Learn Chinese (Mandarin)
Comprehensive Mandarin Chinese learning guide covering HSK 1–9, all skills, vocabulary, grammar patterns, and the best resources.
Mandarin Chinese is spoken by ~1.1 billion native speakers. This guide covers everything from zero to C2 — HSK vocabulary, grammar patterns, all six skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, tones, characters), and the best apps, textbooks, and resources.
Quick Start (Week 1)
- Install Pleco — the essential Chinese dictionary app (free, iOS/Android)
- Learn Pinyin — the romanization system; 2–4 weeks of focused study
- Master the 4 tones — non-negotiable from day 1
- Start HelloChinese or Integrated Chinese for structured beginner lessons
- Set up Anki with an HSK vocabulary deck — 15 min/day builds long-term retention
The Two HSK Standards
| HSK 2.0 (Old) | HSK 3.0 (New) | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | 1–6 | 1–9 |
| Valid until | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2026 onwards |
| Total vocab | ~5,000 words | ~11,092 words |
| Grammar points | — | 572 points |
| Characters (recog.) | ~2,500 | 3,088 |
| Highest CEFR | C1–C2 | C2 |
See HSK overview for full level-by-level breakdown.
Sections
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| HSK Levels | All 9 HSK levels: vocabulary, grammar, characters, CEFR |
| Skills | Tones, Pinyin, Hanzi, Grammar, Listening, Speaking |
| Vocabulary | Frequency lists, thematic vocabulary by topic |
| Grammar | 572 grammar patterns indexed by level |
| Radicals | All 214 Kangxi radicals with examples |
| Resources | Apps, websites, textbooks, YouTube, podcasts |
| Methodology | Learning roadmap, SRS guide, common mistakes |
Time to Each Level
| HSK Level | Hours | CEFR | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 75–150 | A1 | Basic greetings, 299 words |
| HSK 2 | 150–300 | A1+ | Daily conversations, 498 words |
| HSK 3 | 300–600 | A2 | Familiar topics, 997 words |
| HSK 4 | 600–1,200 | B1 | Wide discussion range, 1,997 words |
| HSK 5 | 1,200–1,800 | B2 | Newspapers, professional contexts, 3,597 words |
| HSK 6 | 1,800–2,500 | C1 | Complex discourse, 5,397 words |
| HSK 7–9 | 3,000–5,000+ | C2 | Near-native, 10,877 words |
Hours assume adult learner, English speaker, 10 hrs/week study.
Core Tool Stack
The minimum viable toolkit for any level:
- Pleco — dictionary, OCR camera lookup, flashcards
- Anki — spaced repetition for vocabulary (HSK 3.0 deck)
- Chinese Grammar Wiki — resources.allsetlearning.com — free reference for all 572 grammar points
- HelloChinese or Integrated Chinese — structured course
- Mandarin Companion or Du Chinese — graded reading
- Comprehensible Chinese (YouTube) — input-based listening