The best Christmas gifts for Chinese learners

Christmas is the season of giving — and for Mandarin Chinese learners, it’s always the season of learning.

If you have a friend, child, partner, or student who’s learning Chinese, here are some useful, learner-approved gift ideas. Most of them are affordable, easy to buy online (Taobao / JD / Amazon), and designed to support real progress in Hanzi, vocabulary, listening and study habits.

Table of Contents

1. A Good Pen for Writing Hanzi

Approx. price: ~8 RMB / a few USD

A sharp pen makes writing and learning Chinese Hanzi characters easier and more pleasant. And with hours of writing to do, the person you give it to will certainly be thankful. We can recommend a pen such as the Uni-ball Eye 0.5mm, because the ink flows nicely but doesn’t stain. You can find it on many online stores (such as Taobao) but also in offline shops in Shanghai.

👉 Tip for gift-givers:
Add a Hanzi practice notebook or squared paper notebook (田字格 / 米字格) to create a simple “Chinese writing set”.

2. Post-It Notes for Vocabulary Around the House

Approx. price: 10–30 RMB / 3–10 USD

Narrow ones, square ones, large ones; whatever color or brand, Post-It’s are a popular yet simple tool to learn Chinese. Write down the name of something in your house, stick a Post-It to it, and be reminded of that name daily. You’ll have hundreds of relevant items to stick a Post-It on, so hundreds of relevant opportunity to learn new Chinese vocabulary.

3. A Hanzi calendar

Approx. price: ~50–100 RMB

Perfect for knowing which day it is, but also learning some new Hanzi every day. Taobao (search for 日历) is perfect for getting them cheap. There are calendars about movie stars, Chinese legends and paintings with a little text on every day. For this one with Hanzi characters, search for ‘汉字日历’.

4. A Comfortable Study Lamp

Approx. price: ~100–500 RMB

Chinese takes time. A good study lamp makes those long evenings of reading characters and reviewing vocabulary much easier on the eyes.

What to look for:

Adjustable brightness and preferably color temperature
Stable light with no obvious flicker
A flexible arm or neck to angle the light onto books
Cordless / rechargeable (optional, but nice)

Example category:

In China: 小米台灯, 智能台灯, 学习台灯 on Taobao / JD
Internationally: “LED desk lamp with adjustable brightness”

Why this matters for Chinese learning:

Learners spend hours reading: textbooks, graded readers, apps
Good lighting reduces eye strain and keeps them comfortable longer
It makes their study corner feel special and dedicated to learning

👉 Gift combo idea:
Pair a lamp with a Chinese graded reader or Hanzi notebook for a themed “Study Corner Upgrade” gift.

5. A Bluetooth Speaker for Listening Practice

Approx. price: ~79–1500 RMB / ~20–200+ USD

Listening is essential for Mandarin: tones, rhythm, natural speed. A Bluetooth speaker makes listening more enjoyable — and louder than a phone. This one from SAST on JD is 130 RMB and the reviews are good. Also great for listening to Chinese listening practice stories.

How learners can use it:

Listen to Chinese podcasts
Play graded listening stories or dialogues
Stream Chinese music, dramas, or YouTube channels
Play background study music (Chopin, lo-fi beats, or… yes, even Dua Lipa)

Price ranges:

Budget speakers: very affordable, fine for bedroom use
High-end (Bose / Marshall / etc.): expensive, great sound but not necessary for language learning

What to search for:

On Chinese platforms: 蓝牙音箱, 便携音箱
Internationally: “portable Bluetooth speaker for study / bedroom”

👉 Chinese-learning tip for the learner:

Don’t just use the speaker for music.
Dedicate at least 15–30 minutes a day to:

Slow Chinese podcasts

Short dialogues on HSK topics

Graded listening apps (beginner → intermediate)

6. A Back Pillow or Seat Cushion for Long Study Sessions

Approx. price: ~30–50 RMB / ~5–15 USD

Study in a constant bear-hug, or get comfort from a crab. Search for 椅子垫 on Taobao.

Chinese learners often sit for long periods, especially when:

Writing characters
Reviewing flashcards
Reading graded readers
Attending online classes

A supportive back pillow or seat cushion can make a big difference.

Examples:

Cute animal-shaped pillows (bears, crabs, etc.)
Simple ergonomic back cushions
Chair cushions you tie onto the seat

What to search for in Chinese:

椅子垫 — chair cushion
靠背垫 — backrest cushion
抱枕 — hugging pillow

👉 Gift-giving angle:
This is a fun, cozy, not-too-serious gift that still supports the learner’s study habit: “So you can study Chinese in comfort.”

Digital Mandarin learning subscriptions

(~10 to 80 USD)
Dong Chinese, HackChinese, Du Chinese, Yoyo Chinese, The Chairman’s Bao, Dong Chinese – any of these digital subscriptions is a great supplement to learning in classes, to self-improve reading, vocabulary or pronunciation. Use these codes to get some discounts.

See our partner page for the most up-to-date coupon codes & discounts.

And otherwise… you can also give conventional gifts like socks or perfume or cinema tickets. Chinese learners are just normal human beings too!

How to Choose the Right Gift for a Chinese Learner

When picking a Christmas gift, think about:

Their level
- Beginner: pinyin aids, basic character calendars, simple apps
- Intermediate: graded readers, Hanzi tools, subscriptions
- Advanced: native materials, news-based reading, advanced courses
Their learning style
- Visual: calendars, Post-Its, character posters
- Audio: speakers, podcasts, listening apps
- Kinesthetic / tactile: pens, notebooks, writing practice, calligraphy
Their environment
- Do they have a quiet study corner? → lamp, cushion, desk items
- Do they commute often? → phone-based apps, Bluetooth earphones

Wrap-Up: Give the Gift of Better Chinese Learning

The best Christmas gifts for Chinese learners are not just cute or decorative — they support real habits:

Regular writing
Daily reading
Consistent listening
Comfortable, focused study time

Whether you choose a simple pen and Hanzi notebook, a Hanzi calendar, or a full digital subscription, you’re not just giving an object. You’re giving them more momentum and joy in their Mandarin journey.