Vocabulary Study Modes
Master words with low-stakes Word Review, FSRS Spaced Repetition Flashcards, and interactive Vocabulary Tests.
Overview
Whenever you open a vocabulary set across HanyuHub—whether on the HSK Board, a curated Word List, or a Lesson vocabulary module—you have access to three core practice activities designed for different stages of learning:
1. Vocabulary Review Mode (Zen Study)
Best for: First-time exploration, deep character breakdown, and leisurely reading.
Vocabulary Review is a low-stakes, non-graded study session designed to help you absorb new words without test anxiety:
- Distraction-Free Zen View: A clean, uncluttered interface focused solely on character familiarity.
- Stroke Order Animations: Watch colored character stroke animations to master writing balance and stroke order.
- Visual Illustrations: Curated picture illustrations provide memorable visual anchors for target nouns and concepts.
- Pinyin & English Definitions: Review standard Pinyin tone marks, definitions, and audio pronunciation.
- Flexible Navigation: Use Previous Word and Next Word to flip back and forth through the deck at your own pace.
2. Flashcard Mode (SRS Memory Engine)
Best for: Long-term memory retention and daily recall habits.
Flashcards test your active recall using our FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) memory engine:
- Progress Bar: The top header displays your card position count (e.g.
1 / 5) and total percentage completed (20%). - Card Front: Shows the target character in high contrast. Tap the card body or Tap to Reveal Meaning to flip the card.
- Inline Hint: Tap HINT on the bottom right of the card if you need a quick peek at the definition before revealing the back.
- Self-Scoring Actions:
- Tap ✕ Don't Know if you couldn't recall the character or meaning.
- Tap ✓ Got It if you successfully recalled the word.
- Smart Intervals: Your responses automatically feed into the FSRS algorithm to calculate optimal review intervals and memory stability.
Want to Learn More About the Memory Algorithm?
Read our in-depth guide on How Word Memory Works to see how recall probability and auto-graduation work.
3. Vocabulary Test Mode (Interactive Quizzing)
Best for: Measuring active recall, typing fluency, and exam preparation.
The Vocabulary Test is a randomized quiz engine that tests your active memory under test conditions:
- Instant Auto-Grading: Answers are evaluated in real time with instant feedback, scoring 1 point per correct word upon submission.
- Pass Mark: Scoring ≥ 75% on tests with at least 5 words contributes directly to your Quiz Master Achievement Badge.
- Prompt: Displays animated Chinese character(s).
- How to Answer: Type the Pinyin letters box-by-box. When typing a vowel, an interactive tone-selector popup will appear, or you can press numbers
1–5on your keyboard to assign the tone diacritic mark.
- Prompt: Displays tone-marked Pinyin.
- How to Answer: Select the matching character from a 2×2 grid of four Hanzi cards. You can tap the card directly or press keyboard shortcuts
1–4.
- Prompt: Displays the Chinese characters without Pinyin.
- How to Answer: Click the
?tone box above each character syllable and pick the correct tone number (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th neutral tone).
- Prompt: Displays an English definition (e.g., "Which one of these is 'Apple'?").
- How to Answer: Choose the correct visual photo card from four choices showing the character, Pinyin, and illustration.
- Appears for vocabulary with illustrated image cards.
- Prompt: Displays a Chinese character (Hanzi).
- How to Answer: Choose the matching illustration card paired with its English definition.
- Appears for vocabulary with illustrated image cards.
- Prompt: Displays a large cover illustration paired with its English definition.
- How to Answer: Pick the matching Chinese character button from four multiple-choice options.
- Appears for vocabulary with illustrated image cards.
Question Types Quick Reference
| Challenge Mode | Question Prompt | How You Answer | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type Pinyin | Hanzi Character(s) | Type letters & select tones 1–5 | Always eligible |
| Tone Test | Hanzi Character(s) | Select tone 1–5 per syllable | Always eligible |
| Pick Character | Pinyin | Choose 1 of 4 Hanzi cards (1–4) | 3+ matching-length words |
| Image (En → Zh) | English Meaning | Choose 1 of 4 photo cards | Word has an image |
| Image (Zh → En) | Hanzi Character | Choose 1 of 4 photo cards | Word has an image |
| Image for Meaning | Photo + English Meaning | Choose 1 of 4 Hanzi buttons | Word has an image |
Quick Comparison: Which Mode Should I Choose?
| Mode | Purpose | Graded? | Best Used When... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word Review | Familiarization | No | Seeing words for the first time or practicing stroke order. |
| Flashcards | Long-Term Retention | Yes (FSRS) | Doing your daily spaced-repetition memory queue. |
| Vocabulary Test | Active Assessment | Yes | Quizzing active recall before moving to the next level. |
Understanding Reading Progression & Improvement Badges
See how your reading speed and character recognition improve over time as you revisit articles, dialogues, and sentence lists.
Snackables
Master everyday Mandarin with 3-minute micro-lessons, interactive sentence builders, tone drills, and vocabulary warm-ups.