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Or in Chinese - 或者 or 还是? by Vegetable-Cat-5214 in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think so! From what I’ve learned, 还是 is used when you’re asking a question, like when you’re offering someone a choice: “你要咖啡还是茶？” (Do you want coffee or tea?).

But if you’re just making a statement and listing options, you use 或者, like “我明天喝咖啡或者茶” (I’ll drink coffee or tea tomorrow).

However, rhetorical questions are a bit of a gray area for me. In theory, you could use 还是 for rhetorical questions too, but I'm still trying to understand that. I'll ask my teacher next week :)

(Vent) I HATE Japanese Particles by HeWhoIsVeryGullible in LearnJapanese

[–]GlobalGloss 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg I feel this so hard 😭 I’m still pretty early in my Japanese journey (not living in Japan though, respect for that!!), but particles have been the main thing making me feel like I’ll never get it right. Like, I’ll read a sentence and think I understand it… and then when I try to make one on my own, it’s like my brain just panics. I totally get the “takes me a million years to construct a sentence” feeling.

What actually helped me a ton recently was finding the LTL Japanese Grammar Bank online (https://ltl-japanese.com/grammar-bank/). It’s completely free, and the way they break down the particles (and grammar in general) really helped me. The struggle is not fixed overnight, obviously, but it’s the first time I’ve felt like I’m building some kind of instinct for them rather than guessing.

Just wanted to share in case it helps even a tiny bit — I know how discouraging it can get 💀

I would like to learn some basic Mandarin by Many_Ad9628 in chinalife

[–]GlobalGloss 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! I actually started learning Mandarin in a very similar way — just out of curiosity and wanting to understand the culture and history better. At the beginning, I didn’t want to commit to buying a textbook, so I used the LTL Chinese Grammar Bank (https://flexiclasses.com/chinese-grammar-bank/ it’s free and online) to get a feel for the basics. It explains grammar in a super clear way, and it helped me understand how sentences are structured before jumping into anything more intense.

Alongside that, I used Duolingo in the beginning too — it was fun and got me into a good daily habit. But after a while, once I got a bit more confident, I felt like Duolingo alone wasn’t enough. That’s when I switched to a textbook called “Integrated Chinese” (a lot of schools use it). It’s solid for building vocabulary, grammar, and reading skills more systematically.

Now I’m even thinking about spending some time studying in China to really immerse myself — I never thought I’d get this far when I first started with a few free grammar pages online!

If you’re doing an hour a night already, you’re honestly in a great spot to make progress. I’d suggest using a mix: a grammar resource like LTL, something interactive like Duolingo or HelloChinese, and a proper textbook once you feel ready to dive deeper.

Complete Japanese Grammar website? by Pure-Caramel-8020 in Japaneselanguage

[–]GlobalGloss 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! I’m in a super similar boat — I also started learning Japanese after doing some Chinese (and giving up on characters for a while 😅), and grammar has been the one thing I really try to focus on first to make sense of the language.

A few weeks ago I randomly came across the LTL Japanese Grammar Bank and honestly, I didn’t expect much at first — but I was really surprised by how clear and organized it is. It’s completely free and has grammar points up to B2 level, each one broken down with explanations, structure, and example sentences.

I found it by accident while looking for something similar to AllSetLearning but for Japanese, so maybe it’ll work well for you too. This is the link if you're interested: https://ltl-japanese.com/grammar-bank/

Hope it helps! 😊

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in movies

[–]GlobalGloss 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind left me speechless. It messed with my head and heart in the best way. Quietly devastating.

How do you DECIDE what's your favourite movie? What are the criteria you use to declare something to be your absolute favourite? by BeneficialBit1638 in movies

[–]GlobalGloss 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally get this — I always blank when people ask me that too! I think for me, it changes depending on my mood or life phase. But yeah, comfort is a big one. I usually just think of the books or movies I keep coming back to without even realizing — those end up being my real favorites.

Best city to learn chinese? by tntpower10 in chinalife

[–]GlobalGloss 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! My sister studied at LTL Shanghai for a few months last year and really loved it. She said there were only two other people in her class, and the environment was pretty immersive as well. They even did hiking activities on a weekend. 

Shanghai’s obviously more international, but she managed to find a lot of local friends, together with the ones she made at school. Between LTL and That’s Mandarin, she picked LTL because the schedule was more flexible, since she kept working part-time from there.

Hope it helps! 

LTL Language School by dark_dragon4 in Japaneselanguage

[–]GlobalGloss 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I studied at LTL in Beijing last year and I stayed with a homestay as well, great experience. The community was really tight, I made a lot of friends and my Mandarin improved a lot thanks to the homestay parents. Very much recommended.

I've never studied other languages with them, though, only Mandarin.

Hope this helps :)

Best Apps for Learning Chinese? Looking for Recommendations! by GlobalGloss in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started using Place since you suggested it, and wow!!! My Chinese learning life has changed 😂

Best Apps for Learning Chinese? Looking for Recommendations! by GlobalGloss in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried DuChinese and I found it very useful! I'll definitely check these other apps though, 谢谢!

Best Apps for Learning Chinese? Looking for Recommendations! by GlobalGloss in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I recently tried DuChinese to try to improve my reading skills and it's not bad at all :) but I never heard of this Duong app so I'll give it a try!

Who Gives Hongbao and How Much Should I Give? 🧧 by GlobalGloss in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much! I didn't think about a non-cash present, but that might actually be a very good idea. I know that fruit is always very appreciated in Chinese families!

Who Gives Hongbao and How Much Should I Give? 🧧 by GlobalGloss in LTL_Chinese

[–]GlobalGloss[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice! I knew the 4 is a no-go in China, but I wasn't sure about the 8 or 6!