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Learn Chinese, one level at a time

The complete Chinese grammar, explained in English — from the first sentence to the fine print. With exercises that remember what you know, and no account.

Start from scratchTopic 1: Reading pinyinI already know someFind your level in a few minutes

Your grammar learning path

156 topics in 6 categories, as one path from easy to hard. The rosette at the top shows your progress in each category, and “Next” always names exactly one topic to do next.

FoundationsBuilding blocksTensesVerbsSentencesFine-tuning

Up next

  1. 1Reading pinyin1
  2. 2The four tones1
  3. 3Tone changes1
  4. 4What a character is1
  5. 5Word order1
Open the learning path

What are you learning for?

Optional: pick a field and see how Chinese sounds there. Your choice stays in this browser only.

Chinese for travelling33 sentences · 18 wordsChinese for work35 sentences · 17 wordsChinese for studying in China32 sentences · 18 wordsChinese food and eating out31 sentences · 18 wordsEveryday Chinese: friends, phone and plans34 sentences · 18 wordsChinese festivals and traditions30 sentences · 18 words

All fields

Reading

Reading texts

Short texts from 1 to 5 — tap a word and its meaning appears above it.

All reading texts

Where you can start

For beginnersRight from the start: what you need first, in which order, and how to practise.The whole grammarAll 156 topics, sorted by area and each one given a level.The grammar as a mapThe tenses on a timeline — before the past, past, present, future — and every topic as a band by level.Practise14 modes in 3 groups, from the daily ration to a round against the clock. Your progress stays in the browser.Listening trainerHear words, stress, similar sounds and dialogues — in rounds of ten, slow or normal.From 1 to 55 levels, each with what it asks of you in the language — and the way there.See where you get stuckHow full each box is, your weakest areas, three weeks of history.About the languageWhere it comes from, where it is spoken, how its writing came about.Reading, by level50 texts from 1 to 5. Every word in them can be clicked and looked up.

Straight to a topic

Short cuts to single topics — every page with an explanation, examples and an exercise.

Vocabulary

Chinese vocabulary by topicThe most common words in ChineseGreetings in ChineseNumbers, time and dates in ChineseColours in ChineseFood and drink in ChineseWeather and seasons in ChineseChinese idioms and phrases

Grammar

Chinese grammar explainedChinese tenses at a glanceChinese verbs: forms and pitfallsChinese 1: the first levelChinese 2Chinese 3

Practise and test

Chinese exercises onlineChinese worksheets with answersChinese listening practiceChinese pronunciation practicePractise speaking ChineseChinese reading practice by levelPractise writing in ChineseChinese quiz with resultsChinese placement testStudy plan: every topic in orderLearning Chinese: common questions

Tools to keep at hand

Alongside the lessons: check texts, read, listen and test where you stand.

Text analysisPaste a text and see which words sit at which level.Writing checkCheck your own writing against the rules explained here.Vocabulary testFive questions per level, and you know which level your vocabulary is at.QuizTwenty quick questions across grammar and vocabulary.PronunciationHow the sounds are made and how they are spelled.Numbers, time, datesNumbers, times and dates — read, write, practise.

Look it up

Vocabulary by topic1000 most useful wordsVerbsTensesFalse friendsIdiomsCollocationsWord formation
Where the language is spokenWorld map. Countries where the language is official or spoken by the majority are filled in; countries with a significant minority are hatched. The list below the map names them all.Where the language is at homeA map, the history as a timeline and short facts to wonder at — to read if you like.

The levels from 1 to 5

This site puts every grammar topic at exactly one level, so you never work on something that sits far above your level.

1First steps
Pinyin and the tones, the first characters, introducing yourself, simple sentences with 是(shì) and 有(yǒu).26 topics2Foundations
Talk about your day, use 了(le) and 过(guo) for what has happened, compare things.49 topics3Intermediate
Tell a connected story, say how an action turned out and where it went, give reasons for an opinion.35 topics4Upper intermediate
Talk about society, work and culture, read longer texts.25 topics5Advanced
Follow newspaper articles and conversations at work, say exactly what you mean in the right tone.21 topics

I am Muno, and I change colour with the language. Chinese has four tones, and at first every word sounded the same to me. Now I put the pinyin under every character for you — until you no longer need it.

How an exercise works

Reading pinyin · Fill the gap

我(wǒ)有(yǒu) 本(běn)书(shū)。

Needed: the number spelled qī

Reading pinyin · Choose

我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)不(bù)想(xiǎng)___饭(fàn)。

  • 1 吃(chī)
  • 2 七(qī)
  • 3 十(shí)
  • 4 四(sì)

Reading pinyin · Flashcard

Front

The letters q, j and x are said with the tongue flat behind the lower teeth and the lips spread, never like English q or x.

Think first, then turn it over.

Speed round · 90 seconds

1:30

Answered: 0

Smart revision

·Box 1
·Box 2
·Box 3
·Box 4
·Box 5

What you know comes back in five weeks. What is shaky, tomorrow.

After three weeks

0 answers
0 correct
0 days in a row

The sentences come from this site’s own content. The progress figures are made up and are only there as an example.

What is in here

156 grammar topics in 17 areas, 1323 exercises in 5 exercise types, 5 levels. Every explanation, every example sentence and every exercise was written specially for this site.