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.

Practise now See the levels first

How an exercise works

Reading pinyin · Fill the gap

我(wǒ)有(yǒu) 本(běn)书(shū)。

Base form: 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.

Your grammar learning path145 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-tuningOpen the learning path

The levels from 1 to 5

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

1First steps
Pinyin and the tones, the first characters, introducing yourself, simple sentences with 是(shì) and 有(yǒu).27 topics 2Foundations
Talk about your day, use 了(le) and 过(guo) for what has happened, compare things.44 topics 3Intermediate
Tell a connected story, say how an action turned out and where it went, give reasons for an opinion.29 topics 4Upper intermediate
Talk about society, work and culture, read longer texts.24 topics 5Advanced
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.

Where you can start

The whole grammarAll 145 topics, sorted by area and each one given a level.The grammar as a mapThe tenses on a timeline — before, past, now, future — and every topic as a band by level.Practise17 modes in 4 groups, from the daily ration to a round against the clock. Your progress stays in the browser.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.

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 testThirty questions, 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 topic 1000 most useful words Verbs Tenses False friends Idioms Collocations Word formation

What is in here

145 grammar topics in 17 areas, 1233 exercises in 5 exercise types, 5 levels. Every explanation, every example sentence and every exercise was written specially for this site.