Learn Traditional
Chinese.
An original curriculum built for Taiwan Mandarin, compatible with A Course in Contemporary Chinese. Science-backed review that makes characters stay learned. Built for serious learners — not for streaks.
First 5 lessons and flashcards free. No credit card required. One-time payment to unlock all content.
Also available for Android
Taiwan Mandarin
Original, Dangdai-compatible curriculum
FSRS Science
Characters stay learned
Traditional
First — Simplified available
Taipei Audio
100% Native speaker recordings
One-Time
Pay once — own forever
Most apps weren't built
for traditional Chinese.
Duolingo teaches Simplified. Anki requires you to build everything yourself. Generic apps use Mainland vocabulary that marks you as foreign the moment you arrive in Taipei.
No Traditional support
The major apps teach Simplified — 学, not 學. If you're preparing for Taiwan or TOCFL, you're studying the wrong characters from day one.
Passive multiple choice
Apps that skip stroke-order validation build passive recognition, not literacy. You'll recognise characters you can't write, and confuse ones that look similar.
Wrong vocabulary
出租车 is a taxi in Beijing. In Taipei, it's 計程車. Apps built for Mainland China teach words locals in Taiwan don't use — or don't recognise.
西方
ㄒㄧ ㄈㄤ
xīfāng
West · Western
"太陽從東方升起，在西方落下。"
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Remember More,
Review Less.
Zhong models your memory using the modern FSRS algorithm. Instead of drilling hundreds of cards every day, you review characters right before you forget them.
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Curriculum-Matched Vocabulary
Zhong's own vocabulary is organized by TOCFL level and compatible with Taiwan's 當代中文課程 series — from absolute beginner all the way to advanced fluency.
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Science-Backed Timing
We calculate the optimal moment to review each character so every session strengthens long-term memory.
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Taipei Native Audio
100% natural pronunciation and native sentence contexts. Hear Mandarin exactly as spoken in Taiwan.
Learn to Write.
Not Just Recognize.
Multiple-choice drills test passive recognition. True literacy requires active production. Practice every stroke with real-time feedback in Guided Mode, or test yourself on a blank grid in Full Recall Mode.
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Guided & Full Recall Modes
Start with ghost outlines to learn stroke order, then switch to blank Tianzige (田字格) grids to lock in motor recall.
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Real-Time Stroke Validation
Stroke direction, order, and positioning are verified as you draw. Wrong strokes are caught immediately before bad habits stick.
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Full Stroke-Order Library
Accurate stroke data across Zhong's entire six-level curriculum — with instant replay and Traditional/Simplified toggle support.
週末日記
Book 1 · Lesson 3
今天是週末。
早上，我去游泳。游泳很好玩，我很喜歡！我也常打網球和棒球，可是今天我不想打球。
下午，我和朋友小明一起踢足球踢足球tī zúqiúto play soccer · kick football。小明覺得踢足球很好玩，我也覺得好玩！小明也很喜歡打籃球，他常去運動。
晚上，我們一起去聽音樂。我們也去吃晚飯，去吃越南菜，菜很好吃，我們都很喜歡。
今天的週末真的很好玩！
Read the Story.
Not Just the Words.
Original passages written to match each lesson's exact vocabulary and grammar. Read in Traditional Chinese, tap any character for an instant dictionary definition, and review on a science-backed schedule.
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Lesson-Matched Passages
Original stories and dialogues written at the exact level of your current lesson — no disconnected word lists.
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Tap Any Character
Don't recognise a character? Tap it for an instant dictionary definition without losing your place or reading flow.
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Tap-to-Reveal Translation
Read cold first. If you're stuck, reveal the full English translation at any moment.
The right tool for your situation.
Taking classes in Taiwan
Pre-load next week's vocabulary before class. Review what your teacher just taught. Never fall behind on characters again.
Aiming for certification
Vocabulary mapped to Taiwan's official Mandarin proficiency levels (TOCFL). Know exactly where you stand at every stage.
Self-studying seriously
A structured curriculum, not random vocabulary. Progress that maps to real-world proficiency.
Moving to Taiwan
Learn the vocabulary Taiwanese people actually use — not Mainland equivalents that mark you as foreign.
What others say.
"The level of content available is great, it's not just grammar and vocabulary, but a lot of context and examples too."
Heather
Online student
"The handwriting practice is brutal but effective. I can actually write characters now, not just recognize them."
Sarah
Studying Mandarin in Taipei
"Bought the lifetime license after one day on the free tier. Best money I've spent on language learning."
David
Software Engineer
Not a subscription. Not a casino.
Start free — no credit card required. When you're ready to continue, you pay once and own the full curriculum. No monthly fees. No renewal reminders.
Free Starter
Free Tier
$0
- Lessons 1–5 & flashcards, free forever
- 14-day pass to Books 1–6
- Spaced repetition scheduling
- Stroke-order handwriting validation
- Native Taipei-accent audio
All Six Books
Full Curriculum
$59
lifetime or $29 Year Pass- Everything in Free
- Complete Books 1–6 unlocked
- All reading practice passages
- Lifetime access — pay once
Every character. Every lesson.
Reviewed at exactly
the right time.
Start free today — no credit card required. No subscription traps — ever. Upgrade once when you're ready to continue.
Start Learning FreeFirst 5 lessons and flashcards free. No credit card required.
Common Questions
Is Zhong Chinese free?
Yes — lessons 1–5 are free forever, with no credit card required, and new accounts get a 14-day pass to the full curriculum (Books 1–6). When you're ready to continue, choose a $29 Year Pass (does not auto-renew) or $59 Lifetime access. There is no recurring subscription.
What curriculum does Zhong Chinese follow?
Zhong follows its own original curriculum, organized into six levels aligned with TOCFL Band A–C and CEFR A1–C2, taking learners from zero to advanced proficiency. Learners using A Course in Contemporary Chinese (當代中文課程) or other Taiwan-focused textbooks often find Zhong's level progression useful alongside their existing study plan. Zhong is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NTNU, MTC, or any textbook publisher.
Is this suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. The curriculum starts from zero — pronunciation, tones, Zhuyin, and the first characters. You do not need any prior Chinese knowledge to begin.
How is this different from Duolingo?
Duolingo teaches Simplified Chinese — the script used in Mainland China, not Taiwan. It has no handwriting practice, no stroke-order validation, and no alignment with any recognised proficiency standard. Zhong teaches Traditional Chinese first — the script used in Taiwan — with Simplified available as an optional toggle for learners who need it. It requires you to write every character you learn, follows Zhong's own structured six-level curriculum built for Taiwan Mandarin, and uses science-backed review scheduling rather than engagement tricks designed to keep you opening the app.
I already know some Simplified Chinese. Can I switch to Traditional?
Yes. Roughly 70% of characters are identical or near-identical between the two scripts. Zhong is designed to work from zero but is equally effective for learners converting from Simplified — the curriculum sequencing handles the transition naturally.
Is there a subscription?
No. Zhong Chinese does not have a subscription. You can start free without a credit card. Full curriculum access is a one-time payment: a $29 Year Pass that does not auto-renew, or $59 Lifetime access that you own permanently, including all future content updates. No renewal fees, no monthly charges.
The right tool,
finally.
Traditional characters. An original curriculum compatible with A Course in Contemporary Chinese. Review scheduling built on memory science, not engagement tricks. Native Taipei-accent audio. Built for learners who are serious about Mandarin.
First 5 lessons and flashcards free. No credit card required. No subscription — ever.