Chinese A1 — Starter: greetings, 是, first verbs

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The whole Chinese A1 level as one readable page: 3 units, 9 lessons, 63 words, 289 questions with every answer shown, a worksheet and a 10-item level test. Nothing here is behind JavaScript, and nothing needs an account.

What you can do when A1 is finished

• Greet people and introduce yourself
• Use 是, 这/那 and measure words
• Use verbs with no conjugation + 有

A1, unit by unit

First words

Greetings: 你好

你好 (hello), 您好 (polite hello). Meeting: 初次见面 (first meeting) → 我是 + name → 很高兴认识你 (happy to know you)! Nod warmly!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. multiple choicePractice 1 [multiple choice] — Greetings: 你好: Choose the contextual meaning of 你好 (nǐ hǎo).

   1. hello
   2. hello (polite)
   3. good morning
   Show the answer

   hello

2. fill the gapPractice 2 [fill in the blank] — Greetings: 你好: Type the complete Chinese characters expression meaning “hello (polite)”.

   Show the answer

   您好

3. translatePractice 3 [translation] — Greetings: 你好: Read 早上好 (zǎo shang hǎo) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   good morning

4. translate into the languagePractice 4 [reverse translation] — Greetings: 你好: Produce “good evening” in Chinese characters, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   晚上好

5. matchingPractice 5 [matching] — Greetings: 你好: Match 谢谢 to its contextual meaning.

   1. sorry
   2. thanks
   3. no problem
   Show the answer

   thanks

6. put it in orderPractice 6 [reorder] — Greetings: 你好: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: Thanks!

   Show the answer

   谢谢!

7. build the sentencePractice 7 [sentence building] — Greetings: 你好: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: First meeting, I am Xiaoming.

   Show the answer

   初次见面，我是小明。

8. choose the wordPractice 8 [word selection] — Greetings: 你好: Select the correct target form for “goodbye”.

   1. 你好
   2. 您好
   3. 再见
   Show the answer

   再见

9. find the mistakePractice 9 [error correction] — Greetings: 你好: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “Thanks!”.

   Show the answer

   谢谢!

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10 [dialogue completion] — Greetings: 你好: Complete 小红’s turn in the taught register: First meeting, I am Xiaohong.

    Show the answer

    初次见面，我是小红。

11. readingPractice 11 [reading comprehension] — Greetings: 你好: Read 很高兴认识你! (hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ!). What exact detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    Nice to meet you!

12. paragraphPractice 12 [paragraph comprehension] — Greetings: 你好: Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: 我也是!

    Show the answer

    Me too!

Quick check (5).

1. quick check初次见面 means…

   1. hello
   2. first meeting
   3. goodbye
   4. thanks
   Show the answer

   first meeting

   First-meeting phrase.

2. quick check很高兴认识你 means…

   1. thank you
   2. nice to meet you
   3. excuse me
   4. good luck
   Show the answer

   nice to meet you

   Happy-to-know-you.

3. quick check对不起 means…

   1. thanks
   2. sorry
   3. hello
   4. yes
   Show the answer

   sorry

   对不起 = sorry.

4. quick check我也是 means…

   1. goodbye
   2. me too
   3. never
   4. maybe
   Show the answer

   me too

   我 + 也 = me-too.

5. quick check是 never…

   1. starts sentences
   2. changes form
   3. ends sentences
   4. pairs with 不
   Show the answer

   changes form

   是 = am/is/are, frozen!

Worksheet: Greetings worksheet

Review list. 你好 · 您好 · 早上好 · 晚上好

Names and 你叫什么

Ask names: 你叫什么名字? (what are you called?) → 我叫… How are you: 你好吗? → 我很好! 吗 makes questions, 呢 bounces back: 我很好，你呢? (I'm fine, and you?)!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. the main ideaPractice 2 [main idea] — Names and 你叫什么: What is the central communicative purpose of “Names and 你叫什么”?

   Show the answer

   Ask names: 你叫什么名字? (what are you called?) → 我叫… How are you: 你好吗? → 我很好! 吗 makes questions, 呢 bounces back: 我很好，你呢? (I'm fine, and you?)!.

2. spot the detailPractice 3 [detail identification] — Names and 你叫什么: Read 我很好! 你呢? (wǒ hěn hǎo! nǐ ne?). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   I'm fine! And you?

3. what is meantPractice 4 [inference] — Names and 你叫什么: Infer the intended meaning or social force of 你好吗? without overclaiming.

   Show the answer

   How are you?

4. listeningPractice 5 [listening comprehension] — Names and 你叫什么: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   What is your name?

5. dictationPractice 6 [dictation] — Names and 你叫什么: Play the labeled synthetic Chinese audio and type the complete line in Chinese characters.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   我叫小明。你好吗?

6. listen and choosePractice 7 [listen and choose] — Names and 你叫什么: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

   1. I'm fine! And you?
   2. I'm fine too!
   3. please

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   I'm fine! And you?

7. listen, then orderPractice 8 [listen and reorder] — Names and 你叫什么: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: I'm very fine!

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   我很好!

8. listen and fillPractice 9 [listen and fill] — Names and 你叫什么: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “你叫什么名字?…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   你叫什么名字?

9. repeat itPractice 10 [repeat after audio] — Names and 你叫什么: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   我叫小明。你好吗?

10. multiple choicePractice 11 [multiple choice] — Names and 你叫什么: Choose the contextual meaning of 名字 (míng zi).

    1. name
    2. what is your name
    3. I'm called
    Show the answer

    name

11. fill the gapPractice 12 [fill in the blank] — Names and 你叫什么: Type the complete Chinese characters expression meaning “what is your name”.

    Show the answer

    你叫什么名字

12. translatePractice 13 [translation] — Names and 你叫什么: Read 我叫 (wǒ jiào) and give its lesson meaning.

    Show the answer

    I'm called

Quick check (5).

1. quick check你叫什么名字? asks…

   1. my name
   2. your name
   3. his name
   4. no name
   Show the answer

   your name

   叫什么 = called what.

2. quick check我很好 means…

   1. not well
   2. I'm fine
   3. so-so
   4. busy
   Show the answer

   I'm fine

   很 + 好 = very-fine.

3. quick check你呢? means…

   1. who are you
   2. and you?
   3. where are you
   4. why you
   Show the answer

   and you?

   呢 bounces back.

4. quick check吗 turns sentences into…

   1. orders
   2. questions
   3. past
   4. negative
   Show the answer

   questions

   好→好吗? = fine?/okay?.

5. quick check请 means…

   1. thanks
   2. please
   3. sorry
   4. hello
   Show the answer

   please

   请 = please.

Worksheet: Questions worksheet

Review list. 我 · 你 · 名字 · 你叫什么名字

Ask for a repetition

Ask a teacher to repeat a word and say how you will practise it.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. Standard Mandarin. Every exercise works on tones and pinyin, measure words, aspect markers, 把/被 constructions, clause links, register and source-qualified claims.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Ask for a repetition — Choose the meaning of 请问 (qǐng wèn) in this lesson.

   1. excuse me; may I ask
   2. say again
   3. hear clearly
   4. write down
   Show the answer

   excuse me; may I ask

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Ask for a repetition — Type the Chinese (Mandarin) expression meaning “say again”.

   Show the answer

   再说

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Ask for a repetition — Interpret the Simplified Chinese characters in context: 请您再说一遍。 (qǐng nín zài shuō yí biàn。).

   Show the answer

   Please say that once more.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Ask for a repetition — Write in Simplified Chinese characters: I did not hear this character clearly..

   Show the answer

   我没有听清楚这个字。

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Ask for a repetition — Match 听清楚 to its lesson meaning.

   1. hear clearly
   2. excuse me; may I ask
   3. say again
   Show the answer

   hear clearly

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Ask for a repetition — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Chinese (Mandarin): I will write it down and practise it..

   Show the answer

   我会把它写下来练习。

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Ask for a repetition — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (请 + person + 再说一遍): Please say that once more..

   Show the answer

   请您再说一遍。

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Ask for a repetition — Select the Chinese (Mandarin) form for “write down”.

   1. 写下来
   2. 练习
   Show the answer

   写下来

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Ask for a repetition — Correct the model the lesson warns about: 请你说再一遍。

   Show the answer

   请您再说一遍。

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Ask for a repetition — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: Please say that once more.

    Show the answer

    我没有听清楚这个字。

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Ask for a repetition — Read “我会把它写下来练习。” (wǒ huì bǎ tā xiě xià lái liàn xí。). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    I will write it down and practise it.

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Ask for a repetition — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: I did not hear this character clearly.

    Show the answer

    我没有听清楚这个字。

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 请问?

   1. excuse me; may I ask
   2. say again
   3. hear clearly
   4. write down
   Show the answer

   excuse me; may I ask

   请问 (qǐng wèn) means excuse me; may I ask in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 再说?

   1. say again
   2. excuse me; may I ask
   3. hear clearly
   4. write down
   Show the answer

   say again

   再说 (zài shuō) means say again in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 听清楚?

   1. hear clearly
   2. excuse me; may I ask
   3. say again
   4. write down
   Show the answer

   hear clearly

   听清楚 (tīng qīng chǔ) means hear clearly in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 写下来?

   1. write down
   2. excuse me; may I ask
   3. say again
   4. hear clearly
   Show the answer

   write down

   写下来 (xiě xià lái) means write down in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 练习?

   1. to practise
   2. excuse me; may I ask
   3. say again
   4. hear clearly
   Show the answer

   to practise

   练习 (liàn xí) means to practise in this lesson.

Worksheet: Repair a listening gap

Review list. 请问 · 再说 · 听清楚 · 写下来

是 and measure words

是 and 这/那

Point! 这 (this), 那 (that). 这是书 = This is a book. Negative: 不是 (is not). Adjectives need 很: 很好 (very-good = good), 很大 (big)! 没有很 = sounds wrong!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. translate into the languagePractice 3 [reverse translation] — 是 and 这/那: Produce “book” in Chinese characters, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   书

2. matchingPractice 4 [matching] — 是 and 这/那: Match 学校 to its contextual meaning.

   1. car
   2. school
   3. big
   Show the answer

   school

3. put it in orderPractice 5 [reorder] — 是 and 这/那: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: That is a school.

   Show the answer

   那是学校。

4. build the sentencePractice 6 [sentence building] — 是 and 这/那: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: This is not a book.

   Show the answer

   这不是书。

5. choose the wordPractice 7 [word selection] — 是 and 这/那: Select the correct target form for “small”.

   1. 人
   2. 这
   3. 小
   Show the answer

   小

6. find the mistakePractice 8 [error correction] — 是 and 这/那: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “That is a school.”.

   Show the answer

   那是学校。

7. finish the dialoguePractice 9 [dialogue completion] — 是 and 这/那: Complete 小红’s turn in the taught register: Is this a book?

   Show the answer

   这是书吗?

8. readingPractice 10 [reading comprehension] — 是 and 这/那: Read 是，这是大书。 (shì, zhè shì dà shū.). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Yes, this is a big book.

9. paragraphPractice 11 [paragraph comprehension] — 是 and 这/那: Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: 那是学校吗?

   Show the answer

   Is that a school?

10. the main ideaPractice 12 [main idea] — 是 and 这/那: What is the central communicative purpose of “是 and 这/那”?

    Show the answer

    Point! 这 (this), 那 (that).

11. spot the detailPractice 13 [detail identification] — 是 and 这/那: Read 这是书吗? (zhè shì shū ma?). What exact detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    Is this a book?

12. what is meantPractice 14 [inference] — 是 and 这/那: Infer the intended meaning or social force of 那是学校。 without overclaiming.

    Show the answer

    That is a school.

Quick check (5).

1. quick check那 points…

   1. near me
   2. away (that)
   3. nowhere
   4. at me
   Show the answer

   away (that)

   那 = that.

2. quick check不是 means…

   1. is
   2. is not
   3. was
   4. will be
   Show the answer

   is not

   不是 = is-not.

3. quick check很大 means…

   1. book big
   2. big
   3. my big
   4. that big
   Show the answer

   big

   很 + 大 = big.

4. quick checkAdjective predicates need…

   1. 是
   2. 很
   3. 吗
   4. 呢
   Show the answer

   很

   很好 — 很 required!

5. quick check车 means…

   1. school
   2. car
   3. book
   4. house
   Show the answer

   car

   车 = car.

Worksheet: Pointing worksheet

Review list. 这 · 那 · 书 · 学校

Measure words: 个/本

Count with MEASURE WORDS! 一个人 (one person), 三本书 (three books — 本 for books!), 两杯茶 (two cups of tea). Number + MW + noun — never skip the MW! 几 (how many, <10) vs 多少 (how many, any)!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. listeningPractice 4 [listening comprehension] — Measure words: 个/本: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Here you go!

2. dictationPractice 5 [dictation] — Measure words: 个/本: Play the labeled synthetic Chinese audio and type the complete line in Chinese characters.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   几个苹果?

3. listen and choosePractice 6 [listen and choose] — Measure words: 个/本: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

   1. Three!
   2. Three apples, please!
   3. three

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Three!

4. listen, then orderPractice 7 [listen and reorder] — Measure words: 个/本: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: Three apples, please! (give me)

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   三个苹果，给我!

5. listen and fillPractice 8 [listen and fill] — Measure words: 个/本: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “给你!…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   给你!

6. repeat itPractice 9 [repeat after audio] — Measure words: 个/本: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   几个苹果?

7. multiple choicePractice 10 [multiple choice] — Measure words: 个/本: Choose the contextual meaning of 两个 (liǎng ge).

   1. two (things)
   2. three (things)
   3. one
   Show the answer

   two (things)

8. fill the gapPractice 11 [fill in the blank] — Measure words: 个/本: Type the complete Chinese characters expression meaning “three (things)”.

   Show the answer

   三个

9. translatePractice 12 [translation] — Measure words: 个/本: Read 一 (yī) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   one

10. translate into the languagePractice 13 [reverse translation] — Measure words: 个/本: Produce “two” in Chinese characters, not romanisation alone.

    Show the answer

    二

11. matchingPractice 14 [matching] — Measure words: 个/本: Match 三 to its contextual meaning.

    1. many / a lot
    2. three
    3. a little
    Show the answer

    three

12. put it in orderPractice 15 [reorder] — Measure words: 个/本: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: Two.

    Show the answer

    两个。

Quick check (5).

1. quick check三本书 uses 本 because…

   1. apples
   2. books' measure word
   3. people
   4. cups
   Show the answer

   books' measure word

   本 = MW for books.

2. quick check几个? asks…

   1. how much
   2. how many
   3. where
   4. what
   Show the answer

   how many

   几 = how many (<10).

3. quick check两个 uses 两 because…

   1. formal
   2. two-before-MW
   3. plural
   4. past
   Show the answer

   two-before-MW

   两 replaces 二 before MWs.

4. quick check给你! means…

   1. goodbye
   2. here you go
   3. how many
   4. please
   Show the answer

   here you go

   给你 = give-you!

5. quick check多少 vs 几: the difference is…

   1. none
   2. 多少 = any size, 几 < 10
   3. 几 polite
   4. 多少 rude
   Show the answer

   多少 = any size, 几 < 10

   多少 for big/unknown counts.

Worksheet: Measure words worksheet

Review list. 一个 · 两个 · 三个 · 一

Choose a drink

Name a drink, ask whether it is available and state one preference.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. Standard Mandarin. Every exercise works on tones and pinyin, measure words, aspect markers, 把/被 constructions, clause links, register and source-qualified claims.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Choose a drink — Choose the meaning of 茶 (chá) in this lesson.

   1. tea
   2. water
   3. hot
   4. cold
   Show the answer

   tea

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Choose a drink — Type the Chinese (Mandarin) expression meaning “water”.

   Show the answer

   水

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Choose a drink — Interpret the Simplified Chinese characters in context: 我想要一杯热茶。 (wǒ xiǎng yào yì bēi rè chá。).

   Show the answer

   I would like a cup of hot tea.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Choose a drink — Write in Simplified Chinese characters: Please give me a cup of water..

   Show the answer

   请给我一杯水。

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Choose a drink — Match 热 to its lesson meaning.

   1. hot
   2. tea
   3. water
   Show the answer

   hot

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Choose a drink — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Chinese (Mandarin): Would you like it hot or cold?.

   Show the answer

   你要热的还是冷的？

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Choose a drink — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (一 + 杯 + drink; 我想要 ...): I would like a cup of hot tea..

   Show the answer

   我想要一杯热茶。

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Choose a drink — Select the Chinese (Mandarin) form for “cold”.

   1. 冷
   2. 杯
   Show the answer

   冷

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Choose a drink — Correct the model the lesson warns about: 我要一个茶。

   Show the answer

   我要一杯茶。

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Choose a drink — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: I would like a cup of hot tea.

    Show the answer

    请给我一杯水。

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Choose a drink — Read “你要热的还是冷的？” (nǐ yào rè de hái shì lěng de？). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    Would you like it hot or cold?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Choose a drink — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Please give me a cup of water.

    Show the answer

    请给我一杯水。

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 茶?

   1. tea
   2. water
   3. hot
   4. cold
   Show the answer

   tea

   茶 (chá) means tea in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 水?

   1. water
   2. tea
   3. hot
   4. cold
   Show the answer

   water

   水 (shuǐ) means water in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 热?

   1. hot
   2. tea
   3. water
   4. cold
   Show the answer

   hot

   热 (rè) means hot in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 冷?

   1. cold
   2. tea
   3. water
   4. hot
   Show the answer

   cold

   冷 (lěng) means cold in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 杯?

   1. cup; measure word
   2. tea
   3. water
   4. hot
   Show the answer

   cup; measure word

   杯 (bēi) means cup; measure word in this lesson.

Worksheet: Order a simple drink

Review list. 茶 · 水 · 热 · 冷

First verbs

Verbs never change: 吃

The BEST news: Chinese verbs NEVER conjugate! 我吃 (I eat), 你吃 (you eat), 他吃 (he eats) — same 吃! Negative: 不吃 (don't eat). Doing-now: 在吃 (am eating). Time words do everything!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. build the sentencePractice 5 [sentence building] — Verbs never change: 吃: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: I speak Chinese.

   Show the answer

   我说中文。

2. choose the wordPractice 6 [word selection] — Verbs never change: 吃: Select the correct target form for “to study”.

   1. 工作
   2. 住
   3. 学习
   Show the answer

   学习

3. find the mistakePractice 7 [error correction] — Verbs never change: 吃: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “I eat bread.”.

   Show the answer

   我吃面包。

4. finish the dialoguePractice 8 [dialogue completion] — Verbs never change: 吃: Complete 小明’s turn in the taught register: Awesome!

   Show the answer

   厉害!

5. readingPractice 9 [reading comprehension] — Verbs never change: 吃: Read 你说英语吗? (nǐ shuō Yīng yǔ ma?). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Do you speak English?

6. paragraphPractice 10 [paragraph comprehension] — Verbs never change: 吃: Read the complete dialogue and explain this turn’s function: 说! 你呢?

   Show the answer

   Yes (speak)! And you?

7. the main ideaPractice 11 [main idea] — Verbs never change: 吃: What is the central communicative purpose of “Verbs never change: 吃”?

   Show the answer

   The BEST news: Chinese verbs NEVER conjugate! 我吃 (I eat), 你吃 (you eat), 他吃 (he eats) — same 吃! Negative: 不吃 (don't eat).

8. spot the detailPractice 12 [detail identification] — Verbs never change: 吃: Read 厉害! (lì hai!). What exact detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Awesome!

9. what is meantPractice 13 [inference] — Verbs never change: 吃: Infer the intended meaning or social force of 我吃面包。 without overclaiming.

   Show the answer

   I eat bread.

10. listeningPractice 14 [listening comprehension] — Verbs never change: 吃: Play the synthetic audio and give its precise contextual meaning.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    Yes (speak)! And you?

11. dictationPractice 15 [dictation] — Verbs never change: 吃: Play the labeled synthetic Chinese audio and type the complete line in Chinese characters.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    我说中文!

12. listen and choosePractice 16 [listen and choose] — Verbs never change: 吃: Play the synthetic audio and select its contextual meaning.

    1. Awesome!
    2. Do you speak English?
    3. to live

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    Awesome!

Quick check (5).

1. quick check不吃 means…

   1. eat
   2. don't eat
   3. ate
   4. will eat
   Show the answer

   don't eat

   不 = negative.

2. quick check吃了 means…

   1. eat
   2. don't eat
   3. ate
   4. want eat
   Show the answer

   ate

   了 = completed.

3. quick check说 means…

   1. to eat
   2. to speak
   3. to read
   4. to write
   Show the answer

   to speak

   说 = to speak.

4. quick checkVerbs change for…

   1. I/you/he
   2. nothing — never
   3. past only
   4. plural
   Show the answer

   nothing — never

   Zero conjugation!

5. quick check英语 means…

   1. Chinese
   2. English
   3. book
   4. school
   Show the answer

   English

   英语 = English.

Worksheet: Verbs worksheet

Review list. 吃 · 喝 · 读 · 写

有 / 没有

HAVE = 有! 我有书 (I have a book). Don't-have = 没有 (NOT 不有!): 我没有钱 (I have no money). AT somewhere: 在: 我在家 (I'm at home). 是 = is, 在 = at, 有 = have — three pillars!

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction. Every exercise works on Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register.

1. listen, then orderPractice 6 [listen and reorder] — 有 / 没有: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: I have no money.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   我没有钱。

2. listen and fillPractice 7 [listen and fill] — 有 / 没有: Play the synthetic audio and complete the line beginning “谢谢!…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   谢谢! 你有朋友吗?

3. repeat itPractice 8 [repeat after audio] — 有 / 没有: Repeat the synthetic model with accurate phrase grouping; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   有!

4. multiple choicePractice 9 [multiple choice] — 有 / 没有: Choose the contextual meaning of 有 (yǒu).

   1. to have
   2. don't have
   3. water
   Show the answer

   to have

5. fill the gapPractice 10 [fill in the blank] — 有 / 没有: Type the complete Chinese characters expression meaning “don't have”.

   Show the answer

   没有

6. translatePractice 11 [translation] — 有 / 没有: Read 水 (shuǐ) and give its lesson meaning.

   Show the answer

   water

7. translate into the languagePractice 12 [reverse translation] — 有 / 没有: Produce “home / family” in Chinese characters, not romanisation alone.

   Show the answer

   家

8. matchingPractice 13 [matching] — 有 / 没有: Match 钱 to its contextual meaning.

   1. friend
   2. money
   3. time
   Show the answer

   money

9. put it in orderPractice 14 [reorder] — 有 / 没有: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: Do you have water?

   Show the answer

   你有水吗?

10. build the sentencePractice 15 [sentence building] — 有 / 没有: Rebuild this model with correct Chinese characters, pinyin and tone awareness, classifiers, aspect, word order, and social register: I have no money.

    Show the answer

    我没有钱。

11. choose the wordPractice 16 [word selection] — 有 / 没有: Select the correct target form for “bread”.

    1. 有
    2. 没有
    3. 面包
    Show the answer

    面包

12. find the mistakePractice 17 [error correction] — 有 / 没有: Replace a script, morphology, particle, or register error with the lesson model for “Do you have water?”.

    Show the answer

    你有水吗?

Quick check (5).

1. quick check我有书 means…

   1. I want a book
   2. I have a book
   3. I read a book
   4. I see a book
   Show the answer

   I have a book

   有 = have.

2. quick check没有 means…

   1. have
   2. don't have
   3. want
   4. see
   Show the answer

   don't have

   没有 = not-have.

3. quick check在家 means…

   1. my home
   2. at home
   3. go home
   4. big home
   Show the answer

   at home

   在 = at.

4. quick check朋友 means…

   1. book
   2. friend
   3. money
   4. time
   Show the answer

   friend

   朋友 = friend.

5. quick check面包 means…

   1. water
   2. bread
   3. rice
   4. noodles
   Show the answer

   bread

   面包 = bread.

Worksheet: 有 worksheet

Review list. 有 · 没有 · 水 · 家

Ask about today's schedule

Ask what happens today and give a short time answer.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Chinese practice tests. Standard Mandarin. Every exercise works on tones and pinyin, measure words, aspect markers, 把/被 constructions, clause links, register and source-qualified claims.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] Ask about today's schedule — Choose the meaning of 今天 (jīn tiān) in this lesson.

   1. today
   2. morning; before noon
   3. afternoon
   4. to have class
   Show the answer

   today

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] Ask about today's schedule — Type the Chinese (Mandarin) expression meaning “morning; before noon”.

   Show the answer

   上午

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] Ask about today's schedule — Interpret the Simplified Chinese characters in context: 今天上午我们上课。 (jīn tiān shàng wǔ wǒ men shàng kè。).

   Show the answer

   We have class this morning.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] Ask about today's schedule — Write in Simplified Chinese characters: It starts at three in the afternoon..

   Show the answer

   下午三点开始。

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] Ask about today's schedule — Match 下午 to its lesson meaning.

   1. afternoon
   2. today
   3. morning; before noon
   Show the answer

   afternoon

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] Ask about today's schedule — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Chinese (Mandarin): What time do you go home?.

   Show the answer

   你几点回家？

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] Ask about today's schedule — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (time + subject + verb): We have class this morning..

   Show the answer

   今天上午我们上课。

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] Ask about today's schedule — Select the Chinese (Mandarin) form for “to have class”.

   1. 上课
   2. 几点
   Show the answer

   上课

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] Ask about today's schedule — Correct the model the lesson warns about: 我们上课今天上午。

   Show the answer

   今天上午我们上课。

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] Ask about today's schedule — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: We have class this morning.

    Show the answer

    下午三点开始。

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] Ask about today's schedule — Read “你几点回家？” (nǐ jǐ diǎn huí jiā？). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    What time do you go home?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] Ask about today's schedule — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: It starts at three in the afternoon.

    Show the answer

    下午三点开始。

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 今天?

   1. today
   2. morning; before noon
   3. afternoon
   4. to have class
   Show the answer

   today

   今天 (jīn tiān) means today in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 上午?

   1. morning; before noon
   2. today
   3. afternoon
   4. to have class
   Show the answer

   morning; before noon

   上午 (shàng wǔ) means morning; before noon in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 下午?

   1. afternoon
   2. today
   3. morning; before noon
   4. to have class
   Show the answer

   afternoon

   下午 (xià wǔ) means afternoon in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 上课?

   1. to have class
   2. today
   3. morning; before noon
   4. afternoon
   Show the answer

   to have class

   上课 (shàng kè) means to have class in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits 几点?

   1. what time
   2. today
   3. morning; before noon
   4. afternoon
   Show the answer

   what time

   几点 (jǐ diǎn) means what time in this lesson.

Worksheet: Ask about a schedule

Review list. 今天 · 上午 · 下午 · 上课

Recall drills — 126 more questions from the A1 words

These 126 drills are generated from the Chinese A1 vocabulary list — the words of “First words” through “First verbs”, in both directions: recognition (word → meaning) and production (meaning → word). They re-ask what the course data already contains; no answer here was written by a machine, and a generated drill is practice, never a lesson.

The A1 test — 10 items

The 10-item test closes Chinese A1. Answers are shown; in the course player the same test decides whether Chinese A2 unlocks.

1. translate into the languageSay: I am Xiaoming

   Show the answer

   我是小明

2. fill the gap___! (Nice to meet you)

   Show the answer

   很高兴认识你

3. chooseTo elders you open with…

   1. 你好
   2. 您好
   3. 再见
   4. 谢谢
   Show the answer

   您好

4. translate into the languageSay: I eat bread

   Show the answer

   我吃面包

5. translate into English我有书。

   Show the answer

   I have a book.

6. fill the gap___是学校。 (That)

   Show the answer

   那

7. put it in orderOrder: 吗 / 你好

   Show the answer

   你好吗

8. say it out loudSay aloud: 我吃面包。

   Show the answer

   我吃面包。

9. fill the gap我___钱。 (don't have)

   Show the answer

   没有

10. choose昨天我读了书。

    1. I read books
    2. Yesterday I read a book
    3. I will read
    4. I don't read
    Show the answer

    Yesterday I read a book

Chinese A1 beyond the drills — culture, reading, listening, idioms

These sections are written for Chinese A1 specifically. The reading text is EkGuru's own; the culture note cites where its facts come from; the idioms and the mistakes list are the ones this level actually trips over.

Culture note

Chinese characters are not an alphabet: many characters represent a syllable and a meaning-bearing unit, and words may use one or several characters. Measure words such as 个 and 本 are part of ordinary counting patterns. The note describes writing, not a single cultural identity.

Source (named, not linked): unicode.org.

Reading — read this aloud, slowly

What it says: My name is Lin. Today I study Chinese at school. The teacher writes three new characters. I first look at the strokes, then read the pinyin. After class, I write the new words in my notebook.

Listening — one voice, one text

Use the speaker button to hear this text with a browser voice tagged zh-CN; playback starts only after a click. If no matching voice is installed, read it aloud yourself — the rhythm is the point.

What it says: Teacher: May I ask your name? Student: My name is Lin. Teacher: What did you learn today? Student: I learned three new characters.

10 idioms and fixed phrases

The 3 mistakes this level makes

• 我叫是小林。 → 我叫小林。 叫 already introduces a name; do not add 是.
• 你几岁吗？ → 你几岁？ A question word already marks the question; do not add 吗.
• 一个书。 → 一本书。 Use 本 as the measure word for a book.

Your task

Mandarin A1 reflection and production task Write a short response using two expressions from this rung. Name the audience, separate a source's statement from your inference, and keep the conclusion within the evidence. Read it aloud and revise for clarity and register.

After A1: the A1+ checkpoint

A1+ is not a certificate — it is the half-step between Chinese A1 and the next level, and it is on this site’s ladder because language schools use it. You are at A1+ when you can ask for things, give a phone number, name the days. Get there by working the recall drills above and the review deck until nothing on this page surprises you, then open the A2 pages.

Keep going