Chinese Flash

Open the app and go to the Study tab (the first tab at the bottom). You will see an overview card showing how many words are due for review and how many new words are available. Tap the "Start Learning" button to begin your session. Each flashcard will show a Chinese character with pinyin -- tap the card to flip it and see the English meaning, example sentences, and memory hints.

These are part of our spaced repetition system (SR). After reviewing a flashcard, you rate how well you remembered the word:

• Again -- You did not remember it. The card will be shown again very soon.
• Hard -- You remembered with difficulty. The card will be scheduled for a shorter interval.
• Good -- You remembered it correctly. The card will be scheduled for a moderate interval.
• Easy -- You remembered it effortlessly. The card will be scheduled for a longer interval.

This system ensures you spend more time on difficult words and less time on words you already know, making your study sessions as efficient as possible.

Spaced repetition is a learning technique based on the "forgetting curve" -- the idea that we forget information over time, but reviewing it at the right moment strengthens your memory. Chinese Flash uses an SR algorithm that:

• Tracks each word individually based on your rating history
• Calculates an optimal review interval for each word
• Prioritizes words that are due for review in your daily sessions
• Increases intervals for words you know well, decreasing them for words you struggle with

The result: you review each word just before you are about to forget it, which is the most effective moment for long-term retention.

Chinese Flash comes with pre-built vocabulary courses organized by level and topic:

• HSK Levels 1-4 -- Official Chinese proficiency test vocabulary, organized by level
• Daily Conversations -- Common phrases and expressions used in everyday life
• Food & Drink -- Vocabulary for ordering food, cooking, and dining
• Travel Essentials — Words and phrases you need when traveling in Chinese-speaking regions

You can browse all courses in the Library tab and start any course at any time. Each course tracks your progress independently.

Go to the Library tab and tap the "Add Word" button (usually a "+" icon). You can enter:

• The Chinese character (hanzi)
• Pinyin (with or without tone numbers)
• English meaning

Your custom word will be added to your library and included in your study sessions alongside the pre-built course content.

The Pronunciation Lab helps you master the four tones of Mandarin Chinese. Each tone is represented with an animated pitch curve that visually shows the tone's contour:

• Tone 1 -- High and flat (e.g., ma)
• Tone 2 -- Rising (e.g., ma)
• Tone 3 -- Falling then rising (e.g., ma)
• Tone 4 -- Sharp falling (e.g., ma)

You can listen to each tone at normal or slow speed using the built-in speech synthesizer. Tap a tone to hear it, and switch between speeds to better understand the pitch changes.

Each word card provides comprehensive information:

• Chinese character (hanzi) -- displayed prominently on the front
• Pinyin with tone marks -- pronunciation guide
• English meaning -- revealed when you tap to flip
• Part of speech -- noun, verb, adjective, etc.
• Example sentences -- in both Chinese and English
• Memory mnemonics -- tips to help you remember the word
• Radical breakdown -- shows which character components make up the hanzi

Your study progress is tracked in the Profile tab:

• Total words studied -- how many unique words you have reviewed
• Mastered words -- words you have successfully reviewed 3 or more times
• Study streak -- consecutive days you have studied
• Total reviews -- total number of flashcard reviews completed
• Achievement badges -- unlocked milestones to celebrate your progress

Each course in the Library tab also shows an individual progress bar.

A word is marked as mastered when you have successfully reviewed it 3 or more times with "Good" or "Easy" ratings. Mastered words appear less frequently in review sessions since the spaced repetition system schedules them at longer intervals. You can still view and study them in the Library tab if you want extra practice.

Achievement badges are milestones that celebrate your learning progress. They are unlocked automatically as you reach certain goals, such as:

• Completing your first study session
• Studying for 3 consecutive days (streak)
• Mastering your first 10, 50, or 100 words
• Completing a full course
• Reaching review milestones (e.g., 100 total reviews)

View your unlocked badges in the Profile tab. They serve as motivation to keep studying consistently.

Yes! Chinese Flash works 100% offline. All courses, word data, and pronunciation features are stored on your device. You do not need an internet connection to study, review, or access any feature. Simply open the app and start learning -- anywhere, anytime.

No. Chinese Flash does not require any registration, account creation, or login. Open the app and start using it immediately. All your data is stored locally on your device.

In the Library tab, use the search bar at the top. You can search by:

• Hanzi -- Chinese characters (e.g., 你好)
• Pinyin -- with or without tone marks (e.g., ni hao or nihao)
• English -- English meaning (e.g., hello)

Search results update as you type, showing matching words with their hanzi, pinyin, and meaning.

When viewing a word in the Library or on a flashcard, tap the bookmark icon (usually a ribbon or star) to save it to your favorites. Bookmarked words are grouped in a dedicated section in the Library tab for quick access. You can also remove bookmarks at any time.

All your study data -- progress, custom words, bookmarks, and achievements -- is stored locally on your device. No data is sent to any server or cloud service.

If you delete the app, all data will be permanently removed from your device. There is currently no cloud backup or export feature. If you plan to delete and reinstall the app, be aware that your progress cannot be recovered.

If you have questions, suggestions, or encounter any issues, please email us at:

support@chineseflash.app

We aim to respond within 48 hours. Please include your device model, iOS version, and a description of the issue for faster assistance.