About
About Inkpaper
Inkpaper is a way to learn Chinese by reading stories written for learners, from your first words to HSK 6. Every word is explained and every chapter is read aloud.
What it is
The stories are graded by HSK level, so each one uses words you are ready for. Above every word is its pinyin; a click or tap gives its meaning and its sound, and you can save it as a flashcard. Saved words come back for review on the right day, scheduled with the FSRS spaced-repetition method. Each sentence also shows the grammar it uses, with the pattern, a plain explanation and examples.
Beginners at HSK 1 and 2 can learn a story step by step: every new word and grammar point of a sentence is taught before you meet it, then you read the chapter on your own. There is also listening practice, speaking practice that checks your tones, and grammar for every HSK level from 1 to 7–9. Stories can be read in simplified or traditional characters, with pinyin or zhuyin.
Who it is for
Adults learning Mandarin Chinese, on their own or alongside a class: complete beginners, learners preparing for an HSK exam, and readers who want stories rather than drills. Teachers can set reading and vocabulary for a class in the app.
What is free
Inkpaper is free. Without an account you can read the first chapter of every story, use the step-by-step lessons for beginners, look up every word and hear every recording. With a free account you get whole stories, flashcards, speaking and tone practice, and your progress kept. The same account works on this website and in the phone app.
Where it runs
- This website, inkpaper.app, in any browser.
- iPhone and iPad: on the App Store.
- Android: in a closed test on Google Play; the install page explains how to join.
How the audio is made
Every word, every sentence and every chapter is read aloud. The recordings are made with speech synthesis in four Mandarin voices you can choose between, and while a chapter plays, the word being read is highlighted on the page.
Who makes it
Inkpaper is made by Jonny Kahle in Berlin, Germany. The full contact details are in the Impressum; how your data is handled is in the privacy policy. Word meanings are adapted from CC-CEDICT; the stories and grammar explanations are written for Inkpaper.