Chinese Curriculum
HSK 1 Beginner
Ninchanese is a comprehensive app to learn Chinese from beginner HSK1 to HSK6.
Level C2 – HSK 6
Coming soon
Ninchanese aims to provide Chinese learners with a structured program with which to discover and progress in Chinese while thoroughly enjoying the process. Made by professional Chinese teachers, meet the latest HSK-related program and more to completely understand and be fluent in Chinese.
Course content overview
After an introduction to the Chinese language, with a strong focus on pinyin and tones, learners start actively learning practical vocabulary (in characters) and simple sentence structures, as they work their way up to conversational fluency.
As they move along in Chinese, the learning content increases in difficulty. More complex structures and more diversified Mandarin vocabulary is introduced. One key principle is always kept in mind: Sentence structures match students’ level of knowledge. Dialogues and grammar exercises never use unknown words and reuse as much as possible previously learned vocabulary to expose learners in context to the different uses of the words they learn.
Content standards
The current course framework is based on the HSK levels 1 & 2. Grammar points follow levels A1 & A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Level Objective: Discover simple sentence structures in Chinese and useful, practical vocabulary to get you, the learner, talking in Chinese!
Level Story Summary: Nincha discovers a baby dragon and decides to become his friend! Sadly, tragedy struck Nincha’s village while he was off gallivanting and it might be up to him to mend things.
Unit 1 – Meet Nincha
Goal: Learn how to introduce yourself and how to ask for someone’s name
S01 Vocabulary
你 好 [nǐ hǎo] World – Learn hello and how to say your name in Chinese
S02 Grammar
Your first sentence in Chinese – Put the words you just learned in order
S02 Grammar Lesson
Basic sentence order
S03 Dialogue
Say your name – Say hello to the world!
Unit 2 – Where we learn more about the characters
Goal: Learn how to introduce yourself a bit more and how to ask basic questions
S04 Vocabulary
Getting ready to meet the Ninchas! – Introduce yourself and ask for someone’s name
S05 Grammar
How do you ask for someone’s name? Build sentences with Yocha and learn how!
S05 Grammar Lesson
Basic sentence order
S06 Dialogue
Introduce yourself Get to know the others a little
Unit 3 – Where we learn what a lucky cat’s parents do (hint: it’s disappointing!)
Goal: Learn to talk about what you do and what others’ jobs are
S07 Vocabulary
I’m a cat, what are you? – A few words to describe what you are.
S08 Grammar
Basic Sentence Order: S + V + 0 – 3 words and you can make a sentence! Simple as that.
S08 Grammar Lesson
Basic sentence order
S09 Dialogue
Baimei asks – Baimei wants to know what you are. Tell her!
Unit 4 – Know more about the Nincha and talk about yourself
Goal: Learn more about verbs, how to use standard negation and speak about yourself
S10 Vocabulary
More about Nincha and Lupishu – Introduce yourself a bit more and ask basic questions
S11 Grammar
Standard Negation: S + 不[bù] + V – Where you learn to say no. NO, not that verb!
S12 Grammar
Verbal adjectives – Adjectives don’t need verbs to function!
S12 Grammar Lesson
Verbal adjectives – Adjectives don’t need verbs to function!
S13 Dialogue
Talking about yourself – Get to know a Nincha!
Unit 5 – What do you do?
Goal: Learn to speak about your activity and the use of the important particle 的[de]
S14 Vocabulary
What a lucky cat’s parents do – Learn to talk about what you and others do
S15 Grammar Lesson
Expressing possession
S16 Dialogue
What do you do? – They always ask that question, better know how to answer it! Meow
Unit 6 – Where objects are misplaced
Goal: Learn basic directions
S17 Vocabulary
Where objects are misplaced – Basic directions so you can play lost & found
S18 Grammar
Yes/No questions – Start asking basic questions. Fire away!
S18 Grammar Lesson
Yes/no questions
S19 Dialogue
Where’s my credit card? – It’s always in the last pocket, ya know!
Unit 7 – Learn to count
Goal: Learn to use numbers
S20 Vocabulary
Numbers: 1 to 10 – Learn to count up to 10 (and then some)!
S21 Grammar
Numbers – Once you know how to count up to 10, you actually know how to count up to 99!
S21 Grammar Lesson
Numbers
Unit 8 – Learn to answer a phone
Goal: Learn to handle a conversation on a phone in Chinese
S22 Vocabulary
Get someone on the phone – A few words so you can ask for someone on the phone!
S23 Dialogue
Start a phone call – Knowing how to deal with phones always comes in handy
Unit 9 – Where fun wins over being serious
Goal: Learn to explain what you’re doing, and what you can’t do
S24 Vocabulary
Fun wins over being serious – Explain to someone what you’re doing and what you might want to do
S25 Grammar
Being able: 能[néng] and 會|会[huì] – Show off your skills!
S25 Grammar Lesson
Being able to: learning when to use 会 or 能
S26 Dialogue
Do you want to go to the movies? – Or how to invite someone to go catch a movie with you 🙂
Unit 10 – Lucky cat moms are just as overprotective!
Goal: Learn how to talk about your plans and how your day is organized
S27 Vocabulary
Lucky cat moms are overprotective! – Learn to talk about your plans to reassure your worrying parent
S28 Grammar
Organizing your sentence structure – There’s a time and a place for everything
S28 Grammar Lesson
Organizing your sentence structure
S29 Dialogue
When are you coming home? – Explain what you’ll be doing that afternoon
Unit 11 – Going to the supermarket
Goal: Learn to talk about what you want and like
S30 Vocabulary
Going shopping – Learn to talk about what you want and like
S31 Grammar Lesson
Standard negation with 没
S32 Dialogue
Lupishu goes shopping with Baimei – Ready, set, shop!
Unit 12 – Dates, times and shopping
Goal: Learn about dates and time in Chinese, and to shop
S33 Vocabulary
Running into friends at the store – Hey, look! A new friend!
S34 Grammar
Dates and times – Learn to tell time and talk about dates
S34 Grammar Lesson
Dates and time
S35 Dialogue
Running into friends – Or how to get introduced to your friend’s nice looking friend
Unit 13 – One last meal before leaving
Goal: Learn how to ask “wh-” questions. Also, learn some common beverages.
S36 Vocabulary
One last meal before leaving – Learn some common foods and beverages
S37 Grammar Lesson
Asking Questions
S38 Dialogue
Nincha, Lupishu and Baimei go to the restaurant. – Chinese dishes are so delicious!
Beginner Vocabulary Stages
你好 World
Learn hello and how to say your name in Chinese
Getting ready to meet the Ninchas!
Introduce yourself and ask for someone’s name
I’m a cat, what are you?
A few words to describe what you are.
More about Nincha and Lupishu
Introduce yourself a bit more and ask basic questions
What a lucky cat’s parents do
Learn to talk about what you and others do
Where objects are misplaced
Basic directions so you can play lost & found
Numbers: 1 to 10
Learn to count up to 10 (and then some)!
Get someone on the phone
A few words so you can ask for someone on the phone!
Fun wins over being serious
Explain to someone what you’re doing and what you might want to do
Lucky cat moms are overprotective!
Learn to talk about your plans to reassure your worrying parent
Going shopping
Learn to talk about what you want and like
Running into friends at the store
Hey, look! A new friend!
One last meal before leaving
Learn some common foods and beverages
Beginner Chinese Grammar Stages
Your first sentence in Chinese
Put the words you just learned in order
Basic Sentence Order: S + V + 0
3 words and you can make a sentence! Simple as that.
How do you ask for someone’s name?
Build sentences with Yocha and learn how!
Standard Negation: S + 不 + V
Where you learn to say no. NO, not that verb!
Verbal Adjectives
Adjectives don’t need verbs to function!
Possession with 的
There’s your stuff, and then there’s theirs. Learn to talk about what belongs to you.
Yes/No questions
Start asking basic questions. Fire away!
Numbers
Once you know how to count up to 10, you actually know how to count up to 99!
Being able: 能 and 会
Show off your skills!
Organizing your sentence structure
There’s a time and a place for everything
Standard Negation: S + 没 + V
Saying “you don’t have” and talking about actions that didn’t happen in the past takes a special skill
Dates and times
Learn to tell time and talk about dates
Questions using 几多少什么怎么
More complicated questions so you can pry all you want
Beginner Chinese Grammar Lessons
Beginner Chinese Dialogues
Say your name
Say hello to the world!
Introduce yourself
Get to know the others a little
Baimei asks
Baimei wants to know what you are. Tell her!
Talking about yourself
Get to know a Nincha!
What do you do?
They always ask that question, better know how to answer it! Meow
Where’s my credit card?
It’s always in the last pocket, ya know!
Start a phone call
Knowing how to deal with phones always comes in handy
Do you want to go to the movies?
Or how to invite someone to go catch a movie with you 🙂
When are you coming home?
Explain what you’ll be doing that afternoon
Lupishu goes shopping with Baimei
Ready, set, shop!
Running into friends
Or how to get introduced to your friend’s nice looking friend
Nincha, Lupishu and Baimei go to the restaurant.
Chinese dishes are so delicious!