# HanSounds - Mandarin Starter

> Mandarin Chinese learning app for English speakers focusing on pronunciation, tones, and characters. (iPhone/iPad app by 龙 程.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hansounds-mandarin-starter/id6760903364 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [龙 程](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886529551)
- Category: Education
- Price: $3.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 3 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-03-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-11
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hansounds-mandarin-starter/id6760903364/reviews.md

## What is HanSounds?

知音 (Zhīyīn) means "a person who truly understands you" — and that's exactly what this app is designed to be for Mandarin learners.

Whether you've always been curious about China, planning a trip, or simply love languages, 知音 gives you the most solid foundation possible for learning Mandarin Chinese — just like Chinese children learn it in school.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Stage 1 — Initials & Finals (声母韵母)
Master the building blocks of all Mandarin sounds. Each sound comes with an English approximation, IPA notation, articulation guide, and an animated mouth diagram showing exactly how to position your lips and tongue.

Stage 2 — Tones & Pinyin (声调)
Mandarin has 4 tones — the same syllable means completely different things depending on your pitch. We explain each tone with animated pitch contour visualizations and memory tricks that actually stick.

Stage 3 — Chinese Characters (汉字)
Study and quiz yourself on the 1,000 most frequently used Chinese characters, each with Pinyin, tone, English meaning, and example words.

WHY 知音

- Built for English speakers — all explanations are in English
- Animated mouth diagrams — see exactly how each sound is made
- Pitch contour animations — visualize tones the way linguists do
- Progress tracking — track your mastered sounds and characters
- Clean, distraction-free design — focus on learning, nothing else
- No ads, no gimmicks

Start with "māo" (猫, cat) and work your way to fluency. 加油！

## Key features

- Animated mouth diagrams for pronunciation
- Tone and Pinyin visualization
- Character study and quizzes
- Progress tracking
- Distraction-free design
- English explanations


## Frequently asked questions about HanSounds

### How does HanSounds teach Mandarin pronunciation?

HanSounds uses animated mouth diagrams to show the exact lip and tongue positions for each sound. It also provides English approximations and IPA notation for clarity.

### What is the learning methodology of HanSounds?

The app follows a structured approach, starting with basic sounds (Initials & Finals), then moving to tones and Pinyin, and finally introducing the 1,000 most frequently used Chinese characters.

### Does HanSounds offer progress tracking?

Yes, HanSounds includes progress tracking features that allow users to monitor their mastered sounds and characters, helping them stay motivated.

### Is HanSounds suitable for absolute beginners?

Yes, HanSounds is designed to provide a solid foundation for learning Mandarin Chinese, starting with the building blocks of the language, making it ideal for beginners.

### How does HanSounds explain Mandarin tones?

Mandarin tones are explained using animated pitch contour visualizations and memory tricks to help learners understand and differentiate the four tones.

### Does HanSounds have ads?

No, HanSounds is ad-free and does not contain any advertisements, ensuring a distraction-free learning experience.

### What is the age rating for HanSounds?

HanSounds has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for learners of all ages.

### On which devices can I use HanSounds?

Currently, HanSounds is supported on iPhone devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.0 — 2026-05-21

support apple account and google account login!

### 1.4.0 — 2026-05-19

it is free now， and update some pages

### 1.3.0 — 2026-05-15

One big change:
add video and audio for finals and initials, help learners to learn more very well

### 1.2 — 2026-04-26

Change the app show name for english spearker to easily search in appstore!
Because it is difficult for them to type Chinese ！
Make a improvement in content, for example, more words in daily life!

### 1.1 — 2026-04-24

There are two changes about this version!
The first one is fixing a bug while playing audio! Make the users feel very well!
The second one is improving the audio experience, for example, if you select slow modal, the audio will play more clear for learners!

## More apps by 龙 程

- [HanWords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanwords/id6762129339)
- [HanStories](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanstories/id6762177987)
- [OneDay-Meet Yourself Again](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oneday-meet-yourself-again/id6769650483)
- [RollingBall:Roll to Hole](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rollingballroll-to-hole/id6775851192)

All apps by 龙 程: https://appshunter.io/developer/1886529551

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-11.*