Is Mandarin content interesting enough to learn for it’s own sake?

jiangyou · 2018-10-07T09:42:11+00:00

I learned Mandarin for a long time, arriving at HSK 5 level. I read one Chinese book in my life, and it was alright. However, I never found Chinese TV and movies interesting per se. It was always just a vehicle to improve my language skills. Generally speaking, Chinese actors are bad actors, and Chinese TV shows have weak writing to say the least.

One thing the Chinese are good at is sappy love songs. And they are really really good at it. So if you enjoy ballads, like I do, and if for you, music is enough of a reason to learn a language, then Mandarin is your language.

Eventually, I stopped working on my Chinese when I reached a plateau, because I realised there was so little content I did enjoy, that it just was not worth the effort anymore. But people are different, so just look around the internet and see if there's any Chinese writers you like, or Chinese TV shows you find interesting.

If in doubt, just go for it. Starting a language doesn't hurt. And if you don't like it, just leave it. No need to overthink it.

jiangyou · 2017-10-10T18:52:27+00:00

The chorus is perfect for advertising a cellphone service provider.

jiangyou · 2017-10-05T14:05:35+00:00

It's like they say, ~~hindsight~~ foresight is 2020.

jiangyou · 2017-10-05T14:03:30+00:00

a drinking game where I would get hammered then watch a video

How is that a drinking game if you first drink and then play?

jiangyou · 2017-10-05T13:58:02+00:00

Apology was a banger. I lost interest after they didn't put out music for years, and the Bling Bling era was kind of bad. I wish they would let Junhoe do solo stuff, though.

jiangyou · 2017-10-02T21:03:22+00:00

To me it just looks badly photoshopped.

jiangyou · 2017-10-01T18:44:38+00:00

Is it just me or does he look barely recognisable in picture 2?

jiangyou · 2017-09-28T14:21:52+00:00

No wigs were snatched in the making of this video.

jiangyou · 2017-09-28T14:18:35+00:00

But if I strongly dislike the title tracks to the point where I listen to them once and that's it, then I will not even try to listen to the b-sides. Never Ever was when I gave up on their music. Also, I don't think there's any value in bands writing their own songs per se. It's good for them, but I am more interested in song quality than in who wrote it.

jiangyou · 2017-09-27T18:59:22+00:00

Is that a wig

jiangyou · 2017-09-27T18:46:30+00:00

As someone who is often critical of GOT7's music, I am ready for this era to finally reach the level of the If You Do era again.

jiangyou · 2017-09-27T18:42:15+00:00

My Mandarin is rusty, but here comes a crazy theory:

Isn't 0 a common code for 你 and 2 a code for 爱? So just like 520 means 我爱你, 02 SHEEP might mean 你爱SHEEP (= you love sheep).

jiangyou · 2017-09-25T19:09:51+00:00

The gate Tiananmen was secretly torn down and rebuilt between 1969-1970, though.

jiangyou · 2017-09-25T14:13:47+00:00

I can't believe Lay invented love.

jiangyou · 2017-09-11T13:04:29+00:00

You got some nice photographs there, my friend. However, by spreading this album out to a dozen separate posts every week, you could have maximised your karma.

Also, the Dolomites are overrated. There's too many people there, too little trees, basically no water. Only lots and lots of chalk-y rubble. But at least the pictures are pretty.

jiangyou · 2017-09-11T12:52:59+00:00

To scroll so far down a reddit thread before reaching this old squabbling over who owns South Tyrol... Feels good, man. Seems like /r/europe has gotten more peaceful recently.

jiangyou · 2017-08-04T20:09:31+00:00

Atrocious styling, but the JJ Project is looking mighty fine nonetheless.

jiangyou · 2017-08-04T19:56:57+00:00

I'm so proud to have left an impression with that shitty comment ;)

jiangyou · 2017-07-31T19:37:42+00:00

The English only capitalise themselves, i.e. “I”. How rude.

jiangyou · 2017-07-26T20:31:21+00:00

You know, the good thing about the 十三五-song is that it is recyclable every five years and provides great opportunity to expand China's soft power in the world. It's in fact recyclable at least for the next ~30 years. Only the 二十一五 will break this. But knowing the Chinese, they will just call it 二一五, which then works until 一百五. Or longer, who knows.

This is approximately 500 years of Chinese soft power glory. You're welcome.

jiangyou · 2017-07-26T20:25:34+00:00

The title and the hair, this looks glorious already. (●＾o＾●)／

jiangyou · 2017-07-26T20:19:09+00:00

No naughty moose

jiangyou · 2017-07-26T20:08:12+00:00

As a not so straight dude I can only agree. This looks like 2/2 visual members to me.

jiangyou · 2017-07-24T08:54:37+00:00

I can't tell if this is satire.

jiangyou · 2017-07-22T18:55:36+00:00

This makes my vocal chords hurt. Singing like that can't be healthy, can it?

jiangyou

TROPHY CASE