Learn Chinese for beginners

Chinese is written in Chinese characters. You learn to read it alongside speaking; you do not have to master it first.

Chinese is tonal: the same syllable can mean different things depending on pitch. You cannot learn that silently. Hear each sentence, say it aloud, and check which words the recogniser heard.

• 你好: hello
• 谢谢: thank you
• 我想喝茶。: i would like to drink tea.

1. 1

   Listen first

   Hear the Chinese sentence before you try it so your ear knows the target.

2. 2

   Say it out loud

   Say the sentence three times. Slow first, then natural speed.

3. 3

   Build it

   Rebuild the sentence from its words so the word order sticks.

4. 4

   Repeat tomorrow

   Start the next session with yesterday's sentences.

• Only reading and tapping, and never saying anything aloud.
• Memorising word lists with no sentences around them.
• Waiting until you feel ready to speak. You get ready by speaking.
• Studying for two hours once a week instead of fifteen minutes daily.
• Expecting fast results. Chinese takes about 2,200 hours to reach working proficiency, but basic spoken Chinese comes much sooner.