Introduction to Chinese (Pre-HSK 1)

A short and easy introduction to the Chinese language in 12 lessons. All dialogs are authentic and are taken from the TV Drama "Go Ahead".

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Course Features

  • All dialogs are authentic language from the Chinese TV series—Go Ahead (2020)
  • Pinyin only—No Chinese characters required
  • Prioritize understanding over speaking/writing
  • Enjoyable content will keep you motivated
  • A project assignment that will help you remember and use what you learn
  • Quizzes and exams will help you monitor and measure your improvement

Course Goals

  • Understand 100 common words and phrases
  • Grasp basic Chinese vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar (excluding characters)
  • Recognize greetings, thanks, apologies, commands, questions, affirmations, and negations
  • Learn about Chinese names, titles, tea/drinking culture, and workplace norms
  • Develop an interest in Chinese language and culture
  • Lay the foundation for the HSK 1 course

HSK level progression chart showing this course’s placement

Pre-requisites

  • No prior Chinese knowledge required
  • Must understand English as the instructional medium
  • Requires basic visual/auditory abilities, digital literacy, and reliable internet connectivity

Materials Needed

No other materials required.

The TV Series

Cover image of the TV Show Go Ahead (2020)

“Go Ahead” (以家人之名) is A 2020 drama with an exceptional 8.5 IMDb rating, themed on true meaning of familial love. Originally aired as 46 episodes, now consolidated into 40 episodes (40 minutes each). It is so popular that it’s being remade as a Korean drama!

Next Steps After Completion

After completing all course material, take the final exam at the end of the course. Then, we recommend that you progress to the “Phonetics with Chinese Characteristics” course (free) and the “HSK 1” course (paid), where you will rigorously learn Chinese characters and be equipped to pass the official HSK 1 test.

Lesson Structure

Each lesson includes:

  • Discussion of objectives
  • Introduction to three dialogs, including the new words and phrases
  • Pronunciation tips are introduced as needed
  • Grammatical structures
  • Lesson review
  • Multiple-choice Quiz

Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  Unit 1: Greetings
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  Unit 2: Thanks and Apologies
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Your Instructor


Jon Long
Jon Long

“Language learning should start with simple, engaging content. Even the hardest languages become approachable with massive input on topics you love.”

Born in Xi’an, China and immigrated to Canada as a young adult, Jon studied linguistics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. With experience learning 12 languages, including French, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish, he also studied abroad at Kyoto University, where he passed the JLPT N1 - the highest level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Drawing on his expertise in second-language acquisition and in linguistics, he developed the Language Player app for multilingual learning. Over the past decade, he has created Chinese Zero to Hero, a comprehensive online course series covering all levels from HSK 1 to HSK 7-9, featuring over 2,000 video lessons.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

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In China?

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