in progress

Chinese Drills

A coding project for learning Chinese characters through drills and patterns — built to strengthen speaking and reading together, not as separate skills. This page is a placeholder for that build. Below is the working plan.

• Pattern bank: recurring sentence structures (e.g. 是…的, …了没有?, …的时候) with swappable vocab slots
• Character drills: stroke order, radicals, and spaced repetition tied to the patterns above, not random flashcards
• Speaking loop: record yourself against a pattern, compare to a reference reading
• Reading ladder: short passages built entirely from characters already drilled
• Progress table: what's solid, what's shaky, what's next — styled like the rest of this site

Once this is built, it'll live at this URL as its own page or a linked project.

Practice sentences below — patterns and translations credited to ChatGPT.

Location + action (在…上/里 + verb)

Chinese	Pinyin	Literal
沙发上，坐着。	shāfā shàng, zuòzhe.	sofa on, sitting.
沙发上，睡着。	shāfā shàng, shuìzháo.	sofa on, asleep.
沙发上，看书。	shāfā shàng, kàn shū.	sofa on, read book.
沙发上，看电视。	shāfā shàng, kàn diànshì.	sofa on, watch television.
沙发上，休息。	shāfā shàng, xiūxi.	sofa on, rest.
沙发上，聊天。	shāfā shàng, liáotiān.	sofa on, chat.
桌子上，有一本书。	zhuōzi shàng, yǒu yì běn shū.	table on, have one-volume book.
桌子上，放着杯子。	zhuōzi shàng, fàngzhe bēizi.	table on, placed cup.
桌子上，写字。	zhuōzi shàng, xiězì.	table on, write characters.
桌子上，画画。	zhuōzi shàng, huàhuà.	table on, draw.
椅子上，坐着。	yǐzi shàng, zuòzhe.	chair on, sitting.
床上，睡觉。	chuáng shàng, shuìjiào.	bed on, sleep.
床上，看手机。	chuáng shàng, kàn shǒujī.	bed on, look phone.
地上，放着鞋。	dì shàng, fàngzhe xié.	ground on, placed shoes.
地上，有一只猫。	dì shàng, yǒu yì zhī māo.	ground on, have one animal cat.
墙上，挂着画。	qiáng shàng, guàzhe huà.	wall on, hanging picture.
墙上，有一张照片。	qiáng shàng, yǒu yì zhāng zhàopiàn.	wall on, have one-flat photo.
门上，写着名字。	mén shàng, xiězhe míngzi.	door on, written name.
窗户上，放着花。	chuānghu shàng, fàngzhe huā.	window on, placed flowers.
树上，有小鸟。	shù shàng, yǒu xiǎoniǎo.	tree on, have small birds.
树上，长苹果。	shù shàng, zhǎng píngguǒ.	tree on, grow apples.
山上，有树。	shān shàng, yǒu shù.	mountain on, have trees.
路上，走着人。	lù shàng, zǒuzhe rén.	road on, walking people.
河边，站着人。	hébiān, zhànzhe rén.	river side, standing people.
水里，游鱼。	shuǐ lǐ, yóu yú.	water inside, swimming fish.
水里，有鱼。	shuǐ lǐ, yǒu yú.	water inside, have fish.
湖里，有船。	hú lǐ, yǒu chuán.	lake inside, have boat.
海里，有很多鱼。	hǎi lǐ, yǒu hěn duō yú.	sea inside, have many fish.
房间里，聊天。	fángjiān lǐ, liáotiān.	room inside, chat.
教室里，上课。	jiàoshì lǐ, shàngkè.	classroom inside, attend class.
商店里，买东西。	shāngdiàn lǐ, mǎi dōngxi.	shop inside, buy things.
医院里，看医生。	yīyuàn lǐ, kàn yīshēng.	hospital inside, see doctor.
公园里，散步。	gōngyuán lǐ, sànbù.	park inside, take walk.
花园里，种花。	huāyuán lǐ, zhòng huā.	garden inside, grow flowers.
厨房里，做饭。	chúfáng lǐ, zuòfàn.	kitchen inside, cook meal.
客厅里，看电视。	kètīng lǐ, kàn diànshì.	living room inside, watch television.
书包里，放书。	shūbāo lǐ, fàng shū.	schoolbag inside, put books.
衣服上，有水。	yīfu shàng, yǒu shuǐ.	clothes on, have water.
帽子上，有字。	màozi shàng, yǒu zì.	hat on, have writing.
桥上，走路。	qiáo shàng, zǒulù.	bridge on, walk.

Existence sentences (…里/上有…)

Chinese	Pinyin	Literal
房间里有一张床。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhāng chuáng.	room inside have one-flat bed.
房间里有一张桌子。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhuōzi.	room inside have one-flat table.
房间里有两把椅子。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu liǎng bǎ yǐzi.	room inside have two-handle chairs.
房间里有一个窗户。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yí ge chuānghu.	room inside have one window.
房间里有一幅画。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì fú huà.	room inside have one picture.
房间里有一本书。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì běn shū.	room inside have one-volume book.
房间里有一台电脑。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì tái diànnǎo.	room inside have one-machine computer.
房间里有一盏灯。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhǎn dēng.	room inside have one lamp.
房间里有一个书包。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu yí ge shūbāo.	room inside have one schoolbag.
房间里有很多照片。	fángjiān lǐ yǒu hěn duō zhàopiàn.	room inside have many photos.
厨房里有一杯咖啡。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì bēi kāfēi.	kitchen inside have one-cup coffee.
厨房里有一瓶水。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì píng shuǐ.	kitchen inside have one-bottle water.
厨房里有一个锅。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yí ge guō.	kitchen inside have one pot.
厨房里有一把刀。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì bǎ dāo.	kitchen inside have one-handle knife.
厨房里有一张桌子。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhuōzi.	kitchen inside have one-flat table.
厨房里有很多碗。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu hěn duō wǎn.	kitchen inside have many bowls.
厨房里有很多杯子。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu hěn duō bēizi.	kitchen inside have many cups.
厨房里有一个冰箱。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu yí ge bīngxiāng.	kitchen inside have one refrigerator.
厨房里有水果。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu shuǐguǒ.	kitchen inside have fruit.
厨房里有面包。	chúfáng lǐ yǒu miànbāo.	kitchen inside have bread.
书包里有一本书。	shūbāo lǐ yǒu yì běn shū.	bag inside have one-volume book.
书包里有一支笔。	shūbāo lǐ yǒu yì zhī bǐ.	bag inside have one-stick pen.
书包里有一张纸。	shūbāo lǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhǐ.	bag inside have one-sheet paper.
书包里有手机。	shūbāo lǐ yǒu shǒujī.	bag inside have mobile phone.
书包里有钥匙。	shūbāo lǐ yǒu yàoshi.	bag inside have keys.
抽屉里有一支笔。	chōuti lǐ yǒu yì zhī bǐ.	drawer inside have one-stick pen.
抽屉里有一本书。	chōuti lǐ yǒu yì běn shū.	drawer inside have one-volume book.
抽屉里有钥匙。	chōuti lǐ yǒu yàoshi.	drawer inside have keys.
抽屉里有钱。	chōuti lǐ yǒu qián.	drawer inside have money.
抽屉里有信。	chōuti lǐ yǒu xìn.	drawer inside have letter.
冰箱里有牛奶。	bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu niúnǎi.	refrigerator inside have milk.
冰箱里有水果。	bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu shuǐguǒ.	refrigerator inside have fruit.
冰箱里有鸡蛋。	bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu jīdàn.	refrigerator inside have eggs.
冰箱里有水。	bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu shuǐ.	refrigerator inside have water.
冰箱里有苹果。	bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu píngguǒ.	refrigerator inside have apples.
包里有手机。	bāo lǐ yǒu shǒujī.	bag inside have mobile phone.
包里有钱包。	bāo lǐ yǒu qiánbāo.	bag inside have wallet.
包里有一本书。	bāo lǐ yǒu yì běn shū.	bag inside have one-volume book.
包里有水。	bāo lǐ yǒu shuǐ.	bag inside have water.
包里有钥匙。	bāo lǐ yǒu yàoshi.	bag inside have keys.

因为…所以… (because…so…)

Chinese	Pinyin	Note
因为健康问题，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi jiànkāng wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为饮食问题，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi yǐnshí wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为睡觉问题，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi shuìjiào wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为做饭很慢，所以我买压力锅。	Yīnwèi zuòfàn hěn màn, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi yālìguō.	Because cooking is slow, so I buy a pressure cooker.
因为做饭花时间，所以我买压力锅。	Yīnwèi zuòfàn huā shíjiān, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi yālìguō.
因为没有时间，所以我买压力锅。	Yīnwèi méiyǒu shíjiān, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi yālìguō.
因为做饭有问题，所以我看做饭视频。	Yīnwèi zuòfàn yǒu wèntí, suǒyǐ wǒ kàn zuòfàn shìpín.
因为不会做饭，所以我看做饭视频。	Yīnwèi bú huì zuòfàn, suǒyǐ wǒ kàn zuòfàn shìpín.
因为想学做饭，所以我看做饭视频。	Yīnwèi xiǎng xué zuòfàn, suǒyǐ wǒ kàn zuòfàn shìpín.
因为生活很轻松，所以我出去散步。	Yīnwèi shēnghuó hěn qīngsōng, suǒyǐ wǒ chūqù sànbù.
因为今天有时间，所以我出去散步。	Yīnwèi jīntiān yǒu shíjiān, suǒyǐ wǒ chūqù sànbù.
因为天气很好，所以我出去散步。	Yīnwèi tiānqì hěn hǎo, suǒyǐ wǒ chūqù sànbù.
因为一直坐着，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi yìzhí zuòzhe, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为很少运动，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi hěn shǎo yùndòng, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为常常在家，所以我不想身体出问题。	Yīnwèi chángcháng zài jiā, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shēntǐ chū wèntí.
因为想去中国，所以我学中文。	Yīnwèi xiǎng qù Zhōngguó, suǒyǐ wǒ xué Zhōngwén.
因为喜欢中国，所以我学中文。	Yīnwèi xǐhuān Zhōngguó, suǒyǐ wǒ xué Zhōngwén.
因为以后去中国，所以我学中文。	Yīnwèi yǐhòu qù Zhōngguó, suǒyǐ wǒ xué Zhōngwén.
因为股票下跌，所以我买股票。	Yīnwèi gǔpiào xiàdiē, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi gǔpiào.
因为股价很低，所以我买股票。	Yīnwèi gǔjià hěn dī, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi gǔpiào.
因为价格很低，所以我买股票。	Yīnwèi jiàgé hěn dī, suǒyǐ wǒ mǎi gǔpiào.
因为工作，所以我不想电脑出问题。	Yīnwèi gōngzuò, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng diànnǎo chū wèntí.
因为旅行，所以我不想手机出问题。	Yīnwèi lǚxíng, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng shǒujī chū wèntí.
因为明天要开车，所以我不想汽车出问题。	Yīnwèi míngtiān yào kāichē, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng qìchē chū wèntí.
因为没有很多钱，所以我不想钱出问题。	Yīnwèi méiyǒu hěn duō qián, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng qián chū wèntí.

Collocations: 出问题 (to go wrong)

Chinese	Meaning
身体出问题	the body has a problem
电脑出问题	the computer has a problem
手机出问题	the phone has a problem
汽车出问题	the car has a problem
工作出问题	the work goes wrong
计划出问题	the plan has a problem
系统出问题	the system has a problem