Coursera
Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners
Offered by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for beginners is a beginner's course of Mandarin Chinese.
Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Mandarin. It is structured in 10 modules, over 19h 30m. It is free to enrol, and a certificate is available on completion. Learners rate it 4.8/5 from 1.4K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Mandarin courses collection, where we compare it against 2 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 19h 30m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.8★ (1.4K reviews) |
| Price | Free |
About this course
Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners introduces the basics of spoken and written Mandarin. The course runs for 19 hours 30 minutes and is rated 4.8 from 1434 reviews. It is designed for absolute beginners and is taught in English. Learners study pinyin, the system for writing Chinese sounds with the Latin alphabet, and basic character strokes. The course covers greetings, asking and telling the time, describing family, and talking about food preferences. Each lesson pairs new vocabulary with simple sentence patterns so that by the end a learner can introduce themselves, ask for the time, name family members, and order a meal in Chinese. The course is free to audit; a paid Certificate experience is available for those who want official recognition. It is self-paced, so study can fit around other commitments. Learners who complete all modules receive a shareable certificate that can be added to a LinkedIn profile. This course is a good starting point for Indian learners who want a practical, low‑cost entry into Mandarin before moving on to HSK‑focused sequences.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
10 modulesThe 10-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 19h 30m.
Module 1 · Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 1
Module 2 · Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 2
Module 3 · Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ？ 现在几点？ What's the time? Part 1
Module 4 · Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ？ 现在几点？ What's the time? Part 2
Module 5 · Lesson 3：Nǐ mǎi shénme? 你买什么？ What do you want to buy? Part 1
Module 6 · Lesson 3：Nǐ mǎi shénme? 你买什么？ What do you want to buy? Part 2
Module 7 · Lesson 4 Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén ？ 你家有几口人? How many people are there in your family? Part 1
Module 8 · Lesson 4 Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén ？ 你家有几口人? How many people are there in your family? Part 2
Module 9 · Lesson 5 Nǐ xiǎnɡ chī shénme? 你想吃什么? What would you like to eat? Part 1
Module 10 · Lesson 5 Nǐ xiǎnɡ chī shénme? 你想吃什么? What would you like to eat? Part 2
What learners rate it
Rated 4.8/5 by 1.4K learners on Coursera (checked 10 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 10 August 2026.
How we compare and rank courses · Our review policy · Affiliate disclosure
Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners This |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Free | 19h 30m | Highest rated (4.8★ from 1.4K reviews) |
| MandarinX: Mandarin Chinese Level 1 |
|
4.6★ | Free | 6 weeks | Free — certificate included |
| Chinese language for beginners : Mandarin Chinese HSK1-HSK3 |
 Udemy
|
4.6★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate |
Common questions
Is Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners free?
Yes. Coursera lists it as free to enrol. A certificate is available on completion — providers often charge separately for the certificate even when the course itself is free, so check the fee on the provider page before you count on it.
Does Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners take?
Coursera lists it at 19h 30m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners cover?
It is organised into 10 modules, starting with Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 1 and going on to Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 2, Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ？ 现在几点？ What's the time? Part 1, Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ？ 现在几点？ What's the time? Part 2, Lesson 3：Nǐ mǎi shénme? 你买什么？ What do you want to buy? Part 1, among others. The full outline is on this page.