Editorial policy

Kungfucius.com is in part a humorous project. It is also meant to give in-depth advice, and the advice is tested over time, not copied from a press release. This page explains how the content is made and where its limits are.

How pages are researched

• Sources. Facts are taken from primary sources where possible: the exam bodies, the makers of a tool, official statistics, the original study. Where only secondary sources exist, the page says so.
• Script and tones. Chinese is given in Traditional characters with Simplified in brackets, Pinyin carries tone marks, and Japanese and Korean follow standard romanisation. Mistakes happen, and corrections are welcome.
• Dates. Prices, exam formats and event dates change. Pages are reviewed and updated, and important details should always be confirmed with the official source.
• Experience. Opinions come from years of learning Asian languages and living in Asian cities. They are marked as Kungfucius's view, not dressed up as statistics.

Humour and advice

Kungfucius jokes about apps, exams, polyglots and himself. The jokes sit on top of the advice and never replace it. When a page gives a recommendation, it is a serious one, even if it arrives with a raised eyebrow.

Screenshots and photos

Over time, more screenshots and photos taken directly from the apps and places described will be added, so that you can see what a tool looks like in use and not only read about it.

Personal connections and bias

Many of the makers of the tools, websites, events, apps and books reviewed here know the people behind this website, the Kungfucius' behind Kungfucius. The Asian language-learning scene is a small world.

That does not mean their work is favoured outright. A weak tool gets a weak rating, whoever built it. It would be dishonest, though, to claim perfect neutrality: as is natural, there may be a slight bias towards personal connections. Read the reviews with that in mind, and compare them with your own experience.

Ratings and money

How tools and methods are graded is explained under how Kungfucius rates. A rating is never changed in exchange for payment, a free account or an affiliate arrangement.

Corrections

If you find an error, a dead link or an outdated price, write through the contact page. Corrections are checked and applied, and substantial ones are noted on the page. The general rules for using the site are in the terms of use.