Intermediate Mandarin: Guide to Advancing Your Skills

Stepping up from basic to intermediate Mandarin can be a rewarding challenge. To help you advance, this guide provides essential intermediate words, phrases, and tips that will enrich your Mandarin vocabulary and improve your fluency.

For beginners, check out our Mandarin Basics Guide. For advanced learners check out our Mastering Mandarin Guide.

Intermediate Vocabulary

Emotions

Happy

Mandarin: 高兴 (gāoxìng)

Sad

Mandarin: 悲伤 (bēishāng)

Angry

Mandarin: 生气 (shēngqì)

Excited

Mandarin: 兴奋 (xīngfèn)

Nervous

Mandarin: 紧张 (jǐnzhāng)

Common Verbs

To understand

Mandarin: 明白 (míngbái)

To think

Mandarin: 认为 (rènwéi)

To need

Mandarin: 需要 (xūyào)

To want

Mandarin: 想要 (xiǎng yào)

To like

Mandarin: 喜欢 (xǐhuān)

Useful Phrases

Asking for Directions

Where is the nearest subway station?

Mandarin: 最近的地铁站在哪里？(Zuìjìn de dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?)

How do I get to the airport?

Mandarin: 到机场怎么走？(Dào jīchǎng zěnme zǒu?)

At a Restaurant

I would like to order…

Mandarin: 我想点… (Wǒ xiǎng diǎn…)

Can I have the menu, please?

Mandarin: 可以给我菜单吗？(Kěyǐ gěi wǒ càidān ma?)

This is delicious!

Mandarin: 这个很好吃！(Zhège hěn hǎo chī!)

Shopping

How much is this?

Mandarin: 这个多少钱？(Zhège duōshǎo qián?)

Do you have this in a different color?

Mandarin: 这个有其他颜色吗？(Zhège yǒu qítā yánsè ma?)

Can I try this on?

Mandarin: 我可以试穿吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ shì chuān ma?)

Tips for Intermediate Learners

Expand Your Vocabulary

Start incorporating more complex and diverse vocabulary into your daily practice. Use flashcards, language apps, and reading materials to introduce new words regularly.

Practice Speaking

Engage in conversations with native speakers whenever possible. This could be through language exchange partners, tutors, or immersive language programs. The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable and fluent you will become.

Listen Actively

Listen to Mandarin podcasts, watch Chinese dramas or movies, and try to understand the context without relying on subtitles. This will improve your listening skills and help you get used to different accents and speeds.

Use Language Learning Apps

Leverage language learning apps like Glosa that offer interactive exercises, real-time feedback, and personalized learning paths tailored to your level. These tools can help you stay motivated and track your progress effectively.

Read Regularly

Start reading more complex texts, such as news articles, short stories, and books in Mandarin. This will not only improve your reading skills but also expand your understanding of grammar and sentence structures.

Write Daily

Practice writing essays, journal entries, or even social media posts in Mandarin. Writing regularly will help you solidify your grammar knowledge and improve your ability to express yourself clearly and accurately.

Start Advancing Today

These intermediate words, phrases, and tips are designed to help you elevate your Mandarin skills. To further enhance your language learning experience, consider using language learning apps like Glosa. They provide interactive exercises, progress tracking, and personalized learning paths to make your study sessions effective and enjoyable.

Ready to dive deeper into Mandarin? Download the Glosa app and continue your journey to Mandarin fluency with confidence today!

For more tips and resources on learning Mandarin, visit our blog.

Happy Learning!