Vocabulary
Chinese Family Words for Kids: 爸爸, 妈妈 and More with Pinyin
Chinese family member words for kids with characters, pinyin and meanings, why so many repeat (妈妈, 哥哥), neutral-tone tips, and family-tree worksheet ideas.
Guides
All articles
15 guides — pick a topic below.
Festivals
Chinese New Year Words for Kids: Printable Pinyin and Character List
15 Chinese New Year words with pinyin, tone marks and meanings, plus spring couplet phrases to copy and a printable worksheet plan for Lunar New Year 2027.
Vocabulary
Chinese Numbers 1 to 100 for Kids: Pinyin, Rules and Practice
How to count from 1 to 100 in Chinese with pinyin: the pattern for 11-99, writing numbers in pinyin, the tone change of 一, and printable practice ideas.
Handwriting
Chinese Stroke Order Rules for Kids: The 7 Basic Rules with Examples
The basic Chinese stroke order rules explained for kids, the five stroke types and their numbers, and official stroke sequences for 16 starter characters.
Vocabulary
Chinese Zodiac Animals in Chinese for Kids: Characters, Pinyin and Order
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in characters and pinyin, in the official order, with earthly branches, tone tips and worksheet ideas for young learners.
Routine & curriculum
How Schools Teach Pinyin in China, Singapore and Australia
How pinyin fits into early Chinese lessons in China, Singapore and Australia, what each curriculum expects early on, and what it means for parents.
Tones
How to Teach the Four Pinyin Tones to Kids (Simple, Playful Steps)
A practical, parent-friendly way to teach children the four Mandarin tones and the neutral tone, with games, tone-mark rules and printable practice ideas.
Tones
Mandarin Tone Pair Drills: 20 Two-Syllable Combinations to Practise
Practise Mandarin tones in pairs: a 4x4 grid of two-syllable words plus neutral tones, the third-tone changes, common tone errors, and a 10-minute drill.
Festivals
Mid-Autumn Festival Chinese Words for Kids: Mooncake, Lantern and Moon
Mid-Autumn Festival vocabulary for kids with characters and pinyin, the Chang'e story in simple terms, the 2027 date, and printable worksheet ideas.
Pinyin chart
Common Pinyin Mistakes: ü vs u, zh vs z, n vs l, -n vs -ng
The pinyin and pronunciation mistakes children and learners make most often (ü, zh/z, n/l, -n/-ng, aspiration), with minimal pairs and quick fixes.
Pinyin chart
Pinyin Chart Explained: All 21 Initials and the Finals, With Spelling Rules
The standard Hanyu Pinyin initials and finals from the official 1958 scheme, explained simply, with the y/w, ü and iu/ui/un spelling rules.
Handwriting
First Chinese Characters for Kids: An Official Starter List and How to Practise It
A starter list of basic Chinese characters from China's official curriculum, with pinyin and meanings, plus a weekly printable worksheet routine.
Tones
Mandarin Tone Change Rules: 一 (yī), 不 (bù) and Third-Tone Sandhi
Clear rules for how 一 and 不 change tone and what happens when third tones meet, with examples, plus how to write these changes in pinyin worksheets.
Routine & curriculum
A Weekly Pinyin Practice Routine for Heritage Kids (15 Minutes a Day)
A realistic weekly pinyin routine for heritage kids learning Chinese outside China: a 15-minute daily plan, printable checklist and progress tracking.
Handwriting
What Is a Tianzige (田字格) Grid? How to Use It for Chinese Handwriting
What the tianzige grid is, why Chinese schools use it, and a simple routine for practising character handwriting with tracing and dictation sheets.