How to Learn New Chinese Words Easily and Effectively?

New words are very important because they are the key to expressing ourselves in a language. No matter how well we understand grammar and sentence structures, without a solid vocabulary, our ability to communicate will be greatly limited. It would be like a hero with no opportunity to showcase their strength. So, it’s necessary to pay a certain attention to learning new words. Here are some tips to help you learn Chinese vocabulary more easily and effectively.

1. Set a small goal and stick to it everyday. 

As adult learners with busy schedules, it's often easier for us to focus on a manageable number of new words daily—let’s say 5 words. This small effort can lead to impressive results over time. For instance, textbooks often introduce around 30 new words per chapter on average. By learning 5 words a day and reviewing them before adding more, you’ll master these 30 words in just 6 days. Since our courses typically meet weekly, this habit will help you be well-prepared for lessons in any types of activities, such as grammar/sentence structure and oral expression. Set a small, sustainable goal, keep the pressure low, and stick with it long-term. This approach can make learning easier and more rewarding.

2. Don’t "memorize" new words! 

My personal advice is to avoid memorizing new words through mechanical memory. Doing this occasionally might be okay, but if it becomes a routine, our brain, body, and senses will eventually resist this “hard work.” Forcing ourselves to memorize mechanically isn’t natural, and it can make the learning process feel overwhelming and unsustainable (unless we’re under external pressure). This often leads to giving up.

Of course, there are exceptions. If you genuinely enjoy rote memorization, or have a knack for recalling things you read and find joy in doing so, then go with what works best for you! However, for most learners, the ideal approach is not to simply “memorize” new words but rather to "use" them.

3. Start practicing from the simplest language units, and then expand.

Let's take 5 place nouns as an example: 商店shāngdiàn, 银行/銀行yínháng, 邮局/郵局yóujú, 图书馆/圖書館túshū guǎn, 宾馆/賓館bīnguǎn （store, bank, post office, library, and hotel).  

If you haven’t yet learned any sentence structures, start by simply saying the nouns without having to say them in full sentences. After all, the most basic expressions naturally start with single words. So firstly you can Imagine you are on a city tour or looking at a local map, find these five places, and say their names in Chinese. Here, you’re already “using” these words. You may not remember every word immediately even if you thought you knew it—that’s okay! Just check your word list and use it again and again. Then you can expand it a bit more to name these places in Chinese whenever you have a chance to see them, visit them or just even think about them. As you learn more Chinese phrases and sentence patterns, you can use your words in more ways, like giving directions or talking about places. There are so many activities to do to practice new Chinese words. Find yourself some interesting tasks, and enjoy practicing your words.

4. Use Index cards .

If you like index cards, make handwritten ones or use a digital index card app you’re comfortable with. This process itself is a great way to review your new words. Another variation is to use sticky notes—write new words on them and place them in relevant spots. For example, write“办公室/辦公室bàngōngshì ” (office)  on a sticky note and put it in your office. Since you see your office every weekday, this word will soon feel familiar without any need to “memorize” it. This method is especially helpful for practicing everyday vocabulary.

5. Play games and “multitasks”. 

Learning doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Incorporating games and fun activities can make vocabulary learning enjoyable. If you like games, try a “Chinese” version of them. For instance, the word game Hangman can be used to learn Chinese pinyin or Chinese radicals; and Scrabble can be used to practice Chinese compound words or even Chinese idioms.  

If games aren’t your thing, try “multitasking.” You don’t always need to sit and study words in a traditional sense; instead, you can “learn by the way” while doing something you enjoy. For example, if you’re watching TV or listening to music, you could glance at your word list, index cards, or open a book with your new words at the same time. Doing this casually will help you remember words effortlessly with no pain. 

6. Make the downtime fun and special in a “Mandarin way”.

Use spare moments, like waiting for a bus or standing in line, to review vocabulary. Hopefully you can name things around you with those words and describe them in sentences, just as mentioned in number 3 above. These little pockets of time can become your mini-Mandarin environment, making learning feel easy and valuable. 

I hope these suggestions bring you some inspiration and help you progress in learning Mandarin. Good luck with your studies!