Chinese for Beginners — Peking University

Chinese for Beginners introduces Mandarin through practical situations and an initial grounding in pronunciation. The everyday themes make it possible to connect a new phrase with a clear purpose. Its introductory scope is useful for getting started without assuming that you can already read an extensive set of Chinese characters.

What you will learn

• Practice introductory Mandarin pronunciation
• Introduce yourself and exchange basic information
• Understand simple expressions about everyday activities
• Build a small usable spoken vocabulary

Who this suits

Suitable for an English-speaking beginner willing to listen closely and repeat short expressions. Spend time distinguishing sounds and tones before trying to increase speed. Recording a brief response can reveal a pronunciation problem that feels less obvious while you are speaking.

Before you enroll

An introductory spoken course is not a complete reading-and-writing program. Tones and sound distinctions require continued practice and useful feedback. Plan to add a systematic character-learning resource and real conversation if your goal extends beyond basic everyday exchanges.

Full assessed Coursera access and a certificate follow current enrollment terms. Available preview and financial-aid options may differ by learner and region.

Put it into practice

Record a short self-introduction, then identify the sounds or tones you need to compare with the lesson audio.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 11 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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