Every lesson here was typed by hand, one dot at a time.
OneDotDot Chinese was built before AI chatbots existed. Every grammar explanation, example sentence and practice question on this site was written by me, character by character, from real classroom experience — not produced in a second by a prompt.
AI can write a thousand explanations in a second.
Every one here was written slowly, by a person who teaches this every day.— OneDotDot Chinese
Here before AI
Many of the lessons on this site were written in 2022, months before ChatGPT launched. They were never built from prompts — they grew out of real lessons and real students’ questions.
Typed word by word
Every explanation, example sentence and quiz question was typed by me. If a sentence is on this site, a person chose it on purpose.
Nuance, explained properly
Easily confused points like 想 xiǎng, 想要 xiǎngyào, and 要 yào get glossed over almost everywhere else. Here, they get explained down to the bone.
Built for professional contexts
Journalism, international affairs, academic writing — vocabulary and phrasing prepared for specific work settings.
Honest about where AI helps — and where it doesn’t
I do use AI on this site. Here is exactly what it does, and what it never touches.
All of the teaching
- Grammar explanations and the “why” behind each rule
- Every example sentence and dialogue
- Vocabulary lists and notes on Taiwan vs. mainland usage
- Practice questions, quizzes and answer explanations
- Stories, cultural notes and recipes
Only the presentation
- Page design and visual styling
- Layout and formatting
- Translating my explanations into English
AI helps the lessons look better and reach English-speaking learners. It doesn’t decide what to teach, which examples to use, or how to explain them — that part has always been mine.
Four doors in — find what you need right now
A few worth reading first
Some of these were written back in 2022 — long before AI chatbots were part of anyone’s study routine.
New HSK 3.0 launches July 2026
Stay updated on the latest HSK changes, including the new exam structure, vocabulary requirements, and important updates for Chinese learners preparing for the revised HSK test.
Read the article →能 néng, 会 huì, and 可以 kěyǐ — what’s actually different?
Not the vague “they all mean can” explanation you’ll find everywhere. This guide breaks down the structure behind all three and shows when each one is actually used.
Read the article →How to Write an Email in Chinese
Chinese business email follows its own conventions — from choosing the right opening title to closing lines that sound natural rather than translated. A practical, phrase-by-phrase guide.
Read the article →Chinese New Year
Discover the traditions and stories behind Chinese New Year, including customs, celebrations, and useful Mandarin vocabulary to help you understand this important Chinese festival.
Read the article →雪花糕 – Snowflake Cake
Explore Chinese and Taiwanese recipes while learning Mandarin vocabulary and discovering the culture behind each dish.
Read the article →Renting an Apartment in Taiwan
The vocabulary you actually need before signing a lease — housing types, deposits, utility quirks, and the landlord tricks worth knowing about in advance.
Read the article →Good places to start
Chinese Word Search Puzzle
A playful character-search exercise for reviewing vocabulary at beginner-intermediate level.
HSK Vocabulary Workbook
Organized by HSK 1-3, with example sentences and practice exercises — downloadable PDF.
20-Day Reading Pack
One short passage a day — 20 days to build reading volume and a feel for the language.
Printable HSK Character
One page per level, every required character for HSK 1 through 7–9.