Outlier Chinese

Outlier Chinese Learn Chinese characters more efficiently with our revolutionary, easy-to-use, multilingual Chinese character dictionary for learners.

Outlier Linguistics in Taipei, Taiwan is a team of researchers dedicated to developing powerful tools for learning foreign languages. We are:

Ash Henson: CTO and Co-Founder. PhD Candidate, National Taiwan Normal University Department of Chinese. John Renfroe: CEO and Co-Founder. Former MA Student, National Taiwan Normal University Department of Chinese. Harvey Dam: Data Team Manager. MA in World

Languages, University of Utah. We're currently developing a revolutionary new dictionary of Chinese characters for learners that makes use of the latest research to create a system that will tremendously boost your ability to learn and remember characters.

07/04/2026

Mandarin and Cantonese are often called “dialects”—but are they really?

In this video, you’ll see a real example that shows just how different they are, both in speech and even in writing.

If you’re serious about actually speaking Mandarin or Cantonese, you need the right approach.

👉 Learn more here:
Mandarin: https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/products/get-speaking-mandarin-one
Cantonese: https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/products/cantonese-pronunciation-accent-masterclass-signup

29/03/2026

This is the first piece of oracle bone script you’ll ever read.

This is an early 干支表 (Heavenly Stems + Earthly Branches chart), first used for calendars and other purposes thousands of years ago.

Even though it looks completely foreign at first, these characters all have direct connections with modern characters.

What's more, the "Heavenly Stems" and "Earthly Branches" are still in use today—and still follow the same order they did 3300 years ago!

If you want to learn more about the history of the Chinese writing system (and read more ancient inscriptions like this), check out our course, The History of Chinese Writing: An Intro to Paleography: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/products/history-of-chinese-writing-an-intro-to-paleography

25/03/2026

A lot of beginners think children’s books are the best place to start.

They’re not.

They’re written for native-speaking kids—not adult learners.

That means:
• Vocabulary you don’t know
• Grammar you haven’t learned
• Rare characters you don't need

So instead of helping, they slow you down.

The fastest way to progress is using material designed specifically for adult learners—where everything builds in a logical way.

If you want a better approach, we’ve put together a free training on how to actually learn Chinese characters efficiently.

Watch the free training here → https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/webinar-signup

24/03/2026

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in a language:

Learning a ton of vocabulary before you’ve mastered the sound system.

It feels like progress—you’re learning words, recognizing more, maybe even forming sentences.

But if your pronunciation and perception aren’t solid yet, you’re building everything on a shaky foundation.

And over time, those mistakes get locked in.

That’s what we call fossilization.

At that point, fixing it takes way more time and effort than getting it right from the beginning.

If you want to avoid that (or fix it before it gets worse), we’ve put together a free tone training that walks you through exactly how to train your ear and pronunciation properly.

Get the free tone training here: https://www.outlier-linguistics.com/pages/tone-training-signup

21/03/2026

The Importance of Listening and Repeating Sentences

20/03/2026

What to Do When Flashcards Start Overwhelming You

18/03/2026

The Benefits of Musical Training for Language Learning

17/03/2026

Why Taiwan Is Such a Great Place to Live

16/03/2026

Why I Stopped Using Anki in Taiwan

15/03/2026

Using the Memory Palace Method to Remember Chinese

14/03/2026

Why Learning the Components of Chinese Characters Can Help You Down the Line

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