Start Here

If you are new, follow this order. Each lesson builds on the one before it. Do not jump to lesson 10 first — lesson 1 to 3 are the foundation.

Path 1 — Speak from day one

1. Greetings beyond “hello”
2. How to ask, and answer, “Have you eaten?”
3. Polite ways to say yes, no, and thank you
4. Ordering food without pointing and hoping

Path 2 — Understand Chinese people

5. What “face” really means in daily life
6. Why Chinese people often answer indirectly
7. Family titles: why everyone seems to be an uncle or auntie
8. Festivals in one page: what people actually do, not just the legend

Path 3 — Read Chinese characters

9. How one character is built: a first character story
10. A short dialogue, fully explained: scene, sentences, culture, practice

Roadmap note: titles above are the planned order. As each lesson is published, its title here will become a link. Unlinked titles are not published yet.

After lesson 10

You should be able to greet someone, order a simple meal, understand why a polite answer sounds indirect, and read a few characters with their stories — not fluently, but confidently enough to keep going.

Next step: Contact Allen and tell him your level and why you are learning Chinese.