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

Shenzhou: a journey beyond Earth

Name spacecraft, astronauts and a mission.

Goals & study plan
Shenzhou: a journey beyond Earth

Follow a mission through preparation, launch, orbit and return. Notice that 飞船, 火箭 and 返回舱 refer to different things; many ground workers contribute too. You can pause after any study block and continue later.

  • Name spacecraft, astronauts and a mission.
  • Put the stages of a spaceflight in order.
  • Find examples of cooperation between astronauts and ground teams.

Exploration, measurement & records · Lessons 9–12

Science · reading focus

Identify the phenomenon, the explanation and the evidence. Distinguish observations from guesses and look for a limitation.

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 / 14 tasks
Task checklist · 0 / 14 complete

Characters · 生字

Flip each card for stroke order. This lesson’s writing focus: 返 · 航 · 射 · 船 · 与.

Lesson text · words, sentences and reading

Words & phrases

飞船

fēi chuán

spacecraft

航天员

háng tiān yuán

astronaut

发射

fā shè

launch

任务

rèn wù

mission; task

返回

fǎn huí

return

合作

hé zuò

cooperate; cooperation

Model sentences

神舟飞船执行探索太空的任务。

shén zhōu fēi chuán zhí xíng tàn suǒ tài kōng de rèn wù。

The Shenzhou spacecraft carries out a mission to explore space.

航天员在出发前接受严格训练。

háng tiān yuán zài chū fā qián jiē shòu yán gé xùn liàn。

Astronauts undergo rigorous training before departure.

飞船发射以前,工作人员反复检查设备。

fēi chuán fā shè yǐ qián, gōng zuò rén yuán fǎn fù jiǎn chá shè bèi。

Before the spacecraft launches, staff check the equipment repeatedly.

完成任务需要空中和地面团队共同努力。

wán chéng rèn wù xū yào kōng zhōng hé dì miàn tuán duì gòng tóng nǔ lì。

Completing the mission requires the space and ground teams to work together.

任务结束后,返回舱安全回到地面。

rèn wù jié shù hòu, fǎn huí cāng ān quán huí dào dì miàn。

After the mission, the return capsule comes safely back to Earth.

航天员和地面人员的合作十分重要。

háng tiān yuán hé dì miàn rén yuán de hé zuò shí fēn zhòng yào。

Cooperation between astronauts and ground staff is very important.

“神舟”飞天

发射场上,一枚火箭直立着,神舟飞船安放在火箭上方。航天员进入飞船以前,已经进行了许多训练,地面的工作人员也检查了设备。

fā shè chǎng shàng, yì méi huǒ jiàn zhí lì zhe, shén zhōu fēi chuán ān fàng zài huǒ jiàn shàng fāng。 háng tiān yuán jìn rù fēi chuán yǐ qián, yǐ jīng jìn xíng le xǔ duō xùn liàn, dì miàn de gōng zuò rén yuán yě jiǎn chá le shè bèi。

At the launch site, a rocket stands upright with a Shenzhou spacecraft above it. Before boarding, the astronauts have undergone extensive training and ground staff have checked the equipment.

指挥大厅里,工作人员注视着屏幕,接收不同系统传来的信息。飞船、火箭和地面设备需要互相配合,任何一个环节都不能马虎。

zhǐ huī dà tīng lǐ, gōng zuò rén yuán zhù shì zhe píng mù, jiē shōu bù tóng xì tǒng chuán lái de xìn xī。 fēi chuán、 huǒ jiàn hé dì miàn shè bèi xū yào hù xiāng pèi hé, rèn hé yí ge huán jié dōu bù néng mǎ hǔ。

In the control hall, staff watch screens receiving information from different systems. The spacecraft, rocket and ground equipment must work together; every part requires care.

倒计时结束,火箭底部喷出火焰,巨大的轰鸣声响起来。火箭托着飞船升向天空,越来越高,渐渐成为远处的一个亮点。

dào jì shí jié shù, huǒ jiàn dǐ bù pēn chū huǒ yàn, jù dà de hōng míng shēng xiǎng qǐ lai。 huǒ jiàn tuō zhe fēi chuán shēng xiàng tiān kōng, yuè lái yuè gāo, jiàn jiàn chéng wéi yuǎn chù de yí ge liàng diǎn。

At the end of the countdown, flames burst from the rocket and a great roar rises. It carries the spacecraft higher and higher, becoming a distant bright point.

飞船进入预定轨道后,围绕地球运行。航天员透过窗户看见蓝色的地球,也按照任务安排检查仪器、进行实验,与地面保持联系。

fēi chuán jìn rù yù dìng guǐ dào hòu, wéi rào dì qiú yùn xíng。 háng tiān yuán tòu guò chuāng hù kàn jiàn lán sè de dì qiú, yě àn zhào rèn wù ān pái jiǎn chá yí qì、 jìn xíng shí yàn, yǔ dì miàn bǎo chí lián xì。

After entering its planned orbit, the spacecraft travels around Earth. Astronauts see the blue planet through the windows, check instruments, carry out experiments and remain in contact with the ground.

太空中的生活与地面不同。物品需要固定好,吃饭、睡觉和活动都有相应的办法。航天员完成一项工作,便把有关情况记录下来。

tài kōng zhōng de shēng huó yǔ dì miàn bù tóng。 wù pǐn xū yào gù dìng hǎo, chī fàn、 shuì jiào hé huó dòng dōu yǒu xiāng yìng de bàn fǎ。 háng tiān yuán wán chéng yí xiàng gōng zuò, biàn bǎ yǒu guān qíng kuàng jì lù xià lai。

Life in space differs from life on the ground. Objects must be secured, and eating, sleeping and moving require suitable arrangements. Astronauts record the results of their work.

返回时,飞船按计划离开轨道。返回舱穿过大气层,借助降落伞减慢速度,最后到达着陆地区。地面的队伍前来接应,帮助航天员离开舱体。

fǎn huí shí, fēi chuán àn jì huà lí kāi guǐ dào。 fǎn huí cāng chuān guò dà qì céng, jiè zhù jiàng luò sǎn jiǎn màn sù dù, zuì hòu dào dá zhuó lù dì qū。 dì miàn de duì wǔ qián lái jiē yìng, bāng zhù háng tiān yuán lí kāi cāng tǐ。

For the return, the spacecraft leaves orbit as planned. Its return capsule passes through the atmosphere, slows with parachutes and reaches the landing area. Ground teams arrive to assist the astronauts.

从准备到返回,飞船走过一段漫长的旅程。发射场、指挥大厅和着陆场相距很远,许多人的工作却把它们连在一起。

cóng zhǔn bèi dào fǎn huí, fēi chuán zǒu guò yí duàn màn cháng de lǚ chéng。 fā shè chǎng、 zhǐ huī dà tīng hé zhuó lù chǎng xiāng jù hěn yuǎn, xǔ duō rén de gōng zuò què bǎ tā men lián zài yì qǐ。

From preparation to return, the spacecraft completes a long journey. The launch site, control hall and landing area may be far apart, but many people's work connects them.

Conversation

A 飞船发射以前要做什么?

fēi chuán fā shè yǐ qián yào zuò shén me?

What needs to happen before a spacecraft launches?

B 要准备、检查设备,还要训练。

yào zhǔn bèi、 jiǎn chá shè bèi, hái yào xùn liàn。

Preparation, equipment checks and training.

A 是不是只有航天员参加任务?

shì bú shì zhǐ yǒu háng tiān yuán cān jiā rèn wù?

Are astronauts the only people taking part?

B 不是,地面上的很多人也在合作。

bú shì, dì miàn shàng de hěn duō rén yě zài hé zuò。

No. Many people on the ground also work together.

A 你写的太空日记是真实记录吗?

nǐ xiě de tài kōng rì jì shì zhēn shí jì lù ma?

Is your space diary a real record?

B 不是,是想象的故事,我已经标清楚了。

bú shì, shì xiǎng xiàng de gù shì, wǒ yǐ jīng biāo qīng chu le。

No. It is an imagined story, and I have labelled it.

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.