Shirpas is an independent language-learning project created by David DuVal.
The site began as a place to save and share notes with language-learning partners. Its main focus is practical Chinese: regional dialects, everyday expressions, Mandarin usage, culture, and the small discoveries that make language study memorable.
Learning through real conversations
Many of the dialect collections grew from conversations and submissions shared by friends. Shirpas keeps those contributions available to learners who are curious about the many ways Chinese is spoken across different regions.
The archive also contains earlier Mandarin and Vietnamese study notes. They remain part of the project’s history and reflect the ongoing process of learning languages over time.
Shirpas is a NetCreated website. Special thanks to friends from Friends Together and to everyone who has helped with regional Chinese expressions and language practice.