Mandarin Shadow
HSK 1 to 9
Illustrated Chinese stories, quizzes and conversations to shadow, from HSK 1 to HSK 9.
The Shadow platform
Learn by engaging.
Shadow is a platform for learning by engaging: short, illustrated daily episodes you can watch, listen to and repeat.
Each channel is a Shadow that walks beside you through one subject: a language, or your own mind.
- lessons published
- 321
- followers and subscribers
- 1.4k
- podcast episodes
- 88
- podcast downloads
- 1k
- Shadows, 4 of them languages
- 6
Pick a Shadow to follow
Languages
Understand and speak a language by shadowing native speakers.
French Shadow
CEFR A1 to C2
Graded French stories and conversations to shadow, from A1 to C2.
Spanish Shadow
CEFR A1 to C2
Graded Spanish from Spain to shadow, from A1 to C2.
Japanese Shadow
JLPT N5 to N1
Graded Japanese with furigana to shadow, from N5 to N1.
Mind
Understand yourself a little better, one idea a day.
Shadow of Self
A daily podcast
Psychology, philosophy and practical ideas, one short conversation a day.
Mindful Shadow
A guided podcast
Short guided calm for the problems of modern life.
Latest from every Shadow
The newest lessons, videos and podcast episodes, across every channel.
- Mandarin Shadow · Mandarin Shadow Daily · 6:01Learning Burst (HSK 2): Splitting the Bill with Friends 朋友一起付钱 (péngyou yìqǐ fù qián)Today
- Shadow of Self · Shadow of Self Daily · 23:52The Ideas of Alfred Adler, Part 3 of 3: Community feeling and contributionToday
Mandarin Shadow · HSK 2 · Listening quizThe Interview at the Dance ClassToday
Mandarin Shadow · HSK 1 · Grammar lessonSaying no with 不 and 没Today
Japanese Shadow · N5 · Grammar lessonInviting someone with 〜ませんかToday
Japanese Shadow · N5 · Vocabulary lesson3 Words for FeelingsToday
Spanish Shadow · A1 · Grammar lessonSaying what you want with quiero and queríaToday
Japanese Shadow · N5 · Survival JapaneseAt the PharmacyToday
A daily podcast from every Shadow
Short daily shows, free in any podcast app. Subscribe to one, or all of them.
- Mandarin Shadow DailyLearning Burst (HSK 2): Splitting the Bill with Friends 朋友一起付钱 (péngyou yìqǐ fù qián)Latest · 6:01
- French Shadow DailyLearning Burst (A1): Splitting the Bill with Friends On partage l’additionLatest · 4:52
- Spanish Shadow DailySpanish Audio Drama: The Neighbour's Secret, Part 3 (A2): Good News and a Strange Card Una buena noticiaLatest · 12:51
- Japanese Shadow DailyLearning Burst (N5): Setting Up a New Phone あたらしいスマホLatest · 4:32
- Shadow of Self DailyThe Ideas of Alfred Adler, Part 3 of 3: Community feeling and contributionLatest · 23:52
Free resources
Printable books to read, solve and say out loud, free from Mandarin Shadow.
PDFA short illustrated story with puzzles along the way. Comment "PDF" under any Mandarin Shadow video and we will send you the book. Want another level? Comment PDF and the level, like PDF 3.
Three ways to engage: watch, listen, repeat
You remember what you take part in, not what scrolls past. Every Shadow gives you three ways to engage with an episode. The idea comes from shadowing, the way many people learn a language: you hear a native speaker and say the same sentence straight after them, like a shadow. It works for more than languages: for AI and the mind, you repeat the idea in your own words until it is yours.
How to shadow, step by step →Step 1
Watch
Engage with your eyes: a short illustrated episode shows you one thing clearly, a story, a concept or an idea.
Step 2
Listen
Engage on the go: take it with you as a podcast. Hearing it again, somewhere else, is how it sticks.
Step 3
Repeat
Engage out loud: say the sentence back for a language, or put the idea in your own words for AI and the mind.
Frequently asked questions
›Is it free?
Yes. Every episode is free on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, and this site adds transcripts, translations, key words and practice for free. The podcasts are free in any podcast app.
›What is Shadow?
Shadow is a platform for learning by engaging: short, illustrated daily episodes you can watch, listen to and repeat. Each channel is a Shadow that walks beside you through one subject: a language, or your own mind.
›What is shadowing?
Shadowing means listening to a native speaker and repeating right after them, copying their pronunciation, rhythm and intonation. It trains listening and speaking at the same time. Every language lesson has a pause after each sentence for you to repeat it, and the other channels use the same idea: engage with the episode, then say it back in your own words.
›What can I learn?
Mandarin Chinese (HSK 1 to 9), French and Spanish (CEFR A1 to C2), each with its own lesson library, vocabulary practice and daily podcast. Shadow of Self covers psychology, philosophy and practical ideas for a clearer mind.
›Which level should I start with?
Pick the level where you understand most of a story with the English subtitles, and some of it without. If you are new to the language, start at the first level: the sentences are short and the narration is slow.
›How are the lessons made?
The stories are written for each level and checked against the official word lists, then illustrated and narrated with AI. Every recording is transcribed and compared with its sentence to make sure it says exactly what is written.