Pinyin Puzzle · proper crossword prototype

Read the clue.
Build the Pinyin.
Cross every answer.

Each square holds one Pinyin initial or final. Finals carry the tone. English meanings guide you; shared tiles make every answer help solve another.

Start the crossword See how it works
11 × 11 blocked grid Connected Across + Down entries HSK 1–3 vocabulary Local save
DAILY PUZZLE11 × 11
Across + DownInitials · finals · tones
Choose your challenge

Prototype setup

Language direction
Learning difficulty preference Manual difficulty stays independent of puzzle delivery. This prototype bank contains HSK 1–3 boards.
Puzzle delivery preference Saved on this device only. This prototype does not send email or mobile notifications.
Playable local prototype

Novice Pinyin crossword

Loading the governed board…

Loading puzzle bank…
Your score — / — 0 of 0 tiles placed
ACTIVE ENTRY Choose a clue or square
Initial tile Final + tone tile Blocked square +Crossing helps two answers
TILE TRAY

Select a square to see its tiles

Tap a clue to jump straight to its first empty square.

Choose any white square to begin.

Word mastery

Remember words beyond this board

Words begin at New and strengthen through unassisted recall on different puzzles and days.

0%0 mastered
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70% · preview next level80% · graduation ready
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Session learning

Curated this Class

Correctly completed words will appear here automatically.

  1. No words curated yet.
Add to SetList

Create or choose a named SetList. Nothing is sent to AlongSide Classroom by this local prototype.

  • No named SetLists saved on this device.

This follows the AlongSide Classroom Whiteboard and Multiboard model: class curation is the session buffer; a SetList is a separate named collection. Saving a word to a SetList schedules its spaced-review journey.

Optional solo-play media

Play alongside YouTube

YouTube is the only prioritised media option, creating a bridge to Dual Subs and LyricSync. Music is off by default and never interrupts the crossword.

How to play

A crossword made from Pinyin pieces

Unlike the first tone-only experiment, this is a connected blocked crossword. Answers run Across and Down, and every answer shares at least one square.

1

Read an English clue

Novice mode shows the source translation and its fuller gloss.

2

Place a Pinyin tile

Coral squares take initials. Gold squares take finals with the correct tone.

3

Use the crossings

A shared tile belongs to an Across and a Down answer, so solving one helps the other.

4

Score with Pinyin Tiles values

Correct unhinted tiles earn the same face and tone points as Pinyin Tiles.

Unified vocabulary

1,610 governed Novice readings

The prototype uses HSK levels from the Pinyin Tiles word corpus. Of 1,610 distinct HSK 1–3 readings, 1,583 fit the crossword’s 3–8-cell entry rule.

Clue source
CC-CEDICT translations and glosses
Board rule
At least 45% of open squares are crossings
Identity rule
Duplicate board-and-answer combinations are rejected
Shared scoring foundation

Pinyin Tiles values, crossword play

Every correct initial earns its governed face value; every correct final earns its face value plus its tone value. Wrong tiles score zero until corrected, hints score zero, and a shared crossing counts only once in the board total. There is no speed bonus, so accuracy—not rushing—drives the score.

Learning with LiAnn

From language games to musical and human learning

Explore Mandarin through games, music, teachers and the classroom. Destination links remain clearly marked as placeholders until the product routes are supplied.

PlayPinyin TilesRoute pending Learn through musicDual SubsRoute pending Learn through musicLyricSyncRoute pending Learn with a teacherLWL TutoringMandarin-teacher network · route pending Learn in schoolAlongSide ClassroomRoute pending