Kippy
Your friendly guide. Asks about your day and helps when you get stuck.
Try It Now: Say These Chinese Phrases Out Loud
Say each phrase out loud, following the tone marks in the pinyin. Then practice it in Kippy, where the pronunciation checker gives you word-by-word feedback.
我也这么觉得。
wǒ yě zhème juéde · I think so too. Two third tones in a row: say the first one as a rising tone.
你周末干什么了？
nǐ zhōumò gàn shénme le? · What did you do on the weekend?
我不太同意。
wǒ bú tài tóngyì · I don't really agree. 不 becomes a rising tone before a falling one.
Want more? Turn any sentence you need into Chinese with the two-way translator and practice saying it, or collect the phrases you need in your personal phrasebook.
What Is AI Chinese Speaking Practice?
AI Chinese speaking practice means having spoken conversations in Mandarin Chinese with an AI partner that listens, replies and gives you feedback. With Kippy, you talk out loud about food, work, family or travel, get a suggested reply when you freeze, and see corrections on your pronunciation and grammar. You choose Simplified or Traditional characters, and you can practice any time without a tutor.
Chinese is hard to speak for a reason many courses underplay: tones change in real speech. Two third tones in a row become a rising tone and a third tone. 不 and 一 change depending on the word after them. Add measure words (一本书, 两杯咖啡) and the fact that "two" is sometimes 二 and sometimes 两, and it's no surprise that learners slow down to think.
Tone charts and flashcards get you started. Speed comes from saying whole sentences. Talk in Kippy, see which words were hard to understand, and say them again. In a real conversation context does a lot of the work, so getting understood comes before getting every tone right.
- Works on
- iPhone and iPad, iOS 17 or later
- Price
- Free to download. Premium is $99.99 a year (US)
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese (Simplified or Traditional) and 9 more languages to practice
- Help in your language
- Explanations in your own language, for any language pair
Practice Chinese Conversations with AI Characters
Real conversations don't follow the dialogue in your textbook. In Kippy you choose who you talk to:
Tippy
Sweet, playful, and always in your corner. She makes speaking practice feel a little less scary.
Yappy
Argues back. Over 18? Doesn't always mind the language.
Disagreeing is great Chinese practice. You have to think fast, find the right measure word and keep your tones together while someone pushes back. Here is what a conversation with Yappy can look like:
我觉得周末就应该一个人待在家。
I think weekends are for staying home alone.
我不同意。我有二个好朋友，我们每个周末一起吃火锅。
Correction
我不同意。我有两个好朋友，我们每个周末一起吃火锅。
I don't agree. I have two good friends, and we have hotpot together every weekend.
我不同意。我有两个好朋友，我们每个周末一起吃火锅。
火锅？夏天也吃？不会太热吗？
Hotpot? In summer too? Isn't it way too hot?
开着空调吃火锅，特别舒服。
Hotpot with the air conditioning on is really nice.
好吧……这个理由我接受。
Okay… I'll accept that argument.
How Kippy Helps You Practice Speaking Chinese
Kippy works like a Chinese speaking partner on your phone. It keeps the conversation moving, helps when you get stuck, and shows you which words to work on.
A Hint When You Freeze Suggested replies when the next word won't come. 
Help in Your Own Language Ask why it's 两 and not 二, then switch back to Chinese. 
Real Situations Ordering food, hotels, job interviews and more. 
Pronunciation Feedback See which words were hard to understand. 
Grammar Check Corrections as you speak, without stopping the chat. 
Your Own Phrasebook Save the Chinese you actually used. Why You Need More Chinese Speaking Practice
Most Chinese learners put hours into characters and vocabulary. Saying full sentences out loud gets the least time.
6 min
of speaking time each, if ten learners share a one-hour class
That is the best case, before instructions, listening tasks and waiting for your turn.
With Kippy the conversation starts right away. No booking, no partner, no waiting until your tones feel ready.
Chinese Speaking Situations You Can Practice with AI
Pick a situation, then speak through it:
| Situation | What to practice |
|---|---|
| Introductions | Say your name, where you're from and why you're learning Chinese. |
| Restaurants | Order dishes and drinks with the right measure words, and ask for it 不辣 (not spicy). |
| Shopping | Ask 多少钱, understand the price that comes back and ask for it a little cheaper. |
| Travel | Take a taxi, buy train tickets, check in at a hotel and ask for directions. |
| Family calls | Talk with relatives who speak Chinese about news, food, health and plans. |
| Work | Introduce your company, make small talk with colleagues and give an update. |
| Making friends | Talk about hobbies, food and weekends, and ask questions back. |
| Opinions | Disagree with Yappy and explain why, with your tones still in place. |
Chinese Phrases for When You're Not Understood
Nobody is understood every time, and with tones it happens often. What matters is keeping the conversation going. Say each phrase out loud, then use it in your next conversation in Kippy:
When you didn't catch it
你能再说一遍吗？
nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma? · Can you say that again?
When it's too fast
请说慢一点。
qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn · Please speak a little more slowly.
When your first try came out wrong
我的意思是……
wǒ de yìsi shì… · What I mean is…
When you're missing a word
……用中文怎么说？
… yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? · How do you say … in Chinese?
When you need time to think
等一下，我想想。
děng yíxià, wǒ xiǎngxiang · Hang on, let me think.
When you want to check you understood
你是说……吗？
nǐ shì shuō … ma? · Do you mean …?
In Kippy you can use them for real: ask Tippy or Yappy to repeat, rephrase when they look confused, and keep going. When a word won't come, instant translation gives it to you in the middle of the conversation.
Who This Chinese Speaking Practice App Is For
Kippy is built for people who understand more Chinese than they can say. It is a good fit if you:
- have learned characters or tones but rarely speak Chinese out loud;
- understand relatives who speak Chinese but struggle to answer them;
- need Chinese for work, study or travel;
- want explanations in English when tones and measure words get confusing.
Kippy gives you speaking practice on the days you would otherwise get none.
What Learners Say About Kippy
★★★★★
“This is the best app for conversations. You can either speak in your native language with the AI or try your desired language. … It’s like learning without realizing you’re learning.”
★★★★★
“I feel I’m able to communicate better because of Kippy. It really helps in giving feedback after each practice. My pronunciation has gotten better after using Kippy.”
★★★★★
“The app is great to practice pronunciation and conversation in a new language you learn.”
More Guides for Choosing a Chinese Speaking App
Weighing up your options? These guides compare AI speaking apps and cover Duolingo Max alternatives, with picks for Chinese:
Frequently Asked Questions
›
Can I practice speaking Chinese with AI for free?
Yes. Kippy is free to download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Premium is $99.99 a year (US).
›
How is Kippy different from practicing Chinese with ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a general assistant. Kippy is built for speaking practice: it suggests replies when you get stuck, checks your pronunciation and grammar, saves the phrases you used, and lets you practice real situations. Tippy keeps things sweet and playful, while Yappy has opinions of his own and argues back.
›
Is it Mandarin, and can I use Simplified or Traditional characters?
Kippy’s Chinese is Mandarin. You can choose Simplified or Traditional characters, depending on the materials you study with or where you plan to use your Chinese.
›
Can Kippy explain Chinese grammar in English?
Yes. Ask Kippy in English when to use 二 and when to use 两, then switch back to Chinese and keep talking. Kippy explains in your own language, for any language pair.
›
Do I need to read Chinese characters to speak Chinese?
No. Speaking and reading are separate skills, and many learners speak before they read much. When a word on screen is new, instant translation shows you what it means so you can keep talking.
›
How do I practice speaking Chinese alone?
Talk to Kippy for five minutes a day. Pick a topic, answer out loud, and use the hint when you freeze. Short, regular conversations help more than one long session a week.
›
Is Kippy good for Chinese beginners?
Yes. Kippy can explain things in English, suggest what to say next and translate when you need it, so you can start speaking before you feel ready.
›
Where can I get Kippy?
Download Kippy from the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad (iOS 17 or later). On a computer, scan the QR code on this page with your iPhone.
