• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Travel China Cheaper

Travel China the smart way! Expert tips and travel advice for China tourists and expats.

PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA? Start Here

  • Resources
    • China Travel Handbook
    • China Travel Resources
    • Free PDF Downloads
    • Blogger Resources
  • Travel Tips
    • Best Travel Insurance for China
    • Getting Your Chinese Visa
    • How to Pack for China
    • Vaccinations Needed for China
    • Top China Tourist Scams
    • Best Times to Visit China
    • Getting Money to China
    • How to Travel China on a Budget
    • Tips on Tipping in China
    • How to Bargain in China
    • How to Take a Taxi in China
    • Using your Cell Phone in China
    • How to Open a China Bank Account
    • Best Virtual Mailboxes Reviewed
  • Travel Guides
    • Best China Travel Agencies
    • Best Beijing Guide Books
    • Best Shanghai Guide Books
    • Best Hong Kong Guide Books
  • Learn Chinese
    • 75 Best Language Learning Tools
    • Best Voice Translation Apps for China
    • Learn to Write Chinese
    • Learn To Read Chinese
    • Top 5 Mandarin Phrase Guides
    • How to Travel without Mandarin
  • China Visas
    • Complete China Visa Guide 2021
    • Visa-Free Transit Guide
    • US Citizens Guide
    • Best China Visas Services Reviewed
    • Getting a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong
    • Understanding the 10-Year China Visa
  • China VPN
    • Best VPNs for China 2021
    • Blocked Websites in China
    • Is Using a VPN Legal?
    • How to Watch Netflix in China
    • China VPN Tips
    • ExpressVPN Review
    • VyprVPN Review
    • Private Internet Access Review
    • Tutorial: Apple TV w/ VPN
  • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Us

NinChanese Review | Great App to Learn Chinese in 2023?

January 29, 2023 By Josh Summers

What is the best app for learning Chinese? For Chinese learners looking for tools to learn Mandarin, you might have run into an app called NinChanese.

Weird name, I know…but what in the world is NinChanese? Below I review NinChanese and how it compares to the top tools for learning Chinese like Skritter, ChinesePod, and the Chairman’s Bao.

Review of Chinese learning app NinChanese

Luckily for Chinese learners like you and me, there are plenty of apps to help us improve our Mandarin.

But most apps out there are either solely focused on a single topic like reading, character memorization, etc. or are just downright not useful.

It’s a big task for one app or language learning program to take on all the different facets of language learning at once (vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, etc.). There are many that have tried and I would say only a small handful that have succeeded.

NinChanese claims to be able to help you do all of that and I recently put these claims to the test. Is Ninchanese one of the top tools for learning Chinese in 2020 and how does it compare with other great learning tools?

Note: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may be compensated if you choose to use one of the services listed. I only recommend what I’ve personally used, and I appreciate your support!

Features of NinChanese | Learning Chinese in 2023

Let’s start with what you can expect when using NinChanese. Overall, the developers behind NinChanese argue that traditional methods of learning Chinese kill your motivation and make you think that learning Mandarin is too hard.

For anybody who has seriously studied Chinese before, you might be nodding your head in agreement.

To fix this, they’ve decided to use a “gamified learning platform” to make learning Chinese addictive and fun. Each “world” in the game is based on the HSK curriculum 1-5 and you follow a character narrative of a dragon named “Nincha” growing up learning Chinese.

Beginner Level 1 of NinChanese

Additionally, the software is structured to where you can do all the following:

  • Vocabulary: Learn new vocabulary based on the HSK level.
  • Grammar: Get introduced to Chinese grammar points required to pass the HSK through instruction and sentence building.
  • Pronunciation: Practice pronunciation by reading passages out loud with a voice-recognition system to judge you.
  • Listening: Improve your listening by typing the sentences you hear in Chinese characters

Honestly, I have been pleasantly surprised by NinChanese. It’s a bold claim to say you can hit on all of these key elements of language learning – not to mention trying to make it “fun”. And yet…it is!

Unblock websites while traveling in China

You can do all this within a single app/website, which leads me to no other conclusion than to rank NinChanese as one of my favorite new tools for learning Chinese in 2023.

Rather than having to bounce from app to app should you want to practice different skills, with NinChanese you almost have an “all in one shop” type tool for learning Chinese.

Their explanations and exercises on grammar are also well presented and a primary highlight when trying NinChanese.

Try NinChanese for Free

Bonus NinChanese Discount Code

Should you decide to use NinChanese beyond the free trial, use the code TCC15OFF to get 15% off!

NinChanese vs Other Chinese Learning Tools

So how does NinChanese compare to the other apps I recommend for learning Chinese?

In short, it’s hard to make comparisons as NinChanese allows you to practice many skills whereas other apps tend to focus on a single skill area.

However, as these tools aren’t free, I’m going to do my best in making comparisons to help you decide if you should subscribe to NinChanese or choose something else.

NinChanese vs. Skritter

NinChanese vs Skritter

Let’s start with Skritter, a smart flashcard app geared to help you recognize and write new Chinese characters.

When doing the vocabulary exercises on NinChanese, it felt so much like Skritter as NinChanese also uses a learning algorithm to help you memorize through spaced repetition.

learning vocabulary on NinChanese
NinChanese flashcards teach you through spaced repetition.
Learn to write Chinese characters using Skritter for any mobile phone or tablet
Skritter flashcards teach you to recognize and write characters

The key difference is that on NinChanese you are only required to type in the meaning or pinyin of each word, whereas on Skritter you select the meaning, pinyin, tone, and practice the stroke order of the character as part of your practice

Winner: Skritter

Although I do like how you are not given any hints when entering the definition and pinyin in NinChanese, Skritter clearly wins here as it has so much more functionality for learning characters and vocabulary.

Try Skritter for Free

Skritter Discount Code

Should you decide to use Skritter beyond the free trial, use code CHINA10OFF to get 50% off the first 6 months!

NinChanese vs. ChinesePod

NinChanese vs ChinesePod as a great Chinese Language Learning tool

ChinesePod is probably the most used and popular tool for learning Chinese out there.

So how does NinChanese compare as an underdog against ChinesePod, which currently dominates the market and has one of the most popular Chinese podcasts available?

Here I think NinChanese made a smart decision to not go head to head in competing against ChinesePod and goes about improving listening in a more traditional way.

Whereas ChinesePod follows a podcast format that you can listen to on the go, with NinChanese you type each character you hear within a sentence.

listening exercise on NinChanese

It’s a form of “active listening” that you don’t get with a podcast, which is easy to just listen to on a jog and completely forget what you’ve just heard. When you’re forced to act upon what you’ve heard in the moment, you’re more likely to remember it.

Winner: Tie

While I’m a huge fan of ChinesePod and think it’s incredibly useful for improving your overall listening ability, the NinChanese method also has merit.

It is more focused on active participation through typing what you hear, forcing a better memory of the word or phrase.

NinChanese vs. the Chairman’s Bao

NinChanese vs The Chairman's Bao as a great Chinese language learning tool

The Chairman’s Bao is another popular favorite among Chinese learners where you can improve your reading through a news-based graded reader.

I’ll keep things short by saying that the Chairman’s Bao is far better than NinChanese for reading Chinese.

While NinChanese does have dialogues within its curriculum, they are verbal passages and not geared toward reading comprehension. The Chairman’s Bao is the direct opposite and publishes 1,600+ HSK graded reading passages each year.

Winner: No Comparison

So hold on to your Chairman’s Bao subscription (or whatever reading app or graded reader you use) if you are a current subscriber or check them out if you are looking to improve your reading in Chinese.

Access blocked websites in China with ExpressVPN!
Save up to 50% on Shanghai Hotel

Is NinChanese a Good Fit for You?

Now having shared with you how NinChanese compares to other best apps for learning Chinese, let’s determine how NinChanese might fit into our language learning process. Having thoroughly tried the app, I can confidently recommend NinChanese assuming that you:

  • Have taken at least taken beginning Chinese. NinChanese is not a substitute for classroom instruction and I think everyone should at least take an introduction to Chinese course or learn basic Mandarin from an online Chinese tutor.
  • Want to take any level of the HSK Chinese Proficiency Test.
  • Looking to study everything from vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking all within one app.
  • Comfortable using the app on a desktop or laptop device. NinChanese doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app. It only has a downloadable app for Android devices and the iOS app is available through Safari. I didn’t find the iOS online app optimized for mobile and preferred running the app on my laptop. This was a big negative for me and a place where NinChanese could improve drastically.

You can also make use of the free trial they have available to see for yourself whether their method of learning is good for you or anybody else you know who might want to learn Chinese.

Pricing is also pretty in-line with what you would expect and you can pay a monthly subscription for as low as $10, a half-year subscription for $54, or purchase annually for $96. This is certainly cheaper than ChinesePod or Skritter and pretty much the same price as The Chairman’s Bao.

Try NinChanese for Free

NinChanese Discount Code

Remember, should you decide to use NinChanese beyond the free trial, use the code TCC15OFF to get 15% off!

Final Verdict: NinChanese Top Tool for Learning Chinese?

I do think it has earned its place as a top tool for learning Chinese. The developers behind the software have created a comprehensive way for you to improve your vocabulary, grammar, reading, and speaking within a single tool.

Each lesson also successfully ties together the vocabulary introduced in each following learning activity (e.g. listening portion, reading portion, etc.) so you can easily master the material and are less likely to forget it later on.

While I personally found the narrative introduction before each exercise somewhat annoying and wanted to dive right into the instructional content (I am 30 years old after all and not all too into games anymore), I can certainly see younger learners getting into the story and taking the narrative aspect as a means of motivating them to go through the curriculum.

However, before you subscribe, know that NinChanese has much room for improvement such as launching an app on Apple mobile devices. The dialogue in the speaking exercises also doesn’t provide the atmosphere of real conversation and I feel like I am mimicking a robot instead of a native speaker.

However as it stands, NinChanese is a great complement to other top tools for learning Chinese.

Pin this Image on Pinterest!
Save this article on Pinterest
Save this Ninchanese review on Pinterest

Further Reading & Resources

  • Can you learn Chinese in 3 months?
    Is it Possible to Learn Chinese in 3 Months? (Reality Check!!)
  • Best podcast to learn Chinese
    Best Podcasts to Learn Chinese in 2023 (both free & premium)
  • Best tools to learn to write Chinese characters
    Learn to Write Chinese | Best Tools for Students 2023

Traveling or Moving to China Soon?

Download "44 Tips You MUST Know Before Traveling to China". These simple but often overlooked tips could make or break your trip!

Download the Tips Here

Avatar for Josh Summers

About Josh Summers

Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country.

Primary Sidebar

Find answers to your China questions:

Coronavirus Health Alert for China Travelers

COVID-19 and the Future of China Travel in 2023 and Beyond

Travel Insurance Comparison

Best Travel Insurance for 2023 | Guide & Reviews

Receive Free China Travel Tips!

Get some of the best China travel tips delivered to your inbox. We'll even send you our free guide "44 Things You MUST Know Before Traveling to China"!

Recommended China travel resources

Recommended China Travel Resources

ExpressVPN Logo MarkExpressVPN (Best VPN for China)
Passport Visas Express Logo MarkPassport Visas Express (China Visa)
Trip logo markTrip.com (Best China Flights)
World Nomads Logo MarkWorld Nomads (Best travel insurance)

Recommended Chinese Learning Resources

eChineseLearning Logo MarkeChinese Learning (online tutoring)
Skritter Logo MarkSkritter (includes 10% discount!)
The Chairman's Bao logo markChairman's Bao (Use TCC20 for 20% off!)
Check out our recommended China travel agencies

Recent Articles on TCC:

  • 6 Must-Read Books on China | Recommended Reading for 2023
  • How to Watch Disney+ in China in 2023 (where it hasn’t been launched)
  • 5 Cheapest Ways to Get Money to China in 2023
  • Do VPNs Still Work in China? (even in March 2023?)
  • Best VPNs for China in 2023 (+ my strategy to use them)

Are you planning to travel or move to China soon?

Don't miss out on these 44 money-saving tips!

Learn More by Clicking Here

© 2022 Go West Ventures LLC   |  Best-Selling China Travel Guide   |   Contact   |   Affiliate Disclaimer   |   Privacy Policy