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Learn Chinese.
Master HSK.
Completely Free.
A complete HSK 1-3 course plus a parallel character course, with spaced-repetition practice in three modes — flashcards, sentence speaking, and character writing. Everything you need to start speaking Mandarin.
HSK Course
Complete HSK 1-3 curriculum, completely online and free. Structured lessons with a variety of activities to keep you engaged. Pair it with the Character Course below for a complete reading and writing foundation.
Variety of Activities
Each lesson includes images, audio, slow audio playback, and text exercises to help you learn vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension.
Character Course
A dedicated track for the 460 characters that build HSK 1-3. Learn stroke order, components, and example words — one character at a time, in its own structured curriculum.
Stroke Order
Animated stroke-by-stroke guides, plus interactive practice that grades your handwriting.
Component Breakdowns
See how each character is built from radicals and simpler parts, so new characters click into place faster.
Example Words
Every character is paired with the HSK words it shows up in, so you can see characters working in context — not in isolation.
Run it alongside the HSK Course or treat it as its own track. Either way, by the end you'll know all 460 characters that unlock HSK 1-3 reading.
Practice with Spaced Repetition
Three practice modes, one progress system. Drill vocabulary with smart flashcards, build pronunciation by speaking sentences out loud, and learn characters by writing them by hand.
Flashcards
Drill HSK vocabulary across six prompts (Chinese ↔ English ↔ Pinyin ↔ Audio) so each skill levels up independently.
Speak
Practice full sentences out loud and get scored on pronunciation. Builds rhythm, tones, and the confidence to actually speak.
Write
Trace characters by hand with stroke-by-stroke checking. Spaced repetition surfaces the ones you're about to forget.
Flashcards: 6 prompt directions
Each direction is tracked separately, so the system surfaces exactly the link you're weakest on.
Create Your Own Decks
Beyond the HSK words, build custom flashcard decks for any topic. Import in any format, or describe what you want and let AI generate it.
Learner Quotes
Real reactions from people using LearnChinese.ai.
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The Power of Characters
Chinese words are built from characters. By learning 600 words, you learn 460 characters. Those same characters combine to form thousands more words you can read.
By the end of HSK 3, you know 600 words built from 460 characters. Those same characters let you recognize 2,240 words from the full HSK 3.0 vocabulary—even if you haven't formally studied them yet.
Learn the Most Useful Words First
HSK levels are designed around word frequency. You start with the most common, practical vocabulary—then build steadily on that foundation level by level.
Introduce yourself, order food, ask basic questions, and handle simple daily situations.
Make plans, talk about routines, shop, ask directions, and keep short conversations going.
Have real conversations, follow slow and clear videos, and read easy texts with confidence.
Each level adds a manageable set of high-frequency words, so you can make real progress quickly without feeling overwhelmed.
More Tools to Explore
Beyond the course and flashcards, there's more to help you master Chinese. New tools and improvements are always being added.
Hanzi Lookup
Look up any Chinese character to see stroke order, components, and example words. A quick reference for when you need to check a specific character — separate from the SRS writing drills in Practice.
Look Up a CharacterFun Games
Play HANZI HUNTER and TONE TRIALS. Make learning addictive with gamified practice.
Play GamesRecommended Learning Path
You can use the site however you want, but here's one recommended approach to maximize your learning.
Start with the Course
Begin with HSK 1 Lesson 1. Follow the structured lessons in order. Each lesson introduces new vocabulary, grammar, and practice activities. Take your time and don't rush.
Add Custom Decks
Create flashcard decks for topics you're interested in. Use AI to generate decks instantly, or browse public decks created by other learners. This keeps you motivated and learning relevant vocabulary.
Practice Every Day
Spend a few minutes a day on Practice. Drill flashcards for vocab, speak sentences out loud, and write characters by hand — all three modes share one progress system, so the cards you're closest to forgetting always come back first.
Speak Out Loud
Speak out loud as you go through the course. Reading sentences aloud builds muscle memory for tones and pronunciation. Test yourself with the speaking tool for focused practice.
Supplement with Other Resources
Use this site alongside YouTube videos, graded readers, and native content. The more input you get, the faster you'll learn.
Completely Free
No subscriptions. No paywalls. No hidden costs. Just pure learning.
Ad-supported to cover costs and provide a free learning experience.
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