Learn Chinese from zero

1. AStage 1Pinyin and pronunciationTones, initials, finals and spelling rules0/10

   Know this already? Take a short test to skip the whole stage.

   • The four tonesHear and say the four tones and the neutral toneUp next
   • Simple vowelsSay a o e i u ü
   • Initials b p m f d t n lTell aspirated from unaspirated sounds
   • Initials g k h j q xSay the back and front tongue sounds
   • Initials zh ch sh r z c sTell curled from flat tongue sounds
   • Compound finalsSay the compound finals
   • Nasal finals -n and -ngTell -n from -ng
   • Pinyin spelling rulesUse y, w, ü and place tone marks
   • Tone changes and the neutral toneHandle 3-3, 不 and 一
   • er, the r ending and reviewSay er and type the pinyin of words
2. BStage 2Character basicsStrokes, stroke order, radicals and how characters are made0/6

   Know this already? Take a short test to skip the whole stage.

   • Basic strokesKnow and write the 8 basic strokes
   • Stroke orderWrite strokes in the right order
   • Radicals (1)Recognise the 8 most common radicals
   • Radicals (2)12 more common radicals
   • How characters are madeUse the four types to guess meaning and sound
   • Sino-Vietnamese readingsUse Sino-Vietnamese readings to remember words
3. CStage 3Beginner 1 (≈ HSK 1)Eight everyday topics covering HSK 1 words0/32

   C1 · Hello and introductions

   • HelloGreet, thank, apologise and say goodbye
   • What’s your name?Ask names and say who you are
   • Where are you from?Say where you are from and what you speak
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C2 · Numbers, age and prices

   • NumbersCount from 0 to 99 and read phone numbers
   • How old are you?Ask age; say what you have
   • How much is it?Ask prices and bargain
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C3 · Dates and time

   • What’s the date?Say the date and the day of the week
   • What time is it?Tell the time and make plans
   • My dayTalk about your daily routine
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C4 · Family and work

   • How many in your family?Introduce your family
   • What do you do?Talk about jobs and workplaces
   • Nice to meet youMeet people, introduce friends, say what you like
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C5 · Food and drink

   • What would you like to eat?Say what you want to eat and drink
   • At the restaurantOrder food and praise it
   • At the supermarketSay where you go and what you buy
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C6 · Things and shopping

   • What is this?Name things and say whose they are
   • Buying clothesComment on clothes and pay
   • On the phoneMake a call and ask for someone
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C7 · Places and getting around

   • Where is it?Ask and say where things are
   • How do you get there?Talk about transport
   • Going to the cinemaInvite a friend out
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   C8 · Weather, health and free time

   • Today’s weatherTalk about the weather
   • Seeing a doctorSay you are ill and need rest
   • HobbiesTalk about hobbies and pets
   • Unit checkReview the whole unit

   Take a mock test of this level

Beginner 2 (≈ HSK 2) is coming soon.