Chinese Sidequest

Learn Mandarin for the life you actually live.

Chinese Sidequest starts with everyday essentials, then follows your interests. Choose from 31 sidequests, including board games, swing dancing, climbing, knitting, photography, cooking, gaming, queer life, and more.

A SMALL START, EVERY DAY
Read a menu, recognize a sign, understand a short exchange, and try saying something yourself. Short lessons connect characters, sounds, and meaning in practical situations.

MAKE THE CHARACTERS MAKE SENSE
Explore how Chinese writing works. Learn recurring components for water, food, people, and more. Tap for gradual help: a visual clue first, pronunciation next, then meaning.

LISTEN, THEN TRY
Tap Chinese to hear it. Replay at a slower speed. Explore the four tones and practice telling them apart. Learn with sound, meaning and optional Pinyin before a separate recall check. Listening choices use English meanings. Optional on-device speaking feedback compares recognized words and offers experimental tone hints; it is not a validated pronunciation score.

YOUR INTERESTS, YOUR CHOICE
Everyday coffee, food, shopping, and directions sit alongside optional starter packs for movement, nature, games, making things, culture, and community life. Choose what interests you and change it anytime.

WORDS TO TAKE WITH YOU
Carry useful phrases to play or show in the moment. The vegetarian card explains a diet that allows eggs and dairy and excludes meat and seafood, including stock, lard, and seafood sauces.

A QUIET PLACE TO LEARN
No account, ads, tracking, or streak pressure. Progress and interest choices stay on your device. Export a backup when you want one. Microphone practice requires supported on-device Mandarin recognition; model audio and self-check remain available when recognition is unavailable.

The current lessons use traditional characters and Taiwan Mandarin wording. Word details also offer simplified forms and selected regional notes. This is a collection of starter lessons, not a comprehensive Mandarin course.

Optional queer-life content includes adult relationship vocabulary, consent, and sexual-health communication. It teaches language, not medical guidance. Activity packs teach vocabulary, not activity instruction.