I’ve tried and tested dozens of learning resources during my Chinese learning journey. Here’s an overview of what I’ve used and can recommend to you.
Courses for Beginners
Yoyo Chinese (paid) – My number #1 recommendation for Beginners is to start an online course with Yoyo Chinese. All you need to do is spent a few minutes every day watching videos and repeat words. You will be able to gain basic Chinese skills in no-time without being overwhelmed.
Dictionaries
MDBG Chinese Dictionary (free) – This is an awesome dictionary for use on your Computer. If you need to look up words or even whole sentences, this dictionary will be your best friend. It is free and has everything from pronunciation samples to stroke order diagrams.
Pleco (free/paid) – The website confidently proclaims “We make the world’s best Chinese dictionaries” and right they are. Pleco is an app I would not want to live without. It allows you to draw characters and search for them. There is also an OCR feature. The translations you will get using Pleco are high-quality.
Learning Chinese Characters
Heisig – Remembering Simplified Hanzi – This book teaches you Chinese characters from the ground up. If you want to learn how to write them by hand the method this book teaches will guide you there. The only caveat is that the book requires focus and dedication. You will need motivation and endurance to be able to complete the course.