Making Chinese Friends

[Carrie key]

Things are good for roughly a month since I got to beijing from US. 

I don't want to make too many US friends since I'm in China. I've tried a few apps that can help me make some local friends n practise my Chinese better, is there any recommendation? I know 陌陌, tinder, divercity n wechat? is there anything else?

[Demonic_Duck]

There's a Chinese version of Tinder called 探探.

 

Other than that, just get involved in group activities you're interested in (if you're at a university, join a society, if not, look up events on near you etc.)

[arreke]

How about HelloTalk?

Have been using it for a couple of days, works like Wechat, but for the language partners only.

Here is a nice review about it

http://www.fluentin3months.com/hellotalk-review/

Moreover, as Demonic_Duck said, why not just switch off the internet, go out of the room and make friends with Chinese people nearby, just like we did in old days ))

[tallcity]

if there are any English Corner, or English Conversation clubs on or off campus, is a good place to meet friendly Chinese.

[ChTTay]

I'd seek out activity groups for things you already like to do and make friends based around those.

The problem will English corner or language partners is that they will often want to speak English with you and you Chinese with them. If you find common interests - sports or whatever - then it means your relationship is based on that. Probably means you'll speak a lot of Chinese as the other people may have no interest in English

[vellocet]

Don't use software to make friends. This isn't' America.  Leave your old life behind and embrace new experiences.  Just get out there and talk to people. 

[Mindmaxd]

Try to join some english-chinese QQ group and then talk there,if you find some people you are interested you can add them then.

[Flickserve]

Moreover, as Demonic_Duck said, why not just switch off the internet, go out of the room and make friends with Chinese people nearby, just like we did in old days ))

This.

There is a lot to be said for finding people with common interests such as table tennis, soap opera gossip, rock climbing , food or whatever. That makes a big difference. A bit of random luck is involved.

There is a great post in this forum about having a crush on somebody breaking down barriers to making friends. Can't remember exactly where it is now but a tactic to consider.

[Lu]

Here. Some more great advice on how you don't need friends but just people to talk to is further down that thread. That one basically boils down to: it's better to talk to someone you don't really like than to not talk to someone at all. If you make friends in the process, that's great; if you don't, at least you've talked to someone.

[AdamD]

arreke's HelloTalk tip is gold. Search for people near you and make some friends.

 

Douban (豆瓣) has some English-related groups in which people advertise a handful of ads for English Corners in Beijing. Have a look at these groups:

 

◎变态学英语交流小组◎ ( http://www.douban.com/group/149062/ )

说英语 English partners ( http://www.douban.com/group/partners/ )

英语听说交流 ( http://www.douban.co...nglishPractice/ )

English Corner ( http://www.douban.co...douban-E-group/ )

 

Here's a free event in Chaoyang to start you off: http://www.douban.com/group/topic/75063099/

 

Some of my best experiences in China involved talking to random people. If you hit it off with someone, have 微信 at the ready so you can keep in touch.

[Simon_CH]

 

 

Don't use software to make friends. This isn't' America.  Leave your old life behind and embrace new experiences.  Just get out there and talk to people. 

 

Huh? Yes it isn't America, it's China, where making friends online is way more common than in the West.

 

Ask your Chinese friends where they meet new people and you'll be surprised... as far as I know Whatsapp doesn't quite have the same features as Wechat and dating apps such as TanTan are extremely widely used. 

[Demonic_Duck]

All the same, I stand by my idea of joining clubs and societies as being one of the best ways of making friends. You have at least one guaranteed mutual interest already!

 

I'd agree that staying away from "English corners" is probably best if your main goal is to practice your Chinese. I'm an advocate for language exchanges, but the very concept of an "English corner" hinges on English being the only language of communication being used there (at least in an idealised situation).

[AdamD]

In my very limited English Corner experience, an English speaker walks in the room, is mobbed and leaves with a large list of new 微信 contacts. Of those contacts, at least some will burn out on English pretty quickly and fall back to Chinese. Others will be fair and reciprocal with language exchange. You can arrange to stay in touch with the ones who suit you best, meet their friends, etc.

The very worst that can happen is you lose a couple of hours.

[chinesenoob]

Don't use software to make friends. This isn't' America.  Leave your old life behind and embrace new experiences.  Just get out there and talk to people.

 

Hmm... as Simon said online interaction is pretty much how everyone under 40 meet new people in china at least that's the impression I got

 

You can meet loads of people on WeChat by using the look around feature or shake if you're desperate lol