学习资源 xuéxí zīyuán

Resource Library

Guides to learning Chinese and to life in China, written by the CLI team since 2010. Search them, or browse by topic.

A CLI student writes in a notebook while his teacher points to calligraphy in a museum display case — Class outside the classroom: a CLI teacher and student taking notes at a calligraphy exhibit.

从哪里开始 cóng nǎlǐ kāishǐ

Where to start

Pick where you are, then take the steps in order.

Starting from zero

Never studied Chinese? Do these in order. Give the first three a week or more: habits you form with sounds and tones are hard to undo later.

Take our Free Chinese Course: six lessons, from the four tones to reading your first short stories, all with audio.free course
Read What Is Pinyin? once, start to finish.
Play every sound in the Pinyin Chart and say it back out loud.free tool
Learn your first 18 words and phrases.
See how a sentence fits together in Chinese Sentence Structure.
Start on the 100 most common characters.
Plan your next weeks with the Chinese Study Plan for Beginners.

Prefer a set course? The Free Chinese Course puts these steps into six lessons.

Want a trained ear on your tones? Book a free 30-minute trial lesson with a CLI teacher.

Preparing for the HSK

Find your level first, then practice for it.

What Is the HSK? Who takes it, and why.
Find where you are among the nine levels in HSK Levels Explained.
Read what changed with HSK 3.0, then check which version your test center uses.
Learn the words for your level from the HSK Word Lists.free tool
Drill them with the HSK Vocabulary Flashcards.free tool
Read at your level: the Graded Readers below are sorted by HSK level.

Learning characters

Characters look hard until you see how they’re built. Then they start to make sense.

Start with How to Learn Chinese Characters.
Find out how many you actually need.
Learn the six types of characters.
Write them right with the six rules of stroke order.
Look up any character in the Radical & Stroke Explorer.free tool
Then learn the 100 most common characters.

Coming to China

Studying in Guilin, or traveling first? Read these before you pack.

Check whether you can visit China without a visa.
Set up a VPN that works in China before you fly.
Read How to Prepare for a Chinese Immersion Program.
Know what living with a Chinese host family is like.
Get to know the city with our Insider’s Guide to Guilin.
Learn 10 travel phrases for the journey.

Studying with us? Our Immersion program starts any Monday of the year.

Newest

How to Say Happy New Year in Chinese: Greetings for the Year of the Goat (2027)Oct 1, 2026
How to Say “Thank You” in ChineseSep 30, 2026
Harvest season at the Longji rice terraces, then bikes and bamboo rafts in YangshuoSep 30, 2026
Ghost Festival in China (Zhongyuan): Origins, Rituals & BeliefsSep 28, 2026
Year of the Pig: Chinese Zodiac Meaning, Years & TraitsSep 16, 2026
Year of the Rat: Dates, Meaning and Why the Rat Comes FirstSep 14, 2026

Free tools

Pinyin ChartHear every pinyin sound in all four tones.
Pinyin ConverterPaste Chinese text, get pinyin with tone marks.
HSK Word ListsAll 300 HSK 1 words, plus lists for HSK 2, 3 and 4.
HSK Vocabulary Flashcards1,000 words from HSK 3.0 levels 1–3.
HSK Sentence FlashcardsReal sentences for HSK 1–4, with pinyin and English.
HSK 1 GrammarAll 48 HSK 3.0 Level 1 grammar points, with examples.
Radical & Stroke ExplorerLook up any character’s radical and stroke count.
Text AnalyzerCheck a Chinese text’s HSK level before you read it.

All free Chinese tools

Not sure which apps and books to use? Chinese Learning Resources picks a few for each level.

The language

学中文 xué Zhōngwén

Learn Chinese 70 articles

Grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and ways to study, from CLI’s teachers and writers.

Learn ChineseThe 100 Most Common Chinese Measure Words and Their UsesHoping to discover more about learning and using Chinese measure words? Read this article to better understand this important aspect of Mandarin Chinese.Anne Meredith, 19 min read

汉语水平考试 Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì

The HSK 5 articles

China’s official Mandarin test: what each level asks of you, what changed with HSK 3.0, and how to prepare.

Practice: Word lists Vocabulary flashcards Sentence flashcards HSK 1 grammar

HSKNew HSK 3.0 in 2026: What Changed and Which Version Should You Study?The HSK Chinese proficiency test is about to undergo some major changes. Read on to learn what we know so far about the upcoming overhaul of this key exam.Anne Meredith, 10 min read

分级阅读 fēnjí yuèdú

Graded Readers 13 stories

Short stories written for each HSK level, with audio, grammar notes, a quiz and a printable PDF.

汉字 hànzì

Chinese Characters 11 articles

How characters are built, how to write them, and which ones to learn first.

Chinese CharactersThe 100 Most Common Chinese CharactersChinese is comprised of over 50,000 characters, but 2,500 cover 98% of everyday usage!Anne Meredith, 6 min read

在线学汉语 zàixiàn xué Hànyǔ

Learning Chinese Online 7 articles

Studying Mandarin from home: apps, YouTube, WeChat and what actually helps.

Rather learn with a teacher? Book a free online trial lesson.

China

中国文化 Zhōngguó wénhuà

Chinese Culture 36 articles

Customs, beliefs, food and daily life in China, past and present.

中国历史 Zhōngguó lìshǐ

Chinese History 5 articles

The dynasties, people and turning points that shaped modern China.

中国节日 Zhōngguó jiérì

Chinese Holidays 36 articles

Traditional festivals and public holidays: dates, customs and food.

Holiday calendars for 2026 and 2027

Chinese HolidaysYour Comprehensive Guide to China’s Seven Major Holidays (2026)Explore the seven most important Chinese holidays and gain insight into their historic background and modern practice.Anne Meredith, 15 min read

十二生肖 shí’èr shēngxiào

The Chinese Zodiac 14 articles

Twelve animals, one for each year: birth years, traits, compatibility and legends.

Not sure which animal you are? Find your birth year, or type it in the search at the top.

环游中国 huányóu Zhōngguó

Traveling in China 21 articles

Visas, VPNs, trains and where to go.

Travel ChinaThe 10 Best Places to Visit in ChinaCheck out our list of the best places to visit in China for some great ideas.The CLI Team, 13 min read

桂林 Guìlín

Guilin 18 articles

CLI’s home since 2009: the city, the Li River and daily life for students.

GuilinThe Li River: One of Earth’s Most Beautiful WondersThe Li River runs through the heart of Guangxi, China, connecting beautiful downtown Guilin with the riverside town of Yangshuo.The CLI Team, 11 min read

在中国留学 zài Zhōngguó liúxué

Study Abroad in China 8 articles

Getting ready for a semester or an immersion stay: housing, homestays and what to expect.

Study Abroad in ChinaStudy Abroad in China: How to Choose the Right ProgramCheck out our Ultimate Guide to find out which programs, schools and locations are right for you.Anne Meredith, 16 min read

Choosing a city? Read Best City to Learn Chinese in China. Planning a semester in Guilin? See our Study Abroad program.

From CLI

学生视角 xuésheng shìjiǎo

Student Perspectives 29 stories

CLI students write about learning Chinese and living in Guilin.

PerspectivesStudent Spotlight: Daniel Del BosqueHow should you make the most of your Chinese studies in Guilin? Hear tips from CLI student and Yale University alum Daniel in CLI's Student Spotlight series!The CLI Team, 4 min read

More from our students on the Testimonials page.

学校新闻 xuéxiào xīnwén

CLI News 38 posts

Events, press, new facilities and our Year in Review.

The reading room at the CLI Center in Guilin: two tall bookshelves, a tea table and purple stools — The reading room at the CLI Center, Guilin.

读万卷书，行万里路dú wàn juàn shū, xíng wàn lǐ lùRead ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.

Learn with a CLI teacher

Book a free trial lesson Ask a question