Learn Mandarin Chinese

Free, friendly guides for your first months of Mandarin: how the sounds work, how characters are built, and the everyday words to learn first.

• 学How to Start Learning Mandarin Chinese: A Beginner's PlanWhere to begin, what to learn first and how to keep going a little every day. · 7 min read
• 声Mandarin Tones: A Beginner's Guide to the Four TonesThe four tones and the neutral tone, the tone changes to know, and how to practice. · 7 min read
• 拼Pinyin Guide: How to Read and Pronounce Chinese PinyinInitials, finals, tone marks and the letters that trip up English speakers. · 6 min read
• 部Chinese Radicals: 20 Common Radicals and What They MeanThe building blocks of characters, with 20 common radicals and their meanings. · 6 min read
• 写Chinese Stroke Order Rules: How to Write CharactersThe basic strokes and the rules for writing any character in the right order. · 6 min read
• 词Everyday Chinese Words: 125+ Words with PinyinWords for the things around you, with characters, pinyin and English. · 8 min read

Want to practice what you read? Memphys is a Mandarin learning app that teaches you words from the world around you, with speaking, writing and a Memphys, a little pet who grows as you learn.