Free Chinese course
Learn everyday Chinese with short lessons, listening practice, and exercises.
Your progress
0 of 30 lessons completed
Start with lesson 1, or choose a lesson below.
How the course works
At your own pace. Each unit has three lessons, a review, and a checkpoint. Start at the beginning or choose a topic.
Practice and review. Incorrect exercise answers go to My review. Each lesson also includes speaking and writing tasks to try yourself.
Listening. Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Text and translations are available. The site does not record or grade your speech.
This course introduces everyday Mandarin, simplified characters, pinyin, and tones. It is not an HSK syllabus or a proficiency certificate.
Course units
6 units · 30 lessons01Sounds and first conversations
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
Sounds and first conversations
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointMeet tones, pinyin, greetings, and useful requests for help.
Learning outcome: Introduce yourself and keep a short exchange going.
- 01
Tones and your first greetings
Hear Mandarin’s four tones, read pinyin, and greet someone politely.
- 02
Pinyin sounds and names
Give your name and learn why Mandarin spelling needs its own sound habits.
- 03
Ask for repetition and help
Say when you do not understand and ask someone to slow down or repeat.
- 04
Review: your first meeting
ReviewCombine greetings, names, and requests for repetition in one short exchange.
- 05
Checkpoint: a first conversation
CheckpointCheck greetings, pinyin, names, and communication repair with eight questions.
02People and descriptions
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
People and descriptions
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointIdentify people, talk about family, and describe everyday things.
Learning outcome: Describe yourself and people you know in simple sentences.
- 06
People, identity, and yes–no questions
Use 是 to identify people and 吗 to ask a yes–no question.
- 07
Family and things you have
Show possession with 的 and use 有 and 没有 to talk about what you have.
- 08
Describe people and things
Build descriptions with 很 and adjectives, and negate them with 不.
- 09
Review: introduce someone
ReviewCombine identity, family, possession, and descriptions in a short introduction.
- 10
Checkpoint: people and descriptions
CheckpointCheck identification, possession, questions, and adjective statements.
03Numbers, time, and routines
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
Numbers, time, and routines
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointCount with measure words, tell the time, and describe a day.
Learning outcome: Arrange a time and say when and where you do things.
- 11
Numbers and measure words
Count to ninety-nine and choose 个, 本, or 杯 for a quantity.
- 12
Times, days, and dates
Tell the time, ask when, and arrange a day using larger-to-smaller order.
- 13
A day in your life
Combine subject, time, place, and action to describe a simple routine.
- 14
Review: make a daily schedule
ReviewReview quantities, times, and the order of a simple routine sentence.
- 15
Checkpoint: numbers, time, and routines
CheckpointCheck measure words, dates, times, and routine sentence order.
04Food, shopping, and places
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
Food, shopping, and places
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointOrder something, ask about prices, and find your way.
Learning outcome: Handle a short café, shop, or directions exchange.
- 16
Order food and drinks
Use 想, 要, and 喜欢 to state a preference and place a simple order.
- 17
Prices and small purchases
Ask how much something costs and understand common spoken money units.
- 18
Where things are and how to get there
Ask where a place is and follow short directions using 在 and location words.
- 19
Review: an afternoon out
ReviewCombine a food order, a price question, and directions in a short outing.
- 20
Checkpoint: everyday errands
CheckpointCheck your food requests, price questions, and direction phrases without adding new grammar.
05Plans and experiences
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
Plans and experiences
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointDistinguish ability and permission, completed events, and experiences.
Learning outcome: Say what you can do, what happened, and what you have tried.
- 21
Ability, permission, and plans
Choose 会, 能, 可以, or 想 to describe what you can or would like to do.
- 22
Completed actions with 了
Use 了 for a completed event and 没有 for an action that did not happen.
- 23
Experiences with 过
Ask whether someone has ever tried something or visited a place.
- 24
Review: ability, events, and experiences
ReviewChoose between learned skills, what is possible now, completed events, and past experiences.
- 25
Checkpoint: ability and experience
CheckpointCheck useful “can” patterns, completed actions, and experience statements in context.
06Connected conversations
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpoint0 / 5 complete
Connected conversations
5 lessons · Includes review and checkpointCompare choices, give reasons, and bring the course together.
Learning outcome: Take part in a practical conversation and plan further study.
- 26
Compare two choices
Use 比 to compare size, price, or temperature and decide between options.
- 27
Give reasons and connect actions
Link two ideas with 因为, 所以, 但是, and 然后.
- 28
Plan a day out together
Bring times, directions, food, preferences, and plans into one conversation.
- 29
Review: build a real conversation
ReviewCompare choices, connect ideas, and arrange an outing using familiar Mandarin.
- 30
Final checkpoint: a foundation conversation
CheckpointReview core Mandarin patterns through practical questions, listening, and short written answers.