Log inSign up
Conversational Mandarin Chinese · Lessons

Conversational Mandarin Chinese lessons

7 sections · 102 skills · work through the full outline skill by skill — read the long-form lesson or flip through the slide-style version.
Long-form lessonsSlide-style lessons

Conversational Mandarin Chinese

Practice 102 skills across this outline.

Recommended next
Clarifying with Questions & Negation
Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Questions & Negation for Real Conversations
Long-form lesson
Weighting distribution
25 categories
Culture & Pragmatics
14%
Pronunciation, Spelling & Mechanics
14%
Vocabulary & Semantics · High-Frequency Conversation Vocabulary
7%
Vocabulary & Semantics · Functional Chunks & Discourse Markers
7%
Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Write Messages (Texting & Email)
5%
Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Everyday Speaking: Explaining Yourself
5%

Skills

The comprehensive taxonomy of conversational mandarin chinese — drill into a card to work its skills.

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Questions & Negation for Real Conversations

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Clarifying with Questions & NegationRecommended
Long-form
2
Yes/No Question PatternsAvailable
Long-form
3
Asking Information QuestionsAvailable
Long-form
4
Using NegationAvailable
Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · High-Frequency Sentence Patterns

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Location & Direction ExpressionsAvailable
Long-form
2
Using High-Frequency PatternsAvailable
Long-form
3
Word Order & ParticlesAvailable
Long-form
4
Time Expressions & Verb FormsAvailable
Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Politeness, Modality & Requests

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Adjusting FormalityAvailable
Long-form
2
Expressing Ability, Desire & ObligationAvailable
Long-form
3
Polite Speech Style (desu/masu)Available
Long-form
4
Making Polite RequestsAvailable
Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Connectors, Aspect & Reference

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Sentence-Ending ParticlesAvailable
Long-form
2
Using Basic ConnectorsAvailable
Long-form
3
Pronouns & Reference WordsAvailable
Long-form
4
Using TransitionsAvailable
Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Measure Words, Numbers & Counting

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Using CountersAvailable
Long-form
2
Prices, Quantities & MeasurementsAvailable
Long-form
3
Particles (wa, ga, o, ni, de)Available
Long-form
4
Date & Time ExpressionsAvailable
Long-form

Culture & Pragmatics

4 core skills14% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Interpreting Pragmatic MeaningsAvailable
Long-form
2
Choosing Politeness & Address FormsAvailable
Long-form
3
Culturally Appropriate Small TalkAvailable
Long-form
4
Recognizing Regional VariationAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Directions, Transportation & Travel Logistics

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Asking for DirectionsAvailable
Long-form
2
Giving Basic DirectionsAvailable
Long-form
3
Handling Travel LogisticsAvailable
Long-form
4
Discussing TransportationAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Opinions, Preferences & Recommendations

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Comparing Options & Stating PreferencesAvailable
Long-form
2
Expressing Likes, Dislikes & PreferencesAvailable
Long-form
3
Giving & Receiving RecommendationsAvailable
Long-form
4
Supporting Opinions with ReasonsAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Making Plans & Scheduling

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Accepting, Declining & ReschedulingAvailable
Long-form
2
Proposing PlansAvailable
Long-form
3
Discussing AvailabilityAvailable
Long-form
4
Confirming Plan DetailsAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Handling Problems & Requests for Help

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Asking for Help in PublicAvailable
Long-form
2
Explaining Service ProblemsAvailable
Long-form
3
Requesting Changes & AlternativesAvailable
Long-form
4
Clarifying & Confirming SolutionsAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Conversation Strategies & Repair

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Asking for RepetitionAvailable
Long-form
2
Checking UnderstandingAvailable
Long-form
3
Using Fillers & Turn-TakingAvailable
Long-form
4
Rephrasing for ClarityAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Small Talk & Introductions

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Ending Conversations PolitelyAvailable
Long-form
2
Greetings & IntroductionsAvailable
Long-form
3
Making Small TalkAvailable
Long-form
4
Maintaining Short ConversationsAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Ordering, Shopping & Services

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Shopping: Requesting ItemsAvailable
Long-form
2
Ordering Food & DrinksAvailable
Long-form
3
Completing TransactionsAvailable
Long-form
4
Making Service RequestsAvailable
Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Storytelling & Sharing Experiences

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Describing Feelings About ExperiencesAvailable
Long-form
2
Sharing Recent ExperiencesAvailable
Long-form
3
Reacting to StoriesAvailable
Long-form
4
Questions About Past NarrativesAvailable
Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Interpretive Strategies & Evidence

4 core skills2% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Choosing Best SummariesAvailable
Long-form
2
Using Context CluesAvailable
Long-form
3
Confirming DetailsAvailable
Long-form
4
Identifying Supporting DetailsAvailable
Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Reading Everyday Texts (Signs, Menus, Messages)

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Finding Practical InformationAvailable
Long-form
2
Understanding Messages & ChatsAvailable
Long-form
3
Understanding Everyday TextsAvailable
Long-form
4
Interpreting Ads & NoticesAvailable
Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Everyday Listening (Main Idea & Details)

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Identifying Key Details: SpokenAvailable
Long-form
2
Understanding Main Ideas: SpokenAvailable
Long-form
3
Following Multi-Step InstructionsAvailable
Long-form
4
Recognizing Numbers, Prices & TimesAvailable
Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Understanding Media

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Identifying Details in ClipsAvailable
Long-form
2
Understanding Audio/Video ClipsAvailable
Long-form
3
Recognizing Media PhrasesAvailable
Long-form
4
Inferring Attitudes in MediaAvailable
Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Understanding Common Questions & Requests

4 core skills3% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Recognizing Question FormsAvailable
Long-form
2
Inferring Meaning from ContextAvailable
Long-form
3
Identifying Purpose of ExchangesAvailable
Long-form
4
Understanding Requests & SuggestionsAvailable
Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Tell a Clear Story

4 core skills4% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Using Sequence TransitionsAvailable
Long-form
2
Telling Short StoriesAvailable
Long-form
3
Retelling StoriesAvailable
Long-form
4
Including Key Details & ReactionsAvailable
Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Write Messages (Texting & Email)

4 core skills5% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Writing Requests & ExplanationsAvailable
Long-form
2
Writing Planning MessagesAvailable
Long-form
3
Writing Responses to PlansAvailable
Long-form
4
Editing Messages for ClarityAvailable
Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Everyday Speaking: Explaining Yourself

4 core skills5% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Explaining Needs & WantsAvailable
Long-form
2
Giving Supported OpinionsAvailable
Long-form
3
Presenting Near-Future PlansAvailable
Long-form
4
Describing People, Places & ThingsAvailable
Long-form

Vocabulary & Semantics · High-Frequency Conversation Vocabulary

5 core skills7% total weight
0/5 completed
5 skills to mastery
1
Relationships, Hobbies & Leisure VocabularyAvailable
Long-form
2
Work & Responsibilities VocabularyAvailable
Long-form
3
Food, Shopping & Services VocabularyAvailable
Long-form
4
Travel & Transportation VocabularyAvailable
Long-form
5
Everyday Conversation VocabularyAvailable
Long-form

Vocabulary & Semantics · Functional Chunks & Discourse Markers

5 core skills7% total weight
0/5 completed
5 skills to mastery
1
Agreement, Disagreement & HedgingAvailable
Long-form
2
Avoiding Loanword TrapsAvailable
Long-form
3
Expanding VocabularyAvailable
Long-form
4
Clarifying MeaningAvailable
Long-form
5
Conversation Flow PhrasesAvailable
Long-form

Pronunciation, Spelling & Mechanics

4 core skills14% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Reading & Typing KanaAvailable
Long-form
2
Clear Speaking & Pitch AccentAvailable
Long-form
3
High-Frequency KanjiAvailable
Long-form
4
Improving PronunciationAvailable
Long-form