SayMei

Chinese Workbooks for Complete Beginners

By Mei Lin

These workbooks are for complete beginners: people starting Mandarin with no Chinese at all. They cover first conversations, pinyin and the four tones, numbers, food and shopping, and your first characters.

By the end of the first speaking book you can introduce yourself, order food and drink, ask the way and hold a short first conversation. The speaking books print every line in characters, pinyin and English, and when they feel easy, the HSK 1 books are the next step.

37 workbooks. Free.

Best first book

Your First 14 Days of Spoken Mandarin

One short exchange a day for two weeks, about 20 minutes each. You need no Chinese to begin, and by day 14 you can hold a short first conversation.

Total beginner workbooks (37)

One long PDF

Several books in one file, if you'd like a textbook.

Short stories

Your first connected reading, with pinyin.

Start speaking

One small, useful exchange at a time.

Pinyin and tones

Get the sounds right early.

Characters and writing

Strokes, numbers and your first characters.

Culture and cheat sheets

Names, the zodiac, Chinese New Year and question words.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Chinese workbook for a complete beginner?

Your First 14 Days of Spoken Mandarin, if you want to speak soon. If you'd rather sort out the sounds first, The Chinese Alphabet: Pinyin Workbook for Beginners covers every initial, final and tone mark in 12 lessons.

Is there a free Mandarin textbook for beginners in PDF?

Yes. The SayMei Practice Book is a 188-page PDF with seven beginner workbooks in one, with pinyin and English on every line: speak, order food, ask the way and get around.

Do I need to know pinyin or characters first?

No. The speaking books print every line in characters, pinyin and English, so you can start before you read a single character. When you want to write by hand, Chinese Stroke Order Chart and Rules starts from the single strokes.

What should I do after these books?

Spoken Mandarin Days 15–30 carries on from the 14-day book. To work toward an exam, the HSK 1 Course Book teaches all 300 words of the new HSK 1 in 12 lessons, starting with pinyin and the four tones.

Pinyin chart with audio

Other collections

By level: Total beginner · HSK 1 · HSK 2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5–6 · For kids

By goal: Grammar · Characters & writing · Pronunciation & tones · Reading · Speaking PDFs · Speak & conversation · Travel & daily life · HSK exam prep · School & other exams · Business Chinese · Listening · Traditional Chinese · Preschool & toddlers · Immersion parents · Festivals & culture

By exam: AP® Chinese · GCSE Chinese · IB Chinese · TOCFL · IGCSE Chinese · SQA Mandarin · A level & Leaving Cert · Singapore O Level & Chinese B · HSC Chinese · VCE & Year 12 Chinese · NCEA Chinese · AAPPL, STAMP & OPI · US school, college & job tests · YCT & CCCC for kids

By format: HSK mock tests · HSK speaking tests · Teacher guides · Textbooks & course books · Flashcards · Cheat sheets & charts

All 288 workbooks