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Step Learn Chinese

Small steps. A whole new world.

A little Chinese.
A little every day.

From your first 你好 to the words you use every day. Learn the sounds, discover the characters, and make Chinese part of your life.

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YOUR FIRST WORDS

Try a flashcard

Word 1 of 3: 你好, nǐ hǎo

A small word that opens a conversation.

Big journeys start with little words.

FIND YOUR START

Every journey has a first step.

Brand new to Chinese? Start with sounds. Already know a little? Jump into words.

STEP 01
mā má mǎ màOne syllable. Four tones.

Start with the sounds.

Get to know pinyin and the four tones. Give every new word a familiar sound.

Explore pinyin
STEP 02
木 → 林 → 森A tree. A grove. A forest.

Make sense of characters.

Discover strokes and radicals. See how small pieces come together to form a character.

Discover radicals
STEP 03
你好，世界。Hello, world.

Build your vocabulary.

Choose an HSK word list, connect sounds with meanings, and practice at your own pace.

Find your words

Have an HSK level in mind?

Get to know HSK 3.0

MEET. REMEMBER. REPEAT.

A few words today.
More confidence tomorrow.

Flip a card, make a match, or put your memory to the test. Choose your words and find the practice that works for you.

Explore the Test

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FIVE WAYS TO MAKE IT STICK

  • Flashcards
  • Quick Quiz
  • Match & Clear
  • Connect
  • Pinyin Input

CHINESE BEYOND THE WORD LIST

Put your words into the world.

See familiar words in new places. Follow a story or explore an everyday exchange, one sentence at a time.

ARTICLES

Read a little. Discover a lot.

Explore Chinese texts by HSK level, with English translations to help you along.

Find something to read
TALKS

Let the conversation begin.

Meet Chinese in everyday conversations. Follow each exchange with English translations.

Explore conversations

A LITTLE HELP ALONG THE WAY

Good tools.
Small breakthroughs.

Write it, type it, or make it your own. Keep useful Chinese tools close at hand.

Handwriting worksheets

Your words, ready to trace and write.

Handwriting input

Draw the character you’re looking for.

Pinyin input

Turn the sounds you know into Chinese.

Find a Chinese name

Explore names and their meanings.

YOUR NEXT STEP

You don’t need to know a lot to begin.

Just a little curiosity, and a place to start.
Your first words are waiting.

Take your first step