The Best Mandarin YouTube Channels for Learning Chinese

We’re letting you in on the best Mandarin YouTube channels to learn Mandarin that will change the way you view learning Mandarin through a screen!

Do you want to push yourself further with your Mandarin knowledge but don’t want to spend extra hours in the classroom? Then we have the perfect solution for you…YouTube!

These days, thanks to the increasing number of language vloggers using the immensely popular platform, more and more aspiring linguists are opting to learn Mandarin through YouTube. And why not? It’s entertaining, free, and pretty much unlimited when it comes to the amount of content readily available.

From fun takes on your standard language courses to enigmatic cooking channels and foreigners speaking Mandarin, there are numerous channels on YouTube that will teach you Mandarin without having to feel like you’re confined in a strict classroom environment. Keep reading to discover the best Mandarin YouTube channels for learning Mandarin as a foreign language here!

Oriental Pearl 

Following the life of an American woman who speaks Mandarin, Oriental Pearl is made for those seeking relatable insights in the Mandarin language. Despite many of her videos feature her talking to locals in Mandarin, Oriental Pearl assures us that she used to be a very shy person. Through her own struggles whilst learning Mandarin, she encourages her viewers to not stray away from practicing their speaking with Chinese natives out to fear or shyness. Viewers don’t feel as if they are stuck in a classroom when watching Oriental Pearl’s videos, rather that they are watching one of their favourite channels on YouTube – but in Mandarin. There’s a variety of content that learners can choose from, including: Vlogs around China, interacting with locals, education about Chinese culture, and Mandarin tips and tricks. Having both English and Mandarin subtitles available on her videos Oriental Pearl makes it easy for Mandarin learners to associate themselves with new vocabulary. 

Suggested Mandarin Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced

Learn Mandarin With Rita

Operated by a Chinese native with 10+ years of teaching experience, watching Learn Mandarin with Rita is not unlike learning Mandarin from a friend. Rita’s channel is very casual and perfectly suitable for those looking to learn at a slower pace. Through her wide range of videos, Rita offers learning everything from advice when learning the language and amusing reaction videos to interviews with foreigners learning Mandarin. Thanks to the relaxed pace of learning in these videos, viewers needn’t feel stressed or rushed, and instead can sit back and enjoy learning in a fun and entertaining environment. Rita has excellent charisma, and encourages her many viewers to actively learn through her videos without feeling like they are working themselves to pieces. Many of her videos help new learners understand the specifics of learning Mandarin. We would recommend this channel to people who are struggling with using Mandarin grammar and tones.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Beginner to Intermediate. 

Mandarin Corner

With over 200 videos, there’s plenty of variety on offer at Mandarin Corner. Rather than strictly producing learning content, Mandarin Corner likes to switch up their videos a bit, including videos such as street interviews with Chinese natives, short vlogs based on situational topics, videos talking about social and cultural dilemmas in China, as well as HSK educational content. Mandarin Corner provides a full immersive experience for their viewers by speaking little to no English. Not only does Mandarin Corner provide valuable information in their videos but they also have accompanying resources on their website for only US$10, which includes flashcards, audio files, and pdfs. Every video title includes the level of Mandarin required for the video to be comprehensible, making Mandarin Corner’s Youtube channel extremely easy to navigate and a great option for Mandarin learners of all abilities.

Suggested Mandarin Level: All Levels 

You may also be interested in: Learn Mandarin in Hong Kong | 8 Courses That Really Work

Magic Ingredients 

A channel revolving around delicious food native to Xi’an, Magic Ingredients is made for foodies. We would recommend Magic Ingredients to learners who want to learn culinary specific vocabulary, as well as Mandarin terms for measurements. With every video accompanied by a Mandarin voice over, viewers can watch the delicious food being made whilst listening to instructions in Mandarin, making this channel a completely immersive and enjoyable experience. With that said, the voiceover does sometimes get quite fast and can be hard to understand – thankfully Magic Ingredients supply their viewers with both Mandarin and English subtitles. Not only can viewers improve their Mandarin vocabulary by watching, but they also have the privilege to learn how to make authentic Chinese food. We recommend this channel to those who want to surround themselves with the Mandarin language whilst watching something that is very pleasing to the eye.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced

Fragrant Mandarin 

Following a British-Chinese couple living in China, Fragrant Mandarin is a channel that explores all kinds of ideas surrounding China and life there. Speaking in both English and Mandarin, viewers here will get the opportunity to learn Mandarin but with the help of some extra support. Exploring the topics of Chinese culture, adventuring within China, and their relationship, Fragrant Mandarin is a fun, light-hearted channel that makes viewers feel comfortable and acquainted with the Mandarin language. This channel is perfect for those who still want to watch travel vlogs during the world’s current situation as well as learn vocabulary related to travel and nature.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Beginner to Intermediate 

ChinesePod

Searching for an endless stream of Mandarin learning content? ChinesePod has over 300 videos that are short and self-contained, making it easy for viewers to pick and choose what they want to learn that day. These 300 videos consist of content ranging from answering common questions about the Chinese language, learning Mandarin from movies, newbie Mandarin lessons, and even more. ChinesePod also makes playlists for their viewers to help guide users based on each video’s content and difficulty level. Besides their YouTube channel, ChinesePod also has a website with even more learning materials giving learners access to an unbelievable amount of resources. ChinesePod is an exceptionally user-friendly platform that is perfect for all kinds of learners and easily one of the best Mandarin YouTube channels. 

Suggested Mandarin Level: All Levels

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best Mandarin YouTube Channels. For more fun ways to learn Mandarin, check out our article featuring the best Chinese shows on Netflix.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of NoxInfluencer, Photo 2 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 3 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 4 courtesy of NoxInfluencer, Photo 5 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 6 courtesy of Twitter