Short answer: the Leitner system is a flashcard method where cards move between numbered boxes based on whether you got them right. Cards you know slide into boxes reviewed less often; cards you miss drop back to box 1 and come back tomorrow. It is the simplest working form of spaced repetition, and it fits Chinese unusually well because Chinese vocabulary fails in three separate ways — character, pronunciation and meaning.
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The Leitner System for Chinese: Flashcard Boxes That Actually Stick
28 tháng 7, 2026
Quick answer
The Leitner system moves flashcards between five boxes based on whether you got them right. Why it fits Chinese in particular, how it compares with algorithmic spaced repetition, and the five habits that decide whether it works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Leitner system?
A flashcard method with numbered boxes reviewed at increasing intervals. A card you answer correctly moves up one box and comes back later; a card you miss drops straight back to box 1 and returns tomorrow. It is the simplest working form of spaced repetition.
How many boxes should the Leitner system have?
Five is the common setup, reviewed at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 days. The exact numbers matter far less than the doubling pattern and the rule that any mistake sends the card back to box 1.
Is the Leitner system good for learning Chinese?
It suits Chinese particularly well because a word can fail three separate ways — recognition, pronunciation and writing. Demoting a card on any failure means a half-known word keeps coming back until all three are solid, instead of quietly passing on a partial answer.
Leitner or a spaced repetition app — which is better?
Algorithmic scheduling is slightly more efficient per review; Leitner is more transparent and easier to stick with. Retention outcomes are close, and the real difference is whether you are still reviewing in month three.