The First Things You Should Learn When Trying to Master Chinese

You are not sure what is the right method for learning Chinese. You have tried many different books and online courses, but you are not able to make any progress. You need to find the best methods that will help you master Chinese in an easy way.

Chinese language is not the same as western languages. You should know that it has special characters and it may take a long time before you learn sufficient number of characters. The other problem is pronunciation. Pronunciation of Chinese words is very difficult for western people because of tones. There are four tones in Mandarin Chinese language. It is very important that you pronounce the words with correct tones. Any mistake in pronunciation can change the meaning of the words.

It is best to start with the easiest words. Learning greetings and other useful phrases in Chinese doesn't take a lot of time. It is important that you know what are the appropriate greetings for different situations. Chinese people use same greetings for different periods of day.

Using the right technical tools will speed up the process of Chinese language learning. You should get good electronic dictionaries or install dictionaries on your mobile phone. This will make it much easier to check words and characters. Using traditional dictionaries for checking Chinese characters takes a lot of time. You can save time by entering Chinese characters by using pads. Mobile devices are good for Chinese language learning because you can bring them with you anywhere you go. You can learn Chinese while you drive to work or wait for a bus. It is easy and convenient.

Finding the best online Chinese courses can make your learning efforts more productive. You can choose many of the available free online tools for Chinese learning. Those tools include dictionaries, conversations, forums and tests. You can find the best conversations for your current Chinese level. You should learn at your own pace and there is no need to hurry. Language learning is always a gradual process that includes some necessary steps. First step is learning words. Next step is learning how to make phrases. Last step is finding ways to use words and phrases in real conversations.

When learning Chinese, it is best that you don't compare it with your mother tongue. Mandarin Chinese has special grammar rules and word order. It is completely different from English or any European language.

Now is the time for you to make a language learning plan. If you don't have good results in the beginning, you should not give up. Learning Chinese can be fun and it is not as difficult as you think.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6894858

Ways To Use A Chinese Wok

Traditional Chinese cooking has always involved a round-bottomed wok as its most important cooking utensil. Cooking with a wok can easily be mastered with a few simple tips.

High heat and fast cooking are essential for delicious dishes cooked using this versatile cooking tool.

Of course, the first thing you need would be a good wok. Cast iron and carbon steel woks are popular in the East as well as among professional chefs. Stainless steel and non-stick hard-anodized ones are more modern versions.

Using a wok to stir-fry successfully involves speed. All your ingredients must be cut to about the same size and prepared in advance. Season any meat used. Standby all the sauces, oil and plates ready. You are now ready to start. To get the aromatic and intense flavor characteristic of Chinese restaurant dishes, all the steps must be correct.

First, heat up your wok before adding the oil. This prevents food from sticking to the surface of the wok. The hot oil also helps to sear the food, sealing in all juices and thus resulting in more intense flavors.

Always add first the ingredients that need a longer time to cook. Keep stirring and turning the ingredients to prevent the food from getting burnt.

If your dish has thin slices of meat as one of its ingredients, then this should be stir-fried separately first, removed from the wok and then added back to the rest of the ingredients in the wok just before the dish is ready. This keeps the slivers of meat juicy and tender.

Besides stir-frying, you can also use the wok for steaming, braising, deep-frying or boiling. Due to its round bottom shape, less oil is needed for deep-frying.

Steaming is a simple technique which doesn't really need much skill. Just fill the wok half-full with water and put in a steaming rack. Make sure the surface of the rack is above the water. Wait until the water is boiling before putting the plate of food on the rack to steam. Steam fish is a light and tasty dish, showcasing the texture, aroma and freshness of the fish at its best.

Braising or simmering is also widely practiced among the home cooks. Stir-frying is minimal and the food such as tofu or bigger pieces of meat are cooked over a low fire. The meat becomes tender and the sauce is now thick, intense in color and flavor. A popular Chinese dish cooked using this method is Red Braised Pork. Sugar caramelizing in oil gives the dish its signature color and sweetness.

Look after your wok well and you could very well pass it down to your children as a treasured heirloom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7540211