How Hanlo Works
In brief
Hanlo turns one real-life Mandarin need into a short speaking lesson. You describe the conversation, study a natural phrase with Chinese characters, pinyin and meaning, practice saying it, receive focused guidance and save the useful material. The lesson stays tied to your situation instead of sending you through an unrelated fixed unit.
By Hanlo · Updated 30 July 2026 · Independent Mandarin review pending
Example lesson
Tell your partner’s parents that the food was delicious, but you are full.
我吃饱了，真的很好吃。
I’m full. It was really delicious.
- Why this works
- 吃饱了 means that you have eaten your fill. It is a natural way to reassure a host that you enjoyed the meal while declining more food.
- Try it aloud
- Say the complete sentence aloud, with a short pause after 吃饱了.
Using this guidance
- Useful for
- Learners who can name a near-term conversation and want a small, usable lesson rather than a broad topic list.
- How Hanlo applies it
- Hanlo keeps the phrase, speaking task and saved review connected to the conversation that produced them.
- Watch for
- A vague request such as “teach me Chinese” gives less useful practice than naming the person, place and desired outcome.
- Limit
- Automated guidance may miss nuance. Important, sensitive or high-stakes wording should be checked with a qualified person.
1. Name the conversation
Start with a specific outcome: the person you will speak with, what you need to communicate and what might happen next. A narrow situation produces material you can actually rehearse.
2. Learn the useful language
Hanlo presents the phrase itself, how to read it and what it means. A short note explains the choice of expression when a word-for-word translation would sound unnatural.
3. Say it and keep it
Speaking practice moves the phrase from recognition toward recall. Useful material can then be saved with the situation that gave it meaning, ready to reopen before the real conversation.
Questions
What do I tell Hanlo?
Describe one conversation you want to handle, such as asking for directions, meeting family or checking a work detail.
What does a Hanlo lesson include?
A lesson can include Chinese characters, tone-marked pinyin, an English meaning, a usage note, speaking practice and a saved lesson.
Can I return to a lesson later?
Hanlo is designed to let learners save useful lessons and reopen their phrases and speaking practice later.
Bring Hanlo the conversation ahead of you.
Tell us what you want to say in Mandarin. We’ll email you when Android beta access is ready.