HSK 1 — Beginner
Your first step into Mandarin Chinese. Build a foundation of 500 official HSK 1 words, 54 grammar patterns, and the confidence to hold basic conversations.
How Our Lessons Work
Informed by university-level Chinese language pedagogy and Singapore MOE's principles for AI-assisted learning — every lesson is designed for active, scaffolded practice.
Dialogue-First Learning
Every lesson opens with a realistic conversation so you hear words in context before studying them individually.
Scaffolded Feedback
Practice questions give hints before answers — guided discovery helps you build intuition, not just memorize.
Interleaved Practice
Vocabulary, grammar, flashcards, and quizzes are woven together so your brain forms stronger connections.
Cultural Context
Language doesn't exist in a vacuum. Cultural notes explain why Chinese speakers say things the way they do.
Lessons
50 lessons across 13 units. Each lesson introduces 6-13 new words, 1-3 grammar points, and weaves them into dialogues, writing practice, flashcards, and quizzes.
How each unit works
Every unit follows the same four-step arc — from a quick overview to a format-faithful exam.
- Step 1
Overview
A one-page tour of the unit's arc — the topics you'll meet, the new grammar you'll unlock, and the cultural context behind it.
- Step 2
Lessons
The core teaching surface — dialogue, vocabulary, grammar, writing practice, exercises, and the Mastery Mission. One lesson at a time.
- Step 3
Review
Pull every lesson in the unit back together — flashcards, mixed quizzes, and a mastery checklist so nothing decays before the exam.
- Step 4
Exam
A timed, format-faithful test on the unit — Listening + Reading + Writing (and Speaking on HSK 7-9). Practice mode or full Exam mode.
By the End of HSK 1
Listening
Understand simple dialogues within 80 characters, spoken clearly at 100+ characters per minute.
Speaking
Pronounce all Band 1 syllables correctly. Hold basic interactions on familiar topics.
Reading
Recognize syllables, characters, and vocabulary at 80+ characters per minute.
Writing
Handwrite 100 required characters at 10+ characters per minute with correct stroke order.
Recommended Culture Reading
Language is inseparable from culture. These articles give you context that makes your vocabulary come alive.