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Learn Chinese.
Master HSK.
Completely Free.
A complete HSK 1–4 course library plus a parallel character course, with spaced-repetition practice for flashcards, sentence speaking, and character writing. HSK 4 is rolling out now, and every level stays free.
HSK Course
The full HSK 1–4 curriculum, online and free: structured lessons with a variety of activities to keep you engaged. HSK 4 lessons are rolling out now, and the entire series remains free.
Variety of Activities
Every lesson pairs new vocabulary and grammar with images, audio (including slow playback), and text exercises — so you see, hear, and use everything you learn.
Character Course
A dedicated track for the 417 characters introduced across HSK 1–4. 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, it gives every HSK 1–4 character dedicated space for handwriting, components, pronunciation, and vocabulary practice.
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.
What Learners Say
Real reactions from people learning Chinese with LearnChinese.ai.
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Vocabulary and Characters, Together
Follow the complete 1,200-word HSK 1–4 vocabulary path while the parallel Character Course helps you understand, recognize, and write every character introduced along the way.
Free HSK 2.0 library
1,200
syllabus words
Structured across HSK 1, 2, 3, and 4—from first conversations to more detailed reading and discussion.
Parallel Character Course
417
character lessons
Practice stroke order, components, pronunciation, and example words for the characters introduced through HSK 4.
HSK 1 HSK 2 HSK 3 HSK 4
One connected learning path. Free forever.
Learn the words in context, then use the Character Course to see how their building blocks connect. The two tracks reinforce each other without putting either behind a subscription.
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.
Discuss work, travel, news, and opinions, follow longer conversations, and read more detailed texts.
Lessons rolling out now
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 — quick, arcade-style rounds that sharpen character recognition and tone listening while you take a break from studying.
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 and follow the lessons in order. Each one introduces new vocabulary, grammar, and practice activities — finishing a lesson well beats finishing it fast.
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, podcasts, graded readers, and native content — and above all, talk with people. A tutor, a language exchange partner, or a Chinese-speaking friend turns what you study here into real conversation. The more input and real practice you get, the faster you'll learn.
Free HSK 2.0, forever
The complete HSK 2.0 course stays free. I'm releasing the new HSK 1 book a little early for $10 once—no subscription.
The site is ad-supported, so every course and practice tool stays free.
Ready to Learn Chinese?
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