Chinese A1: master pinyin pronunciation in under an hour

For complete beginners who want to read and pronounce Chinese Pinyin correctly before starting real vocabulary and grammar

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Chinese A1: master pinyin pronunciation in under an hour
ChineseLanguage
A1CEFR level
11Lessons
0.8Hours of video
Updated September 2026

What you'll be able to do

  • Pronounce Chinese initials and finals correctly
  • Recognise and reproduce the four Chinese tones
  • Apply the tone-marking rules to any new word
  • Handle special tone changes and the i and ü exceptions
  • Read the syllable-dividing mark in longer words
  • Connect Pinyin spelling to its character

Course content

2 units · 11 lessons · 50m of video
Unit 1 — Sounds: initials and finals4 lessons · 28m
  • Introduction to Chinese pinyin2:25
  • Chinese initials10:08
  • Simple finals3:09
  • Compound finals12:56
Unit 2 — Tones and special cases7 lessons · 21m
  • Chinese tones4:11
  • The rules of tone marking2:30
  • The phonics method2:16
  • Special tone changes5:51
  • Changes of i and ü2:33
  • The syllable-dividing mark2:11
  • Conclusion2:09

Description

Before you can read or say a single word of Mandarin with confidence, you need Pinyin, the phonetic system that spells out how Chinese sounds. This short course takes you through it in under an hour, so every word you learn afterwards is pronounced correctly from the start.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Pronounce every Chinese initial and final accurately
  • Hear and reproduce the four Chinese tones without hesitation
  • Apply the tone-marking rules to any new word you meet
  • Handle the special tone changes and the i/ü exceptions
  • Read the syllable-dividing mark correctly in longer words
  • Connect Pinyin spelling to the character it represents

How the course works

  • Eleven short video lessons, watched in order
  • Each sound and rule is introduced, demonstrated, then practised
  • Lesson notes are downloadable as PDFs

What’s inside

  • 2 units, 11 lessons, 50 minutes of video

Who this course is for

  • Complete beginners with no prior Chinese experience
  • Anyone about to start an A1 Chinese course who wants pronunciation sorted first

Before you start

  • No prior Chinese-learning experience is needed

Who this course is for

  • Complete beginners with no prior Chinese experience
  • Anyone about to start an A1 Chinese course who wants pronunciation sorted first

Before you start

  • No prior Chinese-learning experience needed

Questions, answered

Do I need to know any Chinese before starting?

No. This course assumes no prior experience and starts from the sounds themselves.

Will this course teach me Chinese characters?

No. It focuses on Pinyin, the phonetic spelling system, and shows how it connects to characters, but character writing is not covered here.

Is 50 minutes really enough to learn pinyin?

It is enough to learn the system and start reading and pronouncing it correctly. Like any pronunciation skill, it improves further with practice once you begin a full course.

Should I take this before or after an A1 course?

Before, if possible. Getting the sounds and tones right first makes everything you learn afterwards easier to pronounce correctly.

How do I access the course?

Instantly after payment. A download link appears on the confirmation page and in your email.

Is it lifetime access?

Yes. Download the videos and PDFs and keep them, including future updates.

Is this the right level for me?

Each course states its CEFR level. If you are unsure, take the free level test before you buy.

Do I get a certificate?

Yes, a certificate of completion is included when shown in the course details.

What is the refund policy?

Full refund within 30 days if the course is not for you. Just contact us.

Start your first lesson today

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