Chinese for real conversations.

What is Zijian’s mission?

Our mission is to empower 10 million learners in three years to improve the world’s engagement with China. Zijian makes it easy to learn Chinese by reading and listening to the news, giving you something relevant to talk about with friends, colleagues and people you meet.

Who is the team behind Zijian?

We’re technologists and educators with backgrounds at Harvard, Oxford, Tsinghua, Berkeley and Fudan, and experience at companies including McKinsey, Alibaba and Lenovo. Members of our team studied for master’s degrees and PhDs in China as international students, worked and interned there, and founded companies in China.

We wanted a practical tool to help us understand real-life Chinese and talk with people across the country. That shared experience shapes what we build.

Why was Zijian founded?

Zijian was founded by Djavan De Clercq, PhD, PhD. He earned a master’s degree and a PhD in engineering at Tsinghua University and passed HSK 6, the highest level of the six-level Chinese proficiency exam.

His learning included apps, classes, pronunciation practice with Chinese news broadcasters and technical engineering texts. During his PhD, he worked at Alibaba, JD.com and Lenovo, and with venture capital firms in Beijing and Shanghai. He later joined McKinsey & Company, working with mainland Chinese clients on advanced analytics and AI.

Travelling to nearly every province in China by train, bus and bicycle gave him many more reasons to use the language, from finding his way to getting to know people.

One teacher brought geopolitics, economics and technology into class. Those discussions gave students something worth talking about, and a reason to find the words. Zijian grew from that idea. Listening is central: understanding what someone says gives you a starting point for your reply.

What makes Zijian different?

Zijian brings current stories and useful learning support together in one reader:

• Four reading levels. Read the same story from beginner to advanced, moving up when you’re ready.
• Mandarin audio with matching text. Follow the words as you listen, or hide the text and practise listening.
• Help when you need it. Show pinyin, read English translations and tap words for meanings.
• Flexible listening. Slow the Chinese audio, repeat a reading, hear several levels or continue to the next article.
• Short mini-lessons. Hear useful words explained and practise them in Chinese sentences.
• A comfortable reader. Adjust text size, highlight HSK vocabulary and choose light or dark mode.
• No download required. Open Zijian in your browser on your phone or computer.

Is Zijian the best Chinese learning app?

We believe Zijian offers the best blend of practical Chinese reading, listening and value. The best fit for you depends on how you like to learn—try the free samples and judge for yourself.

Use Zijian alongside conversation, live classes, Chinese TV and time with Chinese-speaking friends. Our job is to help you understand more and bring useful Chinese into your next conversation.

Can I try Zijian without an account?

Yes. Open the reader and choose a free sample to try reading and listening at all four levels without signing in or paying. Both samples stay available even when they’re older than the latest news.

What does a Zijian Pro subscription include?

Pro unlocks the subscriber articles and their recordings at all four levels, including our growing archive from 6 October 2026 onwards. Browse by topic or date to find a story. A free account alone does not unlock subscriber content.

Monthly subscription · Price confirmed at checkout.

Create a free account, then choose Pro when you’re ready. Subscriptions renew monthly. Cancel anytime through your account. See your subscription options; the final total, including any taxes or discounts, is shown before you pay.

What research informs Zijian’s approach?

A 2025 review of extensive reading research found that sustained reading in another language can improve comprehension and vocabulary. A small study of Korean-speaking learners of Chinese found that reading while listening helped them understand a text. A review of vocabulary research also found benefits from brief definitions in a learner’s first language, particularly for beginners and immediate word learning.

These findings inform our reading levels, narration with matching text and optional English word meanings. They are not studies of Zijian itself. Benefits vary by learner and task, so you can read, listen or combine the two.

Where do the stories come from?

We turn news reporting about events in China and around the world into original language-learning briefs. Editorial checks cover sources, factual accuracy and consistency before publication.

Mistakes can still happen. Please consult reputable news sources for the full reporting, and tell us if you spot an error at support@zijian.io.

Are you hiring?

Yes. We’re looking for native Chinese speakers to help with content and marketing experts to help more learners discover Zijian. Tell us about yourself and how you’d like to contribute at support@zijian.io.

Which language resources does Zijian use?

Word meanings and pronunciation draw on the community’s work on CC-CEDICT / MDBG, adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Definitions are shortened for reading; words may have other meanings. Dictionary attribution and changes, the adapted dictionary, reading subset and pinyin data are available to download. HSK word lists are adapted from HearMandarin under CC BY 4.0; see HSK attribution and changes and the official syllabus. We’re grateful to the people who make these resources available.