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Learn Chinese with Laura

Free HSK 1 course · HSK 2 now open

Learn Chinese with Laura

Speak real Mandarin from your very first lesson. Bite-sized HSK 1 & HSK 2 lessons on a painted journey across China, with pinyin on every character and Laura cheering you on in her own voice.

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  • HSK 1 is free
  • No credit card
  • Phone or computer

Coming soon to iOS and Android

Not in the stores yet. Until then it works in the browser on any phone or computer.

Meet your teacher

From TikTok Live to your phone

I’m Laura. I started out teaching Chinese on TikTok Live, and now my lessons are on your phone. Learn Chinese anywhere, and collect ducks along the way.

Photo of Laura, the real Chinese teacher behind the app, smiling in a white blazer
Then Chinese lessons on TikTok Live
Laura drawn as the app’s anime teacher in a white and gold jacket, waving hello on a phone screen
Now In your pocket, with 40 ducks to collect

Learning Chinese should feel like a trip, not a textbook. Say it out loud, laugh at the mistakes, and come back tomorrow. 加油jiā yóu (you can do it!)

Laura

Why learners love it

Everything you need to really speak Chinese

A complete course from a real teacher, built to be fun enough that you come back tomorrow.

  • The full HSK 1 & HSK 2 path

    49 HSK 1 lessons with all 156 HSK 1 words, then 43 HSK 2 lessons in 11 units. Short lessons mix listening, reading, speaking and typing, and spaced review brings words back right before you forget them.

    free HSK 1 lessons
    49
    HSK 1 words
    156
    HSK 2 lessons
    43

  • A painted journey map

    Travel through 24 hand-painted stops across China, from the Forbidden City to the pandas of Chengdu. Finish a stop and a passport stamp slams onto the page.

  • Speaking practice with your mic

    Say it out loud and see your pitch drawn over the target tone. Nothing to install.

  • Laura’s real voice

    Laura recorded her Chinese lines herself, so the greetings, hints and cheers you hear in your lessons really are her.

  • Ducks & rewards

    Earn red beans in every lesson and spend them on 40 collectible ducks, hats and effects. Earned only, never sold.

  • Culture bonus lessons

    41 free extras on festivals, the zodiac, history, modern China and food. They never block your path.

  • No tone marks needed

    Type pinyin the easy way: “nihao” is fine. No special keyboard, no hunting for ǎ.

  • Exams & certificates

    4 practice exams, server-graded, with a certificate when you pass.

See it in action

Made for your phone

Real screens from the app. Learn on the bus, on the sofa or on a lunch break.

  • The Learn screen: Stop 1, the Forbidden City in Beijing, with the first lessons on a painted trail

    Your path

    One lesson after another, on a painted trail across China.

  • A listening exercise answered correctly, with Laura cheering “Keep it up!”

    Bite-sized lessons

    Listen, tap, speak and type, with instant feedback.

  • The trail at Stop 4, the Panda Base in Chengdu, painted with bamboo and pandas

    New places to unlock

    Every unit is a new stop, from Beijing to the pandas of Chengdu.

  • The Bonus lessons sheet: culture, history, modern China, tones, food and measure words

    Bonus lessons

    Culture, history, food and more, whenever you like.

How it works

From hello to HSK, one stop at a time

  1. Step 1: Create your free account

    Sign up in seconds. Or try the first lessons without an account.

  2. Step 2: Follow the path

    12 HSK 1 units, one painted stop each. Lessons are short, so one fits in a coffee break.

  3. Step 3: Listen, speak and type

    Hear Laura, say it into your mic, type the pinyin. Words come back right before you forget them.

  4. Step 4: Collect stamps and ducks

    Earn a passport stamp at every stop, red beans for the Duck Shop, and take the HSK 1 exam for a certificate.

Simple pricing

Start free. Unlock more when you’re ready.

  • HSK 1

    Free

    The whole HSK 1 course, 41 bonus lessons and practice exams. No ads.

    Start learning free

  • HSK 2

    $9.99 once

    43 lessons, 11 new stops and the HSK 2 mock exam. Yours for good. First lesson free.

    About the HSK 2 unlock

  • Supporters

    from $7 / month

    HSK 2 while subscribed, Supporter bonus lessons, a gold badge and up to 200 (Gold) or 300 (Diamond) red beans a day. Keeps HSK 1 free for everyone.

    See Supporter perks

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is it really free?
Yes. The whole HSK 1 course (49 lessons, all 156 HSK 1 words) and 41 bonus lessons are free, with no ads and no credit card. HSK 2 is an optional one-time unlock of $9.99.
I’ve never studied Chinese. Is this for me?
Absolutely. Lesson 1 starts from hello. You never need to read characters on your own: every character in the app has its pinyin (the spelling of its sound) right above it.
Do I have to type tone marks?
No. When you type pinyin you can leave the tones out: “nihao” is fine. You still hear and practise the tones in listening and speaking.
How does speaking practice work?
Tap the mic and say the word. The app draws your pitch over the target tone so you can see how close you are. The analysis runs on your own device.
Is there an iPhone or Android app?
Apps for iOS and Android are coming soon. Until then, Learn Chinese with Laura works in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer, and your progress follows your account.
What is HSK?
HSK is the official Chinese proficiency test. HSK 1 and HSK 2 are the first two levels: everyday words, simple sentences and real conversations. The app follows them step by step and has practice exams for both.
How do I pay for HSK 2?
One payment of $9.99 with PayPal, yours for good: no subscription. The first HSK 2 lesson is free to try. Supporters (from $7 a month) also get HSK 2 while subscribed. See the terms & refunds.

More questions? Visit Help & FAQ

Your first stop is waiting

Say your first 你好nǐ hǎo today

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