{"id":170,"date":"2026-02-02T11:32:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/?p=170"},"modified":"2026-02-08T11:33:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T11:33:29","slug":"lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use the Lexical Approach to Master Spoken Mandarin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve been learning Mandarin for a while but still struggle to <strong>speak smoothly and naturally<\/strong>, the problem probably isn\u2019t your grammar or vocabulary<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s <em>how<\/em> you\u2019re learning words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most learners treat Mandarin like a puzzle made of individual vocabulary items and grammar rules. Then, when it\u2019s time to speak, they try to assemble everything in real time, and freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>lexical approach<\/strong> solves this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, I\u2019ll show you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>what the lexical approach actually is (without academic jargon)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>why it works especially well for Mandarin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how to apply it step by step to improve your spoken Chinese<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#What_Is_the_Lexical_Approach_In_Plain_English\" >What Is the Lexical Approach? (In Plain English)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Why_the_Lexical_Approach_Works_So_Well_for_Mandarin\" >Why the Lexical Approach Works So Well for Mandarin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Passive_Vocabulary_vs_Active_Vocabulary\" >Passive Vocabulary vs Active Vocabulary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Step_1_Collect_Chunks_From_Real_Input\" >Step 1: Collect Chunks From Real Input<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Step_2_Learn_Chunks_in_Context_Not_Isolation\" >Step 2: Learn Chunks in Context (Not Isolation)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Step_3_Use_Anki_to_Reinforce_Chunks_Properly\" >Step 3: Use Anki to Reinforce Chunks (Properly)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Step_4_Output_Early_Yes_Even_If_Youre_Not_Ready\" >Step 4: Output Early (Yes, Even If You\u2019re Not Ready)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Step_5_Use_Feedback_to_Lock_Chunks_In\" >Step 5: Use Feedback to Lock Chunks In<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Why_This_Approach_Reduces_Speaking_Anxiety\" >Why This Approach Reduces Speaking Anxiety<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/lexical-approach-to-master-spoken-mandarin\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_the_Lexical_Approach_In_Plain_English\"><\/span>What Is the Lexical Approach? (In Plain English)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lexical approach is based on one simple idea:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>We don\u2019t speak using single words, we speak using pre-fabricated chunks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native speakers store and use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>set phrases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>sentence starters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>common patterns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>collocations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not isolated words plus grammar rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of Mandarin like Lego:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>traditional learning = individual bricks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lexical approach = <strong>pre-built larger blocks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you learn chunks, you\u2019re no longer building sentences from scratch. You\u2019re <strong>slotting pieces together<\/strong> and just swapping words in and out of a set template. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why speech becomes faster, more fluent, and less stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_Lexical_Approach_Works_So_Well_for_Mandarin\"><\/span>Why the Lexical Approach Works So Well for Mandarin<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mandarin is <em>perfect<\/em> for chunk-based learning because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>word order matters more than inflection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>many structures repeat constantly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>native speech relies heavily on fixed patterns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check out examples of chunks in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/pages\/transform-your-mandarin-learning\">free PDFs here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These aren\u2019t \u201cgrammar points\u201d in real life.<br>They\u2019re <strong>ready-made tools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learners who ignore this end up with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>huge passive vocabulary<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strong listening skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>very weak speaking ability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is what I often call <strong>\u201csilent Chinese.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Passive_Vocabulary_vs_Active_Vocabulary\"><\/span>Passive Vocabulary vs Active Vocabulary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest misunderstandings in language learning is assuming that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf I understand it, I can use it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Passive vocabulary<\/strong> = words you recognize<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Active vocabulary<\/strong> = words you can use automatically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lexical approach and my whole Chunking Chinese Method is about <strong>systematically converting passive knowledge into active speech<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that only happens through <em>use<\/em>, not exposure alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Collect_Chunks_From_Real_Input\"><\/span>Step 1: Collect Chunks From Real Input<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your chunks should come from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>things you listen to<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>things you read<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>real conversations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not word lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While listening or reading, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cWould I actually say this?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cDoes this feel useful in real conversation?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good chunks are usually:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>short<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>flexible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>high-frequency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check out some examples of useful chunks in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/pages\/transform-your-mandarin-learning\">my free PDF<\/a>s<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are far more powerful than just learning single nouns or adjectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Learn_Chunks_in_Context_Not_Isolation\"><\/span>Step 2: Learn Chunks in Context (Not Isolation)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never learn a chunk or new vocabulary item alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always attach it to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a full sentence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a situation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a meaning you understand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Context is king in language learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your brain remembers <strong>meaning + usage<\/strong> <strong>+ situational context<\/strong>, not explanations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is also why I\u2019m not a fan of heavy grammar study, most nuance is picked up through repeated exposure and use. Although a little explanation can often help to initially understand the chunk, like I do in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4ZPeru2L5PM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chunking videos<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Use_Anki_to_Reinforce_Chunks_Properly\"><\/span>Step 3: Use Anki to Reinforce Chunks (Properly)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spaced repetition is extremely powerful <em>if<\/em> you use it correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For lexical learning, your cards should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>focus on full sentences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>highlight the chunk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>encourage recall, not recognition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal isn\u2019t to \u201cknow the chunk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When you want to express an idea, the chunk comes out automatically.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s a huge difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Output_Early_Yes_Even_If_Youre_Not_Ready\"><\/span>Step 4: Output Early (Yes, Even If You\u2019re Not Ready)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where many learners hesitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They wait until:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>pronunciation is perfect<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>grammar feels solid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>confidence magically appears<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That moment never comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking early does two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It exposes gaps in your knowledge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It forces chunks into active use<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve found that chunks I use shortly after learning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>stick faster<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feel more natural<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>are almost impossible to forget<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Use_Feedback_to_Lock_Chunks_In\"><\/span>Step 5: Use Feedback to Lock Chunks In<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making mistakes isn\u2019t the problem. In fact they are great opportunities to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Repeating mistakes over and over again without realising is.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you speak:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ask for feedback<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>check if your chunk sounds natural<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ask how a native speaker would say it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, and this is crucial, turn that feedback into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a corrected sentence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a new chunk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a new Anki card<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This creates a <strong>feedback loop<\/strong>:<br>input ? output ? feedback ? refinement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over time, your Mandarin becomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>more native-like<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>more accurate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>more fluent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_This_Approach_Reduces_Speaking_Anxiety\"><\/span>Why This Approach Reduces Speaking Anxiety<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you speak using chunks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>you\u2019re not inventing sentences on the spot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you\u2019re not mentally checking grammar rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you\u2019re not translating word by word<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re simply <strong>retrieving patterns you\u2019ve already used before<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why fluency feels calm, not forced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to master <strong>spoken Mandarin<\/strong>, stop asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow many words do I know?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow many chunks can I actually use? How many words can swap in and out of set templates to express thousands of ideas naturally?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lexical approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>simplifies Mandarin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>speeds up speaking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>turns understanding into real communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And most importantly, it makes speaking feel <strong>manageable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want a clear system for applying this approach step by step (including how to design chunk-based Anki cards and practice them effectively), that\u2019s exactly what I break down in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/products\/courses\/chunkingchinese\">Chunking Chinese programme<\/a> as well as helping you learn hundreds of chunks in the context of native-written diary entries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can learn more about Chunking Chinese <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/products\/courses\/chunkingchinese\">here<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But even if you start with just one thing:<br>&#8211; <strong>learn fewer words, learn better chunks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That alone will change how your Mandarin feels when you speak.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve been learning Mandarin for a while but still struggle to speak smoothly and naturally, the problem probably isn\u2019t your grammar or vocabulary It\u2019s how you\u2019re learning words. Most learners treat Mandarin like a puzzle made of individual vocabulary items and grammar rules. Then, when it\u2019s time to speak, they try to assemble everything [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250414639,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"order-bump-settings":[],"_wpfnl_thankyou_order_overview":"on","_wpfnl_thankyou_order_details":"on","_wpfnl_thankyou_billing_details":"on","_wpfnl_thankyou_shipping_details":"on","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[812978],"tags":[785168447,785168467,785168466,785168465,785168463,785168448,785168464],"class_list":["post-170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speak-mandarin","tag-chunking-chinese-2","tag-how-to-use-the-lexical-approach-to-learn-mandarin","tag-how-to-use-the-lexical-approach-to-speak-mandarin","tag-learn-mandarin-in-chunks","tag-lexical-approach","tag-speak-mandarin-confidently","tag-will-hart-mandarin-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgWzLf-2K","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/250414639"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170\/revisions\/176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkingchinese.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}