How to Say “I study Chinese” in Chinese

Variants by register

When to use it

中文 (zhōng wén) emphasizes the written language and is the default word foreigners use. 汉语 (hàn yǔ) is the more academic term you'll see on HSK certificates and in textbooks. In Taiwan people say 国语 (guó yǔ) or 华语 (huá yǔ), since 中文 there can feel political. Add 在 before 学 to stress you're actively studying right now: 我在学中文. When Chinese people hear this they almost always respond with 你中文说得真好!; accept the compliment with a humble 哪里哪里 (nǎ li nǎ li, 'not at all').

Example sentences

• 我学中文已经两年了。

  Wǒ xué zhōng wén yǐ jīng liǎng nián le.

  I've been studying Chinese for two years.

• 我在大学学中文。

  Wǒ zài dà xué xué zhōng wén.

  I study Chinese at university.

• 我每天都学一点中文。

  Wǒ měi tiān dōu xué yī diǎn zhōng wén.

  I study a little Chinese every day.