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

Learning and practice: testing what remains

Distinguish familiar appearance from independent use.

Goals & study plan
Learning and practice: testing what remains

Use the final learning lesson to plan an independent check. In the quotation, 说 is read yuè, meaning pleasure; recognition, use in another context and later recall may give different results. You can pause after any study block and continue later.

  • Distinguish familiar appearance from independent use.
  • Plan a spaced attempt before opening hints.
  • Use three concrete checks to choose a next step.

Evidence, explanation & learning · Lessons 9–12

Reflection · 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: 习 · 之 · 以 · 方 · 序 · 进.

Lesson text · words, sentences and reading

Words & phrases

温习

wēn xí

review

实践

shí jiàn

practice in use

持之以恒

chí zhī yǐ héng

persist

循序渐进

xún xù jiàn jìn

progress gradually

基础

jī chǔ

foundation

方法

fāng fǎ

method

Model sentences

温习不是机械重复,而是重新组织内容并检查理解。

wēn xí bú shì jī xiè chóng fù, ér shì chóng xīn zǔ zhī nèi róng bìng jiǎn chá lǐ jiě。

Review is not mechanical repetition; it means reorganising content and checking understanding.

把知识用于实践,可以发现自己真正会做什么、哪里仍不清楚。

bǎ zhī shí yòng yú shí jiàn, kě yǐ fā xiàn zì jǐ zhēn zhèng huì zuò shén me、 nǎ lǐ réng bù qīng chu。

Applying knowledge in practice reveals what we can truly do and what remains unclear.

持之以恒依靠可以持续的安排,不只是短时间内拼命学习。

chí zhī yǐ héng yī kào kě yǐ chí xù de ān pái, bù zhǐ shì duǎn shí jiān nèi pīn mìng xué xí。

Perseverance depends on a sustainable routine, not merely intense study for a short time.

循序渐进地增加难度,有助于把新知识与已有理解连接起来。

xún xù jiàn jìn de zēng jiā nán dù, yǒu zhù yú bǎ xīn zhī shí yǔ yǐ yǒu lǐ jiě lián jiē qǐ lai。

Increasing difficulty step by step helps connect new knowledge with existing understanding.

基础知识需要准确、灵活地使用,才会支持更复杂的学习。

jī chǔ zhī shí xū yào zhǔn què、 líng huó de shǐ yòng, cái huì zhī chí gèng fù zá de xué xí。

Foundational knowledge must be used accurately and flexibly to support more complex learning.

选择学习方法以后,还要根据练习结果判断它是否有效。

xuǎn zé xué xí fāng fǎ yǐ hòu, hái yào gēn jù liàn xí jié guǒ pàn duàn tā shì fǒu yǒu xiào。

After choosing a study method, we should use practice results to judge whether it is effective.

论学习

孔子说:“学而时习之,不亦说乎?”这里的“说”读作悦,表达愉快的意思。小杰初读时,只想到读完一本书;老师却请他注意“习”,看看学习以后还需要怎样复习和运用。

kǒng zǐ shuō:“xué ér shí xí zhī, bù yì yuè hū?” zhè lǐ de “shuō” dú zuò yuè, biǎo dá yú kuài de yì si。 xiǎo jié chū dú shí, zhǐ xiǎng dào dú wán yì běn shū; lǎo shī què qǐng tā zhù yì “xí”, kàn kan xué xí yǐ hòu hái xū yào zěn yàng fù xí hé yùn yòng。

The classical character meaning ‘to speak’ expresses pleasure here and is pronounced yuè. Jie shifts from merely finishing a book toward reviewing and using learning.

他上周看过一个新词,今天觉得很熟,便说已经掌握。老师请他不看例句,用这个词说明自己的周末安排,他却停了很久。认识一个词的样子,与能够独立使用,原来可以是不同的状态。

tā shàng zhōu kàn guò yí ge xīn cí, jīn tiān jué de hěn shú, biàn shuō yǐ jīng zhǎng wò。 lǎo shī qǐng tā bù kàn lì jù, yòng zhè ge cí shuō míng zì jǐ de zhōu mò ān pái, tā què tíng le hěn jiǔ。 rèn shi yí ge cí de yàng zi, yǔ néng gòu dú lì shǐ yòng, yuán lái kě yǐ shì bù tóng de zhuàng tài。

A familiar-looking word proves hard to use independently in a weekend plan. Recognition and independent use can be different states.

小杰回到例句,读懂人物怎样安排事情,再自己换一个情境写句子。第一次写得不清楚,他请同学指出问题,随后修改。学习因此有了几个步骤:接触内容、理解意思、尝试表达和检查修改。

xiǎo jié huí dào lì jù, dú dǒng rén wù zěn yàng ān pái shì qíng, zài zì jǐ huàn yí ge qíng jìng xiě jù zi。 dì yī cì xiě de bù qīng chu, tā qǐng tóng xué zhǐ chū wèn tí, suí hòu xiū gǎi。 xué xí yīn cǐ yǒu le jǐ gè bù zhòu: jiē chù nèi róng、 lǐ jiě yì si、 cháng shì biǎo dá hé jiǎn chá xiū gǎi。

After understanding an example, he writes a different situation, receives feedback and revises, forming a cycle from exposure to checked expression.

第二天,他没有立刻打开提示,而是先看自己还能说出多少。有的部分记住了,有的部分需要再读。他把容易忘的内容标出来,安排隔几天复习,记录具体需要,而不是为了让完成列表显得漂亮。

dì èr tiān, tā méi yǒu lì kè dǎ kāi tí shì, ér shì xiān kàn zì jǐ hái néng shuō chū duō shǎo。 yǒu de bù fèn jì zhù le, yǒu de bù fèn xū yào zài dú。 tā bǎ róng yì wàng de nèi róng biāo chū lái, ān pái gé jǐ tiān fù xí, jì lù jù tǐ xū yào, ér bú shì wèi le ràng wán chéng liè biǎo xiǎn de piào liàng。

A later attempt before opening hints identifies what remains and what needs review, so the record guides action rather than decoration.

小杰还发现,学习需要循序渐进,像盖房子先有地基;写长段落之前,他先练习清楚的句子和连接。

xiǎo jié hái fā xiàn, xué xí xū yào xún xù jiàn jìn, xiàng gài fáng zi xiān yǒu dì jī; xiě cháng duàn luò zhī qián, tā xiān liàn xí qīng chu de jù zi hé lián jiē。

Xiaojie finds that learning needs foundations, like a house; before writing paragraphs, he practises clear sentences and connections.

老师没有立刻替他写新句子,而是请他先说明想表达什么;意思清楚以后,小杰再选择合适的词,第一次也能自己发现问题。

lǎo shī méi yǒu lì kè tì tā xiě xīn jù zi, ér shì qǐng tā xiān shuō míng xiǎng biǎo dá shén me; yì si qīng chu yǐ hòu, xiǎo jié zài xuǎn zé hé shì de cí, dì yī cì yě néng zì jǐ fā xiàn wèn tí。

The teacher first asks what he means; once the idea is clear, Xiaojie chooses words and starts recognising his own mistakes.

安排时间时,他把作业、活动与休息一起考虑。不必让每一分钟都塞满,也不能把“明天再说”当成永远的计划。他选择一段能够认真投入的时间,再用实际结果判断安排是否适合自己。

ān pái shí jiān shí, tā bǎ zuò yè、 huó dòng yǔ xiū xi yì qǐ kǎo lǜ。 bù bì ràng měi yì fēn zhōng dōu sāi mǎn, yě bù néng bǎ “míng tiān zài shuō” dàng chéng yǒng yuǎn de jì huà。 tā xuǎn zé yí duàn néng gòu rèn zhēn tóu rù de shí jiān, zài yòng shí jì jié guǒ pàn duàn ān pái shì fǒu shì hé zì jǐ。

He plans study alongside activity and rest, avoids endless postponement, and checks whether a focused period suits him through actual results.

小杰最后写下三个检查问题:没有提示能否解释,换一个情境能否使用,过一段时间还能否记得。答案可能不一样,正好帮助他选择下一步。完成活动是一个记录,能用什么才是另一个值得认真了解的问题。

xiǎo jié zuì hòu xiě xià sān gè jiǎn chá wèn tí: méi yǒu tí shì néng fǒu jiě shì, huàn yí ge qíng jìng néng fǒu shǐ yòng, guò yí duàn shí jiān hái néng fǒu jì de。 dá àn kě néng bù yí yàng, zhèng hǎo bāng zhù tā xuǎn zé xià yí bù。 wán chéng huó dòng shì yí ge jì lù, néng yòng shén me cái shì lìng yí ge zhí de rèn zhēn liǎo jiě de wèn tí。

Three checks examine explanation without hints, transfer to another situation and later recall. Their differing results guide next steps beyond activity completion.

回看孔子的话,他更明白为什么“学”与“习”需要联系。阅读带来新内容,尝试与复习让内容进入自己的行动。快乐也可以来自一点点看得见的进步,而不是只把所有步骤匆匆点完。

huí kàn kǒng zǐ de huà, tā gèng míng bái wèi shén me “xué” yǔ “xí” xū yào lián xì。 yuè dú dài lái xīn nèi róng, cháng shì yǔ fù xí ràng nèi róng jìn rù zì jǐ de xíng dòng。 kuài lè yě kě yǐ lái zì yì diǎn diǎn kàn de jiàn de jìn bù, ér bú shì zhǐ bǎ suǒ yǒu bù zhòu cōng cōng diǎn wán。

Reading introduces material; practice and review bring it into action. Visible gradual progress can provide pleasure beyond rushing through steps.

Conversation

A 古句里的说读什么?

gǔ jù lǐ de shuō dú shén me?

How is the character meaning ‘to speak’ pronounced in the quotation?

B 读悦,表示愉快。

dú yuè, biǎo shì yú kuài。

Yuè, meaning pleasure.

A 熟悉词形等于会使用吗?

shú xī cí xíng děng yú huì shǐ yòng ma?

Does recognition prove use?

B 不一定,还要尝试。

bù yí dìng, hái yào cháng shì。

Not necessarily; test it.

A 第二天先做什么?

dì èr tiān xiān zuò shén me?

What comes first the next day?

B 先不看提示,检查记得多少。

xiān bù kàn tí shì, jiǎn chá jì de duō shǎo。

Check recall before looking at hints.

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.