It is important to note that many words in Chinese are defined differently than their English counterparts. For example, the word “cousin” in English has multiple words in Chinese depending on how exactly the person is related to you, and whether they fall under your paternal or maternal line. So while dictionaries are useful for giving a general definition, extra attention should be placed to when and how these words are used in Chinese as it isn’t always the same as in English.

You will know that you are on the road to fluency when you find yourself thinking in Chinese rather than English. Certain words and phrases are used extensively in Chinese without direct translations in English. So the next time someone asks where you want to sit and you instinctively reply suíbiàn or dōu kěyǐ, consider yourself on the right path!