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6 contributions to Learn Mandarin by Speaking It!
News
According to official announcements and media reports, Alex Honnold is set to free-solo Taipei 101 — over 500 meters high — with no ropes and no harness, as part of Netflix’s Skyscraper Live. Taipei 101 wasn’t built for climbing — it’s mostly glass, steel, and concrete, with tiny edges and overhangs between sections. This is now considered the tallest free-solo building climb in history. 😵‍💫 So I’m curious — what’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
News
1 like • Feb 13
I'm glad he made it. Amazing achievement, not least to master his own mind. Were you there to watch? Do you often come back to Taiwan these days? The most adventurous thing probably going to be a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain. Walking 800 km in 50 days. Taught me something about pacing and patience.
1 like • Feb 14
Does your family live in Taipei? I go back relatively often. I can combine it with business trips. :)
The Year of the Horse 🐎
🏮Chinese Lunar New Year is just around the corner! And...this year is the Year of the Horse! 🐴 Have you spotted any Chinese New Year decorations or items in your neighborhood? Snap a photo and share it here—we’d love to see what’s around you! 📸
1 like • Feb 13
@Yu-Tzu Huang They can also just read my Skool profile. 😁 Otherwise, they'll never know if I'm 24, 36, or 48. I'm constantly estimated older than I am in Taiwan. I guess because Taiwanese have this super power of not aging on the outside.
1 like • Feb 14
@Yu-Tzu Huang Very interesting. I've just learned that there also specific times of day and months related to zodiacs: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/chinese-zodiac-time.htm Fascinating. Also this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_timekeeping Side question, the article mentions 刻 for 15 minutes. Is it in use a lot, specifically in Taiwan? I haven't learned about it before.
Do you know how to type Zhuyin (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ)
Since Zhuyin is the main phonetic system we use here, have you ever wondered, “How do I type it on my device?” ⭐How to Install Zhuyin (Bopomofo) + Use a Floating Keyboard Don’t worry if your keyboard doesn’t have Zhuyin symbols — both Mac and Windows have Zhuyin built in! 💻 On Mac (macOS) 👉 Install Zhuyin 1. Open System Settings 2. Go to Keyboard → Input Sources 3. Click the + button 4. Select Chinese (Traditional) 5. Choose Zhuyin (Bopomofo) 6. Click Add To switch keyboards: Press Control + Spaceor click the language icon at the top right. 🖥 Turn on the Floating Zhuyin Keyboard (Keyboard Viewer) 1. Go to System Settings → Keyboard 2. Turn on Keyboard Viewer 3. Switch your input to Zhuyin 4. Click the input icon on the top right → Show Keyboard Viewer A virtual keyboard will appear on your screen with Zhuyin symbols. You can move it anywhere! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 💻 On Windows (Laptop/Desktop) 👉 Install Zhuyin 1. Open Settings 2. Go to Time & Language → Language & Region 3. Click Add a language 4. Search for Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) 5. Install it After installation: 1. Click the language 2. Go to Options 3. Under Keyboards, add Zhuyin (Bopomofo) To switch keyboards: Press Windows + Space 🖥 Turn on the Floating Zhuyin Keyboard Press: Windows + Ctrl + O (or search On-Screen Keyboard) Then switch input to: Chinese (Traditional) – Zhuyin You’ll see a floating keyboard showing Zhuyin symbols. Once Zhuyin is installed, you can start typing ㄅㄆㄇㄈ right away — no extra apps needed!
Poll
4 members have voted
Do you know how to type Zhuyin (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ)
1 like • Feb 12
I use it on Android. My goal is to keep my mind from going to Pinyin whenever I see or pronounce a character. I just want to be present with the character. 🤣 Can you recommend any good keyboard for it? I currently use SwiftKey, but I hate that if I type a phrase in Zhuyin and then got the first or second symbol wrong, I need to delete everything I've typed after it. I can't go back with arrows and just correct. Another cool thing about Zhuyin is the availability of free Ruby fonts for it. Helps tremendously when reading a text where 90+ % of characters are familiar to not get stuck on the ones I don't know. At least, now I can pronounce them and maybe I even know the word because I heard it before - just never seen the character.
1 like • Feb 13
Yes, I find it easy. But so far, I'm slow compared to Pinyin, because I've used the QWERTZ layout all my life - Zhuyin only about 3 years. Even these days, I type much less Chinese (Zhuyin) than English or German. Another problem I still have is that I map Pinyin to Zhuyin in my head when using it. Because that's how I've learned it.
Pinyin vs Zhuyin
Did you know there are two main phonetic systems used for learning Mandarin? Pinyin is mainly used in China, while Zhuyin is used in Taiwan. Here’s an interesting video that explains how these systems can shape the way you learn Mandarin. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNQC2F9zcYC/?igsh=ZzU5NjB0cmxyZWQ1
Poll
6 members have voted
Pinyin vs Zhuyin
1 like • Feb 12
@Yu-Tzu Huang Are there any studies that would confirm that Zhuyin is "easier to learn" than Pinyin for non-native speakers that are already familiar with the English alphabet? I found Pinyin pretty easy to grasp, since I already knew all the symbols from English/German. Only had to learn to map a combination of letters to sounds. We have to do this mapping in Zhuyin, too. Only a slight advantage here since we need to combine less symbols to form a sound. Big disadvantage is learning 37 completely new symbols.
1 like • Feb 13
@Yu-Tzu Huang I get you on the pronunciation accuracy. I'd still debate "easier". 😁 I'd say it's impossible to learn English with Zhuyin because the phonetics are totally different. Still, many try, leading to prominent phenomena in Taiwan like pronouncing "n" as ㄣ or "l" as "ello". Zhuyin is great for a very limited set of sounds (as Chinese has). English alphabet allows us to combine on a more granular level, allowing something like Pinyin. The danger lies in applying rules how to interpret the individual symbols. Those are not the same over different languages, of course. Especially people who have never mastered another foreign language make this mistake. It's not unique to learning Chinese. Zhuyin has the same problem - I guess - when using it for 台語. I don't have much understanding of 台語, though, so I might be wrong.
How do you learn Mandarin?
Hi everyone! 😊 I’d love to get to know you a bit better. How do you usually learn Mandarin? Please vote in the poll below and feel free to share more in the comments.
Poll
1 member has voted
1 like • Jan 25
@Yu-Tzu Huang No, but some of my favorite anime shows - including Spy Family and Frieren - get dubbed to Chinese, so it would probably be a good place to start. I've heard that 那些年,我們一起追的女孩 is also a good movie for learning the language.
0 likes • Jan 28
@Yu-Tzu Huang Thank you for the recommendation! 🙂
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Henrik Hille
2
5points to level up
@henrik-hille-9320
35 yo German Engineer - Living and growing in Taiwan!

Active 1h ago
Joined Dec 12, 2025
INTJ
Tainan City, Taiwan