15 Chinese Movies on Netflix [1 of 2]

Hey there, Textbooks are great but sometimes you just want to learn Chinese in a fun and indirect way. Netflix is the best deal for an accessible and affordable way to access films, and luckily, there’s plenty of content on Netflix of which Chinese learners can take advantage. That’s right. If you’re already a Netflix subscriber, you don’t even need to get involved with any new streaming services to be able to learn with the best of the best. Beginning learner? No problem. We have some movies picked just for you, and also some more advanced films for the established learner. Let’s get started! But first, we’ll look a little closer at what learning Chinese through movies can do for you. Benefits of Learning Chinese Through Movies A language is much more than a series of words. Language, Chinese included, is strongly influenced by the culture surrounding it. It’s inherently imbued with rich meaning that’s clear only to the native speaker or to the astute student, and movies are a great way to increase your understanding of Chinese-language culture. For example, if you watch any more modern film that takes place in the present, you’ll probably pick up some slang and uniquely Chinese humor, both of which are quite fun to learn. You’ll also have the chance to connect with the language in a more immediate way. As opposed to reading words on a page, you’ll see and hear emotion, and hear tone of voice. Studying with films will also show you Chinese culture up close, through superb storytelling and stunning visuals, making it easier for you stay engaged. How to Study a Chinese Movie on Netflix Much of your experience in learning Chinese through movies will be influenced by what you already know. This doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from Chinese movies on Netflix if you’re a beginner, but here are some tips that can help you stay on top of your learning regardless of level. Take notes on vocabulary, sentence structure and accent. The most important thing to do is to take notes. Prolific notes. Make as much as you can out of each movie. The three most important things to take notes on are vocabulary, sentence structure and accent. By writing down as many words as you reasonably can, you’ll be building up an arsenal of knowledge that you can use later on. Sentence structure is also incredibly important. Take notes on how sentences are put together and compare the structures to other sentences from different resources. This will help you get used to Chinese syntax. Finally, remember to take notes on accents, because pronunciation is just as important as spelling. Be aware that the subtitles may not match the words in the film exactly. Of course, English translations will vary from the original Chinese and may not always be literal. However, something else to watch out for is that even Mandarin subtitles may not always match the exact words in the film. If you’re a beginner, this is good to be aware of so you don’t let it interfere with or distort your learning. If you’re an advanced student, this can be a potential learning opportunity. Try to pay close attention to the dialogue and see if you notice when it differs from the written Chinese. Make the most out of streaming. You don’t have to watch a movie from start to finish to learn. You can start at a scene you like and go from there. So if you can, consider going with streaming over a DVD rental. This way you can take days, or even weeks, with the same movie, moving through it systematically or picking and choosing scenes. If a movie is no longer available to stream, look for it on [the Netflix DVD mailing program]( or on other streaming or renting services. We included a few titles of our favorites on this list that used to be on Netflix and have since been removed. You can still enjoy them and learn from them! Bring any reference material you’ve gathered to your learning on [FluentU](. FluentU takes real-world Chinese videos—like [music videos, movie trailers, documentaries, news and inspiring talks]( turns them into personalized language learning lessons. It’s an entertaining method to immerse yourself in Chinese the way native speakers really use it, while actively building your vocabulary. FluentU has a wide range of contemporary videos, as you can see here: Don’t worry about your skill level being an issue when it comes to understanding the language: FluentU makes native Chinese videos approachable through interactive transcripts and subtitles. You’ll see definitions, in-context usage examples and helpful illustrations. Simply tap "add" to send interesting vocabulary words to your personal vocab list for later review. The powerful learning program turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning. The best part is that FluentU always keeps track of your vocabulary. It suggests content and examples based on the words you’re learning. You’re delivered a 100% personalized experience. Start using FluentU for free [on the website]( with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from [iTunes]( or the [Google Play store](. The 15 Best Chinese Movies on Netflix in 2020 In making this selection, great care has been taken to provide films for every learning level. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate learner or an advanced Chinese speaker, you’ll find a movie here that will benefit your skills. Order some Chinese food, and make it fun!Curl up and engage in productive relaxation. As you enjoy these films made instantly available to you, you can be learning and improving your skill levels when it comes to writing, reading, listening to and speaking Chinese. 1. ["Animal World"]( (2018) This film is perhaps one of the most interesting on this list. It features action, romance, a huge rock-paper-scissors tournament, killer clowns and Michael Douglas, making for a truly riveting viewing experience. "Animal World" is a great film for an advanced learner. There’s an interesting mix of vocabulary here, and as the film is about a teenage kid who finds himself in debt and in the middle of an exceptionally high-stakes gambling situation, you get a range of useful subject matter including everything from card games to finance. You’ll hear some more advanced Chinese sentence structures that really make you think. Note some of them down and challenge yourself to come up with different sentences using the same words as an exercise. 2. ["God of War"]( (2017) In "God of War," the Chinese coastline is dealing with the onslaught of pirates, but one general and his superior strategic prowess help turn the tide. This general is widely respected, always courteous and a true champion of the people. "God of War" is a good beginner movie. It has lots of clear dialogue that makes for great practice. For example, in one scene, the general is greeted for dinner, having arrived late, and his guests speak to him, providing good examples for any learner looking to brush up on etiquette. There’s also talk of strategy and tactics, as well as humorous dialogue, making it a worthwhile film to learn from. 3. ["Us and Them"]( (2018) In this movie, an encounter between strangers on a train leads to a relationship and a strong bond. The two protagonists are played by rising stars Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu. The rich dialogue in this movie is more suited to advanced learners. A true romance movie, "Us and Them" will not disappoint those who are romantics at heart. The story is very engaging and keeps you focused on the relationship between the two protagonists. As the film unfolds, they express their love to each other in some of the most beautiful dialogue I have witnessed from any Chinese production. "Us and Them" is a unique film that will be sure to keep you entertained while you’re learning and exercising your language skills. You may want to keep a tissue box nearby when watching, but don’t forget to practice! 4. ["This Is Not What I Expected"]( (2017) A delight for food lovers, this film tells the story of a young female chef who dares to experiment within a rigid environment. She adds her own artistic flair to dishes and pushes boundaries with her culinary creations. The movie takes you on an adventure of a young chef named Gu Sheng Nan. Gu Sheng Nan works as a chef at a hotel, where a businessman meant to buy the hotel stops by and tries several dishes. He’s very difficult to please and is dissatisfied with every dish, except for when the hotel manager asks Gu Sheng Nan to cook one especially for him. This movie is best for intermediate learners. The vocabulary is advanced, but the story is easy to follow. As you might expect, you’ll hear a lot of words having to do with cooking and food in this film. Although you’re bound to run into a few words you don’t know here and there in any movie, many learners will find it easy to understand the meaning through context. You’ll learn a lot from this, but it’ll also make you hungry, so it may be best watched while sampling some delicious Chinese food! 5. ["I Am Not Madame Bovary"]( (2016) You’ll find plenty of drama in this film, which is inspired in part by [the tale of Pan Jinlian]( who, along with an herbalist with whom she was having an affair, poisoned her husband. Pa Jinlian and the herbalist were then killed by her husband’s younger brother. In the movie, however, the story goes differently, but I won’t spoil it for you. This film is good for beginning and intermediate learners, with dialogue that’s clear and easy to follow. Here’s a sentence you can use for a simple writing exercise with this movie: 我不是潘金莲。 (wǒ bú shì pān jīn lián) — "I am not Pan Jinlian." Try swapping out parts of this sentence in different ways. For instance, instead of writing, "I am not Pan Jinlian," try writing "I am not hungry." We'll send you the rest of the tips next week, but if you want to get serious about learning with entertaining videos, we recommend you try [FluentU](. [Try it now with a 14-day free trial!]( [Get started with FluentU]( What do you think about FluentU's emails? [Thumbs up]( [Thumbs down](  Copyright © 2018 FluentFlix Limited, All rights reserved. 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