Complete Mandarin Chinese course designed to reach Level 1 of the new HSK 3.0 Chinese language certificate.
Prerequisites: none — course for absolute beginners.
Objectives: A1 of the CEFR or Level 1 of the new HSK (version 3.0)
- Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at meeting concrete needs
- Introduce yourself and others
- Ask someone questions about themselves and answer the same kind of questions
- Interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help
Average study time: about 80 hours
Structure: divided into 17 sequences, this Chinese course will help you acquire the 316 vocabulary words of HSK 3.0 Level 1 and the 256 characters of this level, as well as the basics of Chinese pronunciation and grammar. Exercises and HSK mock tests gradually train you for the exam.
Assessment method: at the end of the course, two HSK mock tests (listening comprehension and reading comprehension) randomly draw on the questions from the HSK Level 1 course, under real exam conditions (time limit, recordings played twice). These simulations let you practise on tests that are different every time.
Pricing: €49 for 12 months of access to Level 1 alone, or the Premium plan (all courses) at €139 for 12 months or €349 for lifetime access. Details on the Pricing page.
This course is also included in the PREMIUM plan, which gives access to all e-learning courses. More information on the Pricing page.
Enrolment
€139 / 12 months
€349 lifetime (one-time payment)
- Access to all levels (1 to 5.3)
- Progress saved at each level
Immediate enrolment via:
Credit card
PayPal
€49
12 months of access
Important information
You have free, full access to the first 5 sequences: simply view the course after logging in (creating an account is quick and free).
You have partial access (the course content, but without the exercises or assessments) to sequences 6 to 10: simply go to the course without logging in.
To access the full course (with the exercises and dynamic tests across all 17 sequences), enrol in Level 1 or the Premium plan using the "Enrolment" box above.
For any questions:
Course content
Objectives: learn the basics of Chinese pronunciation and writing; how to greet, thank, and ask whether someone is well.
New words: 10 Level total: 10
New characters: 12 Level total: 12
Grammar: the simple sentence, the negative and interrogative forms; the adjectival verb; the degree adverb 很; the adverb 也; the particle 吗.
Objectives: greet politely, say sorry and you're welcome, express the pleasure of meeting someone.
New words: 12 Level total: 22
New characters: 17 Level total: 29
Grammar: the negation 不; the particle 呢 that echoes a question; the family name before the title (李先生); saying "很高兴认识你".
Objectives: introduce yourself (surname, given name) and ask someone's name.
New words: 15 Level total: 37
New characters: 18 Level total: 47
Grammar: the verb "to be" 是; the pronouns 他/她; open questions with 什么 and 谁; the structural particle 的.
Objectives: count from 0 to 99; ask and give someone's age.
New words: 22 Level total: 59
New characters: 18 Level total: 65
Grammar: numbers from 0 to 99; the affirmative-negative question 是不是; "how much/how many" with 多 and 几; the adjective before the noun.
Objectives: state your nationality, ask about others', say which languages you speak, express totality.
New words: 22 Level total: 81
New characters: 15 Level total: 80
Grammar: the plural with 们; the question word 哪; the auxiliary 会 (to know how to); the adverb 都 (all); the particle 呢.
Objectives: talk about your family, say how many people it has.
New words: 17 Level total: 98
New characters: 15 Level total: 95
Grammar: the verb 有 and its negation 没有; the measure words 口 and 个; the number 两; the conjunction 和; the enumeration comma 、.
Objectives: express possession, point out and locate objects.
New words: 21 Level total: 119
New characters: 13 Level total: 108
Grammar: the demonstratives 这/那; the place words 这儿/那儿; the measure words 本 and 件; the measure word 些; the adverb 还.
Objectives: introduce yourself in more detail, describe people and animals, say what you own.
New words: 19 Level total: 138
New characters: 17 Level total: 125
Grammar: the pronouns 大家/它/它们; the measure word 只; 一点儿 / 有点儿; the 了 of change of state.
Objectives: give and ask the date (year, month, day).
New words: 17 Level total: 155
New characters: 14 Level total: 139
Grammar: the date (年/月/日/号); the preposition 在 and the place adverbial; 半 (half); "when" with 什么时候; the directional verbs 去/来.
Objectives: tell the time, say the days of the week, talk about your schedule.
New words: 21 Level total: 176
New characters: 13 Level total: 152
Grammar: the time (点/分/小时/分钟); the days with 星期; verb-object phrases (上课/下课); the auxiliary 要; the verbal 了 (completed action).
Objectives: talk about your activities and free time, place the moments of the day.
New words: 22 Level total: 198
New characters: 13 Level total: 165
Grammar: the auxiliary 想 (to feel like); the verb-object 睡觉; 太…了; the negative imperative 不要; the times of day.
Objectives: look for someone, ask for a number, make a phone call, locate with 里.
New words: 17 Level total: 215
New characters: 12 Level total: 177
Grammar: the place word 里; 这里/那里/哪里; the particle 吧 (suggestion); 看见 (resultative); verb reduplication; 给 (to, for); 多少.
Objectives: orient yourself in space, locate places, ask how someone is getting on.
New words: 20 Level total: 235
New characters: 17 Level total: 194
Grammar: the place words in 边 (前边/后边…); the auxiliary 可以; the adverb 再; the measure word 家; the 是…的 structure.
Objectives: make purchases, talk about prices, give your opinion.
New words: 19 Level total: 254
New characters: 19 Level total: 213
Grammar: the adverb 真 (really); sums of money (元/块/分); the verb 觉得; appreciative compounds (好吃/好看/好玩儿).
Objectives: talk about meals, describe a family scene, narrate an action in progress.
New words: 19 Level total: 273
New characters: 14 Level total: 227
Grammar: 正在 (in the middle of); the verb-object phrases 上班/下班; the …的时候 structure; the measure word 块 (piece); 还 (still).
Objectives: talk about health, go to the doctor, talk about the weather.
New words: 21 Level total: 294
New characters: 17 Level total: 244
Grammar: the auxiliary 能; comparison of 会/能/可以; the verb-object phrases 生病/看病; 怎么样; 非常; 好多了; 有时候…有时候….
Objectives: talk about transport, organise an outing (cinema, karaoke, shopping).
New words: 22 Level total: 316
New characters: 12 Level total: 256
Grammar: the numbers 百/千; the ordinal prefix 第 and the prefix 小; the measure word 杯; 怎么 (how); the 还是…吧 structure; 一半.
These HSK mock tests randomly draw on all the Level 1 questions, under the same conditions as the real HSK test (time limit, recordings played twice).
In the real HSK test, the recordings for each question are heard twice and play one after another with no possibility to pause. For added realism, I encourage you to listen to each recording twice.
To obtain the course completion certificate, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- achieve a final course grade of 16/20 or higher
- pass the final listening comprehension test
- pass the final reading comprehension test