Mandarin for Engineers
Learn Chinese the way you learned to code
You already know how to learn complex systems — you do it every day with new frameworks, languages, and APIs. Chinese isn't a mystery; it's just another well-designed system with clear rules, composable parts, and a few quirks. KinuPamokos maps every Chinese concept to a programming concept you already understand, so you spend less time confused and more time building fluency.
Start LearningThe Mental Model
Every Chinese concept maps to something you already know.
| Programming Concept | Chinese Equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Type annotations | Measure words (量词) | 一本书 — one [volume-of] book |
| State management | Aspect particles | 吃了 — ate (state: completed) |
| Object composition | Radical + component | 木 + 木 + 木 = 森 — tree + tree + tree = forest |
| Function signatures | Word order (SVO) | 我吃饭 — I eat rice (subject.verb(object)) |
| Design patterns | Chengyu (成语) | 四字成语 — reusable 4-char idiom patterns |
Curriculum
README
How Chinese Works
Why Chinese is easier than you think — for engineers
Module 1The Runtime
Sentence Execution
How Chinese sentences execute: SVO, word order, questions
Module 2The Type System
Measure Words
Every noun needs a type annotation
Module 3State Management
Aspect Particles
了, 过, 着 — tracking state, not time
Chinese verbs don't change form — ever. There are no articles, no plural suffixes, and no verb tables to memorize. If you've struggled with European languages before, Chinese will feel refreshingly logical.