Japanese & Chinese Learning Blog: Grammar Guides, Tips & Study Advice

Practical articles on learning Japanese and Mandarin Chinese as an adult. Written by Luke McLaughlin, creator of the Constructing Language courses.

The Constructing Language app is now available on the Apple App Store — bringing the Syntax Builder, Japanese Conjugator, and Mandarin Conjugator to your iPhone and iPad.

Duolingo, Pimsleur, Genki, or a structured audio course? An honest comparison of the best Japanese courses for beginners in 2026, with clear recommendations based on your learning goal.

Moving to Japan? Three months of focused study can take you from zero to functional. Here's exactly what to prioritise — and what to skip.

There are dozens of Mandarin audio courses on the market. Here's an honest breakdown of what to look for — and which one we'd actually recommend.

Most beginners learn Hiragana in 1–2 weeks. Here's the method that works — and why you should never use Romaji as a crutch.

Measure words are one of the first real stumbling blocks for Mandarin learners. Here's a clear explanation of how they work — and how to stop getting them wrong.

The te-form is one of the most versatile and frequently used verb forms in Japanese. Once you understand it, dozens of grammar patterns unlock at once.

Mandarin has a reputation for being impossibly hard. That reputation is mostly wrong — but you do need to approach it in the right order.

Learning Japanese as an adult is entirely possible — but the order in which you learn things matters enormously. Here's the roadmap we'd give every beginner.

Both are expensive. Both promise fluency. But for adult self-study learners, one is significantly better than the other — and neither is what we'd recommend.

Everyone is terrified of Mandarin tones before they start. Most people discover they're manageable within a few weeks. Here's why — and how to get there faster.

Particles are the glue of Japanese. Once you understand what they actually do — not just what the textbook says — everything else falls into place.

Every human being on earth learned their first language through sound, not text. We've been teaching second languages backwards for centuries.

I've lived with both languages for years. Here's my honest answer — and it's probably not what you expect.

I spent two years drilling Japanese grammar tables in a classroom. I could conjugate verbs perfectly. Then I landed in Tokyo and couldn't order a coffee. Here's what I changed.

Most language courses teach you to memorise phrases. The Construction Method teaches you to build them — and that changes everything.

Tones are the part of Mandarin that scares most learners. They do not have to be. Here is a practical approach that actually works.

Japanese particles are small words that do enormous work. Once you understand them, the whole grammar system opens up.

Every language learner hits the wall around month three. Here's what I've learned from hitting it in four different languages — and how to get through it.