hanzigraph.com

What It Is

HanziGraph is a free, open-source web tool for Chinese learners. Its core idea is to support memorization through word-formation relationships between Chinese characters, authentic example sentences, and frequency information, rather than traditional stroke-order practice, radical breakdowns, or simple “character–pinyin–English” flashcards. The site supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Cantonese, HSK word lists, and other character sets, and it can also be installed as a PWA.

Core Learning Experience

Its main features include clicking or searching for a character or word to view relationship graphs, example sentences, definitions, and pinyin, with colors or statistics used to show word and character frequency. The flow graph uses a Sankey diagram to show common collocations before and after the searched term. Its data analysis is based on corpora such as subtitles, Wikipedia, UN texts, and website text, with a stronger focus on spoken-language scenarios. The learning mode is example-sentence-based flashcards: first you read a sentence and infer its meaning, then reveal the answer. If answered correctly, the card reappears after intervals such as 1 day, 2 days, and 4 days, making it a very basic spaced repetition system.

Pricing and Certificates

The site explicitly states that it is free and open source software. We did not find any subscription, one-time purchase, or paid course information, so its value for money is very strong. It also does not present certifications, completion certificates, teacher-led instruction, or institutional endorsements, making it better suited as a learning tool rather than a complete course product.

Pros and Cons

Its main strength is that the learning path is closer to a vocabulary network: example sentences come from Tatoeba and OpenSubtitles, while definitions and pinyin come from CEDICT. It also supports an offline dictionary, learning statistics, Anki export, and Anki-Connect synchronization. It is especially friendly to learners who already use an Anki workflow. The drawbacks are also clear: the site describes itself as still being a prototype, with code quality at “hackathon level”; the built-in review algorithm is fairly simplified; there is no native app; and it lacks a systematic course syllabus, teacher feedback, and quality assurance.

Who It’s For and Access from China

HanziGraph is suitable for self-directed learners who want to expand their Chinese vocabulary, understand word-formation relationships between characters, and create cards from authentic example sentences. It can also work as a supplementary tool for reviewing HSK vocabulary. The source text does not mention access from China, and the domain itself is not enough to determine whether it can be accessed directly. Since it is free and open source, payment is not relevant. If you need a more mature mobile dictionary and a more complete learning loop, it can be used alongside Pleco, Anki, or Chinese course apps.