Your first words.
Your first Chinese story.
Learn Chinese for absolute beginners
You don’t need to know a single word of Chinese. Meet a few words with pictures and audio, practice them with guidance, then see them come together in a story.
Module 1 needs no account. Create a free account to save progress and unlock module 2.
Learn Mandarin words through sound and meaning
Chinese characters carry meaning, while listening helps you notice pronunciation and tone. Study a small set of illustrated words together with their recordings. Repeated examples make it easier to recognize a word in a sentence instead of treating every character as an isolated symbol.
Begin with recognition
Meet a manageable set of words with visual and listening support. You can repeat before moving on.
Practice in small steps
Follow the module’s guided activities, check your understanding and revisit unfamiliar words.
Grow into stories
Milestone stories bring earlier vocabulary together, so your practice has a clear destination.
Your Chinese beginner course
Start at the beginning and build on familiar words. Explore any module below to see its goal and vocabulary before opening the course.
- 1TRY WITHOUT SIGNUP
A Glass of Water
Understand and use simple Chinese for having, giving, and drinking water with “I” and “you.”
水 · 有 · 我 - 2FREE WITH YOUR ACCOUNT
A Friend Asks for Water
Recognize and use simple words for people, identity, names, speaking, and yes-or-no questions.
人 · 朋友 · 是 - 3CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Photo at Home
Understand who is at home, looking at a photo, and feeling happy.
她 · 家 · 在 - MILESTONE STORY
A Friend in the Photo
Read a short story about looking at a photo, asking about a friend, and sharing water at home.
- 4CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Small Cat at Home
Recognize and understand words for a cat, a dish, size, liking, eating, counting one item, and referring to an animal as “it.”
猫 · 菜 · 一个 - 5CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Walk in the Park
Understand and use simple words for going, coming, walking, and noticing flowers and trees in a park.
公园 · 花 · 树 - 6CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Box on the Table
Recognize and use words for identifying a nearby object, asking what someone is doing, and opening or holding a box.
桌子 · 盒子 · 这 - MILESTONE STORY
The Box at Home
Read a short story about opening a box and finding a new friend.
- 7CONTINUE IN THE APP
Looking for the Map and Umbrella
Recognize and use words for asking who knows, looking for objects, and pointing to something farther away.
地图 · 伞 · 那 - 8CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Red Noodle Box
Understand and use words for noodles, buying, wanting, refusing, describing something as good or red, and contrasting two ideas.
面条 · 红色 · 好 - 9CONTINUE IN THE APP
Everyone Sits with the Map
Understand and use words for close family, a girl, sitting, inclusion, groups, and importance in a simple family moment.
妈妈 · 爸爸 · 女孩 - MILESTONE STORY
The Red Umbrella
Follow a family search and understand where the missing umbrella is found.
- 10CONTINUE IN THE APP
Ready to Write
Understand and use words for writing, ability, intention, body parts, voices, and a boy.
男孩 · 手 · 眼睛 - 11CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Worry About the Weather
Understand simple statements about weather, fear, worry, safety, ability, reasons, and a village.
天气 · 村子 · 安全 - 12CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Rabbit at Home
Understand and use words for a rabbit’s appearance, putting it somewhere, asking permission, and feeling anxious.
兔子 · 大 · 白色 - MILESTONE STORY
The Umbrella in Mom’s Hand
Read a complete story about looking for a missing object and discovering where it is.
- 13CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Young Mother and an Old Man
Understand simple descriptions of age, recognize a man, and express thoughts, smiles, and love.
男人 · 年轻 · 老 - 14CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Old Family Photo
Recognize words for grandparents, feelings, asking why, and describing an old object in a short family moment.
奶奶 · 爷爷 · 旧 - 15CONTINUE IN THE APP
A New Neighbor Visits
Recognize and understand words for women and family members, and describe something as new or someone as nervous or surprised.
女人 · 阿姨 · 儿子 - MILESTONE STORY
The Old Box
Read a complete story about opening a box, following a map, and finding a friend.
Your progress comes with you.
Try module 1 here without signing up. Create a free account to save your progress and complete module 2 on the web. Then continue in the Inklingo app.
Already have an account? Sign in to that same account in the app. Use the same sign-in method as on the website. You don’t need a new account or to start again.
The free app includes the first 3 modules and the first milestone story. Premium learners can continue through the full course.
Open Foundations
Before you start
What does A0 mean?
Inklingo uses A0 for the starting point before A1: absolute beginners who are building their first vocabulary. You don’t need a placement test or previous lessons to start Foundations.
Do I need an account for the first module?
No. You can try module 1 as a guest. Create an account when you are ready to continue so your completion is saved and available across the web and app.
Can I use the course on a computer?
Yes. The first two modules are available to free learners on the web; module 2 requires an account. Continue free starter access in the app, or use your existing Premium access for the full web course.
What should I practice after Foundations?
Try beginner Chinese stories. Keep using audio and word meanings while you build reading confidence. You can also explore the Chinese vocabulary library.