Step-by-step hints
Tap Hint and Bao gives you one step, such as the parts of a character or an example sentence, without ever saying the answer. Free for 10 questions a day, and it works offline. Unlimited with Plus.
A Mandarin learning app, one island at a time
Study Chinese is an app to learn Mandarin Chinese for beginners through HSK, explained in Indonesian. From your first 你好 to HSK 6, or to Level 9 on HSK 3.0. Bao the panda is with you on every island, in every drill, and in every match with friends.
For iPhone & iPad. Free to start: your starting level and every level below it.
On Android? Become a tester first
Study Chinese for Android is in closed testing on Google Play. Before it can be released to everyone, at least 12 people need to try it for 14 days. Sign up with your Play Store Gmail and we'll send you the test link within 1–2 days.
Free, about 30 seconds. Want to learn with a teacher? Join a JadeClass lesson
At a glance
- HSK 3.0 Levels 1–9 courses (2025 syllabus, about 10,900 words) and HSK 2.0 from Chinese 101 to HSK 6
- HSK mock exams for HSK 3–6 and HSK 3.0 Levels 3–9
- Explanations in Indonesian, English, and Spanish
- iPhone and iPad (iOS 18 or later); Android is in closed testing
- Free to start; Plus is Rp 49,000 per month or Rp 499,000 per year
New in 1.4
- Grammar Guide is now a reference book, one page per pattern
- Road checkpoints ask fresh questions on every try
- Step back through Bao's earlier clues
- Two-column layouts on iPad and Mac
Every chapter is an island. Every island has a boss.
Every course is a painted world. Bao walks the trail with you: new words, flashcards, listening, writing and speaking. Clear the island and the moon gate opens to the next one.
- A boss in every part of a chapter. The Stone Lion, the Lantern Spirit, the Ink Imp and the Terracotta Guard. Your answers are your attacks, and the Nian Beast (年兽) tests everything at the end of the chapter.
- Two HSK tracks. HSK 2.0 Classic from Chinese 101 to HSK 6 (about 5,900 words), and the HSK 3.0 2025 syllabus, Levels 1–9 (about 10,900 words). Plus
- Start in the right place. A short level check finds your starting level.
- HSK mock papers scored like the real test, for HSK 3–6 and HSK 3.0 Levels 3–9. Plus
Practice that feels like play
If your first language has no tones that change a word's meaning, tones are the hard part. So tones, listening and speaking are trained until they become habit, not just memorised.
- Tone Studio. Draws the shape of each tone, listens to you, and scores your tones right on your phone. Your voice isn't uploaded.
- Hanzi Meteor. Words fall from the sky; say or type the answer before the meteor reaches Bao's ship. Free and unlimited.
- Sentence Studio. Say whole sentences and get your tones scored. 3 free sessions, then a 24-hour pause; unlimited with Plus.
- Every way to practise. Spaced-repetition flashcards, Recall, Match, Picture Challenge, Listen, dictation, stroke-order writing up to full sentences, Sentence Practice, graded readings with audio, and a Grammar Guide that is now a reference book: one page per pattern, with examples and common mistakes.
- Checkpoints on the road. Reading, writing, and speaking checkpoints on every island ask fresh questions on every try. Can't speak right now? Switch to listening tests in Settings.
Bao gives hints, not answers
Getting stuck is part of learning. Bao helps you find the answer yourself, so the word actually sticks.
Word-by-word breakdown
Press and hold a word in a story, or slide your finger along a sentence, to see the pinyin, meaning and breakdown. Free.
Bao Chat Beta Plus
Ask anything about Mandarin: grammar, the difference between two words, or a study plan built from the words you keep getting wrong. Bao remembers which words are hard for you. Answers come from our server, so you need a connection.
My books Plus
Photograph a page of Mandarin, paste text, or open a PDF. Tap a word for pinyin and meaning, listen to the passage, mark characters you are unsure of, and translate sentence by sentence.
Learning is more fun with friends
Add friends, challenge them, or play as a group. There's a league every week, and winners can earn free Plus.
Friends
Add friends with a friend code or an invite link. See weekly XP, streaks, and who's online. Free.
1v1 duels Plus
Challenge a friend. As soon as they accept, the match starts: 5, 10 or 20 questions, a tug-of-war score bar, and a crown for the winner. The challenger needs Plus; your friend plays free.
Group games Plus
Open a room with a 6-digit code for 2 to 10 players. Friends without the app can join from a browser at studychinese.id/play. Hosting needs Plus; joining is free. Each Plus member opens free seats for friends.
Weekly leagues and the Tuesday Cup
Earn XP and climb nine league tiers, from Stone to Master. Boards are grouped by level, so beginners meet beginners.
- Win free Plus. The top 3 on every board win 7, 5 or 3 days of Plus, every week.
- Tuesday Cup. Every Tuesday, last week's winners face off: 20 questions, 15 seconds each, one try. The best score takes the title.
Plus prizes need at least 1,000 XP that week, a signed-in account, and at least 5 players on the board. Winners claim their prize in the app within 2 days.
Small habits, every day
- Streaks and the Jade ShieldA daily goal and a study streak. The Jade Shield protects your streak when you miss a day.
- Treasure chests and coinsOpen chests after you study, and collect coins from your XP.
- Bao's wardrobeBuy Bao new outfits with your coins, and collect souvenirs from Bao's travels.
- Widgets and a daily wordHome Screen and Lock Screen widgets show words from chapters you've unlocked. Turn on notifications for one new word a day.
Free to start. Plus when you're ready.
In Indonesia, Plus is Rp 49,000 a month or Rp 499,000 a year; prices in other countries are shown in the App Store. Eligible new subscribers get a 7-day free trial on the yearly plan.
| Feature | Free | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 2.0 Classic levels | Your starting level and every level below | Every level |
| HSK 3.0 Levels 1–9 | — | Yes |
| HSK exam simulation | — | Yes |
| Every drill type | Yes | Yes |
| Hints from Bao | 10 questions a day | Unlimited |
| Hanzi Meteor | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Sentence Studio | 3 sessions, then a 24-hour pause | Unlimited |
| Hearts | 3 hearts in Chapter 1, then 1 heart that refills every 30 minutes | Unlimited |
| Bao Chat (Beta) and My books | — | Yes |
| Friends, leagues, Tuesday Cup, joining rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Challenging 1v1 duels and hosting rooms | — | Yes |
JadeClass students get full access. Subscriptions renew automatically and can be cancelled any time in your App Store settings.
Your first island is waiting
Made by Edrick, an Indonesian student learning Mandarin in Beijing. Want a teacher too? Join JadeClass.