Roadmap
Level map
A simple path from foundations to first conversations. Not an official HSK level certificate.
Level 1 · 25 min/day
Level 1 — Foundations
Sounds, tones, pinyin, and the first social phrases.
Outcomes
- Produce tone 1–4 and recognize neutral tone on common syllables
- Read core pinyin without English-letter guessing on q/x/zh/c
- Greet, thank, and say goodbye with usable sandhi
- Count to 100 for simple prices and times
- Introduce yourself with 我是…
Lessons
- How Mandarin works
- The four tones (+ neutral)
- Tone sandhi essentials
- Pinyin initials
- Pinyin finals
- Pinyin spelling rules
- Greetings and courtesy
Word decks
Patterns
Level 2 · 30 min/day
Level 2 — Core sentences
Build real statements and questions with 是, 有, 在, and negation.
Outcomes
- Form SVO sentences with time and place slots
- Ask 吗 questions and question-word questions without inversion
- Choose 不 vs 没 in common frames
- Use 个/杯/本 in shopping and classroom talk
- Talk about family, food, and places with deck vocabulary
Lessons
- Pronouns and 是
- Numbers 0–100
- 有 and 在
- Questions with 吗 and question words
- Negation with 不 and 没
- Measure words
Word decks
Patterns
Level 3 · 35 min/day
Level 3 — Daily use
Stretch into food, shopping, travel language, and steady study habits.
Outcomes
- Order food and ask about spice/price confidently
- Handle basic directions and hotel check-in lines
- Use 想/要/会/能 in short real-life plans
- Maintain a weekly review that includes reading dialogues
- Self-correct tone sandhi in connected phrases
Lessons
Word decks
Patterns
Level 4 · 35 min/day
Level 4 — Conversation stretch
Introduce people, ask where, shop, share likes, talk weather, invite, and mark 了/过 without mixing them.
Outcomes
- Introduce yourself and a family photo with 叫 / 这是 / 几口人
- Ask 在哪儿 and follow a short 往前 / 左转 route
- Ask 多少钱 and exit with 太贵了 or 我买这个
- Give a like and an opinion without inserting 是 before 喜欢
- Invite with 一起…吧 and decline with 下次吧
- Keep change-了, experience-过, and 没 apart in short talk
Lessons
- Introducing family
- Asking where things are
- Shopping and prices
- Likes and opinions
- Weather and clothes
- Inviting someone
- 了 and 过 in real talk
- Making a simple plan
Word decks
- Weather
- Clothes
- Hobbies
- Health and body
- Home and rooms
- Phone and messages
- Colors and appearance
- Work and school roles