Hanivio · Learn
Start here
Four short steps — from first sounds to your first words. No account, no download, about 10 minutes in total.
Step 1 · The four tones
Mandarin is a tonal language: the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of a word. Say ma four ways:
Listen to each, then play all four in a row. This one idea matters more than any other for sounding clear.
Step 2 · Tones combine in words
Real words are pairs (and chains) of tones — which is why practising combinations matters more than isolated sounds. These pairs are the most common in beginner vocabulary:
Step 3 · The 100 most common characters
Characters are not random: most are built from smaller parts. Click any character to see its structure, hear it, and trace its strokes. Save the ones you want to remember.
Step 4 · Your first words (HSK 1)
The first words of the official beginner list — ordered by how often they occur. Save twenty to start your list, then keep meeting them in the chart and dictionary.
Where to next: Pinyin · Dictionary · HSK Vocabulary · Read · Saved