If you can't live in China and don't really have the time for a class. What should you study with? And is it even possible to learn Mandarin if you don't have that much time? After all, the language is entirely different and I'm not a kid anymore. Some suggestions would help.

I am studying Mandarin Chinese and I'm having some confusion with the tones, especially the second tone. I can clearly here the difference in the tones when people demonstrate them, and I can usually say them clearly also. However, I'm becoming confused. I understand that the second tone is supposed to be rising, but my teachers correct me when I say certain words that are supposed to be second tone when I pronounce them that way. One example is 中文 (Zhōngwén). I pronounce it with first tone, then second tone, as I have learned them. But then I am corrected, and told to say it in a way that sounds to me more like first tone then fourth tone. Am I just really off with my pronunciation and listening? Or is there some variation in the way tones are actually pronounced when speaking? Are there any general rules that can help me?

Like if you want search for a specific phrase, story, etc.

i went to google images and typed that in and asked for a symbol. i received two fairly identical pictures except the last characters are different. which one is correct. i went into research on both and couldnt find anything. also i was looking at the kanji symbol for "never give up". i am thinking about getting a tattoo but i dont know which language is more popular.

I’m going to school in china, either 6th or 7th grade.. Anyone knows what its like? I mostly speak English, and my Chinese is not very good and i can’t write Chinese. I’m worried about making friends and schoolwork because i can’t really speak Chinese. Also, what is the curriculum like compared to Australia? i don’t want it to be too hard for me. Thanks.

I have a big experience with studying Kanji and unlike most of my friends, I REALLY love Kanji! I just love their structure, their logic. Even if I dont know one character, I can easily identify the meaning of a compound word. I find that this is easier for me when attempting to read Chinese. I really want to learn 'reading' Chinese such as sentence writing. However, I get stumped with particles or expressive abstract characters. But once I understand it, it makes a whole lot of sense! What makes it easier is that sometimes I dont have to know the Chinese (Mandarin) pronunciation just to read the character (sometimes unless it's a name, a city, place, etc). So, how can I learn reading in Chinese for efficiently? How do I recognize sentence structures, characters used for particles, or those expressive characters? Thanks!

is this grammar correct?

I need to decide between AP Art History and Chinese I. Art History would give me another AP credit (I am already taking 5 AP classes), but it seems like it would be boring. Chinese seems interesting to me and possibly useful in the future. However, it is a level class, and I could only go to Chinese I. I could not progress to Chinese II. Keep in mind I will be taking German III and IV as well. Which should I choose?

你们好！我叫古恩庭。我是美国人。我说都英文和中文。这个很好，是不是？ I'm trying to say "Hello (you all)! My name is Gu En'ting. I speak both English and Chinese. This is very good, is it not?"

or give me strength and courage

Hello. I am writing a Mandarin composition. I am almost done, but I am not sure about a couple of things. How do I say the following in Mandarin (preferably pinyin)?: I go to school at Riddley College - I’d like to attend Cambridge University in the UK, because that is the university that my mother attended. - I plan to go to Australia this summer to ski. Thank You!

Okay does anybody know then name of this game you play in mandarin that teaches you numbers, where you start with 1 frog or something i forget what it is, and then you say like two eyes and two ears and four legs or something, and then next person goes. if anybody can give me the name/exactly what you are supposed to say for the game in simplified characters and pinyin would be awesome, thanks

My names Asma, pronounced 'us-ma'.

~ I usually read books after watching TV. ~ is it "wo kan dian shi hou kan shu yi ban" , " Wo kan shu hou kan dian shi yi ban" , " Wo yi ban kan shu hou kan dian shi", or " Wo yi ban kan dian shi hou kan shu" ?