Resources
Guides, articles, and product updates for the serious learner.
Is Taiwanese a Different Language From Chinese?
Taiwanese Mandarin is a dialect of Chinese; Taiwanese Hokkien is a separate language entirely. Here's how to tell which 'Taiwanese' someone means.
TOCFL Exam Day: What to Expect and What to Bring
Everything you need for TOCFL exam day in Taiwan: ID requirements, test center check-in, CBT format, section timing strategy, and when results arrive.
TOCFL Band A Grammar: Aspect Markers and Complements
The grammar that controls TOCFL Band A gap-fill and reading scores: 了, 過, resultative and potential complements, 把, and negation — with examples.
Parts of Speech in Chinese: A Quick Reference
The word classes of Mandarin Chinese, from nouns and measure words to the verb subtypes that trip up English speakers—with examples and short explanations.
TOCFL Band A Grammar: Eight Patterns to Know
TOCFL Band A has no grammar section, but the reading gap-fill tests eight patterns that eliminate unprepared candidates. Examples mapped to Dangdai Books 1–2.
TOCFL Band C Grammar: Written-Register Patterns
Which 書面語 grammar patterns control your TOCFL Band C reading score, how they are tested, and which Dangdai books introduce each one.
Dangdai Book 4: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Study Strategy
A practical study guide to Dangdai Book 4: the grammar patterns that define 書面語, ~1,000 new words, TOCFL Band B Level 4, and the written-register shift.
TOCFL Band B Grammar: Advanced Connectives
Grammar patterns that determine your TOCFL Band B score: concessive, conditional, and preference connectives with Traditional Chinese examples.
Phonetic Components in Traditional Chinese Characters
Traditional Chinese characters signal their own pronunciation—if you know where to look. A practical guide to phonetic components for TOCFL vocabulary.