明道

Mingdao

Chinese learning for ADHD brains

My problem: I can focus for 3 minutes, not 30. Traditional apps assume long study sessions. My brain can't do that. So I built the app I need.

The Problem

One Word = Six Different Skills

Every Chinese app treats "knowing a word" as binary. But that's not how language works. Knowing 买 (mǎi, "buy") means:

Recognition

See it → know it

Reading

Read in context

Writing

Produce from memory

Listening

Hear → understand

Speaking

Pronounce correctly

Grammar

Use in sentences

Most apps test one skill (flashcards). If you get it wrong, they don't know which skill failed.

Mingdao tracks all six skills independently. Getting the tone wrong in speaking is different from not recognizing the character visually.

The Solution

A TikTok-Style Feed

Instead of drilling flashcards, Mingdao gives you an endless scrolling feed of different exercise types. Each card tests a different skill.

Recognition Tap to flip

买

Listening Type what you hear

"Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì běn shū"

I want to buy a book

Grammar Drag to order

书买想我一本

The algorithm mixes exercises based on your weak skills. If listening is lagging, you get more audio exercises.

Exercise Mix

Smart Algorithm

40%

SRS Due

30%

Weak Skills

30%

New + Grammar

Six exercise types: Character Recall, Audio Transcribe, Sentence Scramble, Pronunciation Practice, Dialogue, and Writing. Each targets a specific skill.

The Stakes

HSK3 Exam — March 22

Traditional apps weren't working for my brain. I need something that:

Works in 3-minute bursts

Varies exercise types (no boredom)

Tracks which skill is weak

Targets actual weaknesses

If the app isn't useful by March 22, I fail.

That's the forcing function.