We’ve posted hundreds of articles and videos to the Chinese Language & Culture Blog over the years, and while we do our best to make sure content is easy to find, it can be a bit tricky digging through such a vast archive. As we cover different subjects – from Chinese cuisine, to holidays, to travel – not everything on here is specifically related to the Chinese language. Since many readers come here hoping to improve their Mandarin skills, here’s a list of 10 of our best posts for doing just that:

1. 10 Common Chinese Expressions

You’d be surprised at how far you can get in China with just a few common expressions. This post teaches you ten of them along with explanations and examples so you can put them to use right away.

2. Chinese Family Tree

Family is a topic that comes up all the time, so you’d better study your Chinese vocabulary to talk about yours. There are tons of words related to family in Chinese, but this post will clear the air a little bit and help you out.

3. Transportation in Beijing

Getting around Chinese cities can be tricky, especially if you aren’t equipped with the necessary vocabulary. Learn 15 words about transportation, see some examples of common questions and answers, and check out some pictures of Beijing transport.

4. How to Talk About Relationships in Chinese

Relationships are a vital part of Chinese culture, so you have to know how to talk about them! Check this post out to learn some useful vocabulary alongside important grammar.

5. Is Beijing Better Than Shanghai?

We don’t actually get into that old heated argument about which city is better here, but this post does teach you how to make comparisons in Chinese. Understand this important grammatical structure with lots of examples.

6. Daily Activities in Chinese

Talking about your daily activities is an important thing to learn when studying a language. Learn the vocabulary for 20 common activities, as well as how to use words like “usually” and “sometimes” to talk about the things you do.

7. Telling Time in Chinese

This post teaches you tons of useful language for asking and talking about the time, including the different parts of the day and common questions you may ask or be asked about your schedule.

8. 20 Questions in Chinese

This isn’t exactly the game “20 Questions,” but this post teaches you 20 common questions that you’ll hear all of the time as a foreigner in China. Study these and practice your answers, and you’ll be ready to chat it up.

9. In a Chinese Restaurant

You’ve gotta eat, so learning how to ask questions and order food in a restaurant is crucial. Study this post and you’ll be ready to hit a real Chinese restaurant and avoid eating at McDonald’s all the time.

10. Swear Words in Chinese

Let’s face it – we all want to learn the swear words when we study a new language. While you shouldn’t go tossing these around all the time, you’ll find that they will come in handy from time to time.