause it, note down the sentence, pinyin, and meaning, and then say it out loud a couple of times.
Take the movie back a few seconds so you can listen to the sentence again, and repeat what you hear; do this as often as you’re comfortable and keep on watching your show.
To add to this, I recommend you download HelloTalk because now you can probably craft a few basic sentences, with your trusty dictionary to help you. Don’t worry about making mistakes, it’s all part of the fun!
- Next Three Months (HSK3)
Deepen your understanding of Chinese grammar and syntax with a focus on intermediate-level topics and concepts.
You have to really challenge yourself here with reading, listening, and comprehension exercises. Here, you can use ChinesePod. That’s what I used, then and now.
At this level, you need to:
- Keep watching Chinese dramas, TV shows and cartoons
- Keep talking to native speakers on HelloTalk or your Chinese friends if you have any
- Get a Chinese notebook or stroke-guiding textbook if you can or use websites like Study CLI to guide you
- Think in Chinese, keep a Chinese diary, read Chinese storybooks
- Teach someone — or a rubber duck!
I like to think of HSK3 as the Output Level, where you try to bring out all the information you’ve been taking in for so long.
But don’t get frustrated if you don’t remember stuff on time or still can’t process or comprehend what you hear. Just stay focused, and keep going, and before you know it, your comprehension skills will be through the roof.
I just realised one random day when I briefly looked away from the TV that I could understand what I was hearing, even though I wasn’t reading any subtitles.
It’s almost like magic! Except it is not ;)
- Final Three Months (HSK4)
Here, you will be focusing on advanced vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and cultural contexts.
Practice reading and writing longer passages and talking to a native speaker about complex topics. Work on your pronunciation and intonation. You can listen to and read the news in Chinese or learn the characters for words in your occupation and start reading Chinese articles in your niche.
At this point, you won’t use Pinyin anymore and you will be able to recognise, write, read, and define roughly 1000 characters.
Cool, right? I know!
Final Thoughts
HSK4 is also called the pre-intermediate Level, so by the time you finish and move on to HSK5, you will be able to discuss a lot of topics, understand Chinese news and movies, and attend undergraduate classes at a Chinese University. But don’t be in a rush; you might be at HSK4 for a while longer than you spent at the lower levels.
Unfortunately, you need at least HSK5 for graduate classes and some very advanced bachelor courses, but if you make it as far as HSK4, then HSK5 will be a breeze. So keep working hard; that’s what I’m doing.
Stay patient, listen to your heart, and research a lot! Do that and follow this study plan and you can achieve HSK4-level proficiency in Mandarin within one year.
Just remember to celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and never lose sight of your goals.
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If you like reading this, you’ll absolutely love this other story I wrote:
