Chinese for Heritage Speakers Who Speak but Can't Read
Chinese for heritage speakers is a different problem: you understand the language, but the characters never caught up. Chenjin turns the Mandarin you already have into reading ability.
You read real articles and books at a comfortable level, with help that appears only where you need it.
Pinyin only where you need it
Most apps treat you like a beginner. Chenjin's reader has a pinyin mode that annotates only the words you haven't marked as known, so the characters you've learned stay bare while new ones keep their training wheels.
There's a simplified and traditional toggle too, whichever your family uses.
Skip what you already know
The vocabulary map lays out the full HSK 1 to 7 word list. Bulk-mark everything you grew up with as known in minutes, and every article's difficulty meter immediately reflects your real level instead of a beginner's.
A dictionary built for characters
Tap any word for its meaning, stroke order animations, the radicals it's built from and why, words that share its characters, and same-sound words. It answers the question heritage learners ask most: why is this character shaped this way?
Start with a real book
The Country of the Blind is a free 12-chapter graded reader at HSK 3. It's a real story, not a textbook dialogue, and it's the fastest way to find out how close your reading is to your listening.
Frequently asked questions
Won't pinyin become a crutch?
That's why the unknown-only mode exists: pinyin disappears from every word you mark as known, so the crutch removes itself as you progress. You can also keep pinyin off and use hover lookups instead.
I can't type or read at all yet. Where do I start?
Start with the free graded reader with pinyin on. Your listening vocabulary does most of the work, and the characters attach themselves to words you already know.
Does it support traditional characters?
Yes. The reader and dictionary can display simplified or traditional, and the dictionary shows both forms for every word.
Keep exploring
Try it tonight
The free plan includes the dictionary, the free graded reader, three library articles a day, games, and flashcards. If it fits the way you learn, the Plus plan unlocks the rest with a 7-day free trial.
Create a free accountFree forever plan · no credit card required