Chinese@OU review
A free mobile app for beginner Mandarin practice, with writing and audio activities across 16 lessons.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Chinese@OU is a free mobile app from The Open University’s Chinese language team for beginner Mandarin learners. Its 16 sequential lessons cover more than 200 frequently used characters, plus more than 200 words and phrases formed from them. Learners can practice writing characters stroke by stroke, match characters with Pinyin and English meanings, and work through listening and visual identification activities. The lesson design makes it a focused option for beginners who want structured character and vocabulary practice, either independently or alongside Open University Chinese courses.
The activity mix gives learners several ways to revisit the same material. Writing practice can show an optional model, while embedded audio supports listening activities and sentence rearrangement based on audio. Other exercises include matching characters to Pinyin and English meanings, identifying characters visually, and word-search puzzles using learned characters. This range supports practice across writing, recognition, vocabulary and listening without moving beyond the app’s beginner scope.
Chinese@OU is free and is described as available for iPhone/iPad and Android devices. Its mobile-only format and defined lesson set suit learners looking for self-directed beginner exercises; it is less suitable for someone seeking a wider course progression or learning beyond the listed character and vocabulary content. The app can also complement Open University Chinese courses, so it may fit learners who want a practice resource alongside that study. Support is offered by email. Choose it for free, structured character-writing and vocabulary work; look elsewhere if broader levels or a non-mobile format are priorities.
Chinese@OU pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Stroke-by-stroke character writing practice, with an optional model
- Audio-supported listening and sentence-rearrangement activities
- Sixteen sequential lessons covering 200+ characters and 200+ words and phrases
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on beginner content rather than a broad range of levels
- Designed for mobile use, not desktop learning
- Activities center on characters, vocabulary and related exercises
Chinese@OU fact sheet, pricing and score →
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