Learn Chinese Online Hub

About.

Learn Chinese Online Hub teaches standard Mandarin to English speakers in ten minute pieces. It is part of a small network of language sites built by one studio, all sharing the same idea: short written lessons, no video, no account needed to start, and an explanation of why rather than a list to memorise.

Who writes it

The lessons are written by David, who learned Mandarin as an adult. That is the relevant qualification: an adult learner remembers which things were confusing and why, which is what these lessons are built around.

If something reads wrong, please tell us. Corrections are made quickly.

Which Chinese this is

Standard Mandarin, 普通话, written in simplified characters. That is the language of mainland China and Singapore, the one taught in schools, and the one behind almost all Chinese media. Traditional characters appear on the character pages as a reference so you recognise them in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but they are not taught here.

Cantonese is a separate language, not a dialect of this one, with six tones and its own grammar and vocabulary. Nothing on this site will help you speak it, and saying otherwise would be dishonest.

Where northern and southern usage differ, the northern form is written and the southern one is noted. Both are standard, and 哪儿 and 哪里 will each get you to the same place.

The panda

Diandian, 点点, meaning a little bit. Every site in the network has the same speech bubble character with one detail borrowed from its language. Here the bubble is a panda, the mark above the head is a third tone, and the tail is a brush stroke ending in a hook, the way a vertical stroke ends in handwriting. The name is two third tones in a row, so it is actually said diándiǎn, which is the first tone change rule the course teaches on day one.

Who runs it

Learn Chinese Online Hub is a trading name of Lunar Interactive Arts Ltd. Company number 12044811. Registered office 102 Lady Margaret Road, Flat D, London, England, N19 5EX. Questions to [email protected].