Spaced repetition for hanzi

Carve memory into stone.

Master Mandarin characters through nine stages of true spaced repetition, driven by prerequisite logic. No ads. No leaderboards. Just the language.

The method

Nine stages, one path.

From a fleeting drop of ink to an immovable carving. Each character progresses on its own schedule, prompted at the threshold of forgetting.

Stage I

Ink

The first encounter. The memory is fragile. Hanzicade prompts you frequently, building the initial cognitive bridge before the character can wash away.

Stage V

Hand

The structure reveals itself. Through prerequisite-DAG learning, you only encounter a character after mastering its component radicals. The logic of the language becomes your anchor.

Stage IX

Stone

Permanent acquisition. The character returns effortlessly across months of silence. No streak gimmicks, no dopamine drip — only the quiet pursuit of mastery.

The syllabus

Aligned to HSK.

A meticulously sequenced path through the standard proficiency levels — paced by your individual retention, not a calendar.

HSK 1 & 2

live now

The foundation. ~540 items covering essential characters, radicals, and core vocabulary for everyday Mandarin.

HSK 3 & 4

live now

The expanse. ~1,400 additional characters and compounds — semantic-phonetic structures, abstract vocabulary, and richer literary patterns.

For the deliberate student.

Hanzicade is free to start. Your progress syncs across devices. There are no advertisements, ever.

Begin studying