Back to Blog
•5 min read

How to Use ChatGPT for Learning Chinese (What Works & What Doesn't)

Introduction

Hey! If you're learning Chinese (or any other language), you've probably dabbled with ChatGPT to help you with your studying. In this post I'm going to share the ways I've used ChatGPT to help me, as well as where I've found it's fallen a little short.

In this post, I'll break down:

  • What ChatGPT (and similar AI tools) do well for Chinese learning
  • Specific techniques and prompts that work
  • Where ChatGPT falls short
  • How to combine AI with other learning methods effectively

Whether you're a beginner or stuck at the intermediate plateau, I think using AI tools strategically can be super useful in your language learning journey.

What ChatGPT Does Well for Chinese Learning

1. Grammar Explanations and Clarifications

ChatGPT is brilliant at explaining Chinese grammar concepts in clear, accessible language. Also, if the first explanation doesn't click, you can say "Can you explain that using simpler examples/only HSK1-3 vocab?" or "What's the English equivalent of this pattern?", giving you the time and explanations to really make sure it's clear.

This ability to keep going and clarifying until you 100% understand is a game changer, as it isn't always possible in shared class time or when you're studying from a textbook.

Example prompts that work well:

  • "Explain the difference between 了 (le) as a particle vs. 了 as a verb complement"
  • "Why do we say 我吃了飯 but not 我吃飯了? What's the grammar rule?"

2. Generating Example Sentences

Sometimes it's really helpful to see target vocab used in a range of different contexts, particularly as textbooks often have just one or two examples. ChatGPT can generate multiple example sentences quickly, helping you understand nuance and usage patterns.

Example prompts:

  • "Please give me 10 sentences in traditional Chinese characters using 居然 in different contexts"
  • "Create sentences in traditional Chinese characters using 不但...而且 at HSK 4 level"

3. Translation and Natural Phrasing Checks

Sometimes it's helpful to get feedback on the naturalness of a sentence, so you can ask ChatGPT whether a sentence sounds like how a native speaker would express the idea.

Example prompts:

  • "How would a native speaker say 'I've been learning Chinese for 2 years'?"
  • "What's a more natural way to express this: [your sentence]"

4. Vocabulary Exploration

When you get to the level where you're learning multiple words that mean roughly the same thing, ChatGPT can help you explore word relationships, synonyms, and usage contexts.

Example prompts:

  • "What's the difference between 高興, 開心, and 快樂?"
  • "When should I use 正常, 平常, and 普通? Please give me example sentences for each one (use traditional Chinese characters)."

5. Conversation Practice

You can also have ad-hoc conversations in Chinese with ChatGPT, which lets you practice expressing yourself and your ideas in a low-pressure environment.

Example approach:

  • "Let's have a conversation in Chinese about daily routines. Please correct my mistakes as we go."
  • "I'm going to write about my weekend in Chinese. Please respond naturally and point out any errors I make."

Specific Techniques That Work

"Explain Like I'm A Beginner"

When grammar explanations get too complicated, ask ChatGPT to simplify them:

"I don't understand your explanation of 得 (de). Please can you explain it using only HSK 1-3 vocabulary and very simple grammar?"

The Comparison Method

It's also useful to get ChatGPT to create side-by-side comparisons:

"Please create a table comparing 雖然...但是 and 儘管...還是, with example sentences for each pattern using only traditional Chinese characters."

The Progressive Correction Method

Write a paragraph in Chinese, then ask:

"Please identify and correct any grammar mistakes, unnatural phrasing, or better word choices in this paragraph. Explain each correction."

Where ChatGPT Falls Short

Although ChatGPT is a powerful and useful tool, it does have limitations for serious language learners:

1. No Spaced Repetition System

ChatGPT won't remind you to review vocabulary at optimal intervals. Every conversation starts fresh, i.e. it doesn't track which words you're struggling with or schedule reviews to help them stick in your long-term memory.

The problem: You might have a great conversation practicing new vocabulary today, but without systematic spaced repetition review, you'll probably forget most of it within a week.

2. No Progress Tracking

There's no way to see your improvement over time, identify patterns in your mistakes, or understand which areas need more work.

The problem: You can't answer questions like "Am I actually getting better?" or "Which grammar patterns do I consistently struggle with?" There's no consolidated record of what you've learned and what still needs more work.

3. Prompt Engineering Fatigue

Every time you want to practice, you need to craft effective prompts. This adds friction and cognitive load to your practice sessions.

The problem: Instead of just practicing Chinese, you're also constantly thinking about how to ask ChatGPT for what you need. This extra mental load can make daily practice feel like too much work.

4. General-Purpose Feedback vs Specialized Feedback

ChatGPT provides general feedback on your writing, but when you're practicing specific vocabulary, you need feedback focused on whether you're using those target words correctly and naturally.

The problem: When using ChatGPT for sentence practice, the feedback might focus on grammar, style, or word choice throughout the entire sentence, but what you really need is targeted feedback on whether you're using your specific target vocabulary correctly. Without that focus, it's easy to miss whether you actually understand how to use the word you're trying to practice.

5. No Structure for Output Practice

ChatGPT won't systematically make sure you're practicing active production with your target vocabulary, e.g. writing sentences. You have to design and maintain that structure yourself.

The problem: Without structure, practice becomes random and inefficient. You might avoid words you find difficult rather than deliberately practicing them.

6. Limited Context Awareness

While ChatGPT can have conversations, it doesn't remember your learning goals, level, or past difficulties across sessions (unless you're using custom instructions or memory features, which require setup).

The problem: You end up repeating the same context-setting in every session, or the AI suggests vocabulary way above or below your level.

When to Use Purpose-Built Language Learning Tools

Given these limitations, purpose-built language learning tools become valuable when you need:

  • Systematic review - Spaced repetition to ensure vocabulary sticks
  • Progress tracking - Understanding what you've mastered vs what needs work
  • Targeted feedback - Purpose-built feedback focused on your specific learning goals (e.g. target vocabulary usage)
  • Structured practice - A system that ensures you're practicing the right things at the right time
  • Focused learning environment - No prompt engineering, just practice

For example, if you're at the intermediate level and struggle to actively use the vocabulary you know, a tool specifically designed for sentence production practice with spaced repetition can be more effective than ad-hoc ChatGPT conversations.

This is exactly why we built SentenceLab: to provide structured output practice with targeted feedback and spaced repetition, specifically targeting the intermediate plateau problem. But the principle applies to other specialized tools too, as sometimes you need purpose-built solutions rather than general-purpose AI.

My Recommended Approach: Combine Both

The best strategy isn't "ChatGPT vs specialized tools", it's using both strategically:

Use ChatGPT for:

  • Quick grammar explanations and clarifications
  • Generating example sentences to understand usage
  • Exploring vocabulary relationships and nuances
  • Ad-hoc translation checks
  • Supplementary conversation practice

Use specialized tools for:

  • Systematic vocabulary review with spaced repetition
  • Structured output practice (speaking/writing)
  • Progress tracking and identifying weak areas
  • Building consistent daily practice habits
  • Targeted skill development (e.g. sentence production)

By combining both: ChatGPT works well as a helpful tutor that you can consult anytime, and specialized tools work as your structured curriculum and practice system.

Practical Example For A Combined Approach

How you could use both in your daily study routine:

Morning (10 minutes):

  • Use a spaced repetition tool (like SentenceLab for sentence practice, or HackChinese for flashcards) to review vocab that's due

Lunch break (20 minutes):

  • Review a grammar point in your textbook
  • Ask ChatGPT for clarification with examples
  • Add any new insights to your notes

Evening (15 minutes):

  • Complete your structured practice session (writing sentences with target vocabulary, getting feedback)
  • If you're unsure about a specific word's usage, quickly check with ChatGPT for additional examples

Weekend:

  • Have a longer conversation practice session with ChatGPT on a topic you're interested in
  • Note any vocabulary gaps or repeated mistakes to focus on during the week

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT (and similar AI tools) are powerful additions to your Chinese learning toolkit, but they're additions, not replacements for structured study methods. Use them for their strengths (flexibility, explanations, instant availability), while relying on purpose-built tools for the structure, consistency, and systematic review that AI chatbots can't provide. And it goes without saying, in an ideal world all of these should be support tools used alongside teacher-led learning, which nothing can replace.

The key to utilizing AI is being strategic: understand what each tool does best and build a learning system that leverages multiple resources effectively!

Ready to add structured output practice to your learning routine?

If you're an intermediate learner (HSK 4-6) struggling to actively use the words you know, try SentenceLab free for 7 days to bridge the gap between knowing words and actually using them.