Write your first 25 Chinese characters, one stroke at a time
Write your first 25 Chinese characters, one stroke at a time
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Write Your First 25 Chinese Characters (Book 0) is a beginner workbook built around 25 characters from the HSK® 3.0 Level 1 list that helps you learn Chinese writing from the first stroke, with pinyin alongside so every character comes with its sound. It's for AP® Chinese students, HSK learners, and college students starting out.
Write Your First 25 Chinese Characters (Book 0) is a beginner workbook built around 25 characters from the HSK® 3.0 Level 1 list that helps you learn Chinese writing from the first stroke, with pinyin alongside so every character comes with its sound. It's for AP® Chinese students, HSK learners, and college students starting out.
Launching Friday, December 11, 2026.
Who it's for
Who it's for
AP® Chinese students
AP® Chinese students
HSK® learners
HSK® learners
You want pinyin, tones, and character writing to feel automatic before your Chinese coursework gets harder.
You've been in class a while, but the basics still feel shaky.
You're starting HSK 3.0 from zero (or close to it) and want a calm, structured first step toward HSK 1.
You're studying on your own and want clear practice instead of a pile of apps.
College and university students in (or about to start) a first-year Chinese course will feel at home here too.
What you'll practice
What you'll practice
Pinyin basics: reading and recognizing the sounds and tones of Mandarin as written in pinyin.
25 Chinese characters for beginners, introduced one at a time.
Writing practice: space to trace and write each character yourself.
Stroke order guidance: see how each character is written, one stroke at a time, so you know which stroke comes first.
Audio and pronunciation support: listen along to hear the sounds, tones, and characters, with a normal and a slow version of every track.
Fits around class, college, or self-study
Fits around class, college, or self-study
Book 0 is split into short sections, so you can work through it alongside a course or at your own pace: a section before a quiz, a few pages over a weekend, or a steady routine toward HSK 1.
What's inside
Section 1: The Six Basic Strokes (this is the free sample section)
Section 2: Stroke Order I
Section 3: Stroke Order II
Section 4: Compound Strokes
Section 5: Radicals I
Section 6: Radicals II & Character Structure
Section 7: Tone Sandhi with Real Words
Section 8: Review: Pinyin Chart & 25 Characters
How Book 0 fits AP® Chinese and HSK® 3.0
How Book 0 fits AP® Chinese and HSK® 3.0
For HSK® learners:
For HSK® learners:
For AP® Chinese students:
For AP® Chinese students:
Book 0 is the groundwork on the way to HSK® 1. All 25 characters in Book 0 appear on the Level 1 recognition-character list (认读字) in the HSK® Exam Syllabus (HSK® 考试大纲) published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation in November 2025 (our own check, October 2026). Book 0 is an independent LexiPress workbook. It isn't an official HSK® textbook, and it isn't endorsed by CLEC or Chinese Testing International.
Book 0 builds the pinyin and character basics that AP® Chinese and college courses rely on. It's a foundation builder and study companion. It isn't an AP® exam prep book, it doesn't follow any one course syllabus, and it isn't an official College Board resource.
Details
Details
Format: Digital and printable PDFs
Length: 116 pages
Available: Friday, December 11, 2026, at Gumroad.
Want to try before launch day?
Want to try before launch day?
The free sample is Section 1 of Book 0 (The Six Basic Strokes). Use it on your own, alongside a class, or as part of your HSK® study. It's coming soon as a free download for everyone, with no sign-up needed.
Questions you might have
Questions you might have
Do I need to know any Chinese already?
No. Book 0 starts from the beginning.
I'm already taking Chinese. Is it too basic?
If your pinyin, tones, or writing feel shaky, starting here makes the rest easier. The free sample will show you quickly.
Can I use it alongside AP® Chinese, a college course, or HSK® self-study?
Yes. It's designed as a companion to class or self-study, not a replacement for a course.
Is this traditional or simplified Chinese?
Book 0 uses simplified Chinese characters.
What comes after Book 0?
Next up: workbooks for HSK 3.0 Levels 1–3, plus practice materials for students taking the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Want to hear about new books? Join our update list.
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