Is Chinese Actually Worth Learning Right Now?
Use the free tool — ChineseDaily
Is Chinese Actually Worth Learning Right Now?
This page looks at what the available data actually says about Chinese right now, and what a course like ChineseDaily does and doesn't cover. It is not language-learning advice for your specific goals — only you can judge whether Chinese fits your plans.
How Much Interest Is There in Chinese?
According to the Duolingo Language Report 2025, Chinese is the second fastest-growing language to study in the U.S., and the fastest-growing language in 12 other countries.
- Second fastest-growing in the U.S.
- Fastest-growing in 12 countries
The same report ranks Chinese #8 among the most-studied languages in the world. That ranking only reflects study popularity — it says nothing about job demand, ease of learning, or travel usefulness. The material doesn't cover those points, so weigh them yourself.
What Does ChineseDaily Actually Teach?
ChineseDaily is built around real-life situations rather than full grammar study. It covers:
- Greetings, work, the doctor, the apartment, and the bank
- Listen-and-speak drills with spaced repetition
- Simplified characters with pinyin in every note
- Unit 1 teaches the four tones
- No account required, no ads, no "hearts" system
The phrases taught sit inside HSK 1, the first official 150-word level defined by Chinese Testing International (HSK).
Will This Prepare You for the HSK Exam?
Because the vocabulary overlaps with HSK 1, the course gives you a head start on that first 150-word level. But ChineseDaily is a phrase-learning tool, not an official test-prep or certification program. It is not a substitute for studying directly with Chinese Testing International. Confirm exam requirements and format directly at chinesetest.cn before relying on this course alone.
Is It Free? What About Privacy?
No free tier is mentioned in the material. Two paid plans are listed:
- $4.99
- $29
The material doesn't say whether anything you type or paste into the app is stored. We can't confirm that either way. Check the app's own privacy details before entering anything you consider sensitive.
What to Do Next
Numbers like "150 words" or "four tones" only mean something once you compare them to your own goals and progress. Start with Unit 1, use the free tool to work through your own numbers — words learned, tones practiced, situations covered — and decide from there whether the paid plans make sense for you. For anything exam-related, confirm directly with Chinese Testing International at chinesetest.cn.