Start with a 90-day trial.
The ninety days start when you pass the first sentence.
中文
Learn 中文
Speak in a room where the decision costs something: a position, a reason, a concession, and a next step.
Twenty-four classes. Hear the line, say it, then say it about your own life.
Characters are the spelling. Pinyin is only a reading aid.
Say the first sentenceThe sentences
1
Your name
Say hello, your name, where you are from, and goodbye. Write the characters.
你好。我叫____。我来自____。很高兴认识你。
Hello. My name is ____. I am from ____. Glad to meet you.
2
The family
Name your family in characters.
这是我的家人。我有一个弟弟。我妈妈是医生。
This is my family. I have a younger brother. My mother is a doctor.
3
The day
Say what time you get up and that you work, as a habit.
我七点起床。我工作。我六点吃饭。
I get up at seven. I work. I eat at six.
4
A real need
Ask for help and ask them to slow down.
我需要帮助。请说慢一点。
I need help. Please speak a little more slowly.
5
Yesterday
Say three things that finished yesterday.
昨天我工作了。我六点到家了。我在家吃了晚饭。
Yesterday I worked. I got home at six. I ate dinner at home.
6
Tomorrow
Say what you are going to do tomorrow.
明天我要工作。我要给妈妈打电话。
Tomorrow I am going to work. I am going to call my mother.
7
Getting there
Ask the way and say how you go.
请问，去市中心怎么走？我走路。公共汽车开到市中心。
Excuse me, how do I get downtown? I walk. The bus goes downtown.
8
The phone
Open a call, ask for a person, and leave a time.
喂，我是____。请问____在吗？请晚一点打来。
Hello, this is ____. Is ____ there? Please call a little later.
9
What happened
Set the scene, then say what finished.
昨天下着雨。我出门晚了，错过了公共汽车。
Yesterday it was raining. I left late and missed the bus.
10
What you think
Give an opinion and one doubt. Chinese does not switch the verb.
我觉得这是个好主意。我不觉得这很容易。
I think this is a good idea. I do not think this is easy.
11
When it breaks
Say what failed, ask for someone, and move the meeting.
网络坏了。你能派人来吗？我们能改会议吗？
The network is down. Can you send someone? Can we move the meeting?
12
The work
Say your role and what you have finished.
我做分析师。报告已经写完了。
I work as an analyst. The report is already written.
13
A disagreement
Grant one point, then differ.
我明白你的意思。但是我不同意。我建议换一天。
I understand your point. But I do not agree. I suggest another day.
14
Far away
Say what you would do if you lived closer.
如果我们住得更近，就会多见几次。
If we lived closer, we would see each other more.
15
The news
Report what a paper said, and refuse a hot take.
报纸说这个决定很难。现在下判断太早了。
The paper says this decision is hard. It is too early to judge.
16
The email
Say the email: what you send, what you need, and by when.
我写信是为了送合同。请在星期五之前回复。
I am writing in order to send the contract. Please reply before Friday.
17
What you mean
Restate the point and ask if you are wrong.
也就是说，你想改日期。我说错了吗？
So you want to change the date. Did I say it wrong?
18
A hard conversation
Start with the difficulty, then make one request.
这话很难说。这不是攻击。我需要家里的帮助。
This is hard to say. This is not an attack. I need help at home.
19
The real issue
Move the argument onto what it is about.
这不是钱的问题。这是信任的问题。
This is not a money problem. This is a trust problem.
20
The deal
Concede one thing with a condition, and repeat the deal.
如果价格不变，我就接受这个日期。我重复一遍：你们送货，我们安装。
If the price does not change, I accept this date. I repeat: you deliver, we install.
21
The joke
Keep the joke with friends and the plain sentence at work.
跟朋友可以说好笑。在工作上，我说直话。
With friends I can say it is funny. At work, I say the plain sentence.
22
The table
Give a one-line toast, and a condolence that stops.
为这次聚会。祝你们安好。节哀。需要的话，我在。
To this gathering. May you be well. Condolences. If needed, I am here.
23
Any topic
Stay in a topic you only half know.
也就是说，你在说____。能说得简单一点吗？我能讲想法，还不能讲术语。
So you are talking about ____. Can you say it more simply? I can explain the idea, not the term yet.
24
The room
Say a position, one reason, one concession, and a next step.
我的立场：我们星期一开始。理由：文本已经好了。让步：我接受复查。下一步：请你今天确认。
My position: we start Monday. The reason: the text is ready. The concession: I accept a review. The next step: please confirm today.