Learn Chinese

Want to learn Chinese quickly, effectively, and enjoyably?

150.000+

By the end of this course, you will not only be able to write and understand short dialogue but also have an incredible foundation to build further on. Chinese is very logical and systematically builds on each previous step so every step forward will be easier than the last, and that is also how you'll be able to recognize Chinese upon finishing this course.

Chinese is the most logical language there is and we hope to demonstrate to the world how to successfully navigate it. Through the ancient system of using pictograms, two words with separate meanings can join to form entirely new words. For example, learn the word for electricity (电), then add brain (脑) and you get a computer (electric-brain). Replace the brain with stairs (梯) and you get an elevator (electric-stairs). 话 means speech and 'electric-speech' means telephone. Chinese is a clearly structured, logical language, and it is this logic that makes the learning experience feel like a puzzle that anyone can solve.

Domino Chinese offers a unique approach to learning Chinese, developed by learners for learners.

DominoChinese is the best way to learn Chinese, with hundreds of hours of video, which incorporate short, concise tutorials and real-life situations to clearly explain Chinese and demonstrate how to use Mandarin Chinese correctly in everyday life.
Join thousands of students who have successfully learned to read, write, speak, and communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese.
As students progress through the Domino Chinese courses, their language skills improve quickly by applying, connecting, and building upon their newly acquired language skills.
After completing the beginner's Chinese course you’ll have a strong foundation in reading, writing, speaking, and communicating in Chinese upon which to build and improve.
As your skills grow you can study the Intermediate Courses, HSK Courses, the Pronunciation Course, the Slang Course, and more the Advanced Courses, all of which are available in this app.
With Domino Chinese, you’ll also experience China’s fascinating culture through real-world videos from the streets of China. These videos provide valuable insights into China's language, people, history, and rich culture, supporting students’ language development and providing them a window to the world of 21st Century China.

The Domino Chinese Story

Domino Chinese was founded in 2014 by foreigners who had struggled to learn Mandarin Chinese the conventional way. Together this group of learners built and developed a unique course that is clearly structured with a ‘building block methodology’, providing insights, explanations, and learning tips to help students to quickly learn and understand Chinese, and easily remember Chinese characters.
Studying Chinese with Domino Chinese you’ll also experience China’s fascinating culture through real-world videos from the streets of China. These videos provide valuable insights into China's language, people, history, and rich culture, supporting students’ language development and providing them a window to the world of 21st Century China.

So whether you wish to learn Chinese for travel, work, business, study or simply to make friends and gain new experiences, Domino Chinese is the perfect course for you.

Join the course now … every hour you delay is costing you money

Felix Lattman

What's inside

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to converse completely in chinese about almost everything

You will also be able to read and write simple stories/articles/books in chinese

By the end of the course, you will be able to converse completely in chinese about almost everything
You will also be able to read and write simple stories/articles/books in chinese

Syllabus

Lesson (1,2,3,4) 5 - So Big and So Small

Welcome to your new family!

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In lesson 5 we’ll learn the basics of buying things and work with some question structures.

In lesson 6 we’ll learn to use “she, he” and start working with measure words.

In lesson 7 we’ll start working with plural and how to make nouns.

In lesson 8 we’ll learn how to use adjectives and numbers 1-10.

In lesson 9 we’ll learn the first and most important conversation along with family words.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a strong foundation for beginners to start learning conversational Chinese and basic grammar

Emphasizes spoken Chinese, allowing learners to develop their speaking and listening skills

Utilizes a building block methodology to help students gradually build their Chinese language skills

Provides opportunities to practice through interactive videos featuring real-life situations

Offers a comprehensive approach to learning Chinese, covering various aspects of the language

Teaches Chinese in a logical and systematic manner, making it easier for learners to grasp the concepts

Reviews summary

Learners react to chinese level 1

According to learners, this course uses a unique, building block methodology that many find helpful for understanding the logic of Chinese. The video content, including short tutorials and real-life situations, is often highlighted as a positive aspect. However, some students felt the stated learning objectives were too ambitious for a Level 1, particularly regarding conversation fluency and reading/writing complex texts. The pace is described by some as quite fast, potentially making it challenging to absorb all the material. The inclusion of cultural videos is generally appreciated.

Real-world videos offer cultural context.

"I enjoyed the glimpses into real-life China through the cultural videos."

"Adding cultural context alongside language helps motivation."

"The cultural segments were a nice bonus and added depth to the learning experience."

Short videos explain concepts clearly.

"The short video tutorials were fantastic and easy to digest."

"I really liked seeing the language used in real-life situations through the videos."

"The concise explanations in the videos helped me understand quickly."

Praised for its building block approach.

"I found the building block approach really helpful for grasping concepts."

"The way they connect ideas feels very logical and easy to follow."

"This unique methodology just clicked for me and made learning easier than other methods I tried."

Course moves quickly through topics.

"The pace feels very fast, making it hard to consolidate everything before moving on."

"Each lesson covers a surprising amount of material."

"Sometimes I felt rushed trying to absorb all the new vocabulary and grammar."

Objectives felt unrealistic for Level 1.

"The promise of 'conversing completely' feels misleading for a true beginner level."

"I certainly couldn't read simple stories after finishing this level as the objectives claimed."

"I felt I needed significant additional study and practice to even get close to the stated goals."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn Chinese | Level 1 with these activities:

Explore Chinese culture through online resources

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Immerse yourself in Chinese culture by exploring online resources such as websites, blogs, and social media platforms.

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Visit websites about Chinese history, geography, and culture
Read blogs written by Chinese people or expats living in China
Follow Chinese social media accounts to connect with native speakers

Review the basics of Chinese characters

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Compose a list of the basic Chinese characters from lessons one through four, and take some time revising them.

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Compile a list of characters
Substitute the images of the characters you wrote with the characters themselves
Review Pinyin pronunciation for each character

Watch videos to improve listening comprehension

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Explore the real-world videos from the streets of China to enhance your listening comprehension skills and gain insights into Chinese culture.

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Watch at least three videos from the Domino Chinese app
Take notes on new vocabulary or phrases

Five other activities

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Create a vocabulary list

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Consolidate your vocabulary by creating a comprehensive list of new words and phrases encountered in the course.

Browse courses on Vocabulary

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Create a spreadsheet or document to store your vocabulary list
Add new words and phrases as you progress through the course
Include the Chinese character, Pinyin, English translation, and a sentence example for each word

Practice using measure words

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Complete a series of drills to practice using measure words correctly when describing quantities of nouns.

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Complete the measure word exercises in Lesson 6
Complete at least five additional practice exercises

Join a study group and discuss course material

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Connect with fellow students and engage in discussions to reinforce your understanding of the course content and practice speaking Chinese.

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Find a study group or create your own
Meet regularly to discuss course material, homework, and practice speaking Chinese

Create a dialogue using new vocabulary and grammar

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Compose a dialogue that demonstrates your understanding of the vocabulary and grammar covered in Lesson 9, including family words and making questions.

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Identify a scenario and characters for the dialogue
Write out the dialogue in Chinese, including Pinyin pronunciation
Record yourself speaking the dialogue aloud

Read a Chinese novel

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Enhance your Chinese reading comprehension and cultural understanding by immersing yourself in a classic Chinese novel.

View The Collected Short Stories on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of 'The Three-Body Problem'
Read a chapter or two each day
Use a Chinese-English dictionary or online resources to translate unfamiliar words and phrases

Career center

Learners who complete Learn Chinese | Level 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chinese Language Teacher

Chinese language teachers are responsible for teaching students how to read, write, speak and understand Chinese. They must be fluent in Chinese and have a deep understanding of the grammar and syntax of the language. This course can help you develop the language skills and teaching skills necessary to become a successful Chinese language teacher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chinese Language Teacher

Interpreter

Interpreters are responsible for converting spoken language from one language into another. They must be able to listen to a speaker in one language and then immediately translate what they have said into another language. This course can help you develop the language skills necessary to become a successful interpreter. You will learn how to listen, speak and understand Chinese, which will be a valuable asset in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Translator

Translators are responsible for converting written or spoken text from one language into another. They must be fluent in both languages and have a deep understanding of the grammar and syntax of each language. This course can help you develop the language skills necessary to become a successful translator. You will learn how to read, write, speak and understand Chinese, which will be a valuable asset in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Marketer

Marketers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns that promote products or services. They must be able to understand the needs of their target audience and develop creative and effective marketing materials. This course can help you develop the language skills and marketing knowledge necessary to become a successful marketer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketer

Business Analyst

Business analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying areas for improvement. They must be able to gather and interpret data, and communicate their findings to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the analytical skills and language skills necessary to become a successful business analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. They must be able to understand the needs of their clients and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the problem-solving skills and language skills necessary to become a successful consultant.

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Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers are responsible for representing the United States abroad. They work in embassies and consulates around the world and are responsible for a variety of tasks, including political reporting, economic analysis, and cultural exchange. This course can help you develop the language skills and cultural knowledge necessary to become a successful Foreign Service Officer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Service Officer

Journalist

Journalists are responsible for gathering, writing, and reporting news and current events. They must be able to communicate effectively in both written and spoken form and have a deep understanding of the world around them. This course can help you develop the language skills and writing skills necessary to become a successful journalist.

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Investment Banker

Investment bankers are responsible for helping companies raise capital and providing financial advice. They must be able to understand the financial markets and have a strong understanding of business. This course may be useful in developing the language skills necessary to become a successful investment banker.

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Financial Analyst

Financial analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data and making recommendations on investments. They must be able to understand financial statements and have a strong understanding of the financial markets. This course may be useful in developing the language skills necessary to become a successful financial analyst.

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Software Engineer

Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They must be able to understand the needs of their users and develop software that meets those needs. This course may be useful in developing the problem-solving skills necessary to become a successful software engineer.

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Data Scientist

Data scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They must be able to understand the data and develop models that can be used to make predictions. This course may be useful in developing the analytical skills necessary to become a successful data scientist.

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Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for developing and managing products. They must be able to understand the needs of their users and develop products that meet those needs. This course may be useful in developing the problem-solving skills and language skills necessary to become a successful product manager.

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User Experience Designer

User experience designers are responsible for designing the user interface and user experience for websites and apps. They must be able to understand the needs of their users and develop designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course may be useful in developing the problem-solving skills and language skills necessary to become a successful user experience designer.

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Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual designs for a variety of purposes, including marketing materials, websites, and packaging. They must be able to understand the needs of their clients and develop designs that are both visually appealing and effective. This course may be useful in developing the problem-solving skills necessary to become a successful graphic designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer