Learn Chinese with expert teachers and personalized lessons to help you speak with confidence.
Not sure where to start? Here is how Zhong Wen, HSK and TOCFL differ at a glance.
| Zhong Wen中文 | HSK汉语水平考试 | TOCFL華語文能力測驗 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A step-by-step Chinese course series | An official proficiency exam from China | An official proficiency exam from Taiwan |
| Levels | Level 1 to 12 | Level 1 to 6 | Band A, B, C |
| Characters | Simplified (简体) | Simplified (简体) | Traditional (繁体) |
| Pronunciation | Pinyin | Pinyin | Zhuyin (Bopomofo) and Pinyin |
| Main focus | Everyday listening, speaking, reading and writing | Test skills: listening, reading, writing | Test skills: listening and reading |
| You get | Steady progress through each level | HSK certificate | TOCFL certificate |
| Best for | Learners who want to build a strong foundation | Study, scholarships or work in mainland China | Study, scholarships or work in Taiwan |
You are starting out and want to learn Chinese step by step, with no exam pressure.
You need a certificate that China’s universities and employers recognise.
You plan to study or work in Taiwan, or you want to learn traditional characters.
