Mandarin Meadow
A little Mandarin, every day.

Help & FAQ 常见问题

Practising Mandarin

How do Listen, Record, Play mine and Compare work?

Listen plays the example. You can skip listening and record straight away. Tap Record, say the item, then tap Stop. A successful recording completes that item’s task. Play mine plays your voice; Compare plays the model, then your voice.

“Recorded” means you practised; it is not a pronunciation score. Listen for tones, rhythm and light syllables. You can record again. Try a few items at a time and take a break when needed.

Where do my recordings and completed tasks go?

Voice clips stay in this browser tab. Reloading, closing the tab or leaving the website clears them. Opening this help page keeps your clips available. Completed tasks remain saved even when a voice clip is gone, so Play mine and Compare become available after a new recording.

Learners have separate progress. Use the learner’s progress backup or sign-in sync to carry supported learning progress between devices. Voice clips are not included in backups or sync.

How can I read a longer text?

Use the Listen button beside each part. Pause or stop with the audio controls, then continue when ready. Pinyin + English and Useful expressions provide optional support. Short texts have one Listen button.

How do character animations and tracing work?

Flip a character card to see the writing controls. Replay shows the strokes; Trace lets you try them. The lesson’s writing focus identifies which characters to practise first. Printable pages are available in Practice.

Choosing a course & reviewing

How do I choose a starting point?

Each course page lists what to know before starting and what you will practise. Choose by what you can understand and do in Mandarin. Later literature and social themes are intended for teenagers and adults ready for extended reading and discussion; language support remains available.

How do the cumulative reviews work?

Open Review & connect on a course page, or use the extra review in the Review tab after each study block. Earlier vocabulary, sentence patterns and readings return in short recall questions, followed by a written response. First choices and retries remain saved. The written reflection is self-reviewed, with room for different supported answers.

Can I spread a long reading over several days?

Yes. Open Goals & study plan for reading sessions linked to each part. Read one part in a sitting, then connect the parts and complete the reading tasks when ready. The short Course 7 bridge readings have optional longer versions; the longer version is not required.

Chinese typing

How do I type Chinese and use written responses?

Add a Simplified Chinese Pinyin keyboard in your device’s keyboard or language settings. On iPhone/iPad, look under Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards. On Android, use your keyboard’s Languages settings. On Windows or Mac, use language or input-source settings. Select the Chinese keyboard, type pinyin, then choose the intended characters.

Later readings include a short written response. Drafts are saved to the active learner’s progress as you type. You can save a response, compare it with a possible supporting detail, and revise it. These responses are not automatically graded; different reasoned answers can work. Progress backup and supported sign-in sync include saved responses.

Microphone setup

What if microphone access is blocked?

Tap Record and allow microphone access when your browser asks. If access was denied, change this website’s microphone permission to Allow or Ask. Your device must also let the browser use its microphone. Return to the lesson and try Record again; reload only if your browser requires it. Reloading clears voice clips in this tab.

Open Mandarin Meadow directly in your browser if recording is unavailable in an embedded window. If the microphone is busy, close other apps using it. For children, a parent or carer can help with permission settings.

iPhone or iPad · Safari
  1. Open this website in Safari, then tap Record and allow the request.
  2. If blocked, open Safari’s page menu beside the address, find Website Settings (or More, then Website Settings), and change Microphone to Ask or Allow for this website.
  3. You can also check Settings → Apps → Safari → Microphone; older versions may show Safari directly in Settings. Return to Safari and try again.

Menu names vary by version. Apple’s Safari settings guide

Android phone or tablet · Chrome
  1. In Chrome, open Settings → Site settings → Microphone. Allow this website or remove its blocked permission, then try Record again.
  2. If still blocked, check Android Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions → Microphone, and allow access while using the app.

Google’s microphone guide for Android

Mac · Safari or Chrome

In Safari, use Settings → Websites → Microphone and choose Ask or Allow for this website. In Chrome, open the controls beside the address → Site settings → Microphone → Allow.

If the browser is blocked by macOS, check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and allow the browser if listed. Relaunch it if requested; relaunching clears current voice clips.

Safari website settings · Chrome microphone settings

Windows · Chrome or Edge

Open the controls beside the website address and allow Microphone in this site’s permissions. In Windows Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone, check microphone access and permission for desktop apps. On older Windows versions, look under Privacy.

Microsoft’s microphone settings guide

Firefox

Use the permissions icon beside the address to remove a blocked microphone permission, then tap Record and allow the new request. You can also review Microphone under Firefox Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions. Check your device’s microphone permission for Firefox too.

Mozilla’s permission guide

A light on a snowy evening

Explain a choice and its reason.

Goals & study plan
The little match girl: a light and the cold beyond it

Read this original text about a light on a snowy evening. Compare actions, reasons and consequences, using details as evidence. You can pause after any study block and continue later.

  • Explain a choice and its reason.
  • Support a view with a detail from the text.
  • Compare an earlier and a later response.

Community, imagination & creative growth · Lessons 1–4

Original Story · reading focus

Trace events, perspective and a meaningful detail. Explain your interpretation and consider another possible view.

Reading sessions · 3 parts
  1. Session 1 · Part 1

    Read this part, identify the main event or idea, and note one useful detail.

  2. Session 2 · Part 2

    Read this part, identify the main event or idea, and note one useful detail.

  3. Session 3 · Part 3

    Read this part, identify the main event or idea, and note one useful detail.

  4. Connect & respond

    Link the parts, try the reading checks, then write or explain a supported response. Complete the dialogue recordings in short blocks.

Words & sentences

5–8 minutes

Learn the core expressions and record in short blocks.

Reading & dialogue

10–15 minutes per sitting

Read one part per sitting. Use the reading sessions in this plan, then connect the parts and practise the dialogue in short blocks.

Practice & review

5–10 minutes

Practise the writing focus and revisit your first-choice answers.

Help with self-study

Try each item in a short block. Listen when needed, record when ready, and use the hints to retry. Pinyin and English can be turned off independently.

Show support:
Pronunciation & learning options

Pinyin shows how to say a word. The mark above a vowel shows its tone.

mā1. High and level
má2. Rising
mǎ3. Low, then rising
mà4. Falling

Watch the tone marks and listen for the rhythm of the whole phrase. Light syllables are short; pauses belong between meaningful groups.

Characters0 / 22 tasks
Task checklist · 0 / 22 complete

Characters · 生字

Flip each card for stroke order. This lesson’s writing focus: 灯 · 光 · 关 · 围 · 怀 · 烛.

Lesson text · words, sentences and reading

Words & phrases

围裙

wéi qún

apron

灯光

dēng guāng

light

裂缝

liè fèng

crack

蜡烛

là zhú

candle

想象

xiǎng xiàng

imagination

关怀

guān huái

care

Model sentences

志愿者系上围裙,准备点心。

zhì yuàn zhě jì shàng wéi qún, zhǔn bèi diǎn xīn。

A volunteer puts on an apron to prepare snacks.

门口的灯光照着回家的路。

mén kǒu de dēng guāng zhào zhe huí jiā de lù。

The doorway light illuminates the way home.

窗户有一道裂缝,需要检查。

chuāng hù yǒu yí dào liè fèng, xū yào jiǎn chá。

The window has a crack and needs checking.

这些蜡烛使用电池,没有真正的火焰。

zhè xiē là zhú shǐ yòng diàn chí, méi yǒu zhēn zhèng de huǒ yàn。

These candles use batteries and have no real flame.

想象帮助我们提出不同的设计。

xiǎng xiàng bāng zhù wǒ men tí chū bù tóng de shè jì。

Imagination helps us propose different designs.

关怀需要倾听,也需要行动。

guān huái xū yào qīng tīng, yě xū yào xíng dòng。

Care requires listening as well as action.

雪夜里的灯

Original reading for this course.

傍晚,社区活动室正在准备冬日聚会。小雨穿上围裙,和奶奶一起摆好杯子。窗外飘起雪花,门口的灯照着回家的路。

bàng wǎn, shè qū huó dòng shì zhèng zài zhǔn bèi dōng rì jù huì。 xiǎo yǔ chuān shàng wéi qún, hé nǎi nai yì qǐ bǎi hǎo bēi zi。 chuāng wài piāo qǐ xuě huā, mén kǒu de dēng zhào zhe huí jiā de lù。

At dusk, Xiaoyu and Grandma prepare cups for a winter gathering at the community centre. Snow falls outside, and the doorway light illuminates the way home.

小雨发现一扇窗户有一道裂缝,冷风从那里吹进来。她没有自己搬动玻璃,而是告诉工作人员,请他们检查。大家把桌子移到温暖的一边,继续准备。

xiǎo yǔ fā xiàn yī shàn chuāng hù yǒu yí dào liè fèng, lěng fēng cóng nà lǐ chuī jìn lái。 tā méi yǒu zì jǐ bān dòng bō lí, ér shì gào su gōng zuò rén yuán, qǐng tā men jiǎn chá。 dà jiā bǎ zhuō zi yí dào wēn nuǎn de yì biān, jì xù zhǔn bèi。

Xiaoyu notices a crack in a window. Rather than moving the glass herself, she asks the staff to check it. Everyone moves the table to a warmer place.

志愿者带来几支电池蜡烛作为桌面装饰。有人觉得灯光能营造气氛,也有人提醒,活动不能只有好看的布置。大家商量,怎样让第一次来的人知道可以坐在哪里、向谁提问。

zhì yuàn zhě dài lái jǐ zhī diàn chí là zhú zuò wéi zhuō miàn zhuāng shì。 yǒu rén jué de dēng guāng néng yíng zào qì fēn, yě yǒu rén tí xǐng, huó dòng bù néng zhǐ yǒu hǎo kàn de bù zhì。 dà jiā shāng liáng, zěn yàng ràng dì yī cì lái de rén zhī dào kě yǐ zuò zài nǎ lǐ、 xiàng shuí tí wèn。

Volunteers bring battery candles for the tables. Some value the atmosphere; others point out that decoration is not enough. They discuss how newcomers will know where to sit and whom to ask.

门外传来轻轻的敲门声。一位带着孩子的邻居走进来,说他们在雪中等车,想找个暖和的地方。工作人员欢迎他们坐下,联系家人确认接下来的安排。

mén wài zhuàn lái qīng qīng de qiāo mén shēng。 yí wèi dài zhe hái zi de lín jū zǒu jìn lái, shuō tā men zài xuě zhōng děng chē, xiǎng zhǎo gè nuǎn huo de dì fang。 gōng zuò rén yuán huān yíng tā men zuò xià, lián xì jiā rén què rèn jiē xià lai de ān pái。

A neighbour and child knock. They have been waiting for a bus in the snow and need somewhere warm. Staff welcome them and contact their family to confirm their plans.

小雨想把所有食物都端过去。奶奶提醒她:“先问问他们需要什么,也要问有没有不能吃的东西。”小雨听完回答,拿来合适的点心,又把纸和笔放在桌上。

xiǎo yǔ xiǎng bǎ suǒ yǒu shí wù dōu duān guò qù。 nǎi nai tí xǐng tā:“xiān wèn wèn tā men xū yào shén me, yě yào wèn yǒu méi yǒu bù néng chī de dōng xi。” xiǎo yǔ tīng wán huí dá, ná lái hé shì de diǎn xīn, yòu bǎ zhǐ hé bǐ fàng zài zhuō shàng。

Xiaoyu wants to bring all the food. Grandma suggests first asking what they need and whether there is anything they cannot eat. Xiaoyu brings suitable snacks, paper and pencils.

新来的同学有些安静。小雨没有催他加入讨论,只问他愿不愿意一起设计一张指示牌。他提出,应该把活动时间和联系人写清楚,不要只画漂亮的图案。两人比较不同的设计,选出更容易看懂的一张。

xīn lái de tóng xué yǒu xiē ān jìng。 xiǎo yǔ méi yǒu cuī tā jiā rù tǎo lùn, zhǐ wèn tā yuàn bù yuàn yì yì qǐ shè jì yì zhāng zhǐ shì pái。 tā tí chū, yīng gāi bǎ huó dòng shí jiān hé lián xì rén xiě qīng chu, bú yào zhǐ huà piào liàng de tú àn。 liǎng rén bǐ jiào bù tóng de shè jì, xuǎn chū gèng róng yì kàn dǒng de yì zhāng。

The visiting student is quiet. Xiaoyu invites him to design a sign without pressuring him to join the discussion. He suggests clear times and contacts rather than decoration alone. They compare designs for clarity.

奶奶说:“想象能让故事发光,关怀要靠我们做出来。”小雨想到今天的讨论:好的安排不只是装饰好看,还要听取不同的意见,尊重别人的选择,确认真正需要的帮助。

nǎi nai shuō:“xiǎng xiàng néng ràng gù shì fā guāng, guān huái yào kào wǒ men zuò chū lái。” xiǎo yǔ xiǎng dào jīn tiān de tǎo lùn: hǎo de ān pái bù zhǐ shì zhuāng shì hǎo kàn, hái yào tīng qǔ bù tóng de yì jiàn, zūn zhòng bié rén de xuǎn zé, què rèn zhēn zhèng xū yào de bāng zhù。

Grandma says imagination lights up stories, while care needs action. Xiaoyu reflects that good arrangements require listening, respecting choices and checking what help is actually needed.

家人来接邻居时,雪已经小了。大家道别,收好杯子和画纸。门口的灯依旧亮着,小雨把今天的故事写进本子,给它取名叫《雪夜里的灯》。

jiā rén lái jiē lín jū shí, xuě yǐ jīng xiǎo le。 dà jiā dào bié, shōu hǎo bēi zi hé huà zhǐ。 mén kǒu de dēng yī jiù liàng zhe, xiǎo yǔ bǎ jīn tiān de gù shì xiě jìn běn zi, gěi tā qǔ míng jiào 《 xuě yè lǐ de dēng 》。

When the family arrives, the snow has eased. Everyone says goodbye and tidies up. Xiaoyu writes a story called A Light on a Snowy Evening.

Conversation

A 故事里的灯光让你想到什么?

gù shì lǐ de dēng guāng ràng nǐ xiǎng dào shén me?

What does the story’s light make you think of?

B 我想到温暖的活动室。

wǒ xiǎng dào wēn nuǎn de huó dòng shì。

I think of the warm community room.

A 小雨怎样表达关怀?

xiǎo yǔ zěn yàng biǎo dá guān huái?

How does Xiaoyu show care?

B 她先听邻居需要什么,再提供帮助。

tā xiān tīng lín jū xū yào shén me, zài tí gōng bāng zhù。

She listens to what her neighbours need before helping.

A 你想给故事加一个什么细节?

nǐ xiǎng gěi gù shì jiā yí ge shén me xì jié?

What detail would you add?

B 我想写两位同学怎样比较指示牌的设计。

wǒ xiǎng xiě liǎng wèi tóng xué zěn yàng bǐ jiào zhǐ shì pái de shè jì。

I would describe how the two students compare sign designs.

Sources & image credits

Curriculum references: 幼儿汉语 1–4 and 中文 1–12. Lessons are organised by learning themes and include original texts and graded adaptations.

Scene illustrations: Twemoji, © Twitter and contributors, CC BY 4.0. Pilot word-card illustrations are original AI-generated images.