Chinese one-pagers, free to share

Every card

HSK 0 — 20 cards

Foundations — sounds, strokes, and your first characters

• 中国 · The country in the middle — Two characters, and the second one is a picture of a border with something inside it.
• 十二生肖 · The twelve zodiac animals — Twelve animals, one per year, in the order they finished the race.
• 福 · Why it's hung upside down — A pun you can see: upside-down 福 sounds exactly like fortune arriving.
• 确 · Confirm the language — Ask before you dive in — older speakers, ideally ones with no English, tend to have the best stories.
• 打招呼与回应 · Say hello and answer back — Say hello and answer back
• 拼音声母与韵母 · Pinyin Initials and Finals — Pinyin Initials and Finals
• 基本笔画与笔顺规则 · Basic Strokes and Stroke-Order Rules — Basic Strokes and Stroke-Order Rules
• 四声与轻声 · The Four Tones and Neutral Tone — The Four Tones and Neutral Tone
• 高频部首与意义线索 · High-Frequency Radicals as Meaning Cues — 部首 · Radicals as Meaning Cues
• 拼读音节与变调 · Reading Pinyin Syllables and Tone Sandhi — Reading Pinyin Syllables and Tone Sandhi
• 自我介绍与问名字 · Introduce yourself and ask a name — Introduce yourself and ask a name
• 求生五句：用问题学中文 · The survival kit: five lines that teach you the rest — The survival kit: five lines that teach you the rest
• 汉字结构：偏旁部首 · How Components Build Characters — How Components Build Characters
• 问候语整体认读 · Survival chunks: 你好 · 谢谢 · 再见 as whole units — Survival chunks: 你好 · 谢谢 · 再见 as whole units
• 构成 · What 的 is built from — 的 = 白 + 勺.
• 声旁 · 禾 gives the sound — 禾 carries the sound in 4 characters, including 和.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 在 — 在 next to 再、报、库 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 我 is built from — 我 = 手 + 戈.
• 构成 · What 和 is built from — 和 = 禾 + 口.
• 声旁 · 手 gives the sound — 手 carries the sound in 4 characters, including 我.

HSK 1 — 23 cards

HSK 1 — the first 150 words and the sentences they make

• 成语 · 马马虎虎 — Horse-horse-tiger-tiger: so-so, and the story of how careless gets you killed.
• 您 · Politeness you can see — 您 is 你 with a heart underneath. That is the whole difference.
• 春节 · The words of Chinese New Year — Six words that cover the whole holiday, from the red envelope to the couplets on the door.
• 评 · Comment on your surroundings — Point at something real and say what you notice. This alone is a complete strategy — caveman Chinese is correct Chinese.
• 问 · Ask about their life — Hometown, family, children, grandchildren, work. Memorize a few of these — they get a person to open up about their past.
• 日常动作 · Everyday Actions — The 11 words of Everyday Actions, with readings.
• 情感与形容词 · Feelings and Adjectives — The 12 words of Feelings and Adjectives, with readings.
• 学习与工作 · School, Work and Study — The 9 words of School, Work and Study, with readings.
• 家人与人际 · Family and People — The 9 words of Family and People, with readings.
• 饮食与用餐 · Food, Drink and Eating — The 8 words of Food, Drink and Eating, with readings.
• 功能词与副词 · Function Words and Adverbs — The 10 words of Function Words and Adverbs, with readings.
• 方位词 · Location Words — The 6 words of Location Words, with readings.
• 数字零到十 · Numbers Zero to Ten — The 11 words of Numbers Zero to Ten, with readings.
• 连词：和/跟与并列句 · Conjunctions: 和/跟 and Parallel Clauses — Pattern: Noun1 + 和/跟 + Noun2
• 结构助词：的 · 的 for Possession and Modification — Noun/Pronoun + 的 + Noun
• 程度副词：很、太、非常 · Degree Adverbs: 很/太/非常 — Subject + Degree Adverb + Adjective
• 动态助词：了 · 了: Completion and Change of State — Use 1 — Verb + 了 (completion marker)
• 介词在：引出处所 · Location with 在: Where Things Are — 2. 在 + place before an action verb
• 是非问句：用吗提问 · Yes/No Questions with 吗 — Yes/No Questions with 吗
• 构成 · What 是 is built from — 是 = 日 + 龰.
• 声旁 · 尔 gives the sound — 尔 carries the sound in 4 characters, including 你.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 他 — 他 next to 地、她、休 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 个 is built from — 个 = 人 + 丨.

HSK 2 — 22 cards

HSK 2 — past, future, comparison, and getting around

• 成语 · 熟能生巧 — Familiarity breeds skill — the four characters behind every hour of practice.
• 唐诗 · 静夜思 — Twenty characters every Chinese child knows by heart, and almost all of them are HSK 1.
• 中秋节 · The words of Mid-Autumn — One full moon, one round cake, and the word that means both: 团圆.
• 追 · Follow up, genuinely curious — History, food, their village — chase whatever thread they just opened. Very little language unlocks hundreds of hours of practice.
• 颜色和外貌 · Colors and Appearance — The 8 words of Colors and Appearance, with readings.
• 交流和信息 · Communication and Information — The 10 words of Communication and Information, with readings.
• 连词和语篇副词 · Conjunctions and Discourse Adverbs — The 12 words of Conjunctions and Discourse Adverbs, with readings.
• 日常动作 · Daily Actions — The 10 words of Daily Actions, with readings.
• 方向和位置 · Directions and Position — The 8 words of Directions and Position, with readings.
• 情感和状态 · Emotions and States — The 9 words of Emotions and States, with readings.
• 家庭成员 · Family Members — The 10 words of Family Members, with readings.
• 食物和饮料 · Food and Drink — The 8 words of Food and Drink, with readings.
• 形容词重叠：AA、AABB · Adjective Reduplication: AA, AABB — Adjective Reduplication: AA, AABB
• 比较句：A比B+形容词/更/还 · Comparison with 比: A比B + adj/更/还 — Comparison with 比: A比B + adj/更/还
• 连词：或者、不过、但是、如果、虽然、只要 · Conjunctions: 或者、不过、但是、而且、如果、虽然、只要 — Conjunctions: 或者、不过、但是、而且、如果、虽然、只要
• 程度副词：多、更、十分、特别、挺、有点儿 · Degree Adverbs: 多、多么、更、十分、特别、挺、有点儿 — Degree Adverbs: 多、多么、更、十分、特别、挺、有点儿
• 指示代词：那么、那样、这么、这样 · Demonstrative Adverbs: 那么、这么、那样、这样 — Demonstrative Adverbs: 那么、这么、那样、这样
• 趋向补语：来/去、上/下/进/出/回 · Directional Complements: 来/去, 上/下/进/出/回 — Simple: Verb + 来/去
• 构成 · What 为 is built from — 为 = 力 + ⺀.
• 声旁 · 女 gives the sound — 女 carries the sound in 8 characters, including 要.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 年 — 年 next to 华、半、孕 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 可 is built from — 可 = 丁 + 口.

HSK 3 — 21 cards

HSK 3 — the level where you start sounding like yourself

• 成语 · 画蛇添足 — Drawing feet on a snake: the mistake of not stopping when you're done.
• 成语 · 守株待兔 — Guarding the stump, waiting for a rabbit — trusting luck to repeat itself.
• 成语 · 对牛弹琴 — Playing the lute to a cow — the wrong audience, not the wrong music.
• 抽象名词与关键概念 · Abstract Nouns & Key Concepts — The 11 words of Abstract Nouns & Key Concepts, with readings.
• 成就、变化与进步 · Achievement, Change & Progress — The 11 words of Achievement, Change & Progress, with readings.
• 身体部位与外貌描述 · Body Parts & Physical Description — The 11 words of Body Parts & Physical Description, with readings.
• 服装与配饰 · Clothing & Accessories — The 10 words of Clothing & Accessories, with readings.
• 认知与交流动词 · Cognitive & Communication Verbs — The 11 words of Cognitive & Communication Verbs, with readings.
• 连接词、连词与关键副词 · Connectors, Conjunctions & Key Adverbs — The 12 words of Connectors, Conjunctions & Key Adverbs, with readings.
• 日常动作与家务 · Daily Actions & Household Chores — The 11 words of Daily Actions & Household Chores, with readings.
• 方向与位置 · Directions & Location — The 12 words of Directions & Location, with readings.
• 前缀与后缀：第-、老-、小-、-们、-子 · Prefixes & Suffixes: 第-, 老-, 小-, -们, -子 — Prefixes & Suffixes: 第-, 老-, 小-, -们, -子
• 把字句 · The 把 Construction — Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction/Duration
• 名量词：把、双、台、张、种、辆 · New Classifiers: 把, 双, 台, 张, 种, 辆 — New Classifiers: 把, 双, 台, 张, 种, 辆
• 比较句扩展：A比B+动词+得+形容词 · Extended Comparison Patterns: A比B V得Adj — Extended Comparison Patterns: A比B V得Adj
• 程度副词：比较、更加、相当、极 · Degree Adverbs: 比较, 更加, 相当, 极 — Degree Adverbs: 比较, 更加, 相当, 极
• 程度补语：形容词+得很/极了/死了 · Degree Complements: Adj+得很/极了/死了 — Adjective + 得很/极了/死了
• 构成 · What 国 is built from — 国 = 囗 + 玉.
• 声旁 · 口 gives the sound — 口 carries the sound in 8 characters, including 中.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 要 — 要 next to 香、脊、耍 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 议 is built from — 议 = 讠 + 义.

HSK 4 — 21 cards

HSK 4 — abstract words, longer sentences, real opinions

• 成语 · 井底之蛙 — The frog at the bottom of the well — Zhuangzi on how small a world can look.
• 成语 · 塞翁失马 — The old man lost his horse — and nobody could say yet whether it was bad news.
• 成语 · 亡羊补牢 — Mend the pen after the sheep is lost — it is still not too late.
• 抽象概念 · Abstract concepts — The 8 words of Abstract concepts, with readings.
• 学术教育 · Academic study & education — The 15 words of Academic study & education, with readings.
• 成果结果 · Achievements & outcomes — The 9 words of Achievements & outcomes, with readings.
• 调整变化 · Adjustment & change — The 10 words of Adjustment & change, with readings.
• 动植物 · Animals & nature — The 5 words of Animals & nature, with readings.
• 外表状态 · Appearance & physical state — The 17 words of Appearance & physical state, with readings.
• 评价批评 · Evaluation & feedback — The 4 words of Evaluation & feedback, with readings.
• 态度观点 · Attitudes & opinions — The 11 words of Attitudes & opinions, with readings.
• 人家：人称代词 · 人家: third-person/distancing pronoun — 人家: third-person/distancing pronoun
• 难道…吗：反问句 · 难道…吗: rhetorical question — 难道…吗: rhetorical question
• 按照/根据：介词 · 按照/根据: according to — 按照/根据: according to
• 对于/关于：介词 · 对于/关于/针对: regarding/about — 对于/关于/针对: regarding/about
• 又…又… · 又…又…: both X and Y — 又…又…: both X and Y
• 语气副词 · Attitude adverbs: 偏偏/偶尔/竟然/随便 — Attitude adverbs: 偏偏/偶尔/竟然/随便
• 构成 · What 会 is built from — 会 = 人 + 云.
• 声旁 · 门 gives the sound — 门 carries the sound in 7 characters, including 们.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 行 — 行 next to 付、村、杆 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 中 is built from — 中 = 口 + 丨.

HSK 5 — 22 cards

HSK 5 — written registers, 成语, and argument

• 成语 · 刻舟求剑 — Notching the boat to find the sword — using a map of a world that has moved on.
• 成语 · 温故知新 — Warm up the old to know the new — Confucius on why review is not a chore.
• 唐诗 · 春晓 — Spring Dawn: waking to birdsong and wondering how many blossoms the rain took.
• 庄子 · 庄周梦蝶 — Zhuang Zhou dreamt he was a butterfly — and woke unsure which way round it was.
• 能力与成就 · Ability, Achievement & Excellence — The 11 words of Ability, Achievement & Excellence, with readings.
• 动作与日常互动 · Actions & Everyday Interactions — The 12 words of Actions & Everyday Interactions, with readings.
• 辩论与批评 · Argumentation, Debate & Criticism — The 10 words of Argumentation, Debate & Criticism, with readings.
• 文艺与古典文化 · Arts, Literature & Classical Culture — The 10 words of Arts, Literature & Classical Culture, with readings.
• 身体部位与外貌 · Body Parts & Physical Features — The 9 words of Body Parts & Physical Features, with readings.
• 建设与规划 · Building, Planning & Organizing — The 12 words of Building, Planning & Organizing, with readings.
• 商业与金融 · Business, Trade & Finance — The 11 words of Business, Trade & Finance, with readings.
• 坦率与态度 · Candor, Clarity & Attitude — The 10 words of Candor, Clarity & Attitude, with readings.
• 指示代词与量词 · Demonstratives & Measure Words — Demonstratives & Measure Words
• 程度副词：过于、尤其、稍微 · Degree Adverbs: 过于、尤其、稍微 — Degree Adverbs: 过于、尤其、稍微
• 范围副词：大都 · Scope Adverb: 大都 — Scope Adverb: 大都
• 频率副词：偶尔、再次、偷偷 · Frequency & Manner Adverbs: 偶尔、再次、偷偷 — Frequency & Manner Adverbs: 偶尔、再次、偷偷
• 语气副词：毕竟、居然、明明、总算 · Modal Adverbs: 毕竟、居然、明明、总算 — Modal Adverbs: 毕竟、居然、明明、总算
• 介词：随着 · Preposition 随着 (along with, as) — 随着 + 抽象名词化短语
• 构成 · What 了 is built from — 了 = 乛 + 亅.
• 声旁 · 乍 gives the sound — 乍 carries the sound in 7 characters, including 作.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 于 — 于 next to 千、干、子 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 法 is built from — 法 = 氵 + 去.

HSK 6 — 23 cards

HSK 6 — literary vocabulary and the classical undertow

• 成语 · 半途而废 — Stopping halfway — and the wife who cut her own weaving to make the point.
• 庄子 · 庖丁解牛 — Cook Ding's blade never dulls: he cuts where the ox is already open.
• 庄子 · 北冥有鱼 — The opening line of the Zhuangzi: a fish so large nobody knows how many miles it runs.
• 论语 · 己所不欲，勿施于人 — Confucius's one-sentence rule, and the character 恕 that holds it.
• 唐诗 · 登鹳雀楼 — To see a thousand miles, climb one more floor — twenty characters, and a proverb ever since.
• 采纳、彩票与参谋 · Acceptance, Lottery & Consultation — The 15 words of Acceptance, Lottery & Consultation, with readings.
• 达成、答复与打击 · Achieving, Replying & Fighting — The 15 words of Achieving, Replying & Fighting, with readings.
• 倡导、潮流与钞票 · Advocacy, Tides & Currency — The 15 words of Advocacy, Tides & Currency, with readings.
• 呈现、承办与惩罚 · Appearing, Undertaking & Penalties — The 15 words of Appearing, Undertaking & Penalties, with readings.
• 搀扶、颤抖与昌盛 · Assistance, Trembling & Prosperity — The 15 words of Assistance, Trembling & Prosperity, with readings.
• 边界、边缘与编织 · Borders, Edges & Weaving — The 15 words of Borders, Edges & Weaving, with readings.
• 变化、转变与便利 · Change, Transitions & Convenience — The 15 words of Change, Transitions & Convenience, with readings.
• 更正、工艺品与公正 · Corrections, Crafts & Public Justice — The 15 words of Corrections, Crafts & Public Justice, with readings.
• 程度、范围与时间副词 · Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs — Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs
• 类前缀与类后缀 · Productive Prefixes and Suffixes — Productive Prefixes and Suffixes
• 高级连词：而、同、与、不料、可、若 · Advanced Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可, 若 — Advanced Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可, 若
• 书面指示代词：本、此 · Formal Demonstrative Pronouns: 本 and 此 — Formal Demonstrative Pronouns: 本 and 此
• 趋向补语的引申用法：下来、下去、起来、过来 · Directional Complements: Extended Stative Meanings — Directional Complements: Extended Stative Meanings
• 强调句型：非…不可 · Emphatic Constructions: 非…不可 — (Subject) + 非 + Verb Phrase + 不可
• 构成 · What 不 is built from — 不 = 丆 + 卜.
• 声旁 · 去 gives the sound — 去 carries the sound in 4 characters, including 法.
• 形近 · Characters that look like 员 — 员 next to 页、负、贯 — one stroke apart, nothing else in common.
• 构成 · What 到 is built from — 到 = 至 + 刂.

麻将 Mahjong — 13 cards

The tile set as a Chinese lesson — every face, the table talk, and the counters.

• 萬子 · Characters — The only suit that is written in words: a number plus 萬 (ten thousand).
• 筒子 · Dots — Circles, not characters. Count the dots and say the number yourself.
• 索子 · Bamboo — Sticks of tied cash. Called 条 tiáo in much of the north — both are right.
• 風牌 · Winds — The four directions, in the order they are seated: 东南西北.
• 箭牌 · Dragons — Also 三元牌. Three tiles that are three ordinary words: centre, wealth, blank.
• 麻将 · Every character on a tile is HSK Chinese — The characters stamped on a mahjong set are HSK 1–4 vocabulary.
• 说 · What you say at the table — The words a real game runs on.
• 说 · More of what you say at the table — The calls that decide a hand.
• 数 · Counting tiles, sets, rounds — The measure words a game needs: 张, 副, 圈, 局.
• 牌型 · The shapes a hand is made of — 顺子, 刻子, and what a winning hand has to be.
• 萬 · The character on the tile means ten thousand — 萬/万 is the number a mahjong suit is named for, and it is live modern Chinese.
• 東南西北 · The four winds are the four directions — The wind tiles are the compass, in the order players are seated.
• 中發白 · The three dragons — 中, 發 and the blank tile — the three honours every set carries.