A free Mandarin Chinese course, from your first tone to C2
A Mandarin course for English speakers that starts with tones and pinyin, then teaches the grammar in 82 lessons from A0 to C2. Characters are simplified and always shown with pinyin, and you can answer in either. The library runs from graded stories to 9 classic books, among them 三字经 and 老残游记. Free, with no ads and no account needed for lessons. AI chat includes three guest prompts before a free account is required.
Choose your level
What's included, free
A guided path
22 short units in teaching order. One Continue button picks the next lesson, review, story or listening session each day.
Grammar, explained
82 lessons from A0 to C2 with 1,345 practice questions, explained in plain English.
Flashcards on a schedule
2,847 flashcards with pinyin and examples, scheduled with FSRS spaced repetition.
Real reading
19 graded stories and 9 public-domain books, with tap-to-translate.
Tones and speaking
Tone drills, pronunciation feedback on your own voice, and an AI conversation partner.
Level tests
A placement test to start at the right level, and a test at the end of each level.
With AI, where it helps
A conversation partner that speaks at your level (with pinyin at the start), explanations of your mistakes, and help in the reader. The course itself is written and structured, so AI adds practice rather than replacing teaching. How SparkAI uses AI for Chinese.
How long it takes
Mandarin is one of the hardest languages for English speakers. See the FSI figures, and why short daily practice matters more than the total.
Questions
Is there a free Chinese course from A0 to C2?
Yes. SparkAI's Mandarin Chinese course runs from complete beginner (A0) to C2, free with no ads: 82 grammar lessons, 2,847 flashcards with spaced repetition, graded stories, classic books, videos and an AI conversation partner.
How do the levels compare with HSK?
As a rough guide: A0–A1 is about HSK 1–2, A2 about HSK 3, B1 about HSK 4, B2 about HSK 5, and C1–C2 HSK 6 and above. The CEFR and HSK measure different things, so treat the match as approximate.
Do I need an account?
Not for the lessons. Your lessons, flashcards and progress are kept in this browser until you create a free account, which syncs them across devices. AI chat gives three guest prompts before asking for one.
Does it give a certificate?
No. For an official result, sit the HSK, the Chinese government's proficiency test. SparkAI's own level tests only check your progress through the course.