Developed by Yao Wu, Chinese Language Division, Modern Language Centre, School of Languages, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
AI Agent URL Link
https://xipuai.xjtlu.edu.cn/v3/agent/10301
Target area
Contextual vocabulary learning for short-turn conversation or short paragraph reading
Target Skills
Written interaction
Target Language Level:
Chinese Language CEFR A1+
Most existing generative AI chatbots are designed for native speakers and tend to produce formal, business-like language. This creates barriers for beginner-level L2 learners and often discourages them from using chatbots as conversation partners.
PingPang Bot is specifically designed to support beginner learners of Chinese. Like a game of ping-pong, the bot can generate short-turn questions and foster natural back-and-forth exchanges. It offers adaptive, context-rich interactions that help reinforce vocabulary through meaningful use.
In addition, PingPang Bot supports mixed input in pinyin (with or without tone marks) and hanzi simultaneously—something many traditional chat platforms struggle with. This flexibility lowers the entry barrier for learners and encourages more frequent, confident practice.
Key features:
- Level-Appropriate Language Output: Compared to regular chatbots, PingPang Bot maintains effective and level-appropriate vocabulary use for an average of 13 dialogue turns—more than double that of standard bots, which typically lose lexical suitability after just six turns.
- Curriculum-Based Contextual Learning: Moving beyond flashcards and vocabulary lists, PingPang Bot enables students to practice new words through meaningful short dialogues or paragraphs. Learners can also select vocabulary they wish to reinforce and generate personalized practice contexts.
- Supportive Environment for Assessment Preparation: While practicing with human partners is valuable, many learners—especially beginners—feel too shy to ask friends for every single correction. Students report that PingPang Bot provides a comfortable and effective way to build language accuracy.
- Ease of Use for Learners: Students no longer need to paste long prompts or manually configure settings. PingPang Bot offers immediate, user-friendly interaction designed specifically for beginner-level L2 Chinese learners.
- Efficiency for Teachers: Following initial evaluation, PingPang Bot has proven effective with both PDF and Markdown input formats. It is relatively easy for teachers to set up, making it a practical tool for classroom integration.
Suggestion for users
- Exercise Your Agency: Users are encouraged to adjust instructions based on their learning needs. For example, while the bot is typically prompted to respond in Pinyin or Hanzi and explain language errors in English, it may switch between writing systems. In such cases, feel free to remind the bot to follow the intended format.
- Use English for Instructions: Always use English when giving instructions, and use Pinyin or Hanzi when practicing the target language. Mixing languages in commands can confuse the bot and lead to inaccurate responses.
- AI Makes Mistakes: Like any generative tool, PingPang Bot isn’t perfect—it may produce unnatural or incorrect language. Be sure to use a variety of learning resources, such as textbooks, class notes, and learning websites, to cross-check and reinforce your understanding
PingPang Bot vs. Regular GenAI Chatbot:
Below is a comparison of chat logs between a regular GenAI chatbot and PingPang Bot. Regular GenAI chatbots tend to use advanced language early in the interaction, while PingPang Bot varies its question words and engages with a wider range of topics.
Regular Chat Bot
Regular Chat Bot：
你通常几点起床？nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?
Student：
wo tongchang ba dian qichuang. tongchang shi shenma?
Regular Chat Bot：
“通常”意思是“usually”或“generally”，用于描述一个习惯或常规的行为。例如，“我通常八点起床”意思是你一般在八点钟起床。
你平时有什么爱好？nǐ píngshí q8yǒu shénme àihào?
Student：
pingshi he aihao shi shenma?
Regular Chat Bot：
“平时”意思是“usually”或“in normal times”，用于描述日常生活中的情况或习惯。
“爱好”意思是“hobby”或“interest”，指的是你在空闲时间喜欢做的事情。
例如：
“我平时喜欢看书。”意思是“我通常喜欢看书。”
“我的爱好是打篮球。”意思是“我喜欢在空闲时间打篮球。”
你有什么爱好？nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?
Student：
wo you paizhao aihao
Regular Chat Bot：
很棒！摄影是一个很有趣的爱好。通过拍照，你可以捕捉生活中的美好瞬间和独特的视角。你喜欢拍摄哪种类型的照片，比如风景、人像还是街拍
Student：
can you translate ,I donot know all of the chinese character
Regular Chat Bot：
Sure! The sentence “I do not know all of the Chinese characters” can be translated into Chinese as: “我不认识所有的汉字。” (wǒ bù rènshi suǒyǒu de hànzì.)
If you need help with specific characters or phrases, feel free to ask!
Student：
I mean translate 很棒！摄影是一个很有趣的爱好。通过拍照，你可以捕捉生活中的美好瞬间和独特的视角。你喜欢拍摄哪种类型的照片，比如风景、人像还是街拍 this
Regular Chat Bot：
Of course! Here is the translation:
“Great! Photography is a very interesting hobby. Through taking photos, you can capture beautiful moments and unique perspectives in life. What type of photos do you like to take, such as landscapes, portraits, or street photography?”
Student：
wo xihuan paizhao street zhaopian
Regular Chat Bot：
街拍确实很有趣！它能够捕捉城市的活力和人们的日常生活，常常充满了故事性和瞬间的美。你有没有特别喜欢的拍摄地点或是拍摄时的技巧可以分享呢？
Student；
I cant understand chinese character please ask me in pinyin as well
Regular Chat Bot:
好的！街拍确实很有趣！(Jiēpāi quèshí hěn yǒuqù!) 它能够捕捉城市的活力和人们的日常生活，(Tā nénggòu bǔzhuō chéngshì de huólì hé rénmen de rìcháng shēnghuó,) 常常充满了故事性和瞬间的美。(chángcháng chōngmǎnle gùshì xìng hé shùnjiān de měi.) 你有没有特别喜欢的拍摄地点或是拍摄时的技巧可以分享呢？(Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu tèbié xǐhuān de pāishè dìdiǎn huò shì pāishè shí de jìqiǎo kěyǐ fēnxiǎng ne?)
PingPong Bot
PingPong Bot:
你好!(Nǐ hǎo!) Let’s start with a simple question.
你喜欢吃什么?(Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme?) – What do you like to eat?
Student:
wo xihuan chaofan, chaomein, niurou, jidan he cha
PingPong Bot:
很好!让我帮你纠正一下拼音: wo xihuan chaofan, chaomein, niurou, jidan he cha
Correct: Wǒ xǐhuan chǎofàn, chǎomiàn, niúròu, jīdàn hé chá.
你早上几点起床?(Nǐ zǎoshang jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?) -What time do you get up in the morning?
Student:
wo zaoshang qi dian ban qichuang
PingPong Bot:
很好!你早上七点半起床。让我帮你纠正一下拼音:
wo zaoshang qi dian ban qichuang
Correct: Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn bàn qǐchuáng.
你晚上几点睡觉?(Nǐ wǎnshang jǐ diǎn shuìjiào?) – What time do you go to sleep at night?
Student:
wo wanshang shi er dian shuijiao
PingPong Bot:
很好!你晚上十二点睡觉。让我帮你纠正一下拼音:
wo wanshang shi er dian shuijiao
o Correct: Wǒ wǎnshang shí’èr diǎn shuìjiào.
你住在哪儿?(Nǐ zhù zài nǎr?) – Where do you live?
Student:
wo zhu zai Suzhou
PingPong Bot:
很好!你住在苏州。让我帮你纠正一下拼音:
wo zhu zai Suzhou
o Correct: Wǒ zhù zài Sūzhōu.
你家在苏州的哪个地方?(Nǐ jiā zài Sūzhōu de nǎge dìfang?) – Where in Suzhou is your home?
Student:
wo jia zai suzhou de nan bian. wo de fangdian zai chefang
PingPong Bot:
很好!你家在苏州的南边。让我帮你纠正一下拼音和句子结构:
- wo jia zai suzhou de nan bian.
o Correct: Wǒ jiā zài Sūzhōu de nánbian. - wo de fangdian zai chefang
o Correct: Wǒ de fángjiān zài chēfáng.
你喜欢喝什么饮料？(Nǐ xǐhuān hē shénme yǐnliào?) – What kind of drinks do you like to drink?
Student：
nixihuan he cha
PingPong Bot：
你喜欢喝茶?(Nǐ xǐhuān hē chá?) – Do you like to drink tea?
Student：
dui bu qi, wo xihuan he cha
PingPong Bot：
没关系!你喜欢喝茶。让我帮你纠正一下拼音:
dui bu qi, wo xihuan he cha
o Correct: Duì bù qǐ, wǒ xǐhuān hē chá.
你喜欢去奶茶店吗?(Nǐ xǐhuān qù nǎichá diàn ma?) – Do you like to go to bubble tea stores?