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

Working together on a rainy day

Explain a choice and its reason.

Goals & study plan
De Gaulle: describing actions under threat

Read this original text about working together on a rainy day. 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.

Performance, cooperation & places · Lessons 5–8

Original Story · reading focus

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

Reading sessions · 2 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. 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: 认 · 合 · 安 · 定 · 知 · 配.

Lesson text · words, sentences and reading

Words & phrases

镇定

zhèn dìng

calm

配合

pèi hé

cooperate

安排

ān pái

arrangement

确认

què rèn

confirm

通知

tōng zhī

notify

感谢

gǎn xiè

thank

Model sentences

保持镇定能帮助我们听清楚通知。

bǎo chí zhèn dìng néng bāng zhù wǒ men tīng qīng chu tōng zhī。

Staying calm helps us understand the notice.

大家互相配合,重新安排活动。

dà jiā hù xiāng pèi hé, chóng xīn ān pái huó dòng。

Everyone cooperates to rearrange the activity.

新的安排考虑了房间的大小。

xīn de ān pái kǎo lǜ le fáng jiān de dà xiǎo。

The new arrangements consider the room’s size.

老师先确认场地,再通知学生。

lǎo shī xiān què rèn chǎng dì, zài tōng zhī xué shēng。

The teacher confirms the venue before notifying the students.

请把时间的变化通知大家。

qǐng bǎ shí jiān de biàn huà tōng zhī dà jiā。

Please notify everyone of the change in time.

我们感谢工作人员提供帮助。

wǒ men gǎn xiè gōng zuò rén yuán tí gōng bāng zhù。

We thank the staff for their help.

雨天的共同安排

Original reading for this course.

周六,中文学校准备带学生去社区图书馆。出发前,老师确认人数、路线和活动安排。学生们带着书包,在门口等候。

zhōu liù, zhōng wén xué xiào zhǔn bèi dài xué shēng qù shè qū tú shū guǎn。 chū fā qián, lǎo shī què rèn rén shù、 lù xiàn hé huó dòng ān pái。 xué shēng men dài zhe shū bāo, zài mén kǒu děng hòu。

On Saturday, the Chinese school plans a library visit. The teacher confirms the group, route and arrangements before departure.

忽然,雨下大了。老师收到通知,图书馆的室外阅读活动需要改到室内。大家原先准备在花园里介绍喜欢的书,现在要重新商量。

hū rán, yǔ xià dà le。 lǎo shī shōu dào tōng zhī, tú shū guǎn de shì wài yuè dú huó dòng xū yào gǎi dào shì nèi。 dà jiā yuán xiān zhǔn bèi zài huā yuán lǐ jiè shào xǐ huan de shū, xiàn zài yào chóng xīn shāng liáng。

Heavy rain means the outdoor reading event must move indoors. The group needs a new plan.

有人担心活动会取消,有人急着提出很多办法。老师请大家先保持镇定,听清楚通知,再决定下一步。镇定不是假装没有问题,而是给自己时间看清情况。

yǒu rén dān xīn huó dòng huì qǔ xiāo, yǒu rén jí zhe tí chū hěn duō bàn fǎ。 lǎo shī qǐng dà jiā xiān bǎo chí zhèn dìng, tīng qīng chu tōng zhī, zài jué dìng xià yí bù。 zhèn dìng bú shì jiǎ zhuāng méi yǒu wèn tí, ér shì gěi zì jǐ shí jiān kàn qīng qíng kuàng。

Some worry about cancellation; others rush to suggest ideas. The teacher asks them to calmly understand the notice before deciding. Calm means allowing time to understand the situation.

老师与图书馆工作人员确认,室内有一间可以使用的活动室。不过,房间比花园小,需要把大组分成两个小组。工作人员提供桌椅,老师调整分享顺序。

lǎo shī yǔ tú shū guǎn gōng zuò rén yuán què rèn, shì nèi yǒu yì jiān kě yǐ shǐ yòng de huó dòng shì。 bù guò, fáng jiān bǐ huā yuán xiǎo, xū yào bǎ dà zǔ fèn chéng liǎng gè xiǎo zǔ。 gōng zuò rén yuán tí gōng zhuō yǐ, lǎo shī tiáo zhěng fēn xiǎng shùn xù。

The library confirms an available room, but it requires two smaller groups. Staff provide furniture, and the teacher adjusts the sharing order.

孩子们也开始配合。第一组听故事,第二组在旁边制作书签,然后交换。小明想先讲自己的书,可是看到同伴还在准备,就主动把位置让给准备好的人。

hái zi men yě kāi shǐ pèi hé。 dì yī zǔ tīng gù shì, dì èr zǔ zài páng biān zhì zuò shū qiān, rán hòu jiāo huàn。 xiǎo míng xiǎng xiān jiǎng zì jǐ de shū, kě shì kàn dào tóng bàn hái zài zhǔn bèi, jiù zhǔ dòng bǎ wèi zhì ràng gěi zhǔn bèi hǎo de rén。

The children cooperate: one group listens while the other makes bookmarks, then they switch. Xiaoming lets a prepared classmate speak first.

一位同学忘了带书,有些失望。朋友提醒他,可以介绍自己记得最清楚的一个场景,不必把每一页都背出来。老师给他时间整理想法,他终于愿意开口。

yí wèi tóng xué wàng le dài shū, yǒu xiē shī wàng。 péng yǒu tí xǐng tā, kě yǐ jiè shào zì jǐ jì de zuì qīng chu de yí ge chǎng jǐng, bù bì bǎ měi yí yè dōu bèi chū lái。 lǎo shī gěi tā shí jiān zhěng lǐ xiǎng fǎ, tā zhōng yú yuàn yì kāi kǒu。

A child who forgot a book feels disappointed. A friend suggests describing a remembered scene. With time to organise his thoughts, he speaks.

活动结束后,大家没有只说“今天很顺利”。他们回想哪些安排起了作用:及时通知、确认场地、分组合作,以及允许同伴调整准备方式。

huó dòng jié shù hòu, dà jiā méi yǒu zhǐ shuō “jīn tiān hěn shùn lì”。 tā men huí xiǎng nǎ xiē ān pái qǐ le zuò yòng: jí shí tōng zhī、 què rèn chǎng dì、 fēn zǔ hé zuò, yǐ jí yǔn xǔ tóng bàn tiáo zhěng zhǔn bèi fāng shì。

Afterwards, they identify what helped: timely notification, confirmation, cooperation and flexibility.

小明给工作人员写了一张感谢卡。他写道:“谢谢你们提供房间,让我们在雨天也能分享故事。”回程时,雨声还在窗外响,孩子们已经开始讨论下一次想读的书。

xiǎo míng gěi gōng zuò rén yuán xiě le yì zhāng gǎn xiè kǎ。 tā xiě dào:“xiè xie nǐ men tí gōng fáng jiān, ràng wǒ men zài yǔ tiān yě néng fēn xiǎng gù shì。” huí chéng shí, yǔ shēng hái zài chuāng wài xiǎng, hái zi men yǐ jīng kāi shǐ tǎo lùn xià yí cì xiǎng dú de shū。

Xiaoming writes a thank-you card for the room. On the way back, the children discuss their next books as rain falls outside.

Conversation

A 下雨以后,活动取消了吗?

xià yǔ yǐ hòu, huó dòng qǔ xiāo le ma?

Was the activity cancelled?

B 没有,大家把活动改到室内。

méi yǒu, dà jiā bǎ huó dòng gǎi dào shì nèi。

No, they moved it indoors.

A 为什么要分组?

wèi shén me yào fēn zǔ?

Why split the group?

B 因为房间较小,分组更方便。

yīn wèi fáng jiān jiào xiǎo, fēn zǔ gèng fāng biàn。

The room was smaller, so groups worked better.

A 哪些行动值得感谢?

nǎ xiē xíng dòng zhí de gǎn xiè?

Which actions deserve thanks?

B 工作人员提供房间,同伴互相配合。

gōng zuò rén yuán tí gōng fáng jiān, tóng bàn hù xiāng pèi hé。

Staff provided the room, and classmates cooperated.

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.