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Learn Chinese online: free guides
Grammar far simpler than most learners expect, with tones and characters carrying nearly all the difficulty — both of which need live correction.
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- GrammarA1
Mandarin tones: what they are, and why your ear needs a teacher for this
Mandarin's four tones plus the neutral one change word meaning entirely. What each does, how they shift when combined, and why self-study struggles.
6 min read - CostAny level
How much do Chinese lessons cost?
What platforms publish for Mandarin tutors, and why Chinese contains the single strongest argument for paying a teacher of any language on this site.
7 min read - ExamHSK 1–9
HSK levels explained: the new syllabus, counted
The HSK syllabus in force since July 2026, counted from its own lists: what each level adds, and how few characters you must write by hand.
9 min read - ExamA1–C2
TOCFL explained: the bands and levels, the 0–80 cut scores, traditional or simplified characters, and why TOCFL says HSK 6 is only B2
TOCFL has three bands and six levels, A1 to C2. Listening and reading are scored 0–80 with their own cut scores. Results are digital-only since 2026.
6 min read - ExamHSKK Elementary–Advanced
HSKK explained: the three HSK speaking levels, what each paper asks, the 60-point pass and the two-year validity
The HSKK has three levels, scored out of 100 with 60 to pass, and results count for two years. What each paper asks, timed, from the official site.
4 min read - ExamYCT 1–4
YCT explained: the Youth Chinese Test's four levels, the pass marks, and what a pass on the total means
YCT is the Chinese test for school students: four written levels, 120 of 200 to pass at levels 1-3, 180 of 300 at level 4. Questions and timings by level.
3 min read
Reading about Chinese is not the same as speaking it
See how long Chinese takes, what the levels mean, and what lessons cost.