名míngname
Chinese names
How Chinese names work, how to choose your own, and hundreds of real names with their meanings.
The WillyChina blog
读dúto read
Mandarin and Chinese culture, explained
The WillyChina Mandarin blog: guides to Chinese names, the HSK, characters and learning Mandarin, and to the culture and history behind the language. Written by a native Mandarin teacher.
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Editor’s pickHow to Add Mandarin to Your Homeschool Plan
Homeschool Mandarin made simple: hours by age, a 10-week term plan, milestones, record-keeping for your local rules and free Week 1 audio.
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Explore by topic
Every guide on the Mandarin blog, grouped by what you want to know, with the free tools that go with them.
考kǎoto sit an exam
The HSK exam
The six levels, the new HSK 3.0, how long each level takes and what happens on test day. Test dates and registration are on the official HSK website.
字zìcharacter
Chinese characters
How characters are built, the rules of stroke order and the hundred you will meet most, each with pinyin, meaning and native audio.
学xuéto learn
Learning Mandarin
Honest answers on difficulty, timelines, apps and teachers, and on learning at any age, from homeschooled children to busy adults.
文wénculture
Culture, history and travel
Dynasties, dialects, regional food and traditional music, and China province by province.
New on the blog
Latest from the Mandarin blog
Everything we publish, newest first.
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Regional Chinese Cuisine: A Complete Guide to China’s Diverse Food Culture
Ask someone from Beijing what they had for dinner last night and ask someone from Guangzhou the same question. Chances are, their meals were as different from each…
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Languages and Dialects in China
Most people assume Chinese is one language — it isn't. China has 7 major dialect groups, over 300 dialects and more than 50 recognised minority languages. Here's what…
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Major Chinese Dynasties: A Timeline of Chinese History
China's 5,000-year history unfolds through a succession of dynasties — each one shaping the language, culture and values of modern China. Here's the complete timeline from the semi-mythical…
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Why Australians Should Learn Mandarin Chinese
China is Australia's largest trading partner and Mandarin is the world's most spoken language. Here are the most compelling reasons — economic, cultural and personal — why Australians…
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A Guide to China’s Provinces: Everything You Need to Know
China has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 directly administered municipalities and 2 special administrative regions. This guide breaks them all down in plain English — essential reading…
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Essential Mandarin Phrases for Travelling to China: A First-Timer’s Guide
Planning your first trip to China? This guide covers the most essential Mandarin phrases for travellers — greetings, navigation, restaurants, shopping and emergencies — with Chinese characters, pinyin…
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Ranked by Google search clicks, 4 August to 1 November 2026.
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