Chinese Learning Resources

Please take time to familiarize yourself with the Chinese learning resources below. At CLI, we believe three core areas drive Mandarin progress: in-class study, self-study, and daily interaction with fluent speakers.

Each of the following resources can play an important role in that process. You do not need to use everything at once. In most cases, the better approach is to choose a few tools that match your current level and use them consistently.

Chinese learning resources at a glance

01 Start with pronunciation

Interactive Audio Pinyin Chart

Mastering the Chinese pinyin chart is central to learning spoken Chinese. Pinyin is the official Romanization of the Chinese language. It uses the English alphabet to represent Chinese sounds. For example, China’s capital, 北京, is written Běijīng, and Shanghai, 上海, is written Shànghǎi.

Click on any pinyin combination in CLI’s chart and practice repeating the sound. Try to learn pinyin before you arrive in China. Every sound in Mandarin fits onto one relatively compact chart.

Printable Pinyin Chart and Cheat Sheet

When learning pinyin, it is most effective to listen to and repeat each sound with a native speaker or an audio pinyin chart. That said, CLI’s Printable Pinyin Chart and Cheat Sheet is helpful for conceptualizing and memorizing pinyin sounds. The chart is printable on regular letter-sized paper, but works best on 11×17 or A3 paper.

02 Use CLI's free Chinese learning tools

Resources at CLI

CLI’s Resource Library provides practical Chinese language and culture learning resources for students worldwide. The library includes guides to Chinese grammar, vocabulary, characters, pinyin, culture, travel, holidays, food, and life in China.

CLI HSK 3.0 Vocabulary, Grammar, and Flashcards

If you are using HSK levels to organize your Chinese study, CLI’s HSK tools can help you review vocabulary, grammar, and example sentences in a more structured way.

03 Build grammar, reading, and listening

Chinese Grammar Wiki

Chinese Grammar Wiki is a comprehensive, practical, and free online resource for Mandarin learners. It is especially useful when studying grammar patterns by level, reviewing a specific point, or working through the Integrated Chinese series.

Du Chinese

Du Chinese is a graded reading and listening app built around Chinese stories and articles organized by level. It is a useful bridge between textbook study and real reading because learners can read, listen, check pinyin, and review unfamiliar words without leaving the lesson.

ChinesePod

ChinesePod specializes in recorded lessons and media-oriented self-study tools for Chinese language learners. Through audio, video, mobile, and online review materials, ChinesePod focuses mainly on Mandarin for everyday use.

Mandarin Companion

Mandarin Companion is an excellent resource for learners who want to improve their Chinese reading ability through graded readers. The series is especially useful because it gives learners reading material that fits their level.

The Chairman’s Bao

The Chairman’s Bao is an online simplified Chinese newspaper designed for Mandarin learners. Articles cover topics from business to nature and include learner-friendly features such as an interactive dictionary and vocabulary review tools.

04 Add a few focused apps and study tools

Pleco and other smartphone apps

There are dozens of excellent Chinese language learning apps. One of the most popular is Pleco, a free dictionary app with several paid add-ons. Many Chinese learners consider Pleco an indispensable part of their study routine. Flashcard apps can also help you review vocabulary between lessons.

HelloChinese

HelloChinese is a strong option for absolute beginners who want a structured app-based introduction to Mandarin. It introduces pronunciation, basic vocabulary, sentence patterns, characters, and review activities in a beginner-friendly sequence.

Download: App Store · Google Play

Yocha

Yocha is a Chinese grammar app designed to help learners understand sentence patterns, particles, and common grammar points. It is especially useful when you want concise explanations, example sentences, and structured grammar practice outside class.

Download: App Store · Google Play

Ninchanese

Ninchanese is a gamified Chinese learning platform that helps learners practice vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It can be a good fit if you like structured lessons, review, and game-like motivation between classes.

Skritter

Skritter is an interactive platform for Chinese character writing and recognition. You can study on the web, iPhone, or iPad, track your progress, and upload vocabulary lists from textbooks. Full Skritter service requires a subscription.

05 Learn with a teacher

Online One-on-One Lessons

Start learning Chinese online with CLI from the comfort of your own home. CLI’s online lessons use Zoom to enable one-on-one Mandarin class from anywhere in the world. All you need is a stable Internet connection.

The resources above can help you study more efficiently, but they are not a substitute for real communication. Use tools to prepare, review, and reinforce. Then use class time and real conversations to turn that knowledge into usable Chinese.

06 Useful Vocabulary for Learning Chinese

Here are some practical words and phrases that are useful when talking about Chinese study.