China has impacted the world due to its fast-growing economy. Today, China makes everything from pins to pianos and sells them throughout the world. Furthermore, it is the trading partner of most countries and has huge investments in many projects. It has an increasing influence on other economies. Therefore, Chinese language, literature, philosophy, technology, and politics play an important role in determining global trends. Hence, to understand and experience it fully, you need to learn the Chinese language. Additionally, a majority of the native Chinese language speakers speak Mandarin, also known as Putonghua. Many Chinese native speakers also use various other dialects like Cantonese, Hunanese, Min, Gan, Wu, and Hakka. The Mandarin Language is the standard official language of Chinese-speaking countries like China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Certainly, the Best Way To Learn Mandarin is through Books.
Top 7 Mandarin Language Books That Are Highly Recommended
1. HSK Standard Course 1
Type: Textbook
Available: Examopedia
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is a standard textbook for beginners and also an essential resource for Learning Mandarin. The curriculum aligns with the Level 1 proficiency test. The exercises are comprehensive in this book and additionally, there are ample activities for practice. Students with different learning styles can benefit from the variety of activities. It is ideal for both – classroom instruction and self-study. There are books available for intermediate proficiency levels also. Besides, real-life scenarios and authentic materials constitute the curriculum of these books. This improves practical communication skills. These skills allow the learner to engage in conversations with diverse contexts. A series of Workbooks are also available for practice.
2. Easy Peasy Chinese
Author: Elinor Greenwood
Pages: 128
Edition: Revised
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing
Available: Amazon
This book is meant for children and adults too, who are interested in learning the Chinese language. It step-by-step teaches you to read, write, and also speak Mandarin Language. The book also has an audio app that helps with pronunciation and tones. Moreover, it has useful tips, exercises for practice, and fascinating insights into Chinese culture. It will teach you everything you need to know to communicate daily with locals in China. More than 200 characters are used in the Traditional writing system and Pinyin (Romanized characterization). Besides, there are plenty of illustrations and photographs to make learning fun.
3. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar
Author: Claudia Ross, Jing-heng Sheng Ma, Pei-Chia Chen, Baozhang He, Meng Yeh.
Pages: 448
Publisher: Routledge
Available: Amazon
Certainly, this book is a practical reference guide to the Mandarin Language Grammar. It combines traditional and also function-based grammar in one volume. Furthermore, the Grammar is divided into Part A and Part B. Part A consists of traditional phrases – noun phrases and verb phrases. Part B comprises language functions and situations like expressing regret, apology, and sympathy, giving orders, making requests, and also other communication strategies. Additionally, this edition has well-illustrated examples of traditional characters and Pinyin romanization. Furthermore, there is also a strong emphasis on contemporary Mandarin Language usage and social media usage. In other words, this book is ideal for all learners of Mandarin- from beginners to advanced level.
4. Chinese Folktales For Language Learners
Author: Vivian Ling, Peng Wang
Publisher: Tuttle
Available: Amazon, Kindle
This book is a delightful collection of fifteen Classic Chinese Folk Stories that depict rich Chinese culture. Western publications have hardly explored this space. Certainly, folktales have brought culture and entertainment to the common people through the art of storytelling. The stories in this book are about universal human concerns like the origin of humankind, wars, natural disasters, legendary heroes, justice, and yearnings of the heart. Each story is parallelly written in Mandarin Language and English and accompanied by its historical context, vocabulary list, exercises, and native-speaker audio recordings.
5. Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary
Author: Yi Ren
Publisher: Tuttle
Available: Amazon
This book consisting of 1500 key Chinese words and phrases certainly makes learning the Mandarin Language fun for kids and adults. Furthermore. each word and sentence is written in Mandarin characters with a Romanized version for correct pronunciation and its meaning in English. Besides, there are forty different themes illustrated with color photographs. Plenty of examples are given for clear understanding and also an introduction to pronunciation and grammar. Furthermore, the book is accompanied by online audio recordings. This book is perfect for curious kids, visual learners, and also future travelers to China. Certainly, it is an ideal book for AP and HSK Exam Prep.
6. Niubi! The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught In School
Author: Eveline Chao
Illustrator: Chris Murphy
Pages: 210
Publisher: Plume
Available: Amazon
Niubi means novices or newbies. Consequently, this book is meant for newbies who would like to converse with native speakers in Mandarin Language. It teaches you colorful language and internet slang through illustrations. Moreover, the illustrations cover a variety of themes and situations like flirting, dating, fighting, partying, dealing, bargaining, and cursing! Besides, it has hilarious anecdotes, cultural lessons, and contextual explanations. Certainly, it makes sure that you learn the language contemporary style so that nothing is lost in translation.
7. The Journey To The West
Author: Jeff Pepper
Translator : Xiao Hui Wang
Available: Amazon
This is a series of three books with three stories revolving around the most famous character in Chinese literature and culture, Sun Wukong, the handsome Monkey King. The stories essay his adventures, bravery, foolish mistakes, and also his quest for knowledge and immortality. The titles of these stories are :
- The Rise of the Monkey King
- Trouble In Heaven
- The Immortal Peaches
Simplified Mandarin characters and Pinyin, both are used in the book. It has an English translation and a complete glossary too.
Wu Cheng’en wrote the original 2000-page epic of Adventures of Sun Wukong is a 2000-page epic written by in the 16th Century. This is certainly the most loved classic literature of all time in the Mandarin Language. However, this book is a complete novel retold with simple Chinese vocabulary.
Conclusion
Certainly, with the growing trade relations of other countries with China and Taiwan, the language has attained more importance globally. Since most Chinese people are not well-versed in the English language, understanding Mandarin would bridge the communication gap. Furthermore, in the Indian context, if students wish to go to a Chinese-speaking country like China or Taiwan, passing the HSK Proficiency Test is mandatory. Consequently, Knowing the Mandarin Language will help them to navigate the day-to-day conversations smoothly. If one has to communicate with a Chinese-speaking laborer on an overseas project, this language skill will be most useful. Foreign languages broaden our perspective on other civilizations and enrich our knowledge. A beautiful and ancient language like Mandarin will transform your learning experience. In other words, go ahead and read Mandarin Language Books, Learn Mandarin Online, or join Online Mandarin Courses.
Recommended Reads
- How To Learn Mandarin Language With Books
- Top 12 Chinese- Mandarin Language Courses Online
- How to learn Mandarin Chinese Language: A Complete Guide
- Scope and Benefits of Learning Mandarin/Chinese Language in India
FAQs
Q1. People say Chinese is the toughest language to learn. Is it true?
Ans. Certainly, English speakers find Chinese Language difficult to learn because Chinese is a tonal language and involves the use of thousands of characters which are different from English alphabets.
Q2- Is the Mandarin Language now in demand in India?
Ans. The deepening business ties between India and Taiwan have certainly revived the demand for learning Mandarin Language and Chinese culture.
Q3. What is the official Mandarin Language Proficiency Test?
Ans. Students applying for programs conducted in Mandarin in China and Taiwan have to pass the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). It is the official standard test used to test the language proficiency of overseas students.
Q4. In what jobs is the Mandarin Language useful?
Ans. Language interpreters, translators, and cultural liaisons are jobs that require language skills. Additionally, jobs in education, tourism, and international relations also have a huge scope for Mandarin Language skills.
Q5. Which are the countries where natives speak the Mandarin Language?
Ans. People in China, Taiwan, and Singapore speak Mandarin as their native tongue. People in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet also speak this as their second language.