Learn Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
Learn Mandarin Chinese fast with an app that gets you speaking in minutes. Build the confidence to travel, work or connect with friends and family across China and the wider Chinese-speaking world.
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Learn to speak Mandarin Chinese like a local
Many people want to learn Chinese to travel through China, support work or study connections, or simply explore one of the world's most widely spoken languages. But Mandarin’s tones, pronunciation and writing system can make traditional courses feel slow and overwhelming for beginners.
uTalk is the solution. We’ll help you avoid:
- Getting stuck on tones and characters before you've learned a single useful phrase
- Relying on textbooks that teach formal Mandarin you'll rarely hear in daily life
- Losing confidence because nobody teaches pronunciation in a way that actually clicks
Learn Mandarin Chinese online today and start holding your own in everyday conversations.
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Three steps to learn Chinese (Mandarin) fast
No classes to schedule. No confusing jargon. Just a clear path to learning Mandarin.
Start in minutes
Subscribe now, download the app or open the web app. Choose Chinese (Mandarin) and select your first category.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Work through short lessons with native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on the words you find hardest, so you learn faster.
Speak like a local
Try your Mandarin in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners can build practical spoken language and start enjoying real conversations across China.
Why uTalk is the best Chinese (Mandarin) learning app
uTalk helps Chinese language learners build real speaking and listening skills at their own pace, covering a wide variety of Mandarin words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Speak first
Practical content covering greetings, travel, family and everyday life. Everything you need to start speaking from day one.
Authentic speakers
Learn from real Mandarin speakers, not computer voices, for authentic pronunciation you can trust. Hear the language exactly as it's spoken across China.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Game-like practice sharpens your listening and pronunciation skills and builds confidence. Lessons are short, focused and based on real-life situations.
Learn Chinese (Mandarin) online - Common phrases and audio
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
我想要一杯咖啡，谢谢。
wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi kā fēi， xiè xiè。
I’d like a coffee, please.
你好。
nǐ hǎo。
Hello.
是的。
shì de。
Yes.
好的，谢谢。
hǎo de， xiè xiè。
Yes please.
不。
bù。
No.
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不用，谢谢。
bú yòng, xiè xiè
No thanks.
请。
qǐng。
Please.
谢谢。
xiè xiè。
Thank you.
非常感谢。
fēi cháng gǎn xiè。
Thank you very much.
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不客气。
bù kè qì。
You’re welcome.
两杯啤酒，谢谢。
liǎng bēi pí jiǔ， xiè xiè。
Two beers, please.
公交车
gōng jiāo chē
bus
汽车
qì chē
car
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出租车
chū zū chē
taxi
火车
huǒ chē
train
火车站
huǒ chē zhàn
railway station
机场
jī chǎng
airport
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宾馆
bīn guǎn
hotel
护照
hù zhào
passport
电话
diàn huà
telephone
不好意思。
bù hǎo yì sī。
Excuse me.
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几点了？
jǐ diǎn le？
What time is it?
请再说一遍好吗？
qǐng zài shuō yī biàn hǎo ma？
Can you repeat that please?
请说慢一点。
qǐng shuō màn yī diǎn。
Please speak more slowly.
我不明白。
wǒ bù míng bái。
I don’t understand.
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对不起。
duì bù qǐ。
Sorry.
卫生间在哪里？
wèi shēng jiān zài nǎ lǐ？
Where are the toilets?
女厕所
nǚ cè suǒ
Ladies’ Toilet
男厕所
nán cè suǒ
Gents’ Toilet
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沙滩在哪里？
shā tān zài nǎ lǐ？
Where is the beach?
银行在哪里？
yín háng zài nǎ lǐ
Where is the bank?
这个多少钱？
zhè gè duō shǎo qián？
How much does this cost?
信用卡
xìn yòng kǎ
credit card
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取款机
qǔ kuǎn jī
cash machine
再见。
zài jiàn。
Goodbye.
扑热息痛
pū rè xi tòng
paracetamol
钥匙
yào shi
keys
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地图
dì tú
map
左
zuǒ
left
右
yòu
right
一
yī
one
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二
èr
two
三
sān
three
Where is it spoken?
China
Taiwan
Singapore
Number of speakers
1,000,000,000
Language family
Sino-Tibetan
Sinitic
Fun facts | Chinese (Mandarin)
- The language uses both the left and the right side of your brain.
- The national standard language has four different tones – if you use the wrong one you could end up calling your mother (mā) a horse (mǎ)!
- The name Mandarin can be traced back to meaning ‘the language of officials’ because the language originates from a dialect once spoken by Chinese officials.
- The Chinese full stop is a small open circle: 。
- Gift giving is important in China and so is the colour of the wrapping paper you choose. Red is considered lucky, gold symbolises wealth while black and white are best avoided because of associations with death and funerals.
How our Mandarin Chinese lessons work
Learning Mandarin should feel structured, not overwhelming. Begin with greetings and high-frequency words, then move into practical categories covering family, travel and everyday phrases. Lessons focus on speaking first so you start working on your pronunciation from day one. Every word you hear is voiced by native Mandarin speakers so you quickly start to recognise key words. Native speaker audio and memory-boosting tests reinforce what you learn.
Pick a category and the app organises the content so you can get off to a good start. Begin with greetings and high-frequency words before covering essentials like food and drink, travel and family. Follow a guided learning path or choose for yourself what to learn and when. Work at your own pace and switch categories any time, learn online or offline, on mobile or desktop. If you have questions, contact support. We're a friendly UK-based team and we're here to help.
Mandarin vs. Chinese
Is speaking Chinese the same as speaking Mandarin? Let's get into it.
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Key points
- People often use 'Chinese' and 'Mandarin' interchangeably, but Chinese is really an umbrella term covering several distinct spoken varieties, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Wu Chinese (Shanghainese) and Hakka.
- They share a writing system based on Chinese characters but aren't always mutually understandable when spoken.
- Mandarin is the most widely spoken variety and the standard taught in schools across mainland China and Taiwan.
- In uTalk, you'll find it listed as Chinese (Mandarin), alongside other varieties like Cantonese.
Mandarin and other Sinitic languages
- Mandarin is spoken across mainland China, Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide, but the wider Sinitic language group includes other varieties too.
- Whether you have connections elsewhere in the region or simply want to explore further, uTalk also offers Cantonese as well as Hakka and Wu Chinese (Shanghainese).
“We help make learning Chinese (Mandarin) easy”
“We understand how overwhelming it can feel to start learning Mandarin Chinese, especially as traditional learning methods typically put so much focus on characters and grammar before you've said a single word out loud. At uTalk, we believe in speaking first, which is why we recorded native Mandarin speakers so you can learn the language exactly as it's spoken across China.”
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Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk for Chinese (Mandarin)
At uTalk, we are passionate about helping beginners build confident speaking and listening skills in a new language. Our Mandarin content is recorded by native speakers, so every lesson gives you audio you can trust. The app works for English speakers and for speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check our reviews and see how learners are turning daily practice into real progress.
Your Chinese (Mandarin) language learning journey
Maybe you're travelling to China, supporting work or study connections, or simply curious about one of the world's most widely spoken languages. Mandarin is the standard official language used across mainland China and Taiwan, and whether you've just started learning Mandarin or want to build on existing knowledge, finding lessons that focus on speaking rather than memorising characters can be a challenge.
Get StarteduTalk can help. Start your Mandarin journey with First Words like nǐ hǎo and xiè xiè, then build everyday phrases you can use in real situations. You'll listen to native Mandarin speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. Game-like practice makes it fun for beginners, while practical content helps more experienced learners fill gaps in their knowledge. Learn online or offline, follow a guided path or choose what to work on and when.
The outcome is simple. You'll speak Mandarin with confidence and understand more of what people say around you. You'll use your new skills with friends, family and colleagues across China and beyond. It’ll get you in on the action.
Learn real-life categories in Mandarin
Explore the Sino-Tibetan language family
Mandarin belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, one of the largest language families in the world. If you're curious to compare words, sounds or everyday phrases across the family, check out: Burmese, Cantonese, Dzongkha and Tibetan.
These languages share deep historical roots, so learning Mandarin can give you a useful head start exploring the others.
Get StartedYour Chinese (Mandarin) questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1–A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real-life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Is Mandarin the same as Chinese?
Not exactly. 'Chinese' is an umbrella term for several spoken varieties, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka and Wu. Mandarin is the most widely spoken variety and the standard taught in schools, which is why the two terms often get used interchangeably.
Is Mandarin hard to learn?
Mandarin's tones and characters take dedicated practice, but its grammar is simpler than many languages, with no verb conjugations or noun genders to memorise. uTalk's short lessons and native speaker audio get you started by focussing on speaking and listening skills first.
How fast can I learn to speak Mandarin?
Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after a few weeks of steady practice. Your progress depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.
Can I learn Mandarin for free with uTalk?
Yes. Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we even offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied.
Where can I learn Mandarin with uTalk?
We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Topics
- First Words
- Transport
- Restaurant
- Food and Drink
- Cooking
- Places
- Directions
- Illness
- Doctor
- Body
- Emergencies
- Social Phrases
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Football Commentary
- Sports
- Shopping Words
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Clothes
- Ingredients
- Home
- Bathroom
- Kitchen
- Tools
- Family
- Occupations
- Animals
- Animals' Bodies
- Farming
- Technology
- School
- Business
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Essential Phrases
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Colours
- Countries
- Calendar
- Time
- Timetable
- Outdoors
- Holiday
- Skiing
- Camping
- Golf
- Sailing
- Driving
- Olympics
- Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympics
- Military Commands
- Military Peace Keeping
- Military Intelligence
- Accommodation
- Shopping Phrases
- Travelling
- Free Starter Words
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.