Mastering Mandarin the Fun Way by Tuning Into Popular Hits Every Day

Learning a foreign language doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By leaning into your hobbies like music, the process becomes much more natural and way less overwhelming for beginners.

Photo by Fausto Sandoval on Unsplash

Before we dive into the world of Mandarin music, don’t forget to follow this account! I’ll be sharing updates 2 or 3 times a week about my journey of learning Mandarin from scratch, along with productivity tips, interesting recommendations, and casual chats about financial tips that I hope will be useful for all of us. Let’s support each other and grow together on this journey!

Losing the K-Pop Race, Finding My Mandarin Heart

Back in 2016–2017, the K-pop craze completely took over my friend group. My friends were practically forcing me to pick a bias to idolise. To be honest, the first time I saw them, I couldn’t tell anyone apart except for the group leaders! Eventually, I just picked a member under pressure. Usually, people become fans because they find their ideal type, but my case was different. It felt like the silliest setup, I was essentially forcing myself to admire someone who wasn’t even my type!

While my friends were busy grinding away at Hangeul, so they could talk to their idols, I found myself falling in love with Hanzi. It all started with a Chinese drama. I was captivated by Ding Yu Xi’s acting, and after binge watching his work, a thought popped into my head, “What if I just learned Chinese instead?”

Love is Blind, Even in Language Learning

They say love is blind, and they aren’t kidding. Mandarin is known as one of the hardest languages in the world. Different tones mean different meanings, different strokes change the entire word, and sometimes the same Hanzi (character) can have wildly different definitions. However, seeing how great the job demand is for Mandarin speakers these days really reignited my spark. I used to be held back by limited internet and a bit of laziness since I only saw it as a hobby, but now, I’m ready to embrace this process as a core part of my journey.

From Dramas to Melodies

Before I found my ultimate favorite drama, I started with popular titles like Put Your Head on My Shoulder and My Girlfriend is an Alien. But the one that truly changed my perspective was Just an Encore (八分钟的温暖 or Bā fēnzhōng de wēnnuǎn). Through this drama, I discovered so many beautiful Mandarin songs, especially the slow, melancholic ones. I’ve always been someone who prioritizes the musical arrangement and instruments, so it has to hit just right.

My Top Playlist Recommendations for Beginners

If you want to start learning but don’t know where to begin, try listening to these tracks. They are easy on the ears and great for getting familiar with the natural flow of Mandarin:

The Eric Chou Collection:

• How Have You Been? : This is my most iconic pick because the Hanzi in the title is so simple to read. It gives you that quick win and a boost of confidence early on!
• Unbreakable Love : A stunning melody. It’s the perfect go-to when you need a break from your usual playlist.
• What’s Wrong? : Like my first pick, the title is easy to read. The lyrics are sad, but the instrumentals are surprisingly upbeat with a few fast paced parts that are fun to practice.
• You Don’t Belong to Me : Deeply emotional with very clear articulation. If you want to feel the soul behind every word, this is the one.

Drama OSTs (Chill & Sweet Vibes):

• People Who Know Me — Ma Yinyin : A unique voice with a calm vibe, perfect for deep-thinking sessions.
• Two People Are Beautiful — Juni Lee : Pure happiness in a song. It proves just how sweet and melodic Mandarin can sound.
• Gravity — Li Zikai : Has a great beat for casual listening; it helps your brain get used to natural speech intonations.
• I Like You So Much, You’ll Know It — Wang Junqi : The ultimate cute song that makes you want to look up the meaning of simple, everyday words.

Other Popular Hits:

• Flying Bird and Cicada — Ren Ran : Very aesthetic and calm. It’s the kind of song that makes you fall in love with the sound of the language.
• Fairy Tale — Michael Wong : A legendary classic with a timeless instrumental. Super beginner-friendly!
• A Bit Sweet — Silence Wang : Its cheerful energy is contagious. You’ll find yourself listening without feeling like you’re studying at all.

There are so many other songs like A Little Happiness by Hebe Tien that I didn’t include yet, so we don’t end up having a group crying session hahaha. Eric Chou’s collection is definitely what I relate to most, especially when I’m in a sad vibe mood. It might sound strange, but listening to sad songs when it’s gloomy outside actually makes me feel like I have a friend. Instead of getting more upset, I get distracted by learning the lyrics bit by bit.

Eric Chou is from Taiwan, so he uses Traditional Mandarin. Honestly, I’m still struggling with Simplified Mandarin, so Traditional is a whole different beast! but my goal is simply to make the language feel familiar, whether I’m watching a drama, scrolling through youtube, or eventually chatting with my friends in Mandarin. If you’re not in the mood for a heartbreak song, don’t worry, Eric Chou has some upbeat ones too! For a cheerful mood, go for A Bit Sweet by Silence Wang and if you want to try singing along, Fairy Tale by Michael Wong is a great place to start because the pronunciation is so clear. Curious about the drama Just an Encore or want more Mandarin learning tips?

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