Learning Chinese can be an enriching and practical journey, whether you’re studying for travel, business, exams like HSK, or personal growth. With countless tools available, choosing the right resources can make a huge difference in your fluency and motivation. In this guide, we’ve curated the top 10 best resources to learn Chinese, from apps and online platforms to textbooks and community tools, all designed to support different learning styles and goals. Let’s dive in!
1. Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps worldwide and its Chinese course is perfect for beginners who want a fun and gamified introduction to Mandarin Chinese. It uses spaced repetition, bite-sized lessons, and interactive exercises that teach characters, pinyin, speaking, listening, and sentence structure in a way that keeps learners motivated daily. Duolingo’s intuitive interface adapts to your pace, tracks your progress with levels and streaks, and gives instant feedback, making it ideal for learners who enjoy game-like learning. The app’s accessibility and free tier make it one of the best starting points for Chinese learners globally.
2. HelloChinese
HelloChinese stands out as one of the best resources to learn Chinese conversationally with strong support for speaking and listening practice. Designed specifically for Mandarin learners, HelloChinese combines voice recognition, interactive drills, real-life dialogues, and grammar tips to help users speak confidently. Its structured curriculum includes pinyin training, character writing exercises, and cultural context, ensuring learners build a well-rounded foundation. Whether you’re preparing for travel, basic communication, or everyday conversations, HelloChinese’s focus on pronunciation and practical vocabulary makes it indispensable.
3. ChinesePod
ChinesePod is a leading podcast platform for Chinese learners that delivers thousands of lessons categorized by level from Newbie to Advanced. Each episode features dialogues, explanations, and cultural insights that help you learn real, contextual language used in everyday situations. The audio-first format makes it ideal for auditory learners and busy learners who want to study on the go, such as during commutes or workouts. Subscriptions unlock quizzes, lesson notes, and grammar guides that reinforce what you’ve heard, making ChinesePod a comprehensive resource for improving listening skills and conversational fluency.
4. Skritter
Skritter is widely considered the go-to platform for mastering Chinese characters, one of the most challenging aspects of learning Mandarin. Its core strength is its handwriting recognition system, which teaches correct stroke order, reinforces character recall, and tracks progress through spaced repetition. Skritter’s targeted practice helps learners move beyond recognition to confident writing, an essential skill for reading comprehension, HSK exams, and deeper language mastery. For visual learners and anyone serious about reading and writing Chinese characters, Skritter is one of the most effective tools available.
5. Yoyo Chinese
Yoyo Chinese offers comprehensive online Chinese courses developed by experienced instructors that break complex language concepts into clear, digestible lessons. Unlike many apps that rely on drills alone, Yoyo Chinese emphasizes explanations of grammar, usage, tones, and cultural nuance through high-quality video lessons. The platform features structured pathways from absolute beginner to advanced, with quizzes, review sessions, and downloadable lesson materials that make learning systematic and measurable. If you want a well-organized curriculum with expert guidance, Yoyo Chinese delivers classroom-style depth in a flexible online format.
6. Mandarin Corner
Mandarin Corner is an excellent free resource focused on improving listening and comprehension through immersive video content. With a large library of videos featuring natural Chinese speech, including interviews, short films, and everyday conversations, learners can practice listening at various levels. The videos often include subtitles in both Chinese and English, helping learners connect spoken language with meaning. Mandarin Corner is especially useful for intermediate and advanced learners who want to sharpen their listening skills, learn slang and colloquialisms, and experience authentic spoken Mandarin outside of textbooks.
7. Pleco
Pleco is more than just a dictionary; it’s a must-have language tool for Chinese learners of all levels. With offline access, stroke animation, handwriting input, example sentences, and native-speaker audio, Pleco helps users understand and retain vocabulary efficiently. Additional add-ons, such as flashcards and document readers, expand its usefulness for study and real-world reading. Whether you’re translating text, studying characters, or reading Chinese media, Pleco’s robust features make it one of the most practical and powerful apps to support your Chinese learning journey.
8. italki
If you want real conversational practice and personalized guidance, italki connects you with Chinese tutors and language partners for live one-on-one lessons. You can choose teachers based on experience, price, and teaching style, and schedule lessons that fit your routine. italki is especially valuable for learners who need targeted feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and speaking fluency, which automated tools can’t provide. Whether you’re prepping for exams, business Chinese, or daily conversations, personalized tutoring accelerates progress and builds confidence in real time.
9. HSK Online
For learners planning to take the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), China’s standardized Mandarin proficiency test, HSK Online is an excellent prep resource. It offers practice tests, vocabulary lists, mock exams, and level-based exercises aligned with HSK levels 1–6. The platform helps learners strengthen test-taking strategies, master required vocabulary, and become familiar with exam formats. Whether you’re aiming for HSK certification for academic, professional, or personal goals, HSK Online’s focused materials make your preparation efficient and targeted.
10. Reddit Chinese Learning Community
Learning a language isn’t just about tools; community support can boost motivation and insight. The Reddit Chinese Learning community is a vibrant forum where learners share tips, study plans, resources, answers to grammar questions, and motivation. You can ask questions, receive feedback, find study partners, and discover authentic media recommendations. Engaging with a community accelerates learning by exposing you to diverse perspectives and real experiences, making Reddit an underrated but highly valuable resource for Chinese learners at any stage.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just starting or advancing toward fluency, the top 10 best resources to learn Chinese listed above offer diverse and effective ways to build your skills. From gamified apps like Duolingo and immersive content like Mandarin Corner to powerful tools like Pleco and personalized tutoring on italki, each resource supports a different aspect of language learning. Combine the ones that match your goals and learning style, stay consistent, and you’ll see your Mandarin skills grow faster than you ever thought possible.