DragonLingo dragon icon DragonLingoby Falako
Coming soon
写
你

Learn to write Chinese characters

Not just tap answers. Write real characters stroke by stroke and make them stick.

DragonLingo is a mobile app for learning to read and write Chinese characters. Instead of only tapping answers, you write each one by hand, review it right before you would forget it, and raise a dragon as you go.

Write a character now See how it works
On the way to Google Play App Store

Try it: write a character

Tap Animate to watch the strokes, then Practice to trace it yourself.
你  nǐ  ·  you
Write, don't just tap

Reading apps skip the part that sticks

Most apps test whether you recognize a character. DragonLingo teaches your hand to produce it, the way you would on paper.

Recognition-only apps
Tap the right answer from four choices. You can pass a lesson without ever forming a stroke.
DragonLingo
A guided stroke-order animation shows you the character, then you write it from memory by hand. That builds muscle memory.

Real stroke order, real handwriting

Every character starts with a stroke-order demo you can replay. Then the guides fade and you produce it yourself. Spaced repetition brings each character back right before you would forget it, so writing becomes second nature.

How DragonLingo works

1

Place yourself

A quick test starts you at the right level.

2

Learn a character

Watch the guided stroke-order demo.

3

Write it

Produce it from memory, by hand.

4

Review

Spaced repetition makes it stick.

5

Grow

Explore the map and raise your dragon.

DragonLingo vs recognition-only apps

What sets it apart

FeatureDragonLingoTypical recognition-only app
Write characters by handYesNo
Guided stroke-order practiceYesRarely
Spaced-repetition reviewYesSometimes
Simplified and traditionalBothUsually one
Mainland and Taiwan pinyinBothUsually one
Works offlineYesOften no
Free to learnYesVaries

What you learn

Characters and stroke order

Real hanzi, formed the correct way, one stroke at a time.

Pinyin and pronunciation

Learn the sound of every character with audio, in Mainland or Taiwan pinyin.

Reading real words

Move from single characters to everyday words and sentences.

汉

Simplified and traditional

Every character carries both forms, so you learn the system you need.

Memory that lasts

Spaced repetition reviews each character right before you would forget it.

A reason to come back

XP, daily streaks, quests, boss battles, and friend leaderboards keep it fun.

The DragonLingo dragon companion
Your companion

Raise a dragon as you learn

You start with an egg. Every character you master helps it grow, right up to a full Celestial dragon. It puts a face on your progress, so studying starts to feel like raising a friend instead of grinding flashcards.

Egg Hatchling Young Adult Elder Celestial

Six stages in all, from a wobbly egg to a dragon that rides the clouds.

See DragonLingo in action

Writing the Chinese character 你 stroke by stroke in DragonLingo The dragon companion growing as you learn Learning a character with pinyin and meaning The adventure map of territories Spaced-repetition flashcard review with interval buttons Boss battle with a countdown timer and combo streak Daily streak and goal dashboard Session complete rewards screen

Frequently asked questions

Is DragonLingo free?+
Yes. Learning lessons are free. There are optional in-app items like gems and cosmetics, but you can learn and practice writing Chinese without paying.
Does DragonLingo teach stroke order?+
Yes. Every character is introduced with a guided stroke-order animation, then you write it from memory by hand on screen. Stroke order is the core of the app.
Simplified or traditional characters?+
Both. Every character includes simplified and traditional forms, plus Mainland and Taiwan pinyin, so you can learn the system you need.
How is it different from Duolingo?+
DragonLingo is writing-first. Instead of only tapping multiple-choice answers, you produce each character by hand with real stroke order, which builds muscle memory that reading-only apps skip.
What level does it cover?+
You start wherever you actually are. A quick placement test finds your level, and from there you work all the way up the CEFR range, A1 to C2, from your very first character to reading real sentences. The lessons come from the Contemporary Chinese Course series.
Is DragonLingo good for HSK?+
If you are studying for HSK, this helps. The lessons follow the CEFR scale, which lines up with HSK roughly like this: A1 is around HSK 1, A2 around HSK 2, then B1, B2, C1 and C2 land near HSK 3, 4, 5 and 6. It is not an official exam-prep course, but writing characters by hand is exactly the reading and writing the HSK asks for, and you get the whole range, beginner up to advanced.
Does it work offline?+
Yes. Lessons work offline, so you can practice writing characters without a connection.
What platforms is it on?+
DragonLingo is built for Android and iOS. It is coming soon to Google Play and the App Store.

Write your first Chinese character

DragonLingo is launching soon on Android and iOS. Try the writing demo above, then check back to download.

Coming soon to Google Play and App Store