Get ready for the new HSK on your phone, 10 minutes a day.
HSK 1, 2 and 3 from the HSK 3.0 syllabus (2025): characters, pinyin, tones you can hear, and grammar explained in plain words, all the way to a mock exam.
Start HSK 1 free · All 39 units free · no card · nothing to install
Mandarin study paths in Sinau
you are working towards the HSK
- You want the Chinese Government Scholarship for a programme taught in Chinese
- You are applying to employers that ask for an HSK certificate
- You are starting from zero, and tones and characters scare you
- You study on your own, a little at a time, on your phone
For the 2026/27 Chinese Government Scholarship, applicants to programmes taught in Chinese need at least HSK 3.
Why learning Mandarin so often stalls halfway
Hear every word
Every word and example sentence has audio, and there is a tone drill: listen, then pick the tone.
A little at a time, with pinyin
Only the words on the HSK list, 25 per unit, always with pinyin. Cards come back right before you would forget them.
Built from the HSK 3.0 syllabus
The new HSK has a new word list and new grammar (the 2025 syllabus). The Sinau paths are built from that list.
From your first word to exam day
- Pick your level: HSK 1, 2 or 3. Starting from zero? Start with HSK 1; each level picks up where the last one ends.
- Study 10 minutes a day: New cards and cards you are about to forget are ready. Then train your ear: words, tones and sentences.
- Test yourself before you register: A mock in the HSK 3.0 shape: listening, reading and (from HSK 2) writing, then a percentage per section.
HSK 1 to 3, in one app
- 39 units
- 941 words
- 302 characters
- 116 grammar patterns
- 5,000+ practice questions
Audio for every word and sentence
Over 2,000 recordings, replay them as often as you like.
Tone drills
Hear one word, pick its tone. The hardest part of Mandarin, practised every day.
Pinyin on every example
Reading help shows pinyin above the characters; turn it off when you are ready.
Grammar in plain words
116 patterns from the HSK 3.0 syllabus, with real example sentences.
HSK 3.0 mock exam
Listening, reading, and writing characters from pinyin. The result is a percentage per section.
Your notes into cards
Snap your Mandarin book or class notes; Sinau makes flashcards and quizzes from them.
Content you can check
From the HSK 3.0 syllabus
The word list and grammar patterns follow the HSK 3.0 syllabus (2025), levels 1 to 3.
Checked against a dictionary
Meanings and pinyin are matched to the CC-CEDICT dictionary, and every sentence’s pinyin is checked by two AI models.
Sentences by real people
Example sentences come from Tatoeba, with their authors credited.
AI is always labelled
AI explanations, machine translations and AI voices are marked on screen.
Sinau is not affiliated with Chinese Testing International (CTI). Mock percentages are estimates; the HSK 3.0 pass mark has not been published. Scholarship requirement: the 2026/2027 Chinese Government Scholarship notices of Chinese embassies and consulates.
Common questions
What is HSK 3.0?
The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is the Mandarin proficiency test run by Chinese Testing International. HSK 3.0 is its new version, with nine levels and a new word list and grammar from the 2025 syllabus. Sinau currently prepares levels 1 to 3.
When does HSK 3.0 start?
Test centres have announced HSK 3.0 worldwide from 13 December 2026; sittings before that still use the old format (HSK 2.0). When you register, ask your test centre which version it uses.
I am starting from zero. Can I?
Yes. Start with HSK 1: every word has pinyin and audio, and reading help shows pinyin above every character.
How long until HSK 3?
HSK 1 to 3 hold about 1,350 cards (words, characters and grammar). At 20 new cards a day that is roughly 2–3 months, at 10 about 4–5 months.
Do I need to write characters?
HSK 1 has no writing section. From HSK 2 there is one; in Sinau it is practised by picking the right characters for a pinyin. Handwriting practice is not there yet.
How much does the HSK cost?
It depends on your country, the test centre and the level. Check dates and fees with your nearest HSK test centre (often a Confucius Institute or a university).
Is Sinau official?
No. Sinau is not affiliated with Chinese Testing International (CTI). The word list and grammar follow the HSK 3.0 syllabus, the practice is shaped like the test, and mock results are estimates.
Do I need to install an app?
No. Sinau runs in your phone’s browser, and you can add it to your home screen like an app.
How do I pay? Refunds?
Outside Indonesia, Pro is paid by card in US dollars, monthly or yearly, and renews until you cancel (cancel any time). In Indonesia, Pro is a one-time payment in rupiah for 1, 6 or 12 months (QRIS, bank transfer or e-wallet) with no automatic renewal. Payments are not refundable, so try exam practice and the mock exam free for 7 days first.
HSK is the name of a third-party test. Sinau is not affiliated with its organiser.