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Mandarin Chinese Level 1
Language Learning

Mandarin Chinese Level 1

Focused on the first stage of Mandarin, this material explains pinyin, the four tones and a core set of Chinese characters. You will learn greetings, numbers, dates, family terms and simple sentence patterns, gaining a dependable foundation for reading short texts, writing basic characters and understanding how Mandarin grammar fits together.

Levels
4
Starting from
285 credits
Category
Language Learning
Choose a level

About this study guide

Tones are often the first challenge for anyone new to Mandarin, so this guide gives them careful attention. It explains the four tones and the neutral tone, shows how tone marks are written in pinyin, and describes the tone changes that occur in common word combinations. Pinyin itself is covered in detail, giving you a reliable way to read and note down new words.

Characters are introduced gradually, beginning with frequent, simple forms and the radicals that recur across many others. The grammar explanations cover basic word order, measure words, questions formed with ma, negation with bu and mei, and ways to talk about time and location. Everyday themes include introductions, shopping, food and getting around a city.

This study guide is arranged in four levels, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert, each building carefully on the one before, so new characters and structures never arrive all at once.
Each level is unlocked separately

Choose a level

Compare the levels below and add the one that suits you to your cart

01
Level 1

Beginner

285 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    Covers pinyin spelling, the four tones and the neutral tone, tone changes such as those in nǐ hǎo and with bù, and a first set of simple characters and radicals. It introduces greetings, numbers, dates, family terms and basic sentence patterns with shì and yǒu.

  • Suited to

    This level suits complete beginners in Mandarin Chinese who want to get tones and pinyin right from the start. It is ideal for readers who prefer a careful, well-paced foundation before committing large numbers of characters to memory.

  • What you will be able to apply

    You will be able to read and write pinyin with tone marks, pronounce new words with attention to tone and recognise a core set of characters. You should feel ready to introduce yourself, give dates and numbers, and write short Chinese sentences.

02
Level 2

Intermediate

485 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    This stage explains measure words, time and place expressions and their position in the sentence, the particle le for completed actions, guo for experience, zài for ongoing actions, and common question patterns. Around two hundred more characters and vocabulary for food, travel and money are introduced.

  • Suited to

    Meant for readers who know pinyin, the tones and a first set of characters and want to use Mandarin in more everyday settings. It suits anyone who can greet and introduce themselves but wants to talk about time, places, shopping and past events.

  • What you will be able to apply

    After this level you should be able to order food, ask prices, describe where things are and say what you have done or experienced. You will be able to read short Chinese texts built from familiar characters and write simple descriptive paragraphs.

03
Level 3

Advanced

785 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    The material covers resultative and directional complements, potential complements, the bǎ and bèi constructions, comparisons with bǐ, paired conjunctions such as suīrán and dànshì or yīnwèi and suǒyǐ, and the structural particle de in its various forms. Reading passages expand the character set steadily.

  • Suited to

    Suited to readers with a sound base in Mandarin who want accuracy and more complex sentence structures. If you already handle routine topics but find that longer sentences, comparisons and complements trip you up, this level addresses exactly those areas.

  • What you will be able to apply

    You will be able to describe results, directions and possibilities precisely, express cause and contrast, and construct longer Chinese sentences with confidence. You should feel ready to read graded articles and write structured paragraphs on familiar subjects.

04
Level 4

Expert

1,085 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    Explores chengyu four-character idioms, formal written vocabulary alongside its spoken equivalents, rhetorical patterns in essays, polite and indirect expression, and differences between simplified and traditional characters. Selected passages from journalism and short prose illustrate how tone and structure are built.

  • Suited to

    The final and most refined stage, for confident users of Mandarin who want idiomatic, well-judged expression. It suits readers who engage with Chinese news, essays or business writing and want to sharpen both their characters and their sense of style.

  • What you will be able to apply

    You should feel ready to use chengyu appropriately, adjust register between spoken and written Chinese, and read demanding texts closely. You will be able to write polished Mandarin that reflects careful word choice and a personal, considered voice.

Levels are unlocked with credits from your balance. You can add more credits at any time.